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    Gordon Anderson

    Active | Mind & Body

     

    Mini Bio

    I guess I have followed a diverse career path. Starting out as a research scientist, I then spent many years working in the corporate IT world. In 2009, I opted to put my lifetime’s experience of hillwalking to use and become a walking guide – one of the best decisions of my life.

    I am passionate about the Scottish Highlands. Having been brought up on Skye and in Inverness, I have a native’s understanding of the landscape and culture of the area and I am always seeking ways to broaden my knowledge of geology, flora, fauna and history. I really enjoy sharing this passion and knowledge and get a big kick from seeing how this helps people to appreciate the places I love.

    Place to Play

    A really tough question, but if I had to pick one it would be Glencoe for its blend of outstanding scenery, nature and human history.

    Not a lot of people know this but

    I have met, on separate occasions, four Nobel Prize winners – I wouldn’t bet on any of them remembering me, though!

    Following a stream of customer complaints, Apple decided to make the iPod Shuffle function less random so that it appeared more random.

    Qualifications Read More
    • Mountain Leader (s)

    Mountain Training Association Profile

    Experience Read More

    I have been walking the Scottish mountains all my life, completing a second round of the Munros in 1997. I left my corporate career to become a full-time guide in 2009 and have been working exclusively in the Scottish Highlands since then.

    Biggest Adventure Read More

    I have been walking the Scottish mountains all my life, completing a second round of the Munros in 1997. I left my corporate career to become a full-time guide in 2009 and have been working exclusively in the Scottish Highlands since then.

    Specialist Subject Read More
    • Geology
    • Scottish History
    • Whisky
    • Molecular Biology – (see Publications!)
    Publications Read More
    • Gordon J. Anderson, Montserrat Bach, Reinhard Luhrmann & Jean D. Beggs (1990)
    • Nature 342(6251):819-21 “Conservation between yeast and man of a protein associated with U5 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein”
    • Marie Lossky, Gordon J. Anderson, Steven P. Jackson & Jean D. Beggs (1988) Cell 51(6):1019-26 “Identification of a yeast snRNP protein and detection of snRNP-snRNP interactions”
    • MA Garcia-Blanco, Gordon J. Anderson, Jean D. Beggs & Philip A. Sharp (1990) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 87(8):3082-6 “A mammalian protein of 220 kDa binds pre-mRNAs in the spliceosome: A potential homologue of the yeast PRP8 protein”

    Adventurer's Stories about Gordon

    Gordon Anderson was our guide. He was brilliant!!!

    Each night, Gordon explained the organisation of each day's itinerary; he was very information about the places we visited and birds, sea life, plants and landscape; he was very attentive to our needs and gave us the freedom to roam but looked out for all of us; he had a great sense of humour with a boisterous group and all our banter; and treated us to cups of tea and biscuits when we least expected it - what a treat!!

    Maria Fantasia
    Winter - The Orkney Isles
    Reviewed on 02/03/2024

    Gordon has a great sense of humour and needed it on this trip with this lively group! He is an enthusiast for Orkney and its wildlife and this made him a first-class guide.

    Rosemary Hammond-Muse
    Winter - The Orkney Isles
    Reviewed on 24/02/2024

    Gordon was so knowledgeable, personable and funny! It was great to have him be part of our family vacation.

    Rachel McKay
    23WSPD Private Departure
    Reviewed on 09/10/2023

    Gordon is knowledgable and easy-going, and has a good sense of humor. I enjoyed traveling with him and looked forward to every day.

    Margo Donnis
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 12/09/2023

    Gordon was really lovely and very knowledgeable

    Ruth Clifford
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 07/09/2023

    Gordon made sure he spent time with everyone individually, without fussing.

    Mark Woodward
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 01/09/2023

    Gordon was a terrific guide, with lots of enthusiasm for his subjects and good attentiveness to the needs of his tour participants. He expressed a thorough knowledge of the history of Orkney and was talented at presenting his knowledge in easy to understand doses. He was easy to talk to and an entertaining travel partner.

    John Joyner
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 28/08/2023

    Gordon is highly competent in every respect. Perfectly knowledgeable, always friendly, caring, with a fine sense of humour and a save driver.

    Helene Wanner
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 21/08/2023

    Refer back to my previous comment about Gordon.

    Janice Cooper
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 21/08/2023

    Gordon is a gem but I'm guessing you already know that!
    His ability to share his knowledge about archaeology, geology, history, birdlife, flowers, whiskey.....made the trip truly memorable for me.
    Gordon has a great way of taking care of everyone's individual needs while maintaining a great group dynamic. I cannot speak highly enough of his guiding!

    Joanne Brett
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 21/08/2023

    Gordon was fantastic!! He was extremely knowledgeable regarding the history, wildlife, flowers and plants, and geology of the area. He seemed very familiar with the locations and the trails. He was friendly and caring, and had a great sense of humor.

    Julie Neel
    Wilderness Walking - Outer Hebrides & Skye
    Reviewed on 16/08/2023

    Exceeded expectations! Gordon was so knowledgeable and ensured we moved at a pace for group to follow!

    Kenny Nicholls
    Wilderness Walking - Outer Hebrides & Skye
    Reviewed on 14/08/2023

    As noted before, Gordon was absolutely stellar. He made what was already an incredible trip (stunning landscapes, amazing food, great company), a fantastic adventure. He was endlessly knowledgeable, and always followed up on things he didn’t know immediately. We felt at ease in his care and looked forward to his insights on the trail and off. His easygoing nature kept us all positive and happy, even on the harder hikes. We are so grateful to have met him and to have learned from him. Just a fantastic guide and a wonderful person.

    Sarah Gagnon
    Wilderness Walking - Outer Hebrides & Skye
    Reviewed on 07/08/2023

    Phillipe was very good guide, well informed & very pleasant

    Richard Hoskin
    Wilderness Walking - Outer Hebrides & Skye
    Reviewed on 25/07/2023

    Philippe was fantastic. He took the needs of each person on our tour and catered to them which was not always an easy thing to do !His ability to understand the pace and distance the group needed was excellent. He was extreme knowledgeable on fauna and floors, history and lore. He was a great conversationalist over meals . I would definitely want to do more trips with in in particular . He is also a very competent driver and has a knack for a finding parking! A+

    Rachel Fleissner
    Wilderness Walking - Outer Hebrides & Skye
    Reviewed on 01/07/2023

    Accommodated the differing abilities very well

    Debra Smith
    Wilderness Walking - Outer Hebrides & Skye
    Reviewed on 29/06/2023

    Our guide, Philip was was fit, interested and accommodating. He was able to assess the group, and devise walking routes that could be mastered by everyone in the party. He took excellent care of us.

    Paul Fleissner
    Wilderness Walking - Outer Hebrides & Skye
    Reviewed on 28/06/2023

    Phillippe was very good natured, patient and very knowledgable. He was an excellent guide.

    SUsan Hoskin
    Wilderness Walking - Outer Hebrides & Skye
    Reviewed on 28/06/2023

    Loved our guide Gordon. I was impressed that he started out with understanding the various motivations for us joining this trip, but him constantly delivering throughout and making sure to point out the little details that would make a place significant to any of us was what made him stand out from any other experience I've had with guided tours.

    Sylvia Sirmanova
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 06/05/2023

    Gordon A. was outstanding. A remarkable ability to calibrate our hikes to maximize anticipation that was then rewarded with great surprises. His broad knowlege and talented descriptions of this amazing place made the hikes come alive at so many levels.

    Scott Rogers
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 25/04/2023

    Gordon was exceptional. Our surrogate parent! Always checking in with us. Shared his love of Scotland and the richness of his life.

    Marcia Gahring
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 24/04/2023

    Gordon is amazing. So nice, smart, caring, conscientious, and knowledgeable. He went out of his way to provide us with information about the history, archeology, culture and wildlife on the Orkney Islands. The experiences on this trip were wonderful and Gordon was a big part of that. He was also great company and we felt like we made a friend.

    Lorise Gahring
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 23/04/2023

    Can't fault our Guide. Gordon's attention to detail is great. His attention to the interests of all of the group was excellent. He is really well informed, from the archeology to the nature/environment and wildlife. Gordon was also great at adapting the schedule to make the whole experience as enjoyable as possible when weather conditions could have made it uncomfortable and a bit of an endurance task. The walks were epic!

    Julie Blackman-Nandi
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 21/04/2023

    Superb - knowledgeable and interesting and flexible and ….

    Nina Mattock
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 19/04/2023

    Gordon was great - either he actually liked us or he was doing a really good acting job of pretending to like us. He was knowledgeable, informative and, really, spot on brilliant. He was the perfect choice for this trip. We'd take another of his trips in a heartbeat.

    John Whiteside
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 17/04/2023

    Great job. Found answers to all my off beat questions! Great sense of humour and knew how to relate to everyone on the tour.

    Helen Hall
    Winter - The Orkney Isles
    Reviewed on 01/04/2023

    Gordon was excellent in every respect - a very good knowledge of the neolithic sites which he imparted to us, and an excellent, safe walking guide. He was also a very safe driver of the minibus.

    Richard Buxton
    Winter - The Orkney Isles
    Reviewed on 24/03/2023

    The trip was a good combination of history and walking which I appreciated and Gordon was positive enthusiastic and helpful. He organised a great whisky tasting on the last evening.

    Mary Sainsbury
    Winter - The Orkney Isles
    Reviewed on 24/03/2023

    Gordon was simply exceptional in every way - knowledgeable, kind and witty. His love of the Orkney Islands was evident in his enthusiasm and the depth and breadth of his knowledge was impressive. He shared that knowledge generously - laying a bit of foundation before each outing, and then building on it as the days progressed. He made everyone in the group feel welcome and equally important. On walks he kept the group together - pacing to satisfy a range of speed and fitness/experience levels.

    Gordon is a fantastic ambassador for Wilderness Scotland - I would choose another trip simply based on him being the guide. (Even though he was a bit stingy with the dark chocolate/ginger cookies!)

    Joan Oldmixon
    Winter - The Orkney Isles
    Reviewed on 24/03/2023

    Gordon was wonderful! His deep connection to the Highlands was evident. Through his knowledge and experience, Gordon opened the Highlands even more. He was interesting, fun and I learned so much from him.

    Krista Ehlert
    Wilderness Walking - Autumn Highlands
    Reviewed on 07/11/2022

    Gordon was the best! We loved all of the knowledge he shared along our walks about the history of the area, the flora and fauna, geography, geology! He really made our trip so special - we already want to do another walk with him in the future!

    Katie Candelaria
    Wilderness Walking - Autumn Highlands
    Reviewed on 29/10/2022

    Gordon was wonderful as a guide. He knew so much about the area and history it made the trip more enjoyable. Nothing I would change.

    Liane Couture
    Wilderness Walking - Autumn Highlands
    Reviewed on 22/10/2022

    Enjoyed the info and stories on the walk breaks
    Would have liked to know where we were going on a map/picture before we set out and maybe ‘we are here now’ at lunch break or similar. Distances were always longer than estimated which made day 2 very tiring (I did enjoy the first ~3/4 of it very much though)

    Alison Duncan
    Wilderness Walking - Autumn Highlands
    Reviewed on 22/10/2022

    Gordon is a wealth of knowledge and was generous in sharing it. I learned a lot on this trip. He obviously loves being a Guide!

    Linda Lemmon
    Wilderness Walking - Autumn Highlands
    Reviewed on 22/10/2022

    This was the most important part of why we enjoyed the trip so much. Gordon was just fantastic! We learned a lot about the culture, people and species native to the highlands. He also was great at interacting with all the clients and having them come together as a group.

    John Himmelsbach
    Wilderness Walking - Autumn Highlands
    Reviewed on 22/10/2022

    Gordon was great, so knowledgeable, interesting,really good company and for me, as I continue to struggle with post viral symptoms, breathless, marked fatigue... Gordon was mindfully of that, which enabled me to do most of the walks- so a very big thank you to him

    Caroll Murphy
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 19/10/2022

    Nicola: experienced and totally engaged. Wonderful company.

    Gordon: expert, knowledgeable guide.

    Cynthia Muller
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 27/09/2022

    Gord was terrific. He is informative; he has a terrific sense of humor and is very diplomatic! During the hike, he provided information about the plants and birds, as well as information about the geology of the island. He also supplied additional context on the historical sites by providing time charts and links.

    Jennifer Robertson-Decker
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 20/09/2022

    We made Gordon an honorary woman. Great choice for an all women's trip.

    Susan Maddox
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 23/08/2022

    Gordon went out of his way to make sure everyone had a great time. I liked his no-nonsense but warm-hearted approach. His passion for the natural environment and history of Scotland is obvious and he is very knowledgeable. Gordon is very approachable and divided his time and attention equally among all members of the group. Any requests we had during the trip with regards to itinerary were always considered and often made possible. Little extras such as a bespoke whisky tasting at the hotel were a lot of fun. Everything was super! If I had one request it would have been for Gordon to talk a little more to the group as a whole during drives between destinations to provide some background info before our arrival. I do realise that this is a very personal preference and may not suit every guest or every group.

    Astrid Minnee
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 23/08/2022

    Our guide, Gordon, was great. Very organized, resourceful, sympathetic to our group needs, attentive and a great fun to talk to. We had a all-women group and he did a great job!

    Daniela Wiethaeuper
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 22/08/2022

    per previous comment

    Melinda (Mindy) Hatton
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 22/08/2022

    Gordon, you went above and beyond with your all-American crew to make sure we were cared for, educated and kept together despite our variety of tastes and fitness levels. You were the consummate guide and host, and I can’t thank you enough for the surprise Birthday party on our last night together. All thanks and gratitude to you for making this trip so delightfully memorable.

    Davia Larson
    Wilderness Walking - Argyll & the Isles
    Reviewed on 07/08/2022

    Gordon was fantastic!!! Very knowledgeable, funny, patient with those of us who were a little slower. A great Guide

    Mary Susan Nichols
    Wilderness Walking - Argyll & the Isles
    Reviewed on 22/06/2022

    Gordon was awesome! Extremely knowledgable, helpful, and generally fun! He made our adventure better than expected!

    Nina Ray
    Wilderness Walking - Argyll & the Isles
    Reviewed on 20/06/2022

    Gordon was so great keeping everyone together with an easy going attitude and fun personality.

    Melissa (Missie) Nunez
    Wilderness Walking - Argyll & the Isles
    Reviewed on 20/06/2022

    Expert. From archaeology to zoology. Fluent communicator. Relaxed but kept to itinerary. Brilliant companion.

    Jonathan Foster
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 19/06/2022

    Gordon was our guide. He was knowledgeable, friendly and genuinely a nice person.

    Bob Cowie
    Wilderness Walking - Argyll & the Isles
    Reviewed on 17/06/2022

    Gordon Anderson was an outstanding guide. He certainly shared his love of Scotland and his knowledge.

    Cindy Cowie
    Wilderness Walking - Argyll & the Isles
    Reviewed on 13/06/2022

    Our guide was excellent. If he didn’t know something when asked a question he would have an answer the next day.

    Penny Warman
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 09/06/2022

    The guides were all great!

    Lynn Caron
    Wilderness Walking - The West Highland Way
    Reviewed on 19/05/2022

    Please see prior comments in addition. Susie, Gordon, Scott, and Will were amazing. Knowledgeable, personable, engaged, competent...I never worried about a thing the whole trip.

    Michelle Fajer
    Wilderness Walking - The West Highland Way
    Reviewed on 12/05/2022

    Gordon is a lovely guy, easy to get on with and considerate to all group members. He had endless information about the history, geology and birdlife of Orkney, delivered in a relaxed and often amusing manner. Our days moved along seamlessly , we were never hurried and had plenty of time to soak up the sights and scenery. We couldn't have wished for a more knowledgeable guide than Gordon. He also knows alot about whisky!

    Janie Thorburn
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 04/05/2022

    Guided. ‘Gannets glided’ and ‘Gordon guided’ to perfection. Great birder and always worked in archeology with geology with current history. A master at his job. Enjoyed his company.

    Susan Church
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 02/05/2022

    I can not say enough about Gordon. Knowledgeable, able to deliver information in thoughtful and interesting way, kind, efficient and managed our covid problem well.

    Sheila Mitchell-Lenes
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 02/05/2022

    Gordon our guide made this trip a wonderful experience.
    His knowledge and enthusiasm for the mountains and local area made everyone feel comfortable, able and safe. The week's itinary was planned to perfection. Gordon went the extra mile to make this trip memorable.

    Sandra Bogle
    Wilderness Walking - Wilds of Assynt
    Reviewed on 07/06/2021

    First class guide

    Christian Brash
    Wilderness Walking - Wilds of Assynt
    Reviewed on 07/06/2021

    Gordon Anderson very pleasant, very well informed

    Chris Schilling
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 06/10/2020

    I think Gordon made the trip .So patient ,knowledgeable and fun to be with.Everything felt under control and I felt very comfortable with his guiding the group.

    Karen Collier-Keyes
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 05/10/2020

    We could not have asked for a better guide than Gordon. Extremely knowledgeable, great sense of humor, very helpful, great sense of picking the right routes.

    Celeste Hankins
    19WSPD_Private Departure
    Reviewed on 14/09/2019

    Gordon was excellent in every way, and we feel privileged to have had him as our guide. He was kind, supportive, knowledgeable and humorous. He was excellent with our 16-year-old who was a bit outside of her comfort zone, ultimately converting her to adventure hiking, as well as teaching her about local plants and animals. Our hikes were both challenging and beautiful. Gordon was supportive of my daughter and I exploring the beach one afternoon while my husband and he did a more difficult climb. He did an excellent job gauging our fitness, stopping to rest when necessary, but giving us opportunity to push ourselves and explore. learned so much about history, biology, etc... from Gordon. We felt very safe and secure with him, venturing out much more than we would have on our own. Thank you Gordon!!

    Zoe Thomas
    19WSPD_Private Departure
    Reviewed on 14/09/2019

    Gordon Anderson is and OUTSTANDING guide! Fun, enthusiastic, knowledgable, and made the hiking and trip wonderful. I'd go on another guided trip with Gordon!

    Peggy Alexander
    Wilderness Walking - Isle of Skye
    Reviewed on 23/08/2019

    Gordon was wonderful to travel with.

    Anne Maggioncalda
    Wilderness Walking - Isle of Skye
    Reviewed on 20/08/2019

    Gordon is the consummate guide: highly knowledgeable, articulate and entertaining; thoughtful and attentive to all group members' needs and wishes; great sense of humor, and authentic persona. By the end of the trip it really felt like a bunch of friends just having a good time.

    Elizabeth Bohls
    Wilderness Walking - Isle of Skye
    Reviewed on 19/08/2019

    Guide Gordon was super.
    Please see earlier comments.
    He is one fine and knowledgeable young man.
    Very grateful that he was our guide.

    Kathleen Knott
    Wilderness Walking - Isle of Skye
    Reviewed on 19/08/2019

    See answer above; Gordon was the best imaginable guide in all regards. We all especially appreciated his driving skills!

    Chris Doe
    Wilderness Walking - Isle of Skye
    Reviewed on 15/08/2019

    Gordon is an intelligent and thoughtful guide. He is mindful with each member of the group to offer an inclusive experience. Some of the guests were extremely interested in bird species, flora and fauna... Gordon was very accommodating to their endless questions without slowing down the walks or getting annoyed. It is a pleasure to enjoy what Gordon is telling the group because he is genuinely interested in understanding people and seeks to bring a happy and positive experience to the whole group.

    Tegan Forbes
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 31/07/2019

    Gordon Anderson is a pro.

    Pam Forbes
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 31/07/2019

    Gordon Anderson is very professional, knowledgeable, and entertaining. He planned our itinerary to maximize our enjoyment, especially the extremely popular pre-historic sites that get many visitors. He also demonstrated his care for the places we visited and the impact of Wilderness Scotland groups on the services and businesses that we used - no queue-jumping, no blocking access while we enjoyed our experiences, care about stiles and gates. He also pointed out plants, landscape features, and birds to those of us who expressed particular interest in them. His wonderful low-key introduction to Scotch whiskies was great, and I learned a lot. Thanks, Gordon.

    Janet Halpin
    Wilderness Walking - The Orkney Islands
    Reviewed on 29/07/2019

    Gordon Anderson was a pleasure to be with for both his knowledge and personality,

    Paul Bedard
    19WSPD_Private Departure
    Reviewed on 20/06/2019

    Gordon was the perfect guide for my introduction to Scotland. A natural leader, very knowledgeable, efficient, great sense of humour.

    Jane Horne
    Wilderness Walking - Wilds of Assynt
    Reviewed on 03/09/2018

    Gordon was a fantastic guide. Knowledgeable, accommodating, friendly, and funny!

    Emilie Stevens
    Wilderness Walking - Argyll & the Isles
    Reviewed on 01/09/2018

    Gordon Anderson is the gold standard! I can't sing his praises high enough, and I'm sure my trail mates all felt the same. He's astoundingly erudite, witty, friendly, organized and punctual. What a terrific ambassador for Scotland!

    Rhonda Rundle
    Wilderness Walking - Wilds of Assynt
    Reviewed on 28/08/2018

    I wholeheartedly recommend Gordon Anderson as the guide for your next outdoor adventure in Scotland.
    He is very professional and seemingly effortless in his approach. You might not think he is working but make no mistake, he is constantly working hard to make everyone feel comfortable and safe.
    I am convinced that not only is his aim to make it the best possible tour, for the group as a whole but he is also focused on every individual, within the group, to make sure we all get an adventure of a lifetime!
    His knowledge of Scottish culture, history flora and fauna, geography (and everything in between) is incredibly extensive. He is as curious as he is knowledgeable.
    I would not want to challenge him in a game of Trivial Pursuit!
    Gordon’s sense of humor is wonderfully understated and intelligent and you are sure to have some good laughs in his company.
    In my group we had a saying “just do what Gordon does and you’ll be fine” I don’t know if that’s true in all aspects of your life but on a scottish mountain, it certainly is!
    - Karen.

    Karen Riis Joelving
    Wilderness Walking - Wilds of Assynt
    Reviewed on 27/08/2018

    Gordon Anderson was great fun and very well versed in the places and sites we were visiting, Scottish history and generally about the wildlife, plants and geological history. Much fun - we all enjoyed his very positive attitude. We were perhaps a little 'exuberant' at times and Gordon enjoyed the group having a good time. We were fortunate with weather - rained a bit as expected but not too much - and had group that was well matched. It seemed that everything went smoothly and according to plan. I believe this was the first time that Gordon had guided on this particular trip but you would never have known it. He was always well prepared and knowledgeable about what we were seeing and doing. We all learned a lot.

    John Slater
    Wilderness Walking - Argyll & the Isles
    Reviewed on 11/08/2018

    Gordon was an outstanding guide. He has a great sense of humor and deep knowledge of the areas we walked. He was organized, flexible and a lot of fun. His kindness and enthusiasm in sharing this special slice of Scotland made this trip a pleasure.

    Ellen Slater
    Wilderness Walking - Argyll & the Isles
    Reviewed on 12/07/2018

    Gordon was a great guide. He was very knowledgeable and good humoured.

    Katherine Manifold
    Wilderness Walking - Argyll & the Isles
    Reviewed on 02/07/2018

    Gordon needs to brush up on certain types of wire fencing. Suggest reading the 1873 Joseph Glidden patent.

    Harold Manifold
    Wilderness Walking - Argyll & the Isles
    Reviewed on 02/07/2018

    Gordon is very knowledgeable and great fun. He worked hard to ensure that each member of the group was supported and having a great time.
    We learnt a huge amount about wildlife, Gaelic, archaeology and history .... and malts!

    Anita Donley
    Wilderness Walking - Argyll & the Isles
    Reviewed on 30/06/2018

    Gordon was fabulous! I would seek him out for another trip. He is a lovely mixture of knowledge (history, culture, flora, fauna and more), light hearted fun and top notch guiding skills. It seemed that he was effortlessly providing an excellent program ( Thanks for all the behind the scenes work you did, to create this !)

    Andrea Stewart
    Wilderness Walking - Argyll & the Isles
    Reviewed on 28/06/2018

    The best glorious guide ever. Polite, well informed, funny with great sense of humour, diplomatic and good at reading people. Patient and flexible. I would have him as my guide in all of my trips.

    Johanna Hrefna Holmsteinsdottir
    Wilderness Walking - Outer Hebrides & Skye
    Reviewed on 29/05/2018

    Best possible guide. Reads people well. Has a great sense of humor. Full of knowlede and passion.

    Paeivi Elisabeth Oikarinen
    Wilderness Walking - Outer Hebrides & Skye
    Reviewed on 29/05/2018

    Knowledgeable, friendly and efficient.

    Keith Potter
    Wilderness Walking - Outer Hebrides & Skye
    Reviewed on 28/05/2018

    Gordon was always optimistic and positive. He had a great ability to read the crowd and make sure everyone was happy.

    Cathy Riggall
    Wilderness Walking - Outer Hebrides & Skye
    Reviewed on 28/05/2018

    Gordon....the best,most cultivated,most polite full of sense of humour,most diplomatic in all situations,never without the answer.
    Warmest regards and kisses to him....

    Juha Rantanen
    17WSTM Tailor Made trips
    Reviewed on 11/09/2017

    Gordon did a terrific job and managed to put on a great week despite challenging weather. His sense of humour and patience were both appreciated by all.

    Gillian Morrison
    Wilderness Walking - The Knoydart Peninsula
    Reviewed on 29/08/2017

    I really enjoyed Gordon's sense of humor. He is also very knowledgeable about the area and its history which increased my enjoyment of the experience.

    Johannes Andersson
    Wilderness Walking - The Knoydart Peninsula
    Reviewed on 27/08/2017

    Gordon Andersons scientific background show in his knowledge of plants and wild life. Very personable for a science person.

    Kirk Forrest
    Wilderness Walking - The Knoydart Peninsula
    Reviewed on 25/08/2017

    Gordon did his best to keep us cheery despite the weather

    Diane Kleinschmidt
    Wilderness Walking - The Knoydart Peninsula
    Reviewed on 24/08/2017

    Gordon Anderson is a brilliant guide, competent and well organized.

    Daniele Jungling
    Wilderness Walking - The Knoydart Peninsula
    Reviewed on 22/08/2017

    Excellent knowledge and sensitive to the needs of the group. Obviously loves Scotland and walking and this enthusiasm was passed on.

    Janet Carlsson
    Wilderness Walking - Isle of Skye
    Reviewed on 08/08/2017

    Gordon was an excellent guide - watching over us all to ensure each member of the group was OK. Great source of information too on history, geology, botany etc.

    Caroline Taylor
    Wilderness Walking - Isle of Skye
    Reviewed on 07/08/2017

    We couldn't have asked for a better guide. My spouse unexpectedly had some difficulty with the longer, wet hikes. Gordon was very kind about that and helped arrange for a taxi transfer to our next hotel so that my husband could have a rest day while the group hiked. I appreciated how observant Gordon was with regard to each group member, assessing needs, making adjustments as necessary, and gently chiding those who tended to be late so that the group stayed on schedule. Gordon was a wealth of very interesting information about every place we visited; I learned a great deal about history, plants, and geology. He also was good company; easy to have a conversation with, genuinely interested in everyone, and a delightful dry sense of humor. Perhaps most important, Gordon was clearly very skilled. We had some unusually heavy rains, which made for several tricky stream crossings. Gordon was calm, reassuring, and saw to it that everyone made the crossings safely. When one stream appeared to be unsafe, Gordon simply re-routed our path. What could have been an alarming experience instead was fun, an adventure that increased my confidence. Gordon deserves a great deal of credit for all his hard work and I'm really glad to have had the opportunity to hike with him.

    Rene Martin
    Wilderness Walking - Isle of Skye
    Reviewed on 07/08/2017

    Nice guy good sense of humour massively knowledgeable.

    Richard Bentley
    Wilderness Walking - Wilds of Assynt
    Reviewed on 01/08/2017

    I marked excellent and felt Gordon did a good job overall. (See caveat on overall trip.) Note for future trips of WOS: any guide who considers the alternate hike to Eas A' chaul Aluin (waterfall of beautiful tresses), please strongly encourage hikers to take 1-2 walking sticks. Stunning lunch location to side of the falls and an interesting (fairly difficult) hike. However, with a couple of stream fordings, steep parts, boggy parts, and a steep+boggy part right before the lunch break, a walking stick is (would have been) advisable.

    TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

    Thanks for your feedback. We are aware you were offered the use of hiking poles from the spares we carry in the back of the van but decided not to use them for this hike. We will try and make it clearer that poles can be very helpful when hiking, especially when the terrain is rough and try to encourage guests to carry them even if they don’t think they’ll use them.

    Jonna Reeder
    Wilderness Walking - Wilds of Assynt
    Reviewed on 28/07/2017

    I truly think we hit the jackpot in having Gordon as our guide! He was so knowledgeable about the history, geology, and flora of each different hike. He has a great sense of humor and always ensured that we were getting what we wanted out of our trip. He was also very organized and made it very easy for us just to hike and enjoy our vacation. I would definitely request him again in the future.

    Stephanie Kolman
    Wilderness Walking - Isle of Skye
    Reviewed on 11/07/2017

    Gordon was wonderful. He was so knowledgeable and was able to deal with our crazy family.

    Jennifer Kolman
    Wilderness Walking - Isle of Skye
    Reviewed on 10/07/2017

    see previous. loved Gordon Anderson.

    Brett Kolman
    Wilderness Walking - Isle of Skye
    Reviewed on 10/07/2017

    Gordon was great. He knew my goals and abilities. I, unfortunately, twisted my ankle on my very first day and Gordon helped me work through that and offered suggestions on what we could do to still make the trip successful - I wanted to bag a Munro! With the purchase of hiking boots in Aviemore (rather than the hiking shoes I came with) and ibuprofen, we continued on the second day with an easy route (but gorgeous views) to make sure the boots would offer the support my ankle would need. Success!

    On the third day, Gordon picked a Munro that met my abilities. It was challenging but not scary and in the areas where I needed guidance on where to step, Gordon was very patient. And we saw some beautiful wildlife - grouse and hares. We even accidentally got very close to the nest of some baby grouse that still couldn't fly and the father grouse did the "broken wing" ploy to try to get us to come towards him and away from his babies. I felt bad that we were that close that he felt he needed to do that, but it was so fascinating to see this performed in the wild.

    Gordon and I had good conversation throughout. As a solo hiker and an introvert, I was worried about how easily the conversation would flow and didn't need to be. If anything, I talked way too much! I so enjoyed all the hiking and got out of the hikes exactly what I was hoping.

    Diane McCredie
    17WSTM Tailor Made trips
    Reviewed on 22/06/2017

    Gordon, you are a Highlands treasure.

    Dianne England
    Wilderness Walking - Sutherland: The Great Wild North
    Reviewed on 13/06/2017

    As with all the guides I've had on your trips, Gordon was wonderful. Knowledgeable, personable,with a lovely sense of humor.

    Barbara Macleod
    Wilderness Walking - Sutherland: The Great Wild North
    Reviewed on 13/06/2017

    Gordon was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the areas we visited and hiked.

    David Stevenson
    Wilderness Walking - Sutherland: The Great Wild North
    Reviewed on 05/06/2017

    Gordon was AWESOME! He is an asset to your company!!!!

    Jacqueline Gladstone
    Wilderness Walking - Sutherland: The Great Wild North
    Reviewed on 05/06/2017

    Gordon was fun, informative, and accommodating. Superior Guide!

    Lisa Stevenson
    Wilderness Walking - Sutherland: The Great Wild North
    Reviewed on 05/06/2017

    Gordon was fantastic. I'm sure that all of the hikers in our group are using adjectives to describe him such as, 'knowledgeable, professional, thorough'. These are apt statements but he was also engaging, thought provoking and humorous. His side comments were particularly amusing. He was well prepared. I felt that he could handle any untoward situation which arose.

    Gordon inspired confidence. On the one day that I thought to myself, "Really? You want us to do what? I don't think that's possible. I'm going to die". It occurred to me that he had led that trip many times before without injury, and besides, he was looking quite calm. Therefore, everything was going to be fine. Which, of course, it was. It was better than fine. It was a blast.

    Carolina Coleman
    Wilderness Walking - Wilds of Assynt
    Reviewed on 05/09/2016

    For the reasons mentioned in an earlier section, Gordon was first class. I can't think of any areas needing improvement.

    Andy Lewis
    Wilderness Walking - Wilds of Assynt
    Reviewed on 30/08/2016

    He (Gordon Anderson) was the perfect guide. Nice, easy personality, good sense of humour and superb knowledge of the area of our trek, of nature, of Scottish history and indeed of many other subjects. He very soon had us all bonding as a group.

    Ian Young
    Wilderness Walking - Wilds of Assynt
    Reviewed on 29/08/2016

    Already commented on Gordon's knowledge of local history, fauna and flora and his enthusiastic leadership. Was very attentive to safety and interacted well with a diverse group and adapted to our needs. I would highly recommend any trip that Gordon leads

    David Lilley
    Wilderness Walking - Wilds of Assynt
    Reviewed on 29/08/2016

    No one could have done better or been better suited for our group than Gordon.

    Gayle Aube
    Wilderness Walking - Sutherland: The Great Wild North
    Reviewed on 22/08/2016

    Gordon was fabulous. He took the fact that there were 7 women in our group in his stride. He was extremely knowledgeable about the history, geology and much of what we were seeing. While he was always watching to make sure we were okay on the trail, he gave us each the opportunity to navigate difficult parts of the trail at our own speed and on our own. He never made me feel like I was taking too long. The lack of pressure made the experience very positive and gave me a great deal of satisfaction that I did something without help. Gordon is very soft spoken so when he was saying something in the van there were times he was difficult to hear. It might be useful if he had a portable microphone so everyone in the van could hear his responses to questions.

    Marilyn Wind
    Wilderness Walking - Sutherland: The Great Wild North
    Reviewed on 08/08/2016

    Our tour was guided by Gordon Anderson; we went on a tour of the Sutherlands. Gordon was fabulous; if given a scale of 1 to 10 I'd think he'd safely place above 90! He was knowledgeable and shared his love of the wilderness in his observations and comments while walking. He pointed out flora and fauna, animals and birds, as well as shared much about geology. He shared stories about how life had been, integrating his knowledge of Scottish history as well. Combine that knowledge with a wonderful sense of humor and grace and you have an excellent guide.

    On this particular tour he was guiding a group of older women and he was watchful of people's skills and challenges, present but always quietly empowering as some of us tried new things. I imagine he is used to a faster, more ambitious pace, but was very good at knowing how to pace this group so that all were satisfied. I'd recommend that readers look into the tours he leads.

    Pamela Putnam
    Wilderness Walking - Sutherland: The Great Wild North
    Reviewed on 03/08/2016

    Brilliant. Very attentive and was willing to accommodate if we wanted to deviate a little from plans. Excellent knowledge of area, history and wildlife etc

    Sue Burbage
    Wilderness Walking - Sutherland: The Great Wild North
    Reviewed on 01/08/2016

    We had some hesitation about whether or not to spend so much of our vacation budget on a Tailor Made holiday. The first six hours with our wonderful guide, Gordon Anderson, resolved every doubt. Gordon’s careful planning, calm presence, measured pace and wide ranging knowledge added immeasurably to our family vacation. His lessons on Scottish history, geology, and ecology enhanced our appreciation for the beauty of the highlands, and we returned home from our trip with real admiration for the Scottish people -- something we never anticipated. In fact, our time with Gordon convinced us that we need to return to Scotland for a much longer holiday!

    Julia Friedlander
    16WSTM Tailor Made trips
    Reviewed on 25/06/2016

    We requested Gordon Anderson for our 2 guided walking days. He was our guide at Knoydart last fall (another spectacular trip). We had 2 lovely days of hill climbing in Torridon. Gordon is a superb guide who knows these hills well. We always learn so much from him about the rich history and geology of the area.

    Kirstin Pellom
    Self-Drive - The North Coast 500
    Reviewed on 14/06/2016

    Our guide was great. Very knowledgeable and very organized. I couldn't have asked for a better guide.

    Daniel Coyne
    Wilderness Walking - The Knoydart Peninsula
    Reviewed on 23/10/2015

    Gordon looked after us very well and was always informative and fun

    Sian Barnard
    Wilderness Walking - The Knoydart Peninsula
    Reviewed on 29/09/2015

    good knowledge of the region

    Peter Ng
    Wilderness Walking - The Knoydart Peninsula
    Reviewed on 29/09/2015

    Gordon make us feel safe, plan everyday trekking route well, aqueute rest (during trekking) and info.

    Chuey Mei Wye
    Wilderness Walking - The Knoydart Peninsula
    Reviewed on 27/09/2015

    See earlier comments. 100k Gordon ( as we came to know him) was outstanding

    Anita Donley
    Wilderness Walking - The Knoydart Peninsula
    Reviewed on 22/09/2015

    I was out of my comfort zone a few times on the hikes. Gordon Anderson was fantastic, he walked with me up the steep part on Eigg and it was so worth getting there. He was fantastic and walked and talked with everyone. He made sure we were all safe and having a good time. He told lots of stories and kept us entertained. I would take another trip with him.

    Fiona Morton
    Wilderness Walking - The Knoydart Peninsula
    Reviewed on 22/09/2015

    A guide can certainly make or break a trip like this. Gordon Anderson was the best of the best. His extensive and in depth knowledge of history, geology, local culture, and pretty much everything, was really impressive. His love of Scotland was evident and shone through in the way he led the group. His expertise, experience and sense of humor really made this trip very special. Thanks Gordon for making this an unforgettable trip!

    Kirstin Pellom
    Wilderness Walking - The Knoydart Peninsula
    Reviewed on 22/09/2015

    Gordon was an excellent guide and he was able to discuss geology with one of our group (who was a retired geologist) and he also told us about biology, amongst other things. More importantly, he knew how to handle people. We felt safe in with him and comfortable.

    Margaret Thomas
    Wilderness Walking - The Knoydart Peninsula
    Reviewed on 14/08/2014

    Guides can make or break a trip, and Gordon was in the upper echelon of guides we have had on the many trips we have taken. He was knowledgeable, great sense of humor, able to "herd the cats" so to speak of a very diverse group of individuals and keep everyone's spirits up.

    Henrietta DeVeer
    Wilderness Walking - The Knoydart Peninsula
    Reviewed on 12/08/2014

    Gordon may have been a last-minute substitute, but he did a fine job with a variable range of group personalities and abilities. I would be happy to have him as a guide again.

    Suzanne Rice
    Wilderness Walking - The Knoydart Peninsula
    Reviewed on 05/08/2014

    Gordon was very nice and obliging. His knowledge of Scotland, both history and geology, was significant. Understandably, one of our party was in her 70s so Gordon might have underestimated our capabilities although we had discussed this with Stevie when planning the trip. Gordon was not as prepared with hiking options around Loch Melfort as we would have liked. Also, at Glencoe House, the staff there told us that we would not need bottled water as Wilderness Scotland had provided us refillable bottles, which they had not (we understand that we were a bespoke trip so maybe bottles would not be provided).

    Eileen Dowling
    14WSTM Tailor Made trips
    Reviewed on 14/07/2014

    Book a trip with Gordon

    Trip / DepartureAvailabilityStatusPriceBook
    Wilderness Walking – The Orkney Islands
    4th Aug - 10th Aug 2024
    4 place(s) leftGuaranteed £2,675Book Now

    Make Trip Private

    Sometimes it's nice to get family and friends together and travel privately for some quality time. This means you benefit from all the features of the group departure, including hand-picked accommodation and expert local guides and we'll take care of it all. Then you can make your choice of departures dates and we'll get back to you to finalise the details.

    We work together with our team of guides to decide which departures they lead each year. As part of that, guides provide available dates that they are free to be booked. This means that any of the dates you see in the first field of the form below, could be perfect for your private departure or customised tour.

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