Donald Thomson

Donald was personable and knowledgeable. I liked that he engaged with us as a group and individually. He is an excellent guide. I also appreciated that he didn't tell us too much, allowing us to experience the scenery, hikes and areas individually.

Donald was truly amazing. He really navigated some mobility and health issues in our group, as well as being neutral and supportive of family dynamics. He always had options that included everyone and it was very clear he wanted all of us to enjoy our holiday in a way that was meaningful and memorable. He was a wealth of knowledge - history, flora, fauna, folklore. I felt we were all in good hands and he was attentive to each of our separate needs/wants/desires. He was so good at giving us options on the fly, but also have things that were planned out. I really felt he gave us such great exposure to Skye we wouldn't have gotten on our own. By the end of the trip he felt like family - whether he wanted to be or not :).

Donald was fantastic! He had lots of historical information, knew so many neat places to visit, was such a good driver and did a wonderful job of accommodating our changing needs since we all experienced Covid.

Our family trip was a huge success, and a big part of that was Donald's insightful care of everyone's needs. Donald really calibrated our activities to match our group. His wisdom of the flora and fauna was terrific and added an important dimension to our walks/hikes. Stopping to share a beautiful poem along the way? Would have never expected that, and it was such a very special touch. Most of all, his passion for and appreciation of the beautiful Hebrides was infectious. I think we all fell a bit more in love with Scotland thanks to Donald. A huge thanks to him!

We would love to come back, Donald was a 10 out if 10

Donald was stellar! Highly recommend him!

Our guide Donald was top notch. He was extremely knowledgeable and approachable. He made sure to include all of our family group in decision making. We all felt he went above and beyond to make us comfortable and our trip a memorable experience.

Donald Thomson is a treasure. He is an incredible human being and a walking encyclopedia of all things Scotland.

Knowledgeable, great sense of humour, ability to organise and lead was superb both on the water and in the kitchen.

It was a privilege to have Donald as a guide. Not only is he an expert paddler and teacher, but his knowledge of the flora, fauna, history and language of the Highlands adds to that. He also has a lovely manner and I thank him for making the trip - I found myself inspired to do more kayaking.

Donald was awesome. He was patient, protective, knowledgeable, capable, trusting. Great guide. Took us were we needed to good and took excellent care of us.

Donald was incredibly knowledgeable on and off the water and a good natured host all round. He ensured we had a variety of paddle experiences across the week and the one session we couldn't get on the water he filled well with some land-based tourism. I always felt safe on the water, in what is naturally a more challenging environment.

We had a range of skill levels in our group and we all worked with the guides to enjoy ourselves. Thank you Donald & Paul

Our guides knew their stuff. They provided good information on the country and our skills in the water. Hints on improving our technique were beneficial and taken home for later. We could not ask for better guides and it was one of the reasons why we came back to Scotland from Australia to paddle the Scottish coast.

Attentive and reassuring!

Both Donald and Janek were fantastic, really knowledgeable and encouraging throughout.

Mark and Andy were excellent. They kept us really well informed on what was happening every day and taught us a lot about what they were looking at and why they made certain decisions. Out on the water, they both also taught us some new techniques (at least for me) and some of the practicalities of kayaking (such as tides). It was also great to get to know them and the different experiences they both brought to the trip. Really amazing team!

Managed expectations and provided safe but challenging routes. Knowledgeable and supportive which made the trip very positive. Worked well as a team.

Appreciated their attention and concern that I enjoy myself.

Clearly very experienced and great at sharing knowledge and helping build our skills

All three guides were amazing and full of knowledge. Felt in safe hands. They were also very attentive and always helped with issues or requests. I was really impressed with them all.

I understand and appreciate the efforts taken to bring the guides that you did in at short notice. Donald is surpassed in sea kayaking and his knowledge of the locations. Mike ditto and Cory brought more of the local insight. Beyond happy, with the patient, hospitality and guidance that we had. We are seeking to do more sea kayaking this as a result of the guides (all) and their enthusiastic, engaging approach. Our thanks, they made the trip!

Our guides were great! First we felt very safe in their very experienced company. We felt assured that they knew what they were doing and could interpret the sea and wind conditions professionally and well such that we could fully trust their decisions. Also, they were very efficient in giving clear instructions throughout the trip, including regarding setting up camp. They were very patient at our endless questions and and anxieties that might arise. Also, they were great at drip-feeding information rather than overloading us early on. Also, a bonus, they both had very easy interpersonal styles, really good at managing group dynamics, great senses of humour, including being able to tolerate gentle ribbing, and return the same.

Ali and Donald were first class guides and a great combination. I felt 100% safe at all times in what can be a rapidly changing environment. They took great care to make sure we were safe as a group and meticulous in their planning. Both had great knowledge of kayaking, history of Scotland and the islands - they were both brilliant guides and a lot of fun to be around, interested in the individuals as a group. They had a great balance of pushing us but remembering it was our holiday. 5/5 top draw guides!!!

Donald and Ali were outstanding in all ways.

Donald and Ali were great at giving advice on paddling. As Donald said he likes to "drip feed" information during the trip which was appreciated.

Incredible depth of experience. Extremely responsive. Kind and confidence boosting. Also a good duo with contrasting styles who worked in concert to bring out different aspects of the trip. Both were simply fab.

Mark and Donald are Absolutely brilliant. Nothing was too much trouble. Every day they went over and above what is required. Their knowledge, experience and willingness to share was fantastic. They are a credit to Wilderness Scotland.

Donald has years of experience and knowledge and made the bulk of the strategic decisions. Paul gave out technique tips. Between them they spanned the generations but complemented each other and worked very well as a team. Both very patient and good humoured with our group.

Both Donald and Myles were extremely knowledgeable and fantastic guides.

Myles and Donald are welcoming and friendly, offering instruction and tips and boosting confidence. So willing to share knowledge of the wildlife or geology or the island’s history as well as where your Skeg should be. They really are superb guides.

Both guides were exceptional and we were very lucky to have both Donald and Myles with so much experience and different knowledge, interests and personalities to bring to the trip. I always felt in very safe hands. They really did make it the success it was.

Myles and Donald are both well known for their sea kayaking expertise, and they are incredibly skilled guides. When I take a step back and reflect on the experience I made on this trip, it is unbelievable how much I could learn from both of them — about sea kayaking, expeditions, culture, history, wildlife, geology, plants. Still, everything is at ease, no pressure or lecturing at all, no constant chatting. Both notice precisely if or when someone is interested or not, and they give everyone time to explore situations on their own. Myles encouraging and cheerful attitude left everyone in the group relaxed and smiling; he also has the gift to make every task seem like a joy. Donald has so many amazing stories to tell, and you feel the incredible experience he has. He always takes care of the whole situation, observes and evaluates without fuzz, and his sometimes very subtle humour is simply amazing. Together they were an absolute dream team. It has been fantastic to be in their company for a week.

Donald and Paul make an awesome team. Both are great teachers, have a wealth of historical, wildlife & 'all things relating to Scotland' knowledge, they are very understanding and have a great sense of humour. Donald's ingenious dry paddling lesson resulted in me having an eureka moment and Paul went beyond the call of duty to ensure we had butter for our first breakfast when it had been accidentally left out of our provision box! So that, combined with their culinary skills, you couldn't ask for more.

Donald is really skilled as a leader and teacher. He is very good with people. He is also very knowledgeable about Scottish history, wildlife and culture which added a great deal of extra interest.

Paul is a great teacher and has excellent skills and knowledge about kayaking. He is interested in everyone and has a great sense of humour.

Both guides worked well together to make the trip a fantastic experience and also great fun.

Two great guides: Donald's experience and advice and Paul's enthusiasm made a good trip even better

Donald and Sarah were supportive in every way--they were attuned to everyone's needs while also modeling the importance of working as a group. They were knowledgable about paddling, history, and nature. They made the trip fun, safe, and pushed me to be a stronger and more expert paddler. Fabulous job all around.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:
Thanks so much for your feedback. As a regular traveller on our sea kayaking trips we really value your input to help us make improvements, and we hope we'll be welcoming you back again in the future for some more adventures.

Both Donald and Sarah were excellent, supportive and genuinely nice folks

Donald and Sarah were fantastic - they clearly function well as a team and I appreciated how Donald (while clearly in charge) ensured there was space for Sarah to use her strong leadership skills as well. I very much appreciated a break from decision making, cooking and organizing. I felt safe and cared for.

Donald and Howard are excellent - hard to see what else they could have done.

Couldn't fault the guides. Very knowledgable and experienced. The group always felt safe in their hands and following their decisions. Loved hearing all about their adventures. On a particularly windy day we managed to have an afternoon of focusing on sea kayaking skills. I found this really useful and enjoyed putting my new skills to use on the following days. Donald's tubes were also a highlight! Donald and Howard were easy to get along with, as was the rest of the group, which made the trip that bit more enjoyable.

Superb day to day palnning and communication
Instilled confidence amongst the less experienced like me.
Affable and very interesting conversation

Outstanding. Excellent and any other superlative you may wish to add. Donald and Paul were an outstanding team in every way. They were both incredibly hard working, cheerful, friendly supportive. They had a difficult task as the winds were strong and two days we could not kayak. They turned into tour guides and introduced us to the Isles of Lewis and Harris.
The 3 days on expedition were only possible because they came up with a routes which was safe and fascinating despite the still strong winds and considerable fetch. They must have worked through dozens of scenarios to achieve the trip that they finally offered.

NO Words are adequate to praise their efforts.

The two guides were excellent, they really make the trip memorable. The enthusiasm they show really makes the whole holiday special

Guide was great, though I think his initial briefing could have been more comprehensive. My husband capsized early on - prior to any practice of use of spray decks..... I've just done a days kayaking off Studland and the guide there got us to practice release of spray decks etc early on.

My skeg kept sticking although this was not initially diagnosed - leading to a slightly frustrating time until it was sorted. Donald was the ultimate professional in how he dealt with it.
Very clear instructions to us and incredibly knowledgeable about all things kayaking and all things Scottish.
Great locations chosen and very conscientious in looking after us - eg he put up the emergency shelter for us at lunchtime when it was cold and made sure we always had midge cream when we needed it.




TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE

We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your kayaking trip with us. Our guides alway try and strike a balance between providing enough information and trying not to provide too much information on an initial briefing. This is to try and not overload clients on the first day and is also based in the knowledge that they are on hand to assist whenever may be required on an individual level.

We appreciate that some clients may wish more information earlier and your guide will certainly take this feedback into consideration for the future - thank you.

Donald was an engaging, warm and knowledgable guide. He had a great knowledge of all things Scottish and engaging with the wide range of topics touched on during our holiday. Despite my inexperience I felt completely save in his hands. However I did do a wet entry at the introduction on the first afternoon due to trying to attempt to practice an emergency stop without being told to brace the legs.
I did appreciate his selection of a different area or loch each day and restaurant/pubs for the evening meal. All were good and had great views. This really made a great end to each day.
He was always keen for us to be happy/warm/comfortable with what we were doing. So much so that on day he towed my wife and myself across a sea loch due to sudden winds/swell beyond my capabilities which he quickly recognised.


TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

We are delighted to hear that you had a great time your kayaking trip with us. Our guides alway try and strike a balance between providing enough information and trying not to provide too much information on an initial briefing. This is also based in the knowledge that they are on hand to assist whenever may be required on an individual level. It is good to hear that you felt perfectly safe with our guide throughout the trip and that a hearty meal finished off a great day on the water.

Good sense of humour, able to be reassuring whilst challenging at the the same time. In retrospect it may have been useful to have a " I know this is obvious but if you capsize this is what to do, this is how we will indicate rocks etc" at the very beginning of the the trip as it was only during the trip that some people seemed less sure of what to do or expect. Maybe a brief mention of what to do in choppy seas, near rocks etc before getting there would be a useful to remind to less confident paddlers( this was not a problem to us but others did say that they would have appreciated this information)

Competence already mentioned.

Don and Sarah worked well togther. They both looked after us and inspired great confidence!

Both Sam and Donald were fantastic. Engaging, informative and friendly. Thank you!

both Sam and Donald were enthusiastic and good company on the water and around camp. The routes were very suitable for the group and weather. I was prepared to paddle more but it was a relaxed trip and I enjoyed it as such: not an epic journey plugging into waves for hours!

Sam our first guide set a relaxed holiday mood, and Donald injected the organisation needed for a multi-day camping trip. Both were great, but the use of two successive guides for the same trip (though caused in this occasion by the illness of another guide) should be avoided if possible. Their different priorities meant that we ended up returning to the van on Day 2 and again on Day 3, retracing earlier routes and taking away from the concept of the trip as a single journey.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONCE:

Thanks so much for your feedback. I’m sorry you did have 2 different guides for this trip, as you mentioned it was due to ill health and is not something that normally happens. The routes were planned to make sure we were paddling in the best conditions and that does sometimes mean retracing our steps although we do try and avoid that when we can.

Donald would be the best ever kayak guide I have had on one of these kayak touring holidays. We have been on 5 now in various countries. He would be in the top 1% around the world

Better than excellent. Donald was patient and calm throughout the whole trip. He was very generous with his knowledge of kayaking, totally calm and in control when I decided to see an underwater view , great sense of humor, we not only learnt so much but have to say that this was the best trip and the best quide we have had. W

Donald Thomson was an excellent guide and made for a truly great trip despite the occasional spell of dodgy weather! Safety was paramount. Extremely well looked after throughout. Great decision making, great organisation and great company! Donald then surpassed all expectations by bringing us a pod of dolphins on the final morning of the trip. It rained but..who cared?!! A big thank you to Donald, for everything.

delighted to receive individual forward stroke instruction

Top team
Despite not seeing an otter!

we missed two days due to weather being too windy, but the guides priority was our safety, the whole group where happy with the decisions they made. Their extensive knowledge of the area meant that when we were on the water we explored the area fully and had good 'brewing' stops.

Both Donald and Judy were excellent

Absolutely love them

Two superb guides who really made the trip

Guiding simply could not have been bettered.

Friendly, committed and very professional guides. Especially impressed with Donald being able to come it last minute as a replacement and running it so well.

Both Donald and Paul were brilliant, and together they made a super team! We couldn't have asked for anything better.

Very professional and experienced kayak guides, knowledgeable about the local culture and wildlife, excellent trailer-driving skills :)

Donald is an excellent, confidence-inducing and good fun guide.

Donald and Tim were both excellent guides who complimented each other and looked after us really well. They were helpful, organised, knowledgeable and great fun. They even managed to make the day where we could not kayak at all interesting and enjoyable. Thank you both again.

Donald Thomson and Tim Willis were terrific guides. They were highly skilled, organized, informative, kind and confidence inspiring. They did an excellent job adapting to changing weather conditions. They were also a lot of fun.

Clearly very experienced and good company, while providing a lot of information on the area.

Professional accomplished reassuring and wonderful hosts with humor

Paul and Donald were great!.Got a lot of tips to refine my paddling, and always felt safe on the water, even in rougher conditions. The 1:4 guide:client ratio really helps too.

Knowledgable, supportive and provided flexibility when required.

Both Donald and Paul provided excellent guidance on our day trips, providing paddling tips. They also were calm when guiding us on the coast when the wind picked up-we were capable but needed confidence. They were also organised without being pushy, we never felt rushed. Good job!

Friwnfly, knowledgeable, well preared and good fun

Donald and Sarah were wonderful to paddle with. Their knowledge of the area and the history were incredible, and they taught me a lot more about Scotland than I was expecting to learn! Both guides were very fun and funny, and they handled the group effortlessly. Given the nature of trips that I've seen or lead before, I was very pleasantly surprised that they let the paddlers with more experience have some free reign. I was especially impressed that they slipped in a large handful of moments where everyone got a chance to lead or practice different skills.

Happy to have had Donald as a guide - knowledgeable, experienced & highly hospitable!

I consider myself very lucky to have had Donald as my guide. Patient, knowledgeable, expert coach, good company. First Class

See first question

Donald Thomson respect our wishes so good, an excellent guide with very much Knowledge. I like him very much. Thank you Donald. I hope we see us again on another trip

They were very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. They were happy to give paddling advice and instruction when asked as well. That was much appreciated.

they were friendly and helpful and had to deal with challenging weather conditions, they did their best despite the bad weather. Well organised and good standard of paddling, offered good tips for kayaking techniques

Donald and Sarah were really great!! Very knowledgeable, very friendly, were not fazed by the poor weather conditions. Made us all feel comfortable and happy at all times!

Donald was very knowledgeable and helpful.

Excellent! Perfectly prepared, competent, skilled, considerate, great sense of humor.

Thank you Donald, we had a great time! Your knowledge not only about sea kayaking but also about the islands, history, etc. was outstanding.