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    Dan Parker

    Dan Parker

    Enthusiastic | Passionate | Bikeaholic

    Mini Bio

    Originally from mid-Wales, I spent most of my teenage years exploring the local crags, trails and rivers in search of new adventures. I have lived in the highlands for over a decade now and I love exploring new remote regions of this beautiful country.

    I am lucky enough to call Aviemore home with my young family where I enjoy spending long days on the bike looking for singletrack gold.

    Favourite Place to Play

    Torridon was one of the first places I visited before moving up to Scotland, and the scenery just blew me away. I think for this reason it has a special place in my heart.

    Not a lot of People Know This

    I used to be fluent in Welsh, sadly I don’t get to use it much in Scotland so my vocabulary is rapidly decreasing.

    What Fellow Travellers Say About Dan

    Our guides, Dan Parker and Joanna Lockwood, did an amazing job. They kept us very well-informed throughout every day with ride maps and details, clear explanations, and good fun, too. They made a great team, and kept the tour moving very smoothly. We know they did a ton of work "behind the scenes", and because of that, the whole tour went off without a hitch. Very professional, knowledgeable and just fun to be with on the road. "Cat herders extraordinaire"!

    Stephen Armstrong
    Road Cycling - The Five Countries Tour
    Reviewed on 14/09/2023

    I have done tours with many different bicycle tour companies. Dan and Jo are among the best tour leaders I have encountered. Professional yet friendly and part of the “team” as Dan often referred to the group. Dan and Jo have set the bar very high for any future Wilderness tours.

    Suresh Persaud
    Road Cycling - The Five Countries Tour
    Reviewed on 31/08/2023

    daily briefing - good idea
    Lads had Great patience.
    Guides did a terrific job and are very likeable and interested in the group all the time.
    Not much more I could suggest. I ask lots of questions (by nature) and they coped well.

    I go on these tours, and I normally manage to get lost - but this time got good directions and garmin worked a treat (except when we got to Foyers) and just wanted to finish - wasted half an hour looking for the boat ramp. Very very Minor issue though. Just mentioning it for something to say.
    I was probably told at the start to ignore the garmin at the end of the ride - but I may not have been listening (a bit deaf - wink) - but there were others looking for the ramp too. :)

    Ian Currie
    Road Cycling - Highland Coast to Coast
    Reviewed on 30/07/2023

    I loved my time with Dan and Simon. From the very first minute, I felt very comfortable with them and very quickly I knew I could totally trust them. They put a lot of effort in communicating the upcoming safety hazards to keep us safe (and probably so that they don't end up losing their jobs, haha!), but also effectively pointed out the upcoming highlights, climbs, descents, etc. I just looked at some of the pictures they took along the way, some were really amazing!! good job. Disclaimer - this was my first bike trip, so I can't compare with anything else, but pretty sure they set the bar pretty high for managing a cycling tour.

    Jean-Francois Blain
    Road Cycling - Highland Coast to Coast
    Reviewed on 14/07/2023

    Both Dan and Sam were awesome. They were organized, prompt, positive, upbeat, fun and kept the group moving from place to place as needed. One of them was always nearby should there have been the need for help. They each spent time socializing and/or riding with different team members, making sure everyone's needs were being well met.
    I'd be very happy to do another trip with this duo.

    jana marshall
    Road Cycling - Outer Hebrides
    Reviewed on 01/07/2023

    Dan Parker is an excellent guide. He made the trip fun and he was also knowledgeable about the areas we cycled with respect to history and current events. He made our trip enjoyable and memorable. Loved the Callanish Stones photos - thank you Dan!
    Sam is also an excellent guide, as driver and organizer of bikes, snacks, etc. He made the trip fun and he was also very knowledgeable about the history and politics of Scotland. Still humming the tune "Belter" by Gerry Cinnamon - thanks Sam!

    Dave Coutanche
    Road Cycling - Outer Hebrides
    Reviewed on 01/07/2023

    Dan and Sam were delightful and very helpful and supportive. Great team. They were also very knowledgeable and able to talk about the OH and the culture.

    Andy Brittain
    Road Cycling - Outer Hebrides
    Reviewed on 30/06/2023

    Dan and Sam went above and beyond to sort out experiences beyond the cycling such as visits to the Harris Weavers and Mill and time to swim at Luskentyre. We could see them constantly working in the background to ensure everything worked to plan.

    Steve Pole
    Road Cycling - Outer Hebrides
    Reviewed on 29/06/2023

    Simon and Dan provided just the right level of guidance. We were free to cycle at our own pace, stopping to admire the views or to take photos, knowing that we would regroup at coffee and lunch stops.
    When our planned coffee stop was unexpectedly closed Simon quickly arranged a splendid replacement where a tray of delicious cakes and hot drinks were provided along with towels to dry off after the only rain shower of the holiday.

    Margaret Cockburn
    Road Cycling - Highland Coast to Coast
    Reviewed on 28/06/2023

    Tour leader Dan was knowledgeable and helpful with all aspects. Nice guy who worked hard to make this trip work. Good cyclist too - cared about our safety

    Tim Armytage
    Road Cycling - Outer Hebrides
    Reviewed on 28/06/2023

    Dan and Tom were great. They listened to us and matched the rides to our abilities. They were friendly and supportive. They were great company as well. Dan is very knowledgeable about the route and the different stages. I learned a lot about STP from him :-)
    Tom is a great couch on the bike. Gave me great advice for future riding. Thank you guys!

    Fadi Nicolas
    23WSPD Private Departure
    Reviewed on 09/05/2023

    Dan (Bear) was the best!!! We’d hire him again. Great!!!!

    Matthew Myers
    Wilderness Walking - Autumn Highlands
    Reviewed on 10/11/2022

    They went above and beyond to secure an e-bike for me on Islay.

    Claire Tinker
    Road Cycling - Arran, Islay & Jura
    Reviewed on 05/09/2022

    Dan and Sam were great. Lots of fun and very knowledgeable about the landscape around us.

    David Soden
    Road Cycling - Outer Hebrides
    Reviewed on 29/08/2022

    Competant and friendly guides, who made the trip a great experience.

    Karen Soden
    Road Cycling - Outer Hebrides
    Reviewed on 28/08/2022

    The garmin's should be strongly recommended. They were offered if we wanted them but they were important as the group did not stay together. If a guide isn't there a garmin should be with the biker.

    Wes Moore
    Road Cycling - Arran, Islay & Jura
    Reviewed on 25/08/2022

    They were great. Even though they had not worked together previously there was a "team" attitude. They also had very different personalities, backgrounds, and interests, and that added to the breath of the group experience.

    Lisa Kennan-Meyer
    Road Cycling - Outer Hebrides
    Reviewed on 22/08/2022

    Despite them having not visited the trip destinations before, they got everything right, showed great attention to detail and coped admirably well with a group whose cycling experience / abilities were very wide ranging

    Louise Miskell
    Road Cycling - Arran, Islay & Jura
    Reviewed on 22/08/2022

    Very impressed with both guides. They went the extra mile to make sure that all the guests were comfortable and catered for. As per other trips, they were fed a curved-ball in terms of guest mix of abilities - but they managed this well. Both Dan and Andy were thoughtful, well-organised, chatty and caring. Can't fault.

    Mike Nash
    Road Cycling - Arran, Islay & Jura
    Reviewed on 22/08/2022

    Dan was wonderful. He was so patient with me as I still have some cycling fears..wonderful young man.

    Carla Annunziato
    Road Cycling - Outer Hebrides
    Reviewed on 14/08/2022

    Both guides are attentive, encouraging, helpful and went beyond to keep everyone happy and enjoying the trip

    Penny Macfarlane
    Road Cycling - Outer Hebrides
    Reviewed on 12/08/2022

    Guides were great just seemed stressed by logistics of the ferries and the need to find alternate transportation

    Bruce Kobal
    Road Cycling - Outer Hebrides
    Reviewed on 10/08/2022

    They were very eager to meet the needs of each of the guests. They were great at adjusting to unexpected events that arose during the rides. But the logistics of the ferries and the fact that the van did not accommodate everybody seemed to be a stressor
    Overall I would be very happy to be on another trip guided by either Dan or Sam or both. They were knowledgeable and made the trip fun

    Bruce Kobal
    Road Cycling - Outer Hebrides
    Reviewed on 10/08/2022

    They were very nice and professional and helpfull.

    Tami Arad
    Mountain Biking - The Hebridean Trail
    Reviewed on 24/07/2022

    Really good teaching

    Fiona Dodd
    Open Canoeing - Canoeing the Scottish Highlands
    Reviewed on 09/06/2021

    Dan and Neil were both great guides; calm, friendly, patient and supportive, and clearly had great expertise and teaching skills. They planned ahead and managed unforeseen circumstances effectively.

    Maggie Bartlett
    Open Canoeing - Canoeing the Scottish Highlands
    Reviewed on 07/06/2021

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