Top 10 team-building activities in Scotland to strengthen bonds between your team members
1. Highland Games: hammers, cabers, and kilts
It wouldn’t be right to talk about Scotland team-building activities without including the Highland Games. This ancient tradition goes back as early as 1093 as a way for royalty to identify the strongest, fastest, and bravest people in Scotland.Today, it’s a way of celebrating Scottish culture that your whole team can partake in.The Highland Games include activities such as caber tossing, tug of war, stone puts, and hammer throws. You’ll compete in individual contests and head to head challenges that require strategising and teamwork. Plus, your team will look and feel the part by sporting a kilt!
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- Location: Lawns of Peebles Hydro in Tweed Valley
- Duration: half day to a full day
- Group size: 12-250 people
- Cost: ££
2. White water rafting at Findhorn: heart-pounding fun and breathtaking views
Ready to exchange the rapid pace of office life for the whitewater rapids of river Findhorn? If your team likes a combination of beautiful scenery and adrenalin, then there’s no better way to get the blood pumping than with white water rafting. Navigating the rapids will put your teamwork, communication, and coordination skills to the ultimate test.Exhilaration isn’t the only thing white water rafting offers. The river Findhorn funnels through gorgeous rocky gorges, and dense forest that nature lovers will absolutely adore. Above all, the shared adventure of whitewater rafting will leave your team feeling energised, refreshed—especially if they fall in—and more connected than ever before.
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- Location: The River Findhorn
- Duration: half a day to a full day
- Group size: 7-30 people
- Cost: ££
3. Urban treasure hunt: trivia and challenges in the heart of Glasgow
Fancy exploring Glasgow’s unique cityscape while completing fun team challenges? An urban treasure hunt makes it a fully-interactive experience for teams little and large. First, you split your group into smaller teams. Next, you download the app to complete creative challenges, answer trivia, and complete puzzles.This team-building corporate event is a great way for teams to stretch their communication and problem-solving skills all while having lots of fun and seeing some of the best sights Glasgow has to offer. Don’t forget to watch the scoreboard, as your teams will be collecting points to be crowned winners of the day!
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- Location: Glasgow
- Duration: up to two hours
- Group size: 6-250 people
- Cost: £
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4. Whiskey tasting and blending: experience the flavour of Scotland
Scotland is famous for some of the finest malts in the world. A whiskey tasting and blending workshop is an excellent opportunity for your team to relax while experiencing the smooth, smokey, and full-bodied flavours of Scotch.This whiskey tasting and blending session will see members discuss different whiskeys while attempting to blend their own. Your team will also have the chance to learn about the cultural significance of whiskey in Scotland.
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- Location: Glasgow
- Duration: half a day
- Group size: 6-25 people
- Cost: ££
5. Gorge walking: trek, jump, and climb through Perthshire’s Calvine Gorge
Walk through waterfalls, navigate gullies, and leave no stone unturned while gorge walking with your team. Gorge walking gives you the chance to get off the beaten path, soak in the scenery, and strengthen communication and coordination between your colleagues.While this activity does require a certain level of fitness, Scotland has no shortage of routes with varying difficulties to choose from. With an experienced guide, you can focus on testing your mettle against the ledges, ridges, and other rocky obstacles together with your team.
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- Location: Calvine Gorge, Perthshire’s natural water park
- Duration: three hours
- Group size: 2-16 people
- Cost: £
6. Paintball: ready, aim, paint!
Perhaps you’re the competitive kind. You like going head to head in fun activities that let you exercise your teamwork and just as importantly, your marksmanship! After you get your camouflage kits and safety talk with the instructor, the games begin!Paintball is fast-paced, and it’s great for teams that need to know how to quickly coordinate in dynamic work environments. You’ll have to strategise, complete missions, and battle it out until everyone is splattered with multiple shades of blue, green and orange.
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- Location: Edinburgh
- Duration: two hours to half a day
- Group size: minimum of 6 people
- Cost: ££
7. Escape Rooms: strengthen collaboration in the heart of Scotland’s major cities
Nothing brings you closer to your team than cracking codes and overcoming challenges in an escape room. As you scramble to solve riddles within a 60 minute timeline, you can expect to improve your communication and teamwork skills.As you progress from one room to the next, the challenges change, becoming increasingly harder to solve. If you're more on the competitive side, you can divide your team into several groups. The one that solves all the challenges the fastest wins this brain-tickling, team-building corporate activity. Keep in mind that escape rooms are best for smaller teams.
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- Location: Edinburgh, Glasgow
- Duration: approximately two hours
- Group size: minimum of 6
- Cost: ££
8. Archery: cultivate team precision and focus at Loch Lomond
The noble art of archery is perfect for any team passionate about overcoming challenges and hitting targets. With this team-building outdoor activity, you receive a modern recurve bow, a safety brief, and instructions. Then you’re clear for hitting the bulls-eye and racking up winning streaks. If you need more assistance, tutors will be available on-hand for additional instruction.Archery isn’t just about winning, however. It’s a team-building event that offers a chance to exercise focus and gives teams the quiet and calm to chat as you go.
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- Location: Loch Lomond, Glasgow and Edinburgh
- Duration: approximately two hours
- Group size: 6-80 people
- Cost: ££
9. Canoe river trip: a coast down Aviemore & Cairngorms
Think of this canoeing activity as the slower, less exhilarating version of white water rafting. It’s a day event for teams that enjoy a good boat ride, but don’t want to deal with the intensity that comes with navigating twisting rapids during their corporate team-building day. Or face the risk of falling in!Canoe river trips are suitable for people of all fitness levels. However, getting down river doesn’t mean paddling your own canoe. Instead, you’ll be gliding down the gentle waters of Aviemore & Cairngorm while chatting and collaborating with your canoeing partner—great for teams looking for a slower pace.
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- Location: Aviemore & Cairngorms
- Duration: half a day
- Group size: minimum of 6 people
- Cost: ££
10. Golfing at St. Andrews: Hit a hole-in-one at the world’s most prestigious golf course
It wouldn’t be right to talk about team-building in Scotland without mentioning a full day at the famous golf courses at St. Andrews. With their glorious rolling hills and slopes, these tees are the best there are. Just ask world famous golfers Tiger Woods, Andy Garcia, and Lee Trevino—they’ve all played at the St. Andrews open.Besides being one of the regular rotating venues for the Open Championship, there are numerous hotels nearby, such as the Fairmont St. Andrews. There, you can celebrate your net double bogeys and kick back in style in a luxury suite or at the bar.
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- Location: St. Andrews
- Duration: half a day to a full day
- Group size: most courses can accommodate approximately 150 players per day
- Cost: ££££
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