Below are answers to some of your most frequently asked questions. Please remember to request a trip dossier from us if you can't find the information you are looking for on the website. If you have any other questions, do let us know as we are happy to help. We will continue to update this page with new information so it will be a useful resource for you.

How can I find out if places are still available on a trip?

Please click on the trip you are interested in, then click on the Dates & Availability tab. If 'Limited Availability' or 'Places Available' is shown, then you can book onto that trip. Alternatively, use the search bar to find trips you might be interested in, then look for the coloured dots on the right side of the screen: green means 'Available', amber means 'Limited Availability' and red means 'Full. You can also check the Late Availability section of our homepage for trips with places available which start within the next 4-8 weeks.

Can I bring my child on a trip?

The minimum age to join one of our regular trips is 16, and under 18s must be accompanied by a parent. However, we do have a range of trips especially for families and we recommend these for family groups. These include both group trips and trips for individual families. For details of our family adventures, simply select 'Family' from the first drop down menu in the search funtion. You can also bring children on self-guided trips (such as the Great Glen Way) but you may wish to call to discuss their fitness levels before booking.

Can I bring my dog on a trip?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to bring dogs (or other pets!) on our regular trips. However, it is possible to bring dogs on some of our self-guided trips, such as the Great Glen Way and our trips which explore Cairngorms National Park & Speyside or Ben Nevis, Glencoe & Ardnamurchan. Please advise us at the time of booking if you intend to bring a dog.

Am I fit enough / experienced enough to join a trip?

All of the trip pages have a tab called 'Grading'. Please read this for details of the fitness / experience level required to join a trip. This information is also included in trip dossiers, which can be requested from the office. If you have any doubts about your suitability for a trip, please call us on +44 (0)131 625 6635. Being on a trip which is too challenging for you will hinder your enjoyment of it, and also impacts on other group members, so please call and let us offer you advice on which trip will be best for you.

Weather - When is the best time to visit Scotland?

When the sun shines in Scotland, it is the best place in the world to be! And although the Scottish climate is renowned for its variability, it is not nearly as rainy as you may think. However, even if you get caught in the rain, you will see waterfalls and rivers come to life, and the mountains take on an atmospheric appearance which can be very dramatic.

During spring and early summer, meadows of wild flowers bring an abundance of colours to the landscape and it is a great time to experience Scotland’s rich wildlife and birdlife. May and June are the driest and sunniest months and a recommended time to visit Scotland, with normal daytime temperatures of 15 – 18°C. The northerly latitude also means that Scotland enjoys 4 hours more daylight than London, with the most northerly regions barely getting dark during the weeks around midsummer.

July and August are the warmest months with normal daytime temperatures of 18 – 22°C. This is a popular time to visit Scotland but our trips are based in genuine wilderness areas far from the crowds. Scotland’s famous purple heather is at its best in late August, especially in areas such as the Cairngorms.

Late summer brings generally settled weather as we pass into September and October, with normal daytime temperatures of 14 – 18°C. Autumnal colours begin to emerge with birch and rowan trees throwing up particularly bright colours which complement the reddish hue of the hillsides, roamed by well-camouflaged red deer.

More questions and answers will appear here shortly ...