Thousands head to Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh

Image caption, The Highland Show has the best of farming, food and the countryside

Scotland's largest outdoor event is under way, as thousands of visitors begin to descend on the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh.

The annual event, at Ingliston, promises to showcase the best in farming, food and the countryside.

About 185,000 visitors are expected to flock to the show, which runs until Sunday, to watch livestock exhibitions and sample the foods on offer.

Events include celebrity chefs Hardeep Singh Kohli and Lady Claire Macdonald.

They are to hold cookery demonstrations at the Quality Meat Scotland stand.

'Hive of activity'

Lady Claire runs the Michelin-starred Kinloch Lodge restaurant and hotel on the Isle of Skye and won this year's National Farmers' Union Scotland Ambassador Award.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead and Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson are also expected to attend.

Last year's event was a sell-out, as over the four days 187,644 people visited more than 1,000 trade stands.

The first Highland Show was held in 1822 at Queensberry House in Edinburgh's Canongate, a site adjacent to today's Scottish Parliament building.

It was given its Royal title in 1948 by King George VI, father of the current Patron, Queen Elizabeth II.

David Dunsmuir, Royal Highland Show's manager, said: "The food hall is brimming with Scotland's finest food, the livestock area is a hive of activity with animals being groomed for the judging ring and our many exhibitors have everything ready for the first day of the show.

"Advance ticket sales are up which is great news - all we need now is for the sun to shine."