Cycling Holidays in Scotland

Pre-Trip Service
I always got immediate feedback via email or a call back when requested. All my questions were answered pre trip and everyone was extremely helpful.

Trip Comments
The varied terrain was amazing and each day was so unique with the rides and ferries to interesting venues on the islands. Harris was spectacular with the colorful beaches that are an artist's paradise. Reaching the jaw dropping Butt of Lewis was such an accomplishment and Craig and Kielty had a wonderful celebration for us.

Accommodation and Food
The accommodations were fine but one of the accommodations did not take credit cards and we needed to pay cash for our dinner. It would be much more convenient if all accommodations took credit cards. (When we went to get cash at a nearby money machine, it did not take American Credit or Bank Cards).

Your Guide
Craig and Kielty were excellent and on top of everyone's needs.
Craig is an amazing leader with insights to the history of Scotland's Outer Hebrides and its environment. To begin our trip he did a group bonding exercise with red string symbolizing the Rowan tree for protection. ( Each member of our group carried their piece of red string throughout the trip!) Craig was always checking in with us to make sure our expectations were being met.
Kielty did a fantastic job getting our van and trailer in the standby line so that we were able to make our ferry back to the mainland. I know that there was a lot of behind the scene planning that day and it was truly appreciated.

The Bottom Line
Bottom line, from the beginning planning stages to the end of the actual trip, every aspect was wonderful.

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Trip Comments
After riding the coast to coast trip last year, it was a nice change to spend more time in each location to get a feel for the places you were in.

Accommodation and Food
The accommodations on Arran and Islay were fantastic with great staff and excellent food and drink.

Your Guide
The wide range of interests, cycling skills and ability in our group were expertly accommodated by our guides. If some wanted to ride longer or visit a specific site (read: distillery), our guides made it work.

The Bottom Line
This was our second bike trip with Wilderness Scotland. We came back because of the level of care and service the company provides for its guests. We will be back with WS for future scotland adventures.

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Pre-Trip Service
Information did dry up a bit as the date approached but I get it; we had been told it all.

Trip Comments
It was an excellent experience.

Accommodation and Food
We weren't expecting 5* star and it wasn't. Despite an unpleasant experience at Hotel Hebrides on Harris we enjoyed the different places and foods. This hotel seemed to be well off its game and our interactions regarding a sewer-type smell that forced us from our room was not handled well by the hotel. However, we moved on. We have traveled a lot to the UK and and I am constantly amazed at how over-engineered the shower hot/cold taps are....$%#@%^& is it a competition? Seriously though; a great experience moving into new accoms on a regular basis.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

Thanks for your feedback, although we are sorry to hear about your experience at Hotel Hebrides, as they are one of our most trusted accommodation partners. Having spoken about your comments with their manager, we understand that they were very short staffed at the time of your stay which led to the service not being quite what it should be. They therefore apologise for your poor experience, as this is never the type of feedback that they wish to receive. You may be interested to know that recent feedback has been very good, so we are confident that this is not the usual service they offer.

Your Guide
Dave and Al were outstanding guides. A great pleasure meeting them. They make or break the experience I would imagine. They were both excellent.

The Bottom Line
A wonderful experience. We were not champion cyclists whilst some in our group clearly cycled a lot. We perceived this was not a problem from either them or Dave/Al. Whilst we won't cycle again (that box is ticked) we would certainly look at another Wilderness Scotland adventure. Thanks. Michael and Samantha Valentine

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Trip Comments
We enjoyed the guides Will and Simon were both great! The picnic lunches were amazing with high quality foods and treats! The bikes were better than expected and our group of eight were all so nice.

Accommodation and Food
Most of the places we stayed were great. One or two had smaller than desirable beds and most did not supply washcloths which were missed. Overall the accommodations were very nice!

Your Guide
A+

The Bottom Line
The trip being a level 5 was a little harder than expected. There were no flat road days and several of the days were terribly steep with climbs and descents of 14-20%. One day off mid tour with maybe just some mild hiking would be a suggestion and it was really nice to stay two nights in one place. Maybe a second two night stay would be a good idea. We loved Scotland and hope to return again!

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Pre-Trip Service
Someone picked up the phone when I called. Someone returned my call if I left a message. Someone responded to my email when I emailed.

Trip Comments
There is absolutely NOTHING you could have done to make the trip excellent except for improving the weather and letting me hand pick my fellow riders.

Accommodation and Food
Let's face it. This is the UK, not France or Italy. No one goes to the UK for the food.

Your Guide
The guides were the BEST! They absolutely made the trip. They were very perceptive, organized and upbeat.

The Bottom Line
Excellent guides. Plus, I was impressed with how supportive Wilderness Scotland was when the guides needed additional help in the form of a third guide (Craig)

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Pre-Trip Service
I booked through CycleWest Ireland so my experience was a little different but I would have liked to know which hotels we were staying at. I did appreciate getting the guide info and as it turned out, having the office and guide phone number turned out to be very helpful.

Trip Comments
I have a bit of a type A personality and find it difficult to give up control so I really appreciated the night before info meeting letting us know the route we were taking and likely stop locations. Both Will and Dave were excellent day of the ride providing information about how busy the road was expected to be, where the climbs were and where they would be located so we didn't miss any turns. And most importantly, how long until the next snack location

Accommodation and Food
I appreciate that the Outer Hebrides do not have a great deal of choice in accommodations but all hotels and guest houses were excellent and well situated.

Your Guide
Both Will and Dave were excellent. They were both so enthusiastic about the area and about riding in general. They had a genuine desire to share this part of the world with others. I had my luggage mia for the first 4 days of the trip and though he says he didn't do much, Will was in contact with the office for me constantly (who were in contact with the airline) and keeping me up to date with progress. It really helped keep my stress levels in check.

The Bottom Line
I have done cycling trips with other companies but never in Scotland and this was my first experience with Wilderness Scotland. I was thoroughly impressed with both their professionalism and organization of the trip day to day; not to mention the kindness and genuine-ness of the guides. I would definitely recommend Wilderness Scotland to my friends and am already considering another trip in the future.

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Pre-Trip Service
all went very smoothly

Trip Comments
Great weather, great company, great scenery

Accommodation and Food
1st hotel room was a bit cramped but comfy

Your Guide
Both Craig and Mike were attentive, knowledgeable and good company. We didn't have to think of anything it was all taken care of!

The Bottom Line
Great company will go again (soon)!

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Pre-Trip Service
Everyone was very helpful. Your office staff was much more organized than I was as far as getting ready for the trip.

Trip Comments
Top notch trip guides from beginning to end. I was amazed at their flexibility and resourcefulness in helping everyone get exactly what they wanted out of the trip. They consistently went beyond and above.

Accommodation and Food
Great job on this too. All three hotels were very nice without being fussy.

Your Guide
Great job babe both of the guides. Lucy provided the energy and became the life of the party. Helen gave great balance and provide amazing insight into history and details about the countryside.

The Bottom Line
A great trip that provided an in-depth look at a part of Scotland away from the crowds of Edinburgh.

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Trip Comments
There are far too many trip highlights to put into this tiny little box.

Accommodation and Food
I really like that you gave us different experiences. We stayed in Inns, a hotel and a guest house.

I saw there are black house rooms available for rent at the museum you took us to. Now I want to stay there. I wouldn't know about it if you didn't take me there! Your fault!

Your Guide
You need to let Craig out of the office more often. That man was so happy to be out in the wilds and on a bike. His enthusiasm was ferocious, it was infectious! It's like Craig was the embodiment of the perfect marketing campaign for your firm and your wilderness just by virtue of the fact he was literally glowing with the joy of being right there in that moment. Craig smiles and his face lights up. You've gotta wear shades.

Neil was the perfect complement to Craig. Listen up because you will learn when Neil speaks, as well as you will be cracking up over the many hilarious, wry little zingers he lets loose with. Pay attention to Neil. The quiet one is always full of surprises.

Good job to both of you for the way you delivered difficult news, like there will be hurricane force winds tomorrow...congratulations you made it so the hotel, but we aren't actually staying at this one.

Special thank you to Neil for coming along in the van at just the right moment on Benbecula so that I could put my daughter in it. It was windy, she was hungry, etc., but we were tipping over the line from I am sympathetic to now this is affecting me. I decided Fiona needs to go in the van right now, and there ahead of me was the van. How did he know? Neil wanted me to get in the van too, in the interest of time and keeping the group together, but having ridden 7 mph for the last while I needed to ride hard and feel free. Thanks for accepting I needed to do that, Neil.

Yes, she was riding 7 mph. Kudos to Craig for trying to ride with her. It is nearly impossible to ride that slow, unless you are Fiona Leslie. She never felt censured over this pace. Thanks for that, guys.

The Bottom Line
This is my second trip with Wilderness Scotland, and I find myself wondering how soon can I justify taking a third trip with them? There are so many places in the world to visit, but the magic that is Scotland + Wilderness Scotland staff and programming is so hard to resist. I desperately want to visit the Outer Hebrides again, on a bike, with 7 days of knowing each moment is the very best it can be because several very skilled someones have made it so. Thank you Craig and Neil. Neil is the bike whisperer. Craig is so inventive with the surprises. Guys, you kept it fun, you kept it moving at just the right pace, always seeming to know exactly the right thing to do.

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Pre-Trip Service
More bike description and also single supplement was quite expensive

Trip Comments
The care and attention of the guides Neil and Craig was beyond expectations and catered to all levels.

The Bottom Line
Polite accurate organised

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Pre-Trip Service
Questions answered quickly and accurately.

Trip Comments
The climbs were amazing, but so were the towns we stayed in and places we visited.

Accommodation and Food
Each hotel had a lot of character and was welcoming and accommodating.

Your Guide
Craig and Lucy were wonderful. Engaging, helpful, informative, talented and knowledgeable. They really made the trip the fantastic experience it was.

The Bottom Line
Really can’t say enough good things about the trip. The guides, the accommodations, the riding, the food, the whisky and the other people in the group really made this an outstanding experience.

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Trip Comments
It was a great trip with a good mix of riding, history, sight seeing and culture.

Accommodation and Food
All very comfortable.

Your Guide
Our guides were amazing. They really blew us away! They couldn’t have done more for us and even put up with my husbands questionable jokes!

The Bottom Line
I would highly recommend Wilderness Scotland and hope to return myself to take part in another of their trips.

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Pre-Trip Service
All was good, there was some info, that I think you thought we received, but we couldn't find and requested it a couple of times. It finally arrived. Not a big deal. But if we had lost it , or misplaced it, it didn't matter, we just needed it again.. and ...

anyway not a big issue.

Trip Comments
The trip was well orchestrated. ( a bit more sun was needed on a few days!)

Your Guide
Guides were coordinated and informative and helpful.

The Bottom Line
Great time, a complete tour, including a bit of a workout!

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Pre-Trip Service
We had the best guides ever, Craig n Lucy. They spent time to get to know us all individually while we all got along well as a group... and the places we went were amazing,... keep up the good work

Trip Comments
I liked Nick at the Glenesk Hotel, Royal Lockhart and our picnic out front and St Andrews "of course."

Accommodation and Food
God showers and Guinness on tap

Your Guide
They are good at what they do and they love what they do... I am jealous

The Bottom Line
Outstanding... I highly recommend this company

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Pre-Trip Service
Pre-trip, I was happy for the prompt trip confirmation, and that my question about vegan food was also answered right away (and that vegan food was definitely an option!)

Trip Comments
Neil and Al were amazing guides who not only kept us safe and prepared but also shared a wealth of knowledge on the passing flora, fauna, landmarks, and history. Above all else, their wonderful humor and kindness kept the trip fun even in the driving rain, aka "Scottish mist." I can't imagine the trip without them as they made it such a complete experience.
The hotel accommodations were lovely and cozy after long days on the road. As a person with a somewhat limited diet, I was impressed by the spread of food provided at snack and lunch breaks as well as the delicious vegan dinners and breakfasts in most restaurants. I certainly ate and drank to heart's content, especially when certain cyclist/"raccoons" found out how to undo the food boxes that were stationed just within a hungry person's reach on van rides to raid the Haggis crisps and fruit bowl.
The scenery was gorgeous and the distances seemed very well thought out. I would recommend a boost in the green level rating as the rides were fairly physically challenging for those of us who never opted out of a route. I am fit but before this trip was not much of a cyclist, but now looking back I'm extremely proud of the hills and distances and feel much more confident riding the roads at home!

Accommodation and Food
The accommodations were lovely, warm, and comfortable and the staff members were all so kind. It was great as a vegan to always have an option at breakfasts and dinners. The one night I had a bath was heaven for sore muscles (and backside) so I wish I'd had more rooms with bathtubs. It was very generous of the guides to haul our heavy bags especially at the end of a long day. I especially loved the room on Mull.
The low ceilings in Portree hotel were a bit scary for someone my height, but worth it for the view and most delicious dinner!

Your Guide
Please see my overall commentary for details on how much I adored Neil and Al, and why. They absolutely made the trip and I can't imagine having better guides. They were complete professionals while also making everything so much fun.

The Bottom Line
Please see my overall trip commentary and feel free to quote any part of it.
I've traveled in over 30 countries and taken many tours, but my experience with Wilderness Scotland might stand above them all in terms of fun, physical challenge, and beauty. The staff and guides went above and beyond in making this a marvelous adventure.

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Pre-Trip Service
The people on the phone were great when I reached them. It would be very helpful for the answering message to list the hours when the phone is staffed. With an 8 hour time difference, it was hard to find the right time.

For the info form, please list a recommendation for bike type for each trip.

Trip Comments
I loved the single track roads. So scenic and quiet. My favorite ride was from granton on Spey to lunch. It was a long climb but well worth it.

The Garmin gps units did not work. They kept telling us to take detours or turn around. Paper or laminated directions would have been better. We made do with guides at the (few) intersections.

The only route that wasn't great was from fort Augustus to lochinewe. It would have been fine with either less traffic or without the wind and rain. With both, it didn't feel safe.

I'm glad we got to stop at 2 distilleries. I preferred the Glen of Ord tour (and whiskey!)

Accommodation and Food
I enjoyed the range of guesthouses. My favorite was Tigh An Eliann in Sheidag. Amazing views of the water, cozy and themed room, comfortable common spaces... and sunshine! I know the sunshine wasn't controlled but I got some fantastic photos of the sunrise. The restaurant there (or maybe the applecross inn) was also my favorite.

Your Guide
The guides were pretty good at making everyone was ok and accommodating a range of speeds and desires. I was often on my own for an hour at a time, but then I'd come around a corner and a guide would be waiting for me. I also appreciated their flexibility in adapting the schedule to the weather.

The Bottom Line
Great experience. Will definitely consider another trip with wilderness Scotland. A little more bike fitting at the start would be welcome -- it took 2 days to adjust my stem and 4 to adjust my seat height. It was raining and the ground was not level at the starting point, which made it harder. Once I got used to the bike, I really like it and would be happy to ride the same one again.

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Pre-Trip Service
The office team-- in the person of Rachael Gavan-- was superb. The website was good, but could be better. Will add some additional notes at the end of this survey.

Trip Comments
Especially enjoyed the ride over Mamore Gap in Donegal, and across the Milltir Cerrig mountain pass in Wales-- some of the most spectacular scenery of the tour. Also enjoyed the group shots with the various country flags, and the little side trips: Gelert's grave, the cemetery where Kirkpatrick Macmillan is buried, Giant's Causeway. The champagne toast at Drumlanrig Castle at the end of the tour was a very cool touch.

Accommodation and Food
The group dinners were excellent and a lot of fun. You might think about clarifying how the dinners "work" on your website. The WS website and info PDF's make it clear you'll be paying for most of your own dinners, but they leave the impression that you'll have to leave the inn and find your own restaurant for dinner. I'd make it clear that the tour group and the guides usually dine together, but that you can always opt out. For full transparency, you might note that sometimes there's really only one "restaurant option." For example: the Punchbowl Inn is in a very isolated spot => you stay there, you pretty much have to dine there (it was excellent).

Your Guide
Ben Walker, Duncan Warner, and Craig Little were all excellent. They were all good-humored, helpful, socially adept, good drivers, too. I'd single Ben Walker out for some special praise: I've never seen a tour guide who was better at engaging people and drawing them out in conversation. He seemed to have an instinct for making sure everyone was included and appreciated-- a very rare social gift.

The Bottom Line
A wonderful experience that I'll long remember. One of the best cycling tours I've ever been on. Thank you!

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Pre-Trip Service
We loved the professional guides who helped make this bike trip one of our best. Scott and Neil were a great team and catered to our every need. The Highland Hills provided a challenging but doable ride each day. It also also helped to have 6 sunny days with temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s! This was an adventure to remember.

The Bottom Line
Our overall experience with Wilderness Scotland was excellent starting with our pleasant phone calls with Rachael while we were planning our trip. The food and accommodations couldn’t have been better. We have already recommended this trip to friends. Luckily, we have three friends from the area who have completed the Coast to Coast ride so we can compare notes!

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Pre-Trip Service
If you think of a holiday in Scotland and look for ideas which way to explore the great landscape and which places to visit: the website offers a great variety of ideas!
I soon found my favourite: ride from the east to the west coast on a blcycle.

For your questions I recommend to phone the Wilderness Scotland office.
Every person I talked to was very very friendly and helpful.
If like in my case English is not your native language, do not hesitate to use your school English.
Be sure, the person on the Scottish end of the line will help you patiently.
I remember all my chats were quite a pleasure, despite of my bumpy English.

Also be sure: At the start of the trip, when you meet the other pepole of your team:
Anything that can be organized in advance will be done perfectly.
From the first moment I had the feeeling, that this would be a wonderful trip and
now I remember it was prepared as we say like a Swiss clockwork.

Trip Comments
Starting at one ocean (North Sea),crossing the country on a bicycle, ending at another ocean (Atlantic) is an idea that really appealed to me and after I have done it
I like it even more.
On a bike you have the advantage to cover quite a distance and see more places
than you would by walking and feel more part of the nature than by driving the same
route in a car.
In Aberdeenshire surroundings look quite similar to the countryside in the south of Germany, where I live, cycling westwards the cenery changes and with every mile
the landscape looks more and more like my (photography) idea of Scotland.
If I should shortly describe my experience, I would suggest:
„change and variety“
Forests, wetlands, heather covered hills, moutains, the light that shines on the
landscape changes as often as the weather does.
We had all kinds of weather and water: rivers and waterfalls, lochs and the sea,
fog and rain but also the brightest sunshine you can imagine.
What more variety can you expect?

We went through beautiful villages with some traffic and very stoic car drivers but
most of the route was pleasant and quiet.
There were remote places with only our cycling team on the way and miles I was
riding just for myself.

We passed castles -or even stayed overnight- visited distilleries to learn about the
art of whisky-making.

Loch Ness was the mid-tour highlight. Abroad you mostly hear about the monster.
If you are there, you enjoy one of the most beautiful sights possible and forget
about Nessie.

The route-planning kept my absolute favourite for the last day:
The mountain pass climb was really hard, the feeling after having done it and the
summit view to the Hebride Islands were more than a reward.
We had a beer garden lunch at the sea- front Applecross Inn warmed by bright
sunshine and such a peaceful boat trip on Loch Torridon in the afternoon until
sunset.

Accommodation and Food
The hotels in Grantown on Spey, Fort Augustus and Loch Torridon:
This is the kind of accommodation I would choose: Pretty, charming houses, nice
and well-kept en-suite rooms friendly staff, nothing to complain about at all.

Coul House Hotel in Contin, Kildrummy Castle Hotel in Alford:
What places to stay overnight for a group of cyclists.
These houses have a castle atmosphere of luxury but the staff isn’t snobbish at all.
I felt very welcome despite we entered in cycling clothes that some may think of
as not appropriate perhaps.
It was more than I expected, but I think all members of our group were fond of these
places.

From the noble dining room at Coul House to the other hotel´s restaurants, from the
sunny seaside terrace of the Applecross Inn to the warm atmosphere of the Whistle
Stop Cafe, that gave us wet cyclists shelter during heavy Scottish rain, not to forget
the picnic stops at beautiful spots in the midst of nature:
I enjoyed both the places and the dishes, every meal served at table tasted very
delicious.

Your Guide
Our guides by turns accompanied us on bike and support vehicle.
They offered detailed information for the for the part of the route ahead of us by means of map and accurate explanation.
Nevertheless on the road we sometimes took the wrong turn or the group split up
because of everyone’s individual speed.
David and Neil always managed to bring all of us to the next meeting point along
the way and everyone savely reached the destination in the evening.
Although they pedaled some extra mile to accompany the faster as well as the
slower ones of our group, both did this in a calm pleasant and very friendly way.

What Neil and David did for us was much more than just guiding, I would call it a
full week complete service.
- luggage service
We had lightweight bikes, for our guides this meant dragging lots of our heavy
bags to the van in the morning and to the hotel in the evening.
- technical service
to keep our bikes running
- food service
preparing our picnic and coffee stops (always in style with tablecloth)
- psychological service
When my legs lost power the last miles of the day, I appreciated the encouraging
words of Neil or David riding by my side.
- knowledge service
Due to our guides‘ detailed knowledge we learned a lot about the regions we
passed through.

Wilderness Scotland Promise: „ you can expect to be in friendly and safe hands“

I completely agree

The Bottom Line
If you love nature particularly the great scenery of Scotland, if you ride your bicycle
regularly, if you like remote places more than crowded cities -
this might be your trip!

However you should pay attention to the Wilderness Scotland trip grading.
It’s graded red 7!
My experience: they do not exaggerate, I sometimes felt my personal fitness limitations.
I ride my bike almost every day and of course expected more challenging ascents
on a highland route than on the smooth hills at home.
In fact sometimes during the trip I was really exhausted but as soon as we arrived
at the hotel weakness was gone and a wonderful feeling off satisfaction took over.

Would I do it again? Yes without hesitation but with more training in advance.

If the trip price makes you hesitate- I also considered twice.
It isn’t cheap as Scotland isn’t cheap in general.
But quality isn’t for free.
What I got back is a holiday beyond comparison.
There’s no regret about the money I have spent, it was more than worth it.

I recommend this trip confidentially and also Wilderness Scotland.
It was my second booking and both holidays were absolutely fascinating.




end of feedback survey some further information to Wilderness Scotland people,
hope you want to read a bit more.

You made me a happy client twice 2014 and 2017 and therefore I wanted to give
a positive reply.
Sorry for answering only now 5 months after the trip but I hope my feedback is
still useful for you.
I tried my best to find understandable words but there are language limitations.

These also occurred during the trip, since our team was from USA Canada and
the guides from Britain with me, the only not native English speaker from Bavaria.

All of them were so kind and patient that I felt absolutely welcome among this
wonderful international group of people and so the language wasn’t a big problem.

It was this international thing I looked for.

The others also were enthusiastic about the scenery in Scotland.
At viewpoints I heard them shouting „Oh my goodness“ or just „Wow“.
Indeed, the scenery is often overwhelming.
You are lucky to live there, aren’t you?

I was also lucky with our guides David and Neil.
It’s not an easy job I think, to handle a group of people who never met before.
Different nations, different characters, different ages, fitness levels, cycling speeds.
Somehow they managed to bring us together, maybe because David in his calm and nice way of talking and Neil with his unique talent of storytelling are the perfect
guiding team.

It’s a pity that we probably will not meet again, but there will always be a positive memory of all of these people in my mind.

Thank you Neil and David also for cycling by my side or picking me up for the last
miles in the evening.
You gave me the encouragement I needed in the last hour, my „hour of weakness“.

I found my personal rhythm with the ascents and descents and in the end and to my own surprise even climbed „Bealach na Ba“.
What a view there,I could even see the Isle of Eigg and remember our pleasant stay
there at Kildonan House in 2014.
You put the highlights at the end of a well organized trip.

Thanks and greetings to the office team, Rupert who was with us at the west coast,
Jane, David Russel, Chantal and a special one to Rachael who worked for me for
the second time.
Thank you all for your kindness!

I cannot afford a third one in the moment but I wish to return with my wife sometimes.
To keep the wish alive keep on sending emails, I will look at them.

My best wishes from Bavaria to all of you,

Günther

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Trip Comments
The guides, Al and Dave, were very knowledgeable about the area in so many ways, and allowed the group to cycle at the pace that suited them adding extras for the more able cyclists. They also kept a close eye if anyone was flagging. The lunches and coffee breaks were very welcome and it was such a treat to eat in the fresh air and sunshine every day. They found locations that were good stopping points. I felt very looked after throughout the whole holiday so that all i needed to concentrate on was the cycling and the views. The bikes were good and the views were stunning - at times breathtaking and what was so special about the week was cycling in such evocative landscapes in high summer when it never really got dark

Accommodation and Food
The quality of the accommodation was mixed with some that were quite special (Langass Lodge)to others that were functional and at times not very efficient ( Tarbert- Hebrides hotel). we had to wait for over one hour for our main course which came out very dry - this was the night of one of the world cup matches with England!!!!, the spring of the security door fell off and nearly fell on my friends head and other members of our party had numerous problems. I am aware there are limitations with accommodation on the islands and that you have to use what is available however the Tarbert hotel needs to improve. I also liked the accommodation at Breascleit- Loch Roag as it had a family home atmosphere which made it very relaxing

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

Thanks for your feedback. As you say, there are limited options in the Hebrides for accommodation, although we are sorry to hear about your experience at Hotel Hebrides, as they are one of our most trusted accommodation partners. Having spoken about this with their manager, they would like to apologise for your poor experience, as this is never the type of service that they wish to provide. You may be interested to know that recent feedback has been very good, so we are confident that this is not the usual service they offer.

Your Guide
As mentioned before Al and Dave were excellent guides, very well organised, calm kept us in good time and order, very informative about the area in all its apsects, got a good measure of the groups skills and adjusted the trip accordingly

The Bottom Line
would definately recommend wilderness scotland as a really well organised outfit with great staff and providing excellent holidays

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Pre-Trip Service
Website very informative and gives you all the info needed for the trip. Office team responded promptly to all my emails.

Trip Comments
Craig and Lucy were excellent guides. They were friendly, knowledgeable, safety minded, and overall made sure everyone was satisfied and having a good time. The picnics were outstanding with excellent choices and wide variety. We were certainly impressed with the routing which for the most part kept us off the busy roads. Also the trip rating system seemed appropriate for the rides on both distance and vertical.

Accommodation and Food
No issue with the accommodations for us they were as expected. They were all friendly, breakfasts were good, and the star rating was appropriate for what we paid for. For us personally we would prefer not having the heavy duvets, but that is a personal preference.

Your Guide
A+++. Craig and Lucy were outstanding. This was our first guided bike trip as all of our other trips were self supported. We could not have had a better combination of guides. Unfortunately you have spoiled us from any other guided bike trips we may take.

The Bottom Line
You will not find a better guided trip in my opinion as Wilderness Scotland. The encouragement they provided on the climbs were outstanding. Obviously you always have different skill levels, but they made that work perfectly. Honestly I have nothing negative to say. You will not go wrong booking a trip with Wilderness Scotland.

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Pre-Trip Service
Interesting to br asked about our fitness for the holiday, Just a little disappointing that some people did not come up to that standard.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONCE:

Thanks for your feedback. We do check peoples experience as much as possible when anyone books on a trip but we can only go on the information they give us. It is one of the features of a group trip that there will be different levels of ability and experience within the group but there is always the support van for anyone who is struggling and it sounds like you got some good fast days riding in as well and had a great trip overall!

Trip Comments
The last day when we rode to the Butt of Lewis with the wind behind us. I have never cycled so fast!!

Accommodation and Food
All the accom was good and the lunch stops were,also, great.

Your Guide
Craig and Neil did all they could to make the trip work which was not always easy as there was a difference in speed between the 8 poeple on the tour.

The Bottom Line
It was great, rather expensive, which did not worry us but we would have to point that out to friends if they are interested.

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Pre-Trip Service
Queries dealt with promptly. Some information re a training schedule would have been helpful, recommendations for gradually building up stamina and hill-climbing to a necessary level for this tour.

Trip Comments
Too many highlights to mention! Our guides Will and Simon were superb, producing snacks to keep us going and very encouraging on the hills. The picnic lunches were great, usually with superb views especially from the top of Cairn o’Mount. The scenery was spectacular in the mountains, and the Dee valley was particularly beautiful with the sunshine sparkling on the water. Our hotels were all excellent, who will ever forget the 1300+ single malt whiskies in the hotel bar in Edzell!

The Bottom Line
A great trip, even the weather was kind to us!

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Pre-Trip Service
Prompt replies. Very helpful.

Trip Comments
Great guides in Will and Dave. Can't fault their tireless hard work throughout. Everything very well organised. The guides went the extra mile with planning trips, meeting locals and sorting out the bikes! Stayed in great places and lively food along the way!

Accommodation and Food
All great. Great that each place was a bit different with character!

Your Guide
Can't fault Dave or Will. They were excellent. Fun to be around, really helpful. They looked after the bikes so we had no problems with them. Brilliant!

The Bottom Line
Fabulous trip. Really can't fault it. Every aspect was thought about. Would definitely recommend it!

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Pre-Trip Service
The pre-trip information was great. The only thing that could have been improved was more detail about where to meet at the train station in Inverness. I know it is small, but at first, I did not know if it was outside, inside, or where. When I wrote to ask about the meeting spot, you sent a video, and that was very helpful.

Your Guide
Great job, they worked hard.

The Bottom Line
It was what I expected and well done.

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Pre-Trip Service
Reminders were sent at right timings and my last-minute questions were replied responsively.

Trip Comments
The itinerary is well planned and clearly explained in advance (supplemented by Garmin meters) with due care and support by experienced, friendly and knowledgeable guides. Most accommodations and restaurants are good choices. It is only weather that is sometimes not predictable.

Accommodation and Food
Accommodations are generally good especially for the first 2 evenings.

Your Guide
Both David and Wally are experienced, friendly and knowledgeable. With their due care, practical tips and encouragement, I managed to have break-throughs in finishing most of the though routes. My sincere thanks to both of them.

The Bottom Line
I’ve made the right choice to take on this enjoyable and adventurous trip with Wilderness Scotland. The very capable guides and fellow guest have brought me to new heights.

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Pre-Trip Service
It took a few calls at the very beginning of the planning stage for trip to speak with someone who had experience of doing the cycle element.

Trip Comments
Putting aside the fact that we were blessed with unbelievable weather for the entire trip the services of both Kelty & Dave, were exceptional.

Details of what was to be included in the trip is as we know detailed in the booking blurb, but the surprise of being served “fresh” coffee when pulling up at side of Glen stops, along with the quality of provisions throughout helped in making this a truly memorable trip.

Equally, the insight of the local geology and the geography, along with the fauna and flora knowledge shared by our guides enhanced the spectacular scenery and complemented the wow factor at every turn.

Accommodation and Food
The last two nights accommodation was a disappointment in so much that we were truly spoilt by those we had the pleasure of staying in previously.

Wishing to have a herbal tea rather than normal tea for breakfast incurred an additional charge being one such point.

Luckily our very last evening meal together was away from this venue - wow what an experience!

Your Guide
Dave and Kelty were brilliant, their support throughout and in particular Dave’s encouragement and guidance during the more arduous climbs were both welcomed and well placed.

The Bottom Line
Having used the services now of several cycling holiday organisations what we experienced from Wilderness Scotland during our trip is going to take some beating.

The attention to detail, the standard of accommodation, the quality of food including the “undersold” value of coffee/refreshment and picnic lunch stops all coupled with the support, encouragement, expertise and knowledge of the area by Kelty & Dave made it a holiday of the highest order.

Ps. Even a lost bike part was waiting for us upon our return home!

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Pre-Trip Service
The email replies were timely and complete.

Trip Comments
Sure, the weather could have been better but the lodging was well varied and the meals great.

Accommodation and Food
Nothing was too posh. The castle and manor house balanced out with Shieldaig.

Your Guide
They were great guys who worked hard and were always super helpful. Dave helped with a flat in record time. Neal kept the conversation lively and was eager to help as well.

The Bottom Line
What a great introduction to the Scottish Highlands. The trip touches on the landscape, history, cuisine, and great cycling of Scotland.

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Pre-Trip Service
The team were very good at answering all my questions as I dithered about whether to sign up for the trip

Trip Comments
Riding across Ardnamurchan was a real delight and a day of contrasts, from sand dunes at the start, then sweeping descents through open moorland and finishing with winding through faerie-tale mossy and lichen-covered woodlands. The biggest highlight of the trip for me was Raasay and Calum's Road. Definitely challenging both in climbs and descents - involving both hill walking and off-road cycling in my case - but stunning views and a real appreciation of the effort and dedication it must have taken for one man to have built the road.

Accommodation and Food
The accommodation was simple but good. After a day's cycling what you want is a good shower, good food and a comfortable bed, and everywhere we stayed ticked all of those boxes.

Your Guide
The guides were great, and adapted to the ever-changing Scottish weather, adding a bit extra on a sunny day to compensate for a wet one previously. Good local knowledge, good cycling expertise and maintenance skills, and an uncanny ability to reverse the van and bike trailer through the narrowest spaces.

The Bottom Line
Wilderness Scotland do a great job in creating an itinerary that combines some incredibly scenic (and occasionally challenging) cycling with a range of off-bike activities to give you a real taste of the country. The guides are great, always quick with helpful info, advice and the odd bit of bike maintenance along the way. The accommodation is comfortable and the food excellent. I will definitely be a repeat customer; I have already booked my next trip!

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Pre-Trip Service
Some of the attachments came through initially as pdf.html files (not readable, and went to a salesforce link) but were promptly sent as pdf's on request (thanks Bridget). Any ideas for training to get ready for the ride would be useful too (though I realize that might be difficult given the different level of each rider)

Trip Comments
Everything about this trip was so well done. My favorite parts: our ever thoughtful and pleasant guides Will & Simon, the picnic lunches!, scenic routes, planning that enabled us to ride in the van when needed (Cairn O'Mount!), stops at interesting places, the choice of hotels and the fabulous food.

Accommodation and Food
I can't imagine how this could be better - we enjoyed every place we stayed. Glenesk Hotel with its huge variety of scotch whiskies and Taypark Hotel with its lovely grounds and fabulous Spanish chef were probably the highlights.

Your Guide
I can't imagine better guides than Will and Simon. From the first meeting at the train station to the final delivery of our suitcases to our hotel in Edinburgh, they took care of absolutely every aspect of the trip for us: tire changes, picnic prep (even with special requests), dealing with route changes, cheering on riders in the back, watching out for everyone's safety, lugging our suitcases, giving us info about the places we were going and things we were looking at. And they were just fun to hang out with at dinner.

The Bottom Line
Loved it!

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Pre-Trip Service
My husband did almost all of the pre trip investigation and planning. I had some questions that I submitted through your website. You answered completely and quickly.

Trip Comments
Our guides, Craig and Neil, were awesome. They made us feel totally welcomed and comfortable, answered every question, fed us amazingly well, led our rides with attention to everyone’s needs. In short they made their very demanding jobs look easy. A good image would be a duck on a pond. Above the water everything looks calm and easy while under the water the duck’s feet are flying!

We were a very diverse group who quickly bonded in large part due to the quality of our guides. If you were to right a job description of a perfect guide, you could just model that guide after Craig and Neil.

Accommodation and Food
We were always comfortable. Our only complaint was a non functioning shower in one hotel. The bath worked fine and we were able to get clean.

Your Guide
Please see my previous note. Our guides were fantastic.

The Bottom Line
A great adventure that included more than enough riding to challenge me, more than enough food and drink to satiate me, more than enough fabulous scenery and wonderful history to make me want to come back, and guides and fellow guests who were more than wonderful, interesting, friendly and fun!

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Pre-Trip Service
I received prompt friendly service when I called to confirm things. I was confused though as the date for the start of our ride came forward by a day, but this was not a problem.

Trip Comments
Other than the spectacular countryside, the highlight was the friendly and knowledgeable guides - I felt that I was in good hands from the moment we were picked up at the railway station 'til when we were dropped off. I am enthused to do more trips with Wilderness Scotland.

Accommodation and Food
No complaints - comfortable and hospitable!

Your Guide
As mentioned Tim and Will went well above and beyond. They were good humoured, highly organised and very professional. They made the trip really pleasurable for me and they are the reason I would join Wilderness Scotland on future trips. They were excellent ambassadors for Wilderness Scotland and Scotland more broadly. I cannot speak highly enough of them. As an example, they offered fellow cycling travellers a coffee while we waited for the ferry to Harris on a wet and wild morning. To me that spoke volumes.

The Bottom Line
A challenging trip (weather wise) through pristine countryside made enjoyable by a highly professional organisation. I will be back and I will recommend Wilderness Scotland to my friends unreservedly. Keep up the good work.
Andy Davis, Wollongong AUSTRALIA

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Pre-Trip Service
Any questions we had were answered within a short time. All information sent to us was informative.

Trip Comments
Our two guides ,the Daves (sunny Dave and rainy Dave) were freindly, helpfull and informative. They made sure everyone was ok along the track and the bikes were ok for each days ride.
Jules was also there for any assistance and informative local knowledge.

Accommodation and Food
In general all the accommodation was comfortable and in lovely locations.

Your Guide
Informative, friendly and very helpful.

The Bottom Line
Everthing seemed to run without a problem from time of booking to the endof the adventure.

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Pre-Trip Service
More to help you.......could have saved a little space in my bag if I'd known we would be given a cycling jersey and drink bottle.

Trip Comments
I am a regular W Scotland customer so I have never had a bad trip and as I have walked, mountain biked, canoed and now road biked they all offer different things.

In terms of sights plus food plus exercise Knoydart has always been my top trip but this Hebridean Adventure probably equalled it being brilliantly led with sites and visits that I would never had experienced on my own, an area that I had only the faintest knowledge of now becomes somewhere I would revisit.

I had never ridden road cycle before so was very grateful for Craigs tips.
The guides local knowledge re Brocks/black Houses was very useful.

Accommodation and Food
The food and accommodation experiences were a mixed bag but clearly in some locations you had little choice. However at all sites the staff were doing their best and in some cases the location/view made up for the accommodation.
South Ust-started badly with an intemperate conversation between owner and one of our party but food/service were excellent from then on and room lovely.
North Ust-lovely room and food
Tarbet- Stunning apartments and good food
Last two nights-guesthouse simple food & room but good service but what a lovely, lovely location.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

Thanks very much for your feedback. Glad you had a great trip overall! As you say, we do have a limited choice in the Hebrides, however we feel that the accommodations that we use on this trip are of a high standard whilst all having their own character. We are very sorry for the situation that occurred in South Uist, and would like to assure you that this is the first incident of this nature that has occurred here. We will nevertheless keep an eye on feedback in the future to ensure that this does not happen again.

Your Guide
Utterly professional and supportive, I have led trips and know what a 24/7 experience it can be.
Craig and Kettlie combined energy with local knowledge and good humour, both really good adverts for the Wilderness Scotland Brand.

The Bottom Line
There are a surprising number of hills in the Outer Hebrides but they are the price you will gladly pay for an unforgettable experience. If you make sure you are fit enough before you arrive this could indeed be that 'once in a lifetime experience.

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The Bottom Line
An amazing adventure with beautiful scenery (even in the rain); gracious and delightful accommodations; delicious and bountiful meals/snacks; and helpful and entertaining (yes - even the van rides were enjoyable) guides. I never stopped smiling, despite challenging hills, wind and rain.

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Trip Comments
The guide were extremely helpful and the hotels were very comfortable

Your Guide
The guides were freindly and competent.

The Bottom Line
one comment that I do want you to note please is the following:
I had four punctures on the route. This was very irritating even though the van had resources to sort out the problem. I would strongly recommend moving to Schwalbe marathon plus tyres. The small weight penalty is noting compared to the inconvenience of punctures.

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Pre-Trip Service
Update communications from the office were timely and informative. Staff was very courteous and helpful.

Trip Comments
We were impressed with how well organized everything was. The daily routes we took were great and the accommodations were excellent.

Accommodation and Food
The inns and hotels we stayed at were outstanding. Beautiful locations and they helped to give us a real appreciation of Scotland.

Your Guide
I really can't say enough about how much we enjoyed our guides, Sam Weir and Andrew Kelt. They were organized, helpful, friendly, and informative. They did an outstanding job in making this tour so enjoyable for all of us.

The Bottom Line
Wilderness Scotland is a great organization to work with. I would recommend this trip to anyone interested in biking on the Outer Hebrides Islands.

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Pre-Trip Service
Team was in communication before the trip to make sure all parties had all the necessary information required to make the trip a success. This certainly builds confidence that you can turn up at the appointed spot and from then on everything will be taken care of.

Trip Comments
It's very hard to identify a particular highlight from a trip that was pretty much a plateau of pleasure. Even the one day on Islay where the weather was less than perfect was tempered by humour ("You can see the American monument behind me .. oh no you can't, the mist's come down as I've been talking") and the distillery visit. My own favourite was probably the last day, cycling through Jura, where incredible scenery and fantastic weather combined with the boy's own adventure of cycling down to a small harbour and loading the bikes onto a RIB for a trip through Corryvreckan. Other high points have to include chocolate cake, the seals in Portnahaven harbour, cycling to Lochranza for the ferry to Skipness, and the Velo Cafe stop.

Accommodation and Food
The itinerary was great, with a minimum of hotel changes so not a lot of unpacking and repacking. The Glenisle in Lamlash was charming and had good food - possibly the best breakfast - but the sloping eaves in the room we had restricted movement a little. The Bridgend hotel in Islay was also charming and the food was excellent. The last night in Medfort was very comfortable with a much bigger room and fantastic views.

Your Guide
The guides were great. Both Craig and Mike were kind, considerate, knowledgeable and highly competent. They were just incredibly nice guys who made us feel at ease right from the start. It was a very small trip - just the two of us and a third person from Wilderness Scotland on a 'fam trip' - so the overall feeling was very much like a family, or a bunch of friends out together. The feeling that they were there for backup was very comforting, even if it wasn't needed.

The Bottom Line
The whole experience was a fantastic way to experience what Scotland has to offer in terms of scenery, wildlife, people and food, on a much more intimate level than just driving through the same terrain. The guides and their knowledge added value to enrich the experience, and made the whole process seamless and worry-free. Probably the best way to sum up was that I ended up making a commitment to an Outer Hebrides trip next year.

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Pre-Trip Service
Having the US number was very helpful. All questions either by phone or email were promptly answered (even ones I probably asked more than once :) )

Trip Comments
Guides were great, knowledgable and helpful. We thought were were prepared for the weather but on day 1 we quickly realized we were not. We don't ride in the rain so we had to rely on our local bike shop and the one in Glasgow we stopped at on the way. Fortunately both David and Paul had spare gear and were able to loan me a rain jacket until we could get to a town at a time when the bike shop was open..

Accommodation and Food
A couple of the hotels were great (Glenesk and Taypark) but the others could definitely use some updating. I recognize there are not many options in some of the small towns on the way. All the meals were great, snacks in the van were a big help (loved the Stoats bars, have to find them on Amazon)

Your Guide
They really made the trip. (See comment about rain gear). Thankfully they had a sense of humor too! We felt that we were in good hands and they definitely were careful about insuring our safety. We learned a lot about Scotland and can't wait to come back and learn more. And our sincere apologies for the size of one of our pieces of luggage, hopefully no enduring back pain for them.

The Bottom Line
We want to do the trip again! We want to try to get all 8 slots filled with people of more similar ability (i.e. friends and family). One thing we would consider asking about is moving a little quicker during the day so we have some time late afternoon to explore the towns where we spend the night. Unfortunately most of the towns shut down around 5 and we seemed to roll in after 6 each day. The other thing is the GPS units, while nice, seemed to have a little difficulty.

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Pre-Trip Service
plenty of information

Trip Comments
Well organised with excellent guides Will and Simon - nothing too much trouble for them. Hotels all good and picnics and coffee stops up to the usual Wilderness Scotland standards. Mileages about right, but route could be improved. Although the climb over Cairn O'Mount was strenuous, we finished Day 4 quite early and could have continued to Kirriemuir. This would have allowed us to get beyond Dundee for the night and allowed more time the next day. Will and Simon altered the route from St Andrews taking Cycle Route 1 across country to Loch Leven - a beautiful undulating ride through interesting towns like Falkland. A longer visit here would have been good. Also a bell on the bike would have been useful - several sections of the ride had walkers or horseriders and we had no way of announcing our arrival other than a shout!

Accommodation and Food
No issues at all - all comfortable . Though there was nothing in the pre tour info that the hotel in Grantown had a spa and pool. A cossie would have been useful!

Your Guide
Both Will and Simon were very good - nothing too much trouble - knowledgeable - good bike mechanics! - good fun to be with

The Bottom Line
Excellent trip with supportive guides, good hotels and food, great rides if a little challenging at times ( but its not a race) and the added bonus of summer weather
( with no midges!)

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Pre-Trip Service
Booking and paying was very simple, but most useful to me was knowing the mix of the group, and being able to find this and other useful info by a quick call was good. The only info I would have liked was the places we were staying, but there has to be something of intrigue for someone like me who researches, so I know much about the area before I get there.

Trip Comments
Granted the weather was fantastic, but the guides in knowing our capabilities were able to add some interesting and challenging sections to the prescribed route. The Golden Road on Harris was scenic and made a fun cycling experience. Locations for breaks and lunch were always well chosen. And unlike the trips of another unnamed company coffee was not a spoon of instant, it was proper stuff made in a cafetiere.

One story was when we went to Vatersay, some of the group went swimming, which took extra time leaving us a little short on time for the ferry back to Eriskay. The guides decided on a sweep up operation where we set off on the bikes, and they would collect us if we were not going to make the ferry. I was determined not to be swept up, so set off at a decent speed. I even stopped 3 times for photos and arrived at the ferry at 2.22, in good time for the 2.30 deadline. I then saw the sailing time was 2.46, so when 2 Americans in the group rolled in at 2.32 I felt better. However no sign of van or trailer - they eventually appeared with a couple of minutes to spare. As for me, the urgency had prompted an 8th best time ever for anyone using Strava on the Castlebay to ferry section.

An interesting occurrence was to follow. About 20 minutes out on the ferry (one of the small double ended ones) we suddenly did what felt like a handbrake turn , then stopped, then the ship's alarm went off. With no announcements, we made our own speculation and no doubt caused some consternation amongst the coachload of geriatrics, who clearly had concerns about the swim to shore. Anyway, we think a propeller had snagged a rope, so it was easy to turn the boat 180degrees and use the other working propellors, and after a half hour delay we were on our way. With the boat now leading with what had been the stern, I was now facing west, which was fortunate, because if I had been facing east I would not have seen the 6 dolphins that passed us on our port side.

My other story was at our overnight stop on North Uist, as we turned into the drive we could see a cairn at the top of the hill. At dinner the guide told us about the walk up to the cairn, and after dinner duly took us to the start of the path. We found the stone circle and various standing stones and were rewarded with fabulous views over a landscape of lochs, moorland and hills as we walked upwards. On reaching the trig point at the top, I took a photo as the sun disappeared over distant hills. However no sign of the cairn. I was ahead of the group, so went on a reccy back towards the main road, but with nothing in sight the others decided to head back - one thing it was 10.30pm , the other was our guide had warned of a steep uneven path. I am a bit of a stubborn , or perhaps determined character, and was going to find the cairn. It did occur to me it was going dark, I was not on a distinct path, and I had no phone with me. Nonetheless I continued my way, and eventually it came into sight. Surprisingly it was only a third of the way up the hill on a false summit. From there a good path leads to the main road. Not sure where I had missed the steep rough path, but from there I jogged back along the half mile drive hoping I had not triggered a search party, No need to have worried - as I reached the lodge where we were staying , who should appear from the path we had set out on but the rest of the group.

Accommodation and Food
I felt the Borrodale Hotel on South Uist was the only let down. I have previously stopped at the Polochar? and was looking forward to similar. I felt it was tired and perhaps run on a budget, as at breakfast the waitress also appeared to be cooking the food - my smoked haddock was microwaved too long and scrambled eggs had been sat in an oven for some while.

I know some of the group had issues at the Hebrides Hotel, one with time taken for food, but there was an England World cup match on, and a couple with a stinky bathroom (blocked drain?), but I had no problems, and indeed a very nice room with a comfortable bed.

Donald's Guest House on Lewis (Loch Roag I think) was a wonderful choice, for food, comfort and views.

Your Guide
Easygoing, knowledgeable about history, geology and flora and fauna. They felt like mates who you could tell anything to or ask anything of. They did a good job in allowing flexibility to go fast or slow on the rides, around for support but not appearing to be nursemaiding us.

Excellent job by Dave to repair the trailer connection plug.

One puncture - Al despite a sabotaged spare tube saw the victim back on her way.

Very much appreciated the evening trips in the van,

The Bottom Line
Just back from Hebrides, already keen to do another trip next month, everything together made what must be one of my best ever holidays.

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Pre-Trip Service
Had a couple changes w equipments and roommates, handled well

Trip Comments
Edge of the world tour with sights and cultural points of interest. Cycling distances were appropriate, accommodations well placed. Extra routes--including the Golden Road loop near Grosebay/Tarbert were genius, the weather improved just in time too. A big plus after a soaking hill climb. Other extras - like a side journey climb to Vatersay added another island to the count. Will and Dave were top performers as guides. And our group of riders fit together very well. In addition, the Harris Distillery tour was another unexpected pleasure, whose staff showed Hebrides fine characteristics. Finally, even journey to visit Willie the Artist was great experience.

Accommodation and Food
Staying two nights a couple times during journey was a plus

Your Guide
Will was a shining example of the epitome of wilderness tour guide. He adjusted very well to everyone's diverse needs, even anticipated them. Will's knowledge and experiences were well applied and highly valued...truly a senior staff member. Dave likewise performed very well. His service manners were encouraging and helped make everyone feel even more welcome. Both guides were excellent mechanics with tools and spare parts to remedy every need. Together they worked in high performance mode to exceed expectations all around.

The Bottom Line
Fantastic "bucket-list" adventure that exceeded experience and value expectations. Journeys at the edge of the world with such seasoned guides brought out every nook and cranny of enjoyment possible

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Pre-Trip Service
Once I was able to speak with someone we had wonderful service. I initially left a phone message that never was returned but did try again and was able to speak directly with someone.

Trip Comments
There were many special moments and really good laughs. It's hard to capture them in words. I will forever remember our group and the ribbing that began very early in the trip. I laughed hard, ate hard and biked hard. David's magical ability to make 10 km = 10 miles = 14 miles is also something I still haven't been able to figure out. I also now have great respect for 'Scottish flats'. Hills at home will never compare! Rainbows, waterfalls and sheep carried me over many a mountain.

Accommodation and Food
I really enjoyed the varied places that we stayed. It was a really nice mix of a bit more fancy to comfortable and relaxed. At each place the staff were lovely and very attentive to our needs.

Your Guide
David was just as he describes himself: organized, laid back & stoic. He was always quietly supporting us and so attentive to our needs. I really appreciated that he believed in our abilities and just always seemed to be there when we needed him. It felt like he was always one step ahead, adjusting and rearranging routes, timing, the schedule to ensure we had the most optimal experience. He made our trip extremely special.

The Bottom Line
Pre-trip: We received all the information necessary to be very ready for this trip. The staff were very helpful and kind with booking, payments, etc

Trip difficulty rating: It was bang on. You really need to have a strong base of riding for this trip and I'm so glad I did. To really enjoy the beauty of the route, being comfortable with a lot of hill climbing is essential.

Bikes: The bikes we rented were great. I was a bit concerned that riding an unknown bike for +420km might not be comfortable but they worked well, the frame sizes chosen for us were very accurate and our guides were very skilled in doing any adjustments or maintenance necessary.

Routing: We loved, loved, loved the routes (and detours) that made up this trip. Also our guides had such knowledge of the areas they were able adjust routes on the fly, sometimes because we were a directionally challenged bunch and took wrong turns (they knew if we could keep going and get to the same place or if they needed to turn us around) and sometimes to optimize quieter roads. The Garmins were not really that helpful but the guides more than made up for the lack of technology.

Scenery: Oh my! The scenery was magical. It was amazing how many different terrains and varied areas we experienced. Each ride, each corner turned brought on new and breathtaking experiences. I am still a bit surprised I didn't see a gnome wander out from the woods.

Boat tour: Changing the boat tour to the last night was a fabulous idea. The couple that did our tour was really lovely, very knowledgeable and it was a really meaningful to see the area in this way. It was also a really special way to top off a fabulous trip.

Food: All of the cafes and restaurants we ate at were wonderful. I really appreciated the wide variety of styles and the different 'feel' of each. They all were unique and special in their own way, some because of the food, some because of the atmosphere and some for both! The picnic lunches we had were also well done and the food was fabulous.

Overall: we had a fabulous time and the trip far exceeded our expectations!

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Trip Comments
Dave and Sam as guides were amazing and totally made the trip!! They had wonderful attitudes!

Accommodation and Food
They were great for where we were.

Your Guide
I was experiencing knee pain and only realized on the second to last day that it was due to the height of my bike and my shoes. I found this out by a Google search “knee pain while cycling” Wish this was realized or suggested earlier. Regardless I had a wonderful time and Sam and Dave were always so accommodating

The Bottom Line
Trip of a lifetime!

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Pre-Trip Service
Your cancellation policy is too strict, it should leave more flexibility in case of cancellation for injuries. For instance give the chance to book another trip: you don't lose the money and the client is happy.
In order not to loose more than £ 1800, I had to take the risk of injuring my shoulder again.
Unexpected events can happen 30 days prior to departure, that's life. Yoou can't control everything. Also bikes break down in the course of the trip, even the extra. Why should I accept a lower quality replacement when you are so unflexible about cancellation policy?

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

In our cancellation policy we do offer the option to switch to a different trip, provided that you are able to notify us with plenty of time. As you asked us about cancellation just a couple of weeks before the departure day it was too late for us to be able to offer a refund. We absolutely agree that the unexpected can happen at any time before your trip, and this is why we urge all our clients to take out an adequate insurance policy at the time they book to protect against the risk of cancellation.

I am very glad to hear that you were able to make the trip, and had such a good time with Will and Tim.

Your Guide
Both Will and Tim are excellent, both as cyclists and as tour guides: they took care of everything and really treated us.
I really appreciated Will's passion for communicating the history of the place and the environment features. It made you really feeling into the place

The Bottom Line
More clarity on the weather could be a good idea, also to make sure that people come with appropriate gear.
Bike quality may be improved.

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Trip Comments
The Lecht Pass and Cairn O'Mount days were excellent, challenging, but really good rides with a mix of terrain and scenery. The ride through Fife from Dundee via St Andrews was excellent and clearly a highlight. The stop at Glamis Castle was excellent and the lunch after spectacular. All the picnic lunches were superb, as was the lunch stop in Fife.

Accommodation and Food
The accomodations were all excellent, particularly the hotel in Edzell, which had a spectacular selection of single malts, a totally unexpected highlight!

Your Guide
The guides were excellent, we loved both Will and Simon and the skill and enthusiasm they brought to the job. Really made a big difference in the overall experience, well done!

The Bottom Line
This was super trip from beginning to end, and afforded an amazing look at the Scottish highlands terrain, as well as giving a feel for the east coast and Fife in particular. The food was great throughout, the guides were amazing, the rides challenging but never a grind, all in all a fantastic trip!!

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Pre-Trip Service
May have just been the layout of the drop down menus but it would have been nice if there were more things to click on about my particular adventure coming up!

Trip Comments
Best. Trip. Ever.
Goes down as the number one vacation I’ve ever been on! Went to the most beautiful islands, saw unforgettable landmarks, stayed at the cutest B&B’s, was constantly fed every few hours and the riding was the best I’ve ever done.

Accommodation and Food
Didn’t know what to expect from the Outer Hebrides and I was pleasantly surprised with how cute, comfy with a touch of posh everything was! trip advisor stickers posted on all the B&B front doors so you know they’re worth it.

Your Guide
Neil is a bike mastermind and has exceptional abilities to create the perfect ride for every client. So friendly! Craig, equally as friendly, kept the itinerary flowing so smoothly and would effortlessly make tweaks to the schedule with Neil when weather/uncontrollables didn’t cooperate. They we’re so easy to talk to/hang out with and answered all our questions (even the stupid ones lol). Neil and Craig made the trip what it was; they are excellent at what they do for a living and cater to each individual client SO WELL.

The Bottom Line
I came home and immediately started telling all my friends to look into future WS trips, especially the new customize your own trip option! Best vacation I’ve ever been on, hands down.

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Trip Comments
We loved Harris Distillery, impromptu stops to explore (guides Will and Dave were so in tune with each of us and remembered if something was of particular interest so we could check it out later.)

Accommodation and Food
Loved this trip so much, so these are just minor tweaks. You might consider including all dinners in the price if there aren’t multiple options. Also- bringing your own saddle could be in the recommendations- I have never been on a bike trip where sore butts weren’t a problem- potentially very painful and easily solved by adding that recommendation. I brought my own and it was well worth the minor inconvenience.

Your Guide
Guides make or break a trip. Everything else is secondary. Will and Dave were terrific- thoughtful, fun, attentive to everyone’s needs. They were running for 12+ hours a day with us- bikes, food, baggage, etc. but they kept their good humor throughout. When you come from far away, guides are your lifeline and these two made for a great trip. Highest marks and great appreciation for Will and Dave. Their expertise and thoughtfulness made the trip.

The Bottom Line
This trip had it all- beautiful scenery, great food, excellent guides. Highly recommend.

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Trip Comments
I thought the opportunity to visit things along the way really added to the value of the trip, for example the 'blackhouses', the artitst Willie and his studio, the 'golden road' etc. So much better to have the opportunity to see things off piste rather than just bash on each day. We all appreciated how much effort Will the leader made to provide us with interesting information about locations and their history, and the friendliness and suppoort at all times shown by him and Dave.

Accommodation and Food
All hosts and accom great, especially Aggie on Lewis

Your Guide
Couldn't have been better

The Bottom Line
Very much enjoyed it all round. Will remember Sandra the guide at the distillery in Tarbert and Aggie's daughter and friend doing a highland dance to entertain us at the |Lewis accom!

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Pre-Trip Service
Any questions we asked were responded to promptly and the equipment list/pre-trip planning documents were very helpful. The only suggestion I would make is to add a note in the itinerary indicating that distances may vary from what is described. For example the itinerary stated that Day 1 would be 64km, while we actually rode 74km. This isn't a problem, it just might have been good to set us up to be flexible in our expectations of distance.

Trip Comments
The change in having the boat trip in Loch Torridon rather than Loch Ness was an excellent change. The Loch Torridon trip was relaxing and felt very genuine. The flexibility of our guides to change up the route or schedule a bit to suit group preferences (or the weather) was a big plus.

Accommodation and Food
I liked the variety of accommodation types throughout the trip. Staying in a range of accommodations gave us a more fulfilling experience. Everything was clean and comfortable.
The food on our trip was amazing. Period. I now have a sticky toffee pudding addiction.
The picnic/rest stop meals set up by David and Neil were great. Our only regret is that we can't get the same snacks here in Canada.

Your Guide
We felt very well taken care of by David and Neil.

The Bottom Line
I'm confident that we will travel with Wilderness Scotland again. This was our first cycling trip and your company made it an easy and enjoyable experience.

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Pre-Trip Service
Our trip leaders, Craig and Lucy, were outstanding!
Think we didn't need to be on bikes for the Royal Mile (most of us walked
and the guards were not happy to see our bikes.
Some recommendations for laundry mid trip.

Trip Comments
The scenery, the accommodations and the food were excellent.
The trip route was terrific and just challenging enough.

Accommodation and Food
laundry services

Your Guide
The best tour guides I've ever met!
Craig was a wealth of information and Lucy was the most delightful
person I've ever met.

The Bottom Line
Absolutely Wonderful.
Wish we could have turned around and done the trip in the other direction.

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Trip Comments
The guys did a great job! Lots of unexpected extras that made it better then expected. Best part was their ability to adjust to different tastes, weather, schedules, and situations.

Accommodation and Food
All the hotels were great. I enjoyed the variation in accommodations; some homey, some grand. All were comfortable and had great, personable staff. Food was great too. The roadside picnics were fun and different.

Your Guide
As noted, the guys accommodated everyone and every situation with grace, charm and humor.

The Bottom Line
Great job. Thanks for showing me a side of the UK that I never knew existed.

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Pre-Trip Service
Recieved all the inforamtion I required for the meet up and lots of other information about the trip and Scotland.

Trip Comments
Excellent guides and accommation. Stunning scenery and enjoyed the Island hoppong aspect of the trip

Accommodation and Food
All hotels we stayed in were very good with friendly sevice

Your Guide
Very personal service recieved with friendly guides who coldn't do enough for the members of the group

The Bottom Line
Excellent and relaxing trip, stunning scenery and good fun with the guides and group.

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