John Hamilton

Our recent Wilderness Scotland adventure was nothing short of spectacular, thanks to our incredible guide, Don Pritchard. Don’s deep knowledge of local history, flora, fauna, geology, and local lore enriched every moment of our trip. He is well-educated and a true expert in his field, offering insights that transformed our journey into a deeply educational and immersive experience.

What truly set Don apart was his unwavering dedication to our group. He was incredibly attentive to everyone's needs, working tirelessly to ensure we were well cared for, safe, and fully engaged with the wonders of Scotland, even in the face of Hurricane Ernesto’s challenging weather. Despite the storm, Don never missed a beat, swiftly crafting alternative adventures from A to Z, each as memorable and thrilling as the last.

Don’s fascinating storytelling, combined with his excellent sense of humor, made our time together even more enjoyable. He has a unique ability to connect with people, making us feel not only well-informed but also genuinely cared for. It's no surprise that we all wanted to spend as much time with him as possible, soaking in both his knowledge and warmth.

I have already reached out to my adventurous friends and family, urging them to book a trip with Wilderness Scotland and experience Don’s guidance firsthand. Our group was so captivated by Don and the overall Wilderness Scotland experience that we've decided to make this trip an annual tradition, with Don as our guide, of course.

A special thank you to Bridget from the booking team for her assistance and excellent communication throughout the process. This trip was flawlessly organized from start to finish, and we can't wait to return.

Simply put, Don Pritchard was terrific. His knowledge of the geography, history and of botany (having worked as a head gardener and arborist) was unmatched. He was also incredibly attentive to the needs of the group and of individuals. He was kind, thoughtful, and always focused on our safety.

EXCELLENT! John Hamilton made the trip worthwhile. Very knowledgeable, offered options to respond to group interests, and personable. He made the trip worthwhile.

Our guide John Hamilton was absolutely super. Extremely knowledgeable, organized and definitely focused on ensuring we had the best possible experience during our trip

Not only did John take into account our varied interests, he was consistently gracious, highly professional, and fun!

John and Jamie were great. Their personalities, knowledge base and skill sets complimented each other very well. I'd hike again with them any day.

John Hamilton and Jamie led with compassion and useful knowledge

We had really excellent guides: John Hamilton and Jamie Pimblett. As I commented earlier, they provided fantastic care for the group overall and for many individuals needing advice, foot care, etc. They shared their knowledge of history, culture, plants, geology, geography, etc., and this added a lot to our appreciation of the hike and of Scotland. They fit right in with the rest of the group, which helped our group to achieve a remarkable level of inclusiveness and camaraderie. Hats off the John and Jaime for their leadership!

John was amazing. He was able to trouble shoot some unexpected changes in itinerary and meals, remained professional and calm. He also surprised us with an impromptu open mic session one evening at the pub!! He is friendly, approachable, knowledgeable and passionate about his career.

As I have previously mentioned our guide was John Hamilton and he was exceptional. We (family of 3) had a wonderful time. John played Scottish music for us during our drives, he was an excellent guide on the hikes. He is fun to be around, and he made each of us feel safe. We would definitely do another guided trip with him!

John was friendly and adaptable, taking time to ensure the trips suited and taking sensible account of the weather

Oh my, they were all just wonderful. Ben Anderson (Glencoe) is just a delight, he made history come alive, and is very knowledgeable about the local flora.
Ben Hester (Skye) went above and beyond by suggesting a divided day our second day on Skye, with an early morning walk to the Old Man of Storr, then a break, then a bit later to The Quaring. That was a special day!
Dear John Hamilton took such good care of us in Assynt -- the first day to Stac Pollaidh (I won't lie, that almost did me in!), then a lovely easier second day through the grasses and dunes to a secluded white sandy beach. We loved that day!
Scott McNeish took us on a super-fun, beautiful bike ride thru the heather -- just perfect!
And finally with the knowledgable James Banks we all gave it a good try canoeing in windy conditions, before a lovely, easy walk (just what we needed on our last day).

John H. (our guide) was excellent, friendly, and informative. He did a great job understanding our to-do list and met all of them. Would definitely travel with John again.

Every guide was outstanding

Our guide was continually throughout the week, was trying to find ways to support us for a more enjoyable experience, which made the experience always comfortable and feeling so supported

John was always attentive to our needs. Because there were only the 3 cyclists and John we developed a close bubble so it was disappointing when he was in different accommodation unit

See my earlier comments about John.

John Hamilton was OUTSTANDING. He worked well with our widely-diverse group of hikers, responded well during unusual events (e.g., urgent medical situations), and greatly increased the enjoyment of the experience. I can't give him enough credit. A fine man.



TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE

Thank you for your feedback. We are delighted to hear that you had a fantastic time both on the trip and with the guide. It is great that John helped to deal with the unfortunate blisters that appeared on your wife’s feet and this in turn allowed you to complete the trip.

He was there for us if we needed him, and helped set out the expectations for the day, to help us fully enjoy it. He was also sensitive to the group abilities and dynamics, and allowed people to enjoy their walk at their own pace, in their own way. An excellent guide.

John Hamilton was wonderful. Fun, calm, very sensitive to individual skills and personalities. Always willing to help. Very knowledgeable about Scottish culture and history. A good problem solver, esp in my case where I needed some medical help. A wonderful part of our group while still being able to step aside and make important decisions. This group gelled amazingly well - looked out for one another both on the trails and in our hotels with luggage, etc. This is partly due to John’s ability to make us all one team.

Our guide was fantastic. His passion for Scotland and the great outdoors was evident from the start. He has great communication skills, is a good listener, then -there are his many and varied talents, unveiled as the week progressed!- We were a diverse group with varying ability. He was there when needed. Everyone in our group thought highly of him.