these are my interpretations of a variety of old steps that i have found from various texts
this is not intended to be an exhaustive list, rather it is my way of sharing a part of our heritage and hopefully through this as a means of preserving it

Gareth Mitchelson 7 August 2003


Bar 1



Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1


Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1


Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1
Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1


Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1

Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1
Bar 2

Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1


Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1


Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1


Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1



Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1


Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1
Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1
Bar 2
Bar 3



Bar 4


Bar 1



Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1
Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1


Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1
Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1
Bar 2
Bars 3 & 4


Bar 1
Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1
Bar 2
Bars 3 & 4
Bars 5 & 6
Bar 7
Bar 8


Bar 1
Bar 2


Bars 3 & 4
Bars 5 & 6
Bar 7
Bar 8


Bar 1
Bar 2
Bars 3 & 4
Bars 5 & 6
Bar 7
Bar 8


Bar 1
Bar 2
Bars 3 & 4
Bars 5 & 6
Bar 7
Bar 8


Bars 1 to 6
Bar 7
Bar 8


Bars 1 to 3
Bar 4



Bar 1


Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1
Bars 2 & 3
Bar 4


Bar 1


Bar 2
Bars 3 & 4


Bar 1
Bar 2



Bars 3 & 4











Bar 1




Bar 2
Bars 3 & 4


Bar 1



Bar 2
Bars 3 & 4


Bar 1


Bar 2
Bars 3 & 4


Bar 1
Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bars 1 to 3
Bar 4


Bar 1
Bar 2



Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1



Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1
Bar 2
Bars 3 & 4


Bar 1


Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4





Bar 1



Bar 2



Bars 3 & 4


Bar 1


Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1
Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1



Bar 2



Bar 3
Bar 4










Bar 1


Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1



Bar 2
Bar 3


Bar 4


Bar 1



Bar 2
Bars 3 & 4


Bar 1
Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1



Bars 2 to 4


Bars 1 & 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1
Bar 2


Bars 3 & 4


Bars 1 & 2
Bars 3 & 4


Bars 1 to 4


Bar 1



Bar 2
Bar 3
Bar 4


Bar 1


Bar 2
Bar 3

Bar 4


Bar 1
Bar 2




Bars 3 & 4
Bars 5 & 6
Bar 7

Bar 8


Bar 1


Bar 2



Bars 3 & 4
Bars 5 & 6
Bar 7
Bar 8


Bar 1


Bar 2




Bars 3 & 4
Bars 5 & 6
Bar 7
Bar 8

Step 1 (m f 2, b f 4)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (2)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (3)
hop LF take RF to 3rd aeriel pos (4)
repeat bar 1 on opposite foot
repeat bar 1
execute fling turn turning R

Step 2 (m f 3)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (2)
execute toe & heel with RF (3 4)
repeat bar 1 on opposite foot
repeat bar 1
execute fling turn turning R

Step 3 (m f 4)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (2)
execute 2 reverse back steps (3 4)
execute 2 fling shakes with RF
execute 4 back steps
execute fling turn turning R

Step 4 (m f 5)
execute shedding RF
execute fling turn turning L
execute bar 1 on the opposite foot
execute bar 2on the opposite foot

Step 5 (m f 6, b f 16)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd aeriel pos (2)
execute 2 back steps (3 4)
repeat bar 1 on the opposite foot
repeat bar 1
execute fling turn turning R

Step 6 (m f 7)
execute first 3 counts of shedding (1 2 3)
execute 1 backstep (4)
repeat bar 1 on opposite foot
repeat bar 1
execute fling turn turning R

Step 7 (m f 9)
shedding RF
execute 2 reverse backsteps (1 2)
execute 2 backsteps (3 4)
shedding RF
execute fling turn turning R

Step 8
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd aeriel pos (2)
execute fling share RF (3 4)
repeat bar 1 on opposite foot
repeat bar 1
execute fling turn turning R

Step 9 (m m 3)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd aeriel pos (2)
execute heel & toe RF (3 4)
repeat bar 1 on opposite foot
repeat bar 1
execute fling turn turning R

Step 10 (m m 5)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd aeriel pos (2)
hop LF place RF on heel (3 pause 4)
repeat bar 1 on opposite foot
repeat bar 1
execute fling turn turning R

Step 11(m m 7)
spread with RF in 4th pos (1)
hop LF (2)
Spring RF extend LF (3)
Spring LF extend RF (4)
repeat bar 1 on opposite foot
repeat bar 1
execute fling turn turning R

Step 12 (m m 9)
spread with RF in 4th pos (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd aerial (2)
execute 2 backsteps (3 4)
repeat bar 1 on opposite foot
repeat bar 1
execute fling turn turning R

Step 13 (m m 10)
execute fling turn to the left
repeat bar 1
repeat bar 1
execute 4 backsteps

Step 14 (m d 2)
shedding RF
shedding LF
spread RF 4th (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd aerial pos (2)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aerial pos (3)
hop LF take RF to 3rd aerial pos (4)
4 back steps

Step 15 (m d 3)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (2)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (3)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (4)
fling turn turning Left
4 backsteps
fling turn turning right

Step 16 (m d 4)
fling turn turning L
bar 2 of the crossover step
toe heel LF RF
fling turn turning L

Step 17 (m d 5)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (2)
execute heel toe RF (3 4)
repeat bar 1 on opposite foot
toe & heel LF, RF
4 backsteps

Step 18 (m d 6)
execute fling turn turning left
4 rocks
execute fling turn turning right
4 rocks

Step 19 (m d 9)
3 backsteps then hop & hold the position
repeat bar 1 on the oposite foot
8 backsteps making a complete turn by the right

Step 20 (m d 10)
execute fling turn turning left
4 backsteps
execute fling turn turning right
4 backsteps

Step 21 (m j 3)
shedding RF
toe heel LF RF
repeat bars 1 & 2 on the opposite foot
repeat bars 1 & 2
shedding LF
fling turn turning left

Step 22 (m j 4)
shedding RF
spread with RF in 4th pos (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd aerial (2)
execute 2 backsteps (3 4)
repeat bars 1 & 2 on the opposite foot
repeat bars 1 & 2
shedding LF
fling turn turning left

Step 23 (m j 5)
2 fling shakes RF
4 rocks
repeat bars 1 & 2 on the opposite foot
repeat bars 1 & 2
shedding LF
fling turn turning left

Step 24 (m j 7)
toe heel RF, RF
4 rocks
repeat bars 1 & 2 on the opposite foot
repeat bars 1 & 2
shedding LF
fling turn turning left

Step 25 (m j 9)
cross over step bars 1 to 6
shedding LF
fling turn turning left

Step 26 - commonly known as the first step
shedding RF, LF, RF
fling turn to right (=shedding with LF making complete turn by the right during counts 2 3 4)

Step 27 (s f 2)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (2)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (3)
hop LF take RF to 3rd aeriel pos (4)
4 backsteps
repeat bars 1 & 2 on the opposite foot

Step 28 (s f 3)
shedding RF
toe & heel LF, RF, LF, RF
fling turn to the left

Step 29 (s f 4)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (2)
execute a fling shake with RF to 4th intermediate pos (3 4)
4 rocks
repeat bars 1 & 2 on the opposite foot

Step 30 (s f 6)
shedding RF
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (2)
execute a reverse back step (3)
hop RF point LF in 3rd pos (4)
repeat bars 1 & 2 on the opposite foot

Step 31(s f 6a)
as step 30 but on bar 2 count 3 release LF to 2nd aerial pos low and you may replace the spring with a step RF across in front of LF prior to the release

Step 32 (s f 6b)
 as step 31 but pause bar 2 count 2 rythm becomes:
bar 1 (1 2 3 4) bar 2 (1 [2] &3 4)

Step 33 (s f 5)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (2)
take the RF to 3rd aerial pos (&)
hop LF take RF to 4th int aerial pos (3)
hop LF take RF to 3rd aeriel pos (4)
4 backsteps
repeat bars 1 & 2 on the opposite foot

Step 34 (s f 5a)
Hop LF take RF to 4th int aerial pos (1)
hop LF execute highcut in front RF (2&)
Hop LF take RF to 4th int aerial pos (3)
hop LF take RF to 3rd aeriel pos (4)
4 backsteps
repeat bars 1 & 2 on the opposite foot

Step 35 (s f 7)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (2)
execute a fling shake with RF to 4th intermediate pos (3 4)
fling turn to right
repeat bars 1 & 2 on opposite foot

Step 36 (s f 7a)
shedding RF
exetute 2 fling shakes RF
4 rocks
fling turn right

Step 37 (s f 8)
shedding RF RF RF
fling turn right

Step 38 (b f 5)
shedding RF
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (2)
hop LF point RF in 4th int aerial (3)
hop LF execute highut in front RF (4)
shedding RF
fling turn right

Step 39 (b f 6)
hop LF point RF to 2nd pos (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (2)
hop LF place RF in 4th pos on the heel (3)
hop LF point RF in 3rd pos (4)
repeat bar 1 on opposite foot
repeat bar 1
fling turn right

Step 40 (b f 7)
heel toe RF in 5th pos
fling turn right
repeat bars 1 & 2 on oppsite foot

Step 41 (b f 8)
toe heel RF in 4th int position (toe inverted) (1 2)
hop LF point RF 4th int pos (3)
hop LF take RF to 3rd aerial (4)
repeat bar 1 on opposite foot
repeat bar 1
fling turn right

Step 42 (b f 9)
ast step 41 but bar 4 4 shuffles instead of fling turn

Step 43 (b f 10)
spread to 2nd pos (1)
jump feet together RF in 3rd (2)
spread to 2nd pos (3)
jump feet together LF in 3rd (4)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (2)
hop LF place RF in 5th int pos on the heel (3)
hop LF point RF in 3rd pos (4)
repeat bars 1 & 2 on the opposite foor

Step 44 (b f 12)
hop LF point RF in 4th pos (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd aerial pos (2)
2 backsteps (3 4)
repeat bar 1 on the opposite foot
repeat bar 1
fling turn right

Step 45 (b f 13)
shedding RF
2 backsteps then 2 reverse backsteps
shedding RF
fling turn right

Step 46 (b f 14)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (2)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (3)
hop LF take RF to 3rd aeriel pos (4)
reverse back step
hop & hold position
reverse backstep
hop & hold position
shedding RF
fling turn right

Step 47 (b f 15)
as step 30 but pause bar 2 count 2
counting becomes:
bar 1 (1 2 3 4) bar 2 (1 [2] 3 4)

Step 48 (b f 16a)
as step 6 but release to 2nd aerial low on after backstep

Step 49 (b f 16aa)
toe heel RF (1 2)
hop LF take RF to 3rd aerial pos (3)
backstep (4)
repeat bar 1 on opposite foot
repeat bar 1
fling turn right

Step 50 (b f 17)
hop LF point RF to 2nd pos (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (2)
hop LF point RF in 4th pos (3)
hop LF take RF to3rd aerial pos (4)
repeat bar 1 on opposite foot
repeat bar 1 counts 3 4 (1 2)
drop LF take RF to 3rd rear aerial (3)
drop RF take LF to 3rd rear aerial (4)
4 backsteps

Step 51 (b f 18)
hop LF point RF to 2nd pos (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (2)
hop LF point RF in 4th pos (3)
highcut in front RF (4)
4 rocks (as style danced in the Sailor's Hornpipe)
repeat bars 1 & 2 on the opposite foot

Step 52 (b f 19)
3 rocks (hornpipe style) then release LF to 2nd aerial low
repeat bar 1 on the opposite foot
repeat bar 1
fling turn right

Step 53(b f 20)
hop LF point RF to 2nd pos (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aeriel pos (2)
then repeat counts 1 2 (3 4)
note: make 1/2 turn by the right on counts 1 2 3 4
repeat bar 1 3 times more

Step 54 (b f 21)
bars 1 & 2 as of step 53
dance bar 1 of step 53 but without the turn
4 backsteps

Step 55 (b f 22)
shedding RF making 1/2 turn turn by the left
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF taking RF to 3rd rear aerial making 1/4 turn by the left (2)
repeat counts 1 2 (3 4)
repeat bars 1 & 2 using the same feet

Step 56 (b f 23)
shedding RF LF
fling turn left right

Step 57 (b f 24)
fling turn left, right, left , right

Step 58 (b f 25)
hop LF point RF in 2nd pos (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aerial low (2)
assemble RF in front (3)
change (4)
repeat bar 1 on opposite foot
repeat bar 1
fling turn right

Step 59 (b f 26)
hop LF point RF in 2nd (1)
hop LF slide RF to 3rd (2)
repeat 1 2 with opposite foot (3 4)
as bar 1 but take feet to 3rd rear pos
take LF to 3rd rear aerial pos (1)
3 backsteps (2 3 4)
fling turn right

Step 60 (b f 27)
shedding RF
hop LF point RF in 2nd pos (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aerial pos (2)
spring onto RF travelling to right corner take LF to 3rd rear areial low (3)
spring LF take RF to 3rd (4)
repeat bars 1 & 2 on opposite feet
repeat bars 1 & 2
take LF to 3rd rear aerial pos (1)
3 backsteps (2 3 4)
fling turn right

Step 61 (b f 28)
hop LF point RF to 4th int (1)
hop LF take RF to 3rd rear aerial (2)
repeat counts 1 2 (3 4)
hop LF place RF on heel in 2nd pos (1)
hop LF place RF on toe in inverted 2nd pos (2)
hop LF place RF on heel in 4th int pos (3)
hop LF point RF in 3rd (4)
repeat bars 1 & 2 on opposite feet
repeat bars 1 & 2
fling turn fight
4 backsteps

Step 62 (b f 29)
first 3 counts of shedding RF (1 2 3)
take RF to 3rd rear aerial pos then extend RF to 2nd aerial pos low (&4)
drop RF into 3rd taking LF to 3rd rear (1)
drop onto LF take RF to 3rd aerial pos low (2)
drop onto RF take LF to 3rd aerial pos low (&)
drop onto LF leave RF in 5th (3)
hop LF fling shake RF to 4th int (4)
repeat bars 1 & 2 on opposite feet
repeat bars 1 & 2
fling turn fight
4 backsteps

  Where the steps have been listed for bars 1 to 4 only then bars 5 to 8 are danced by repeating bars 1 to 4 using the opposite foot.

It is said that the dances were originally performed with the dancers wearing hard shoes (ie ghillie brogues) and not dancing shoes. In this case all positions would not have been as tight as they are currently danced

It has been said that in their original form, and especially when wearing hard shoes, pointing to 2nd position resembled more a spread of weight between the feet, flat on the ground at the sides.

The steps above have not been listed in any particular order.
References m f:'Donald Collection,' Edinburgh City Library; Copy of a Letter from D.G. MacLennan to Mr H.R. Foss, 5.8.55. Highland Fling
b f:
m m: 'Donald Collection,' Edinburgh City Library; Copy of a Letter from D.G. MacLennan to Mr H.R. Foss, 5.8.55. Marquis of Huntly's Highland Fling
m d: 'Donald Collection,' Edinburgh City Library; Copy of a Letter from D.G. MacLennan to Mr H.R. Foss, 5.8.55. Delvine Side Highland Fling
b f: [2] Flett, J.F. and T.M., Traditional Dancing in Scotland, 1964

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