1 The Royal Highland Show

Ingliston, Edinburgh, Thu-Sun

Scotland's biggest outdoor lifestyle event celebrates its 175th anniversary with another four days showcasing the best of food, farming and rural life. As one of the UK's top agricultural shows, visitors can see thousands of the finest farmyard beasts in the country and watch sheep shearing, equestrian events and heavy horse turnouts. Elsewhere, attractions include shopping, food and outdoor-themed entertainment with a huge market, a cookery theatre, and a host of hands-on activities for children. Day tickets are £20-£25, accompanied kids free. www.royalhighlandshow.org

2 Solas Festival

The Bield at Blackruthven, Perthshire, Fri-Sun

The sixth year of this inclusive volunteer-run arts festival, dropping three days of music, film, literature, theatre, visual art and spoken word events onto a smallholding in Perthshire. With a strong emphasis performers from Scotland, musical entertainment includes The Vaselines, Honeyblood, RM Hubbert and Emma Pollock as well as Indian folk music star Raghu Dixit. Alongside debate from a range of writers and thinkers, there's also lots of fun stuff for families such as storytelling, circus skills, and woodland activities. Weekend tickets are £110 (day £45, children free). www.solasfestival.co.uk

3 Muckle Toon Adventure Festival

Langholm, Fri-Sun

Now in its third year, this weekend of events in the Scottish Borders mixes adrenalin-filled athletic activities such as cycling, running, walking and mountain biking with more relaxed events suitable for families. Centred on a 'Basecamp' at Langholm RFC (entry £5, £2 kids), attractions include food stalls, local crafts, bike maintenance and sports massages, plus a kid's zone with everything from soft play to crafting tables. Also dropping by is trails rider Danny MacAskill, who performs with his stunt team on Saturday before an exclusive Q&A evening at the Buccleugh Centre (£25). www.mtaf.co.uk

4 Cakefest

Royal Botanic Garden,

Edinburgh, Sun

Billed as a free day of cake, entertainment and Scotland's best food and drink, this uniquely tasty Midsummer's Day event will see amateur and professional bakers gather on the lawn outside Inverleith House to create an ambitious, fully edible 70 square metre map of Edinburgh entirely from cake. Once finished, a vote will be held to decide the best buildings and landmarks with onlookers then invited to taste them. Adding to the fun will be a street food and producers market, live performances and workshops where kids can help make mini vehicles, boats and people. cakefest.org.uk

5 Bothwell Beseiged

Bothwell Castle, Sun

Take a step back to the Wars of Independence with this re-enactment event focusing on medieval seige warfare. Running from noon to 4pm, visitors can discover more about the brutal techniques used by the English forces of Edward I, how soldiers and archers defended the castle, and what knights wore in battle. Ahead of Sunday's showpiece, there are also daily tours of current archaeological excavations shedding light on what life was like at one of Scotland's grandest castles 700 years ago. All events included with entry (£2.70-£4.50). http://bit.ly/1IOSOfX

6 Edinburgh International Film Festival

Edinburgh, until June 28

The programme notes for the 69th edition of the world's longest continually running film festival promise a busy, provocative, exciting and playful couple of weeks for cinema fans. Bristling with some of the best new releases from around the world, premiers include new Pixar effort Inside Out, Schwarzenegger zombie flick Maggie, and Ewan McGregor-as-Jesus drama Last Days In The Desert. Also worth a look are strands showcasing classic TV movies, the cinema of Mexico, and the early work of action supremo Walter Hill. www.edfilmfest.org.uk

7 Tough Mudder

Drumlanrig Castle, near Dumfries, Sat-Sun

With its succession of lung busting hills, ice colds lochs, electric shocks, and strength-sapping mud, it's fair to say this extreme 12-mile obstacle race is not for everyone. For those intrepid enough to try, there are still places up for grabs starting from an appositely eye-watering £135. There's also a 1-mile Mini Mudder obstacle course for kids aged 7-12 (entry costs £10), while grown-up Mudders can also hang around for an evening of celebration, music and prizes. https://toughmudder.co.uk/events/2015-scotland

8 Moray Walking Festival

Across Moray, from Thu

Take advantage of the longest days the year and get closer to nature by exploring the hills, forests, and paths of Speyside and the Moray coast. With nearly 40 events taking place over the next 10 days, there's plenty on offer for all levels of fitness and experience, including ranger-led wildlife hunts, guided walks uncovering the history and geology of the region, and outdoor activities such as white water rafting and cliff jumping. An accompanying programme of talks features an evening with author and 'microadventurer' Alastair Humphreys in Elgin Town Hall tomorrow. www.moraywalkingfestival.co.uk

9 Photography: A Victorian Sensation

National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, from Fri

This new exhibition explores the Victorian craze for the photograph, first introduced to a thrilled public in the 1830s. Included are a camera and kit owned by photographic pioneer William Henry Fox Talbot, as well as exhibits on cross-channel rival Louis Daguerre. Also on show are images of the 1851 Great Exhibition, some of the world's earliest stereophotographs, and works by David Hill and Robert Adamson, who established Scotland's first photography studio. Open until November, entry is £6.50-£10 (kids free). http://bit.ly/1dePDDE

10 Glasgow Drum Show

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sat

Fancy a shot at hitting stuff loudly without attracting the attention of Police Scotland's finest? This new event aimed at drumming fanatics from across Scotland could provide the perfect context. It's the largest show of its type in Glasgow, so visitors can try out the latest gear and see demonstrations from a range of leading drum and percussion brands. There are also a series of expert clinics with performers including Chris Coleman, who's played with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan and Prince. Tickets £10. www.glasgowdrumshow.com

Don't Miss

iPhoneography

Skypark, Glasgow, daily until July 24

This new exhibition of work by Glasgow School of Art graduate Riel Noir features a series of remarkable images created using only a smartphone camera and inexpensive mobile editing apps. The artist also leads an iPhone Photography workshop at Strathclyde University on July 27. www.facebook.com/artistRielNoir