Myles Farnbank

You two worked hard to make this work for every one of us. I hope (a) you have recovered and (b) you look back on the trip with some of the joy and satisfaction that we came away with. Thanks again.

We loved it - well chosen routes, good explanations of the decisions about tide/wind etc. and flexibility to cope with a spread of capabilities within the group. A wealth of knowledge about kayaking, flora and fauna and also a wealth of anecdotes to keep the group entertained. I think they were enjoying themselves too which is infectious.

The guides were excellent. I didn't make it easy for them as I had less experience that the other members of the group - quite a lot less in fact - and had some difficulty steering my kayak and I was rather concerned that I was holding the other members of the group back, but hopefully not too much. I got a tow in the more difficult bits when I was flailing a bit. In spite of my limitations I got the impression that everyone in the group was well attended to. And they were always good humoured, good fun and well informed about the area and the wild life.

The guides took a personal interest in each of us, consistently checking in to make sure we were okay. I love the added components of singing and dancing!

David and Myles are smashing chaps to holiday with: excellent kayakers who were always mindful of the safety and abilities of the group. Funny and engaging, they are generous in sharing their knowledge of the area. Plus Myles' Mull library and David's musical talents meant I was never short of entertainment.

I have had the pleasure of paddling with both Andy and Myles across multiple trips and their collective experience always ensures well thought out and planned paddling activities and alternatives on the odd day when the weather exerts its influence a little too much. It would be very easy to miss what they do as it is done seemlessly, but managing the expectations, capabilities and dynamics of people is not easy to do well, and they always excel!
On a personal level I consider them friends on my adventures.
As my experience has grown I have listened in and been involved with planning paddling in the evenings and they involve members of the group willingly to grow experience in the group.

Myles and Andy were superb. They made this trip and I can't thank them enough. Highly competent doesn't touch it Great on the water and good fun and thoughtful off it. Highly knowledgeable about wildlife and history.

Both guides (Myles and Andy) were brilliant; even in challenging situations, I never felt 'at risk', as instructions were clear and supportive, and we all knew there was a wealth of experience and capability between the two of them, if circumstances became more difficult. Because of their presence and support, I was comfortable in rougher waters than I would normally paddle in when alone; this is one of the reasons why I've enjoyed so many Wilderness Scotland trips in the past - my confidence in my own abilities is increased when in such a supportive group.

Myles changed the itinerary as needed to accommodate the weather and our abilities. With his experience we knew that we were in safe hands.

Myles and Andy are first rate guides

Both of our guides, Myles and Andy, I had met before so I had every confidence we were in for a good trip. Both guides are very experienced and provided support and encouragement on each daily trip. This allowed for paddling in challenging sea and exploring caves and coastal arches, that I would never have attempted previously. Both guides were full on attentive from breakfast in the morning to going to bed at night. The maps and books were out every evening to discuss the days adventures and plan for the day after. Myles and Andy made this a truly rememberable trip and I look forward to meeting them again on future trips.

Miles was just inspirational: his love of, and knowledge about the Gaellic culture and ecology shone throughout, and made every day just a delight on top of the fabulous scenery and wildlife we were experiencing.
Andy was amazing with his quiet but steady support and guiding of all of us: still working on nailing my inner meerkat when kayaking, but all feedback highly constructive. Felt totally safe with the two of them fore and aft of our little group wherever we went,

Thank you both and looking forward to the future Shetlands!

Both guides were excellent. They planned each day to make the most of the sea kayaking according to the weather forecast. Both were instructive and encouraging. They gave positive feedback and inspiration especially when I was feeling a little anxious.

A very big thank you to Myles and Andy for making this trip as great as it was. The years of experience you share between each other gave us the possibility to go to places we would not have been able to otherwise. The amount of effort you put in planning the days according to the wind forecast, to give us the best experiences did not go lost on me. I felt well looked out for at every moment of the trip, and I am very thankful that you shared your experience, advise and knowledge with us. I also would like to point out that the times you just let us paddle freely were very much appreciated because I loved to have a little battle with the wind or genuinely enjoyed the peace I got a little outside of the group.

Great knowledge, enthusiasm and judgment.

Myles and Andy are clearly both skilled and experienced guides. I felt very confident in their leadership. Myles' enthusiasm and passion for nature, conservation and the environment are infectious. I also learnt a few new kayak skills from him. Andy's calm and easy going friendly nature made the whole week an extremely enjoyable experience.

Could have not asked for a better guide. Excellent in all areas.

I think I speak for all of us that what we found in Myles was the highlight of our trip. There is no way the trip would be as rich or as interesting if not for him. He pushed us without us knowing it, he educated us along the way and his passion showed up through all circumstances. He is a true value to you and Wilderness Scotland.

Myles and Malcolm really made the trip. The combination of their personality, sense of humour, knowledge on both paddling, the environment and foraging was exemplary.

They were very good at reading the mood of the group when amendments were made to accomodate for the weather or confidence of some members of the party where the conditions were more challenging. I will definitely want to travel with them both again.

Great team giving good instruction and a personal touch when required. They both seemed genuinely interested in how we were feeling etc

Myles was truly amazing. I miss him and his company. We were not a talkative group and I was amazed by his delightful and limitless conversation and stories.

Both Myles and David were excellent; extremely knowledgeable, endlessly supportive, and always fun to paddle with.

Couldn't have asked for better guides. Both very encouraging and supportive providing advice on technical skills and also future trips. They managed the group dynamics very well keeping everyone together on the sea and on land. The singing, music, poetry and wealth of wildlife knowledge shared with us provided entertainment and suited the natural environment so well. Looking forwards to future trips

Really knowledgeable both on kayaking, guiding and so much else. Lovely chaps too.

Some of the best guiding I have ever experienced. Myles is clearly a real specialist in this area and it showed. He’s still got the passion for the sport and area which made travelling with him really enjoyable. David showed boundless enthusiasm and real paddling expertise combined with the best musical kayaking accompaniment I have ever experienced!!!! Great blokes.

Miles and David were fab. Both provided excellent, safe guiding, providing challenge to the differing standards within the group. However, what was even better was the knowledge of nature shared by Myles, including a practical in seaweed and limpet cooking, and his photo show of the week's kayaking. David's fantastic musical renditions while out on the water, topped off with a personalised Scottish ditty on our final evening, were just magnificent. Myles' and David's sense of humour made them inspirational.

Thanks for all the lore and vast knowledge of the natural world. You understood our knees! Encouraging yet pushed us to achieve. Good music playlists too! You fostered a great group dynamic.

Myles is BRILLIANT at his job . Really valued him and loved getting to know him better

Very knowledgeable guide on everything from wildlife to the environment and the cultural history.

Excellent guide. Not just a wildlife trip but we also learnt about Scottish Folklore, Music, Bushcraft, Fieldcraft, Geology - a real mine of information.

Myles was very attentive to the different needs and desires of the group.

Myles was an excellent and very experienced guide. He was always willing to engage and share his wildlife knowledge.

Myles always went tthe extra mile! He was quite excellent, friendly, organised and hugely knowledgeable about the everything in the area.

Myles went above and beyond and his love of the Scottish wilderness was infectious. He was also unfailingly patient when bombarded with our questions.

I had written in previous comment about the guider. He is brilliant.

he was brilliant - friendly, so knowledgeable, I felt safe at all times, and he was able to pitch the walking speed or climbing gradient perfectly. we did not see as much wildlife as I was hoping, but Myles' insights more than made up for this

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

It's lovely to hear you had such a good trip. Ah, the wildlife can be elusive sometimes - awesome you got to see otters though!

Two very different characters, both absolutely committed to our safety and enjoyment. Very knowledgeable, very skilled at taking a group of mixed abilities, finding adventures that we could all enjoy, giving us information, and fun.

Thank you to Myles and Crayston for looking after us so well, safety always a priority, confidence building, informative and friendly.

Guides were extremely helpful and quick to pass on knowledge. They worked tirelessly to make sure everyone was safe and comfortable even if conditions were challenging. Although not there as teachers any advice given makes a huge difference to the comfort of paddlers.
The guides complimented each other very well with Myles excellent knowledge of flora and fauna and Craystons experience in all types of kayaking, we were treated to a fantastic holistic experience.

Myles is outstanding. Knowledgeable, skilful, kind, approachable, funny, able to comfort those challenged and out of their comfort zone. He reads group dynamics and individuals and does a fantastic job so that everybody enjoys the journey and the experience in a beautiful way. He makes a massive difference to any trip.

Crayston did a fantastic job; he is undoubtedly an excellent guide and a wonderful person to be around. He is incredibly skilful, always helpful and approachable; his calm attitude and sense of humour contributed to the whole group experience.

Dan did a great job for us - especially as it was his first time on this trip.

Thanks to a great trip Dan and all the additional canoe coaching! We had a small group and had a real laugh together!

Myles was a terrific guide. He had so much knowledge and despite there being so many COVID rules made our week great fun. He was friendly and made us fell relaxed and safe at all times. Thank you Myles.

We had excellent guides. Miles and Malcolm were extremely knowledgable and made the whole trip very client focused.

Myles and Malcolm are a credit to your business and I can not say enough about how great they are/were. I will rebook at some point if these guys are available.

Myles was a wealth of information! It was an added bonus that we were able to learn about the wildlife, plants, geology, and legends of the areas we hiked. He was thoughtful, patient, and accommodating....while always aware and prepared for the environmental conditions of the day. We felt very safe, and at the same time free to explore our own abilities.

Our guides (Miles & Malcolm) where very good. Unbelievable amount of knowledge and great story tellers. They made it into an unbelievable experience.

2 really good guides, very knowledgeable and informative and really seemed to have a passion for their subject. Absolute confidence all the time in their ability and safety

Myles was a very good guide who provided lots of information and allowed the group members to maximise the experience and extend themselves in a safe way. A light handed and knowledgeable guide who was very responsive to group members. Hi EQ.

Myles is an extremely knowledgeable guide who knows how to tell a story and makes the details of the flora/fauna/geology quite interesting. His willingness to share personal stories at the beginning of the trip allowed the group to connect very quickly in a very personal way.

Myles was absolutely wonderful -- kind, knowledgeable, humorous, solutions-oriented. We hope to travel with him again!

Myles was an excellent fount of knowledge about everything.

Myles was very insightful as to how his guests were enjoying or managing their trip.
He enhance our experience with his lively, interesting discussions on history, folk lore, flora and fauna, and Scottish music and literature.

He took terrific photos, compiled a list of reading and music suggestions, which he emailed to the group accompanied with a Norman MacCaig poem about Assynt.

He was truly dedicated to ensuring each guest had a positive experience.

We felt we won the guide lottery with Myles! He added so much to the trip with his stories, legends, and knowledge of the plants and trees where we hiked. He made sure everyone was safe and having a good time. A reading list and playlist were extra bonuses!

Myles and Louis were both beyond excellent. I cannot sing their praises high enough. I learnt alot on the more technical side of hiking. They also had extensive knowledge on an amazing array of natural, and not so natural aspects of the regions we visited. This all provided a full bodied experience. I deeply appeciated their knowledge, patience, diplomacy and most importantly, their compassion. Wilderness Scotland are in good hands with guides such as these.

Myles was very highly skilled, attuned to the group's abilities, very well-informed and a good story-teller, and simply fun to travel with. I learned so much about everything from geology to folklore. I really appreciated Myles sharing his photos, his traveling library, and his reading list. I especially enjoyed the opportunity to observe Myles as he mentored and trained a new guide. Given Myles commitment to the highest standards of guide-training, I think that every person who travels with Wilderness Scotland benefits from Myles' expertise...even if they never meet him in person!

see earlier comment about Myles. He is an extraordinarily skilled and knowledgeable guide.

See earlier comments [ED] "Myles was the best guide we have ever had! His wonderful demeanor and wide ranging knowledge made every day intellectually stimulating as well as fun. He always demonstrated attention to detail and concern for our safety by encouraging us to use best hiking practices that leveraged each of our abilities The views and experiences were tremendously satisfying!"

I can't say enough good things about Myles. He was a wonderful companion and more than a "guide." We got really lucky with Myles and will recommend him highly to other friends. Would do another trip with him, maybe with kids and grandchildren, in a second.

Myles and Howard - I really appreciated their accepting of a 72 year old anomaly in the group - not all river runners are as free from ageism attitudes. I really appreciated them. As mentioned all of us seemed managed on the basis of skill and experience, the perfect approach, I think.

Myles and Howard were outstanding on all aspects. We not only got to enjoy the trip but they were also a good example of extraordinary team work in all aspects, from unexpected situations both in the water and out of it. It was very evident at all times that our safety and well being were at the top of Myles' and Howard's priorities. We were a diverse group with different skill levels and different personalities sometimes wanting different things. Both guides ensured decisions (sometimes on the heat of the moment) that kept everyone happy. The best for me was to experience the great team work involved keeping all team members in mind. The photos taken by the guides were an unexpected fabulous bonus.

I really must take my hat off to both Howard and Miles, to cope with such a diverse group with such a range of skills takes some expertise. Myles leadership skills are exemplary but you already know that. Tough decisions had to be made and were quickly made for the benefit of the group.

Very committed and clearly experienced, not just in canoeing but in the environment we passed through. Having photos taken and supplied via an internet link was a nice touch

Miles you are more than impressive with your knowledge and your love of sharing it w/others. I went away with a whole lot more knowledge than I came in with. Thank You Crayson, you are a charm to be around. Your easy going professional nature is refreshing to be around. You made me feel very comfortable and not intimidating at all. I wish you the best in your new chapter.

As mentioned before, a conversation with each member of the group, about any prior experience in the main activities, would have been good. Also better structured instructions for absolute beginners. Some of the basic advice was given very hastily. Also challenges were not gradual. For example, launch in day two was quite challenging, but day four much easier. Most of the group coped fibe but I struggled and gave up kayaking in day two, but could have managed day four.

I thought the way Myles and Craydon worked together was very lovely. Both were excellent.
We had, I thought, a particularly good group who were supportive and helpful and I certainly appreciated all the lifting and carrying the men did.

our guides (Myles & Crayston) were excellent. They offered us a range of routes to suit our abilities and managed to provide options that suited everyone. Having 2 vehicles so that we could extend our routes without retracing our steps was a real boon. The places we visited were really interesting and the knowledge of the guides on the wildlife, geology, flora and fauna made the trips even more interesting.

Myles Farnbank and Howard Jeffs were the perfect guides team: Knowledgeable, super experienced, organised, patient, took safety seriously, great lobbyist for the local fauna and flora (and Scotland in general), and added a ton of cultural information that went beyond the mere kayak experience. I now have a great traditional music play list... Myles and Howard represent what I have in mind when I think 'guides', having qualities beyond "I am certified and I know how to kayak".

Some great days out on the water made possible by the experience of Miles and Howard who were able to manage the challenges provided by weather and tides. Super trip. We also had the bonus of having David joining the trip, who shared his love and knowledge in photography... Thank you all for another amazing trip.

Our guides and special guest were such delightful company and worked in complete harmony all together. They delivered the most exquisite experience on and off the water. I would have leapt at the chance of a longer stay!

Very fortunate to get two very experienced guides on this trip. Great wealth of information. Howard and Myles worked very well together

Perfect team, very knowledgeable and a good sense of humour.

Guided - both Myles and Zoe were brilliant guides; they were very knowledgeable and thorough when it came to checking weather conditions, were always at pains to ensure everyone was comfortable with the paddling conditions, and would improvise a change to the day's paddling if necessary because of changing weather or our preferences. Because we had two guides, it meant the group could split if some wanted a bit wilder paddle but others preferred to keep it a bit more relaxed. Comprehensive local knowledge was appreciated, too - including the best night for a folk session at the main music bar in Lerwick.

Myles and Zoe were a great team - worked really hard to get the most out of the trip, and make sure the group was happy at every stage. Safety conscious and reassuring to be with out on the water, but not at the expense of creating an adventure and sharing their evident love of sea kayaking and wilderness (and Wilderness) Scotland. Went to a lot of effort taking photos out on the water and putting these into a slide show we watched on the ferry home - good memories to look back on. Both great company too.

Craig, Myles and Dave were terrific!

informative interesting ability to acess the conditions and people and ajust expedition to suit. Myles and Zoe personalities shone and enhanssed the experience

Guide was extremely knowledgable.

Myles's was extremely knowledgable about the area, as well as obviously being an extremely experienced and skilled guide. I felt completely at ease whilst kayaking and he really helped everyone to improve their technique and confidence whilst in the water.

Really knowledgeable
responsive to whole groups needs/wants whilst also ensuring/showing awareness of each individuals needs
offered opportunities to increase skills

Both Myles and Luke were excellent. Myles particularly for his unparalleled knowledge of culture, flora, fauna, etc; and Luke for his excellent coaching

They knew so much! And they were very good at passing their knowledge on to us - pointing out little things we would not have noticed if we were on our own. Also very good paddling instructions, and a nice relaxed approach to everyone.

Their broad knowledge about allmost everything. Storytelling ability. We learned a lot about natur and seakayaking.
A good sense of humour.
Ability to create a positiv feeling/atmosphere.
They allways listened to our proposals and made decisions, that we agreed to.

Myles and Luke were outstanding. I've been on a lot of outdoor holidays with activities worldwide and they certainly stand out amongst the best.

Tim was excellent as the support guide, lovely guy. Miles knew his stuff.

Myles was very professional and Tim was a star and a pleasure to be with.

Fanatstic knowledge and very amiable.
Thanks Tim and Myles.

All the guides were excellent. It was a real pleasure to be in their company - including the assistant guide on the Jacobite trail, who provided valuable advice and information to participants and whose presence as a second guide allowed us to push ourselves in more challenging conditions and gain additional skills and confidence as a result, .
On the second trip, which involves more travelling to start points the guide ensured that the kayaking experience was as full as it would have been if we'd got to starting points earlier in the morning.

Both the guide and assistant guide were excellent.

Myles Farnbank is one of the most professional guides I have experienced. He watched us the first day and judged that the group was capable of taking some risks, and he allowed us to grow as a result.