Walking Holidays Scotland

Pre-Trip Service
We weren’t sure we could manage the challenges of this trip so Wilderness Scotland wisely contacted our guide from a previous trip who remembered us and assured us we could!

Trip Comments
What wonderful peaks: Cul Mor, Stac Pollaidh. Suilven was the greatest challenge and all who started managed to finish, with much mutual encouragement and fears conquered!
Even on our “rest day” we watched a White Tailed eage soaring and saw climbers scaling The Old Man of Stoer.

Accommodation and Food
I don’t think the accommodation could be improved at all - good food, good rooms, great views.

Your Guide
Thank you Susie for your gentle patience and your wisdom in estimating what we could achieve. I think you were very busy at times organising things in the background but it never seemed to show, everything just happened!

The Bottom Line
Challenging but highly worthwhile.

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Pre-Trip Service
Hi the trip was very good organized and hotel or the location which we stayed at was a very good excellent place

Trip Comments
We visited the best area and the best view and the leader was a great friend and full with experience

Accommodation and Food
The accommodation was excellent very good experience and people who work in this accommodation was a great people l like him very much

Your Guide
The guide was very good and have a good experience and we were like a friend

The Bottom Line
Wilderness Scotland from the best company

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Pre-Trip Service
Very helpful with questions

Trip Comments
Alistair was wonderful. The trip was a real challenge for me and I was proud of how I did but both I and my traveling companion thought that it was harder than the “green” level 3 description.

Accommodation and Food
Lovely places great locations and food staff very friendly

Your Guide
Alistair was wonderful. He managed the different personalities and skill levels with ease. He was so knowledgeable across such a broad range of topics and happy to answer everyone’s questions. He was always on time with a smile. For me personally his words of encouragement and mental as well as physical help were invaluable. If I ever take another trip I want to go with him!! He makes you feel secure in his abilities which for a novice was extremely important. Don’t lose him!!

The Bottom Line
Wonderful challenging experience not to be missed ask for more details re leveling of trip

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Pre-Trip Service
We lived the walks, James our fabulous guide, the beautiful mountains, the great food, the fine B&Bs

Trip Comments
We hiked to the top of mountains, walked around the sides of two of them to what felt like getting into the inesides of them

Accommodation and Food
At the first B&B the owners obviously loved running is. They created an atmosphere that made us feel right at home. Their lunches had great variety and delicious. The second was very beautiful. The owner or not so friendly but where in five. Wife cooked us a fabulous dinner on the last night. All the restaurants were fine for one in a hotel. The last one was exceptional.

Your Guide
James was in amazing guide. He was exceptionally knowledgeable. He was able to create walks for us that allowed for the wide variety of skill level of the people on the trip. He understood how to support us to walk around the mountain in ways that I never thought i'd be able to do. He knew how to deal with all the people on the trip so that everyone got what they needed. On one day someone thought Ishe could not handle the day and was going to stay home. But he convinced her that she would be able to handle the walk. It allowed for all of us to stay together as a group and gave her the pleasure of that tech killer walk in the mountains. We would have a trip with James anytime.

The Bottom Line
Vacation have a lifetime. And we have by, canoed, and various other vacations this was The best. We never expected to see the mountains as we did we never expected to have such fabulous food we never expected to have such lovely B&Bs and we thank you James!

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Pre-Trip Service
Only use your website to check trip details. Always inspiring. For reservation I just call your office - since you have my details already. Easy!!

Trip Comments
Super organized, very flexible, great adventure!

Accommodation and Food
Wonderful hotels, lots of hot Water, super food. Love it!

Your Guide
Tim was great, tried to cater for everyone in the Group, lots of fun and a good sport.

The Bottom Line
Had the time of my life. Loved the scenery and the variety of the landscape and all the informative stuff fed to us by our guide.

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Pre-Trip Service
The several times I telephoned with questions, someone always answered and could give me exactly the answers I needed. Also, your equipment list and then trip reminder close in time to the trip were most helpful.

Trip Comments
Our group of seven hikers plus Rosie Mckenzie and then Al Goodridge were marvelously compatible. Both Rosie and Al assessed our hiking wishes and skills with tact!

Accommodation and Food
The food -- at the accommodations and at the restaurants chosen by Rosie and Al -- was the best (and I'm not gushing) I've had on any of my four previous hiking trips in the UK. Thank you for a generous food budget. It made for much satisfaction for the entire group.

Your Guide
Both Rosie Mckenzie and Al Goodridge (I hope I got his name correct) were founts of knowledge about the fauna and flora (and geology) of the Cairngorms. They were cheerful and organized and gave the sense that they could handle any emergency. Thanks to you for selecting them to substitute for Keith Miller.

The Bottom Line
I wish we had been able to climb right into the wild interior of the Cairngorms, but hiking into glens from north, east, south, and west was quite wonderful. Perhaps Wilderness Scotland could offer a pack horse supported expedition? (Loved the Glenlivit Distillery tour, too!)

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Trip Comments
Yorkshire dales were not as interesting as the Highlands

Accommodation and Food
Hotel in Loch Lomond was poor

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONCE:

Thanks for your feedback. I am sorry to hear this, we always try to use the best accommodation available and unfortunately this one has not lived up to expectations on this trip and we have actually changed the accommodation for next year in this area. It does sound like you had an amazing trip overall and hope we can welcome you back in the future.

Your Guide
Keith was an excellent guide with a warm personality

The Bottom Line
Thank you for organizing such trip
I might use your services again in the future

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Pre-Trip Service
All excellent. So useful to have the equipment list and all the details on the website.

Trip Comments
Every day was amazing. From the first day walk from the lodge to explore the landscape to walking to Sandwood Bay and visiting Cape Wrath. I was particularly excited to do Ben Hope and to have so much time at the top to savour the splendid views. The ‘long way’ route back down added another layer to the day. In a week of highlights the rib trip along the coast, into caves and to an island abandoned in 1930s was spectacular and also very poignant. Great walking all week in a fascinating landscape.

Accommodation and Food
From the moment we met Mairi and Blair at Kinloch we knew they were the perfect fit for this most beautiful lodge. They and all the staff were so friendly and welcoming, insisting we see it as our home, which we did. Their attention to detail was seemingly effortless. It was a joy to stay there. The food, the wine and the ambiance were amazing and made our stay at the lodge also a wonderful part of the experience.

Your Guide
Craig was exceptional, with his great sense of humour, stories and in depth knowledge. He judged each day perfectly and adapted the itinerary expertly to enhance and extend our walks. He also really enjoyed ensuring we had very many ‘wow’ moments and created a great team spirit amongst us all. He was a pleasure to get to know and have as our guide.

The Bottom Line
Fabulous, a stunning trip. One which will always be in my mind’s eye.

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Accommodation and Food
I'm a vegetarian and found the Breakfasts for the most part were good, lunches were ok but it would be nice to have something other than cheese sandwich. Veggie wraps perhaps? More egg mayo? Accommodations were good.

Your Guide
Liam Allan (sp?) was our guide and I thought he was outstanding. He was incredibly knowledgeable about Scottish history, geography and folklore. We loved his stories. I can't say enough about how impressed I was. He was also very patient and easy going. i can't imagine how much we would have missed on a self guided tour.

The Bottom Line
One of my favourite trips ever. I would highly recommend it! I can't think of a better way to see the beautiful Scottish highlands.

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Pre-Trip Service
Quite frankly I was a bit of a nervous nelly because this was my first trip and I didn't know what to expect. I was so impressed that my queries were treated respectfully (there was never a dumb question) and promptly.

Trip Comments
Great itinerary, excellent guide, high quality accommodation and lucky for us fantastic tour group.

Accommodation and Food
All good

Your Guide
Best guide I've ever had. He was so knowledgeable and passionate about the history of the Orkneys. He was also very funny and very inclusive (he made sure everyone was involved in conversations, decisions etc)

The Bottom Line
This trip has changed the way I want to travel. I now want to have a nightly (comfortable) accommodation base and do daily trips/ walks out from there each day. Wilderness Scotland were wonderful, covered the basics of registering for a place without being overly beauractic and all further enquiries were handled promptly.

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Pre-Trip Service
Our guide Tim Francis made the trip, nothing was too much trouble for him. His knowledge of the Orkneys was very impressive and his keenness to build on his knowledge base was wonderful to experience.

Trip Comments
One of the highlights for me was on approaching The Old Man of Hoy after a prolonged walk over stones and wet boggy ground to see the stone stack rising above the cliffs in the distance, my initial response was disappointment, my thought, "is that it, what's the fuss about?". Only to reach the cliff edge and to see The Old man in his entirety, I then realised that he is really worth making a fuss over!

Accommodation and Food
Accommodation was of a very high standard, food was good but on occasion inconsistent.

Your Guide
Excellent, see previous comments, no more to be said.

The Bottom Line
"My Orkney Experience", a trip of a lifetime. Leaving me with a very definite thirst, not for whisky, of which there was plenty, but for another Wilderness trip ASAP!

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Pre-Trip Service
Good information in a timely manner. Walking footware recommendation was very appreciated.

Trip Comments
Good hotels and restaurants. The scenery was spectacular!

Accommodation and Food
Nice clean rooms. Hotel Breakfasts and packed lunches were OK. Dinners were good at the suggested pubs and restaurants.

Your Guide
Attentive to our needs. Knowledgeable about the surrounding area. Very personable and enjoyable to have as our guide.

The Bottom Line
Very good trip with spectacular scenery!

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Pre-Trip Service
I feel I was rather 'bounced' from one Glencoe holiday to another in Glencoe and then to the North Coast one .

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONCE:

Thanks so much for your feedback. I’m sorry you felt like you were bounced between trips, that was not our intention at all. Unfortunately, the luxury Glencoe and the Highlands trip you had booked was not running so we wanted to offer you the North Highland Coast trip as a option so you didn’t miss out. It sounds like you had a good time over all and we can welcome you back on to your 13th trip!

Trip Comments
Personally I would prefer standard accommodation rather than 'luxury'.

Accommodation and Food
I'm just not 'luxury' person

Your Guide
Craig gave us a wonderful and varied experience.

The Bottom Line
My experience of some 12 trips shows how much I enjoy Wilderness Scotland holidays.

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Pre-Trip Service
Wilderness Scotland did an excellent job of communicating with us throughout the process of setting up and executing the trip. Jane and David were responsive in every way, helping us with suggestions regarding train travel and accommodations in Inverness as well as making sure we understood all aspects of our walking trip.

Trip Comments
Our trip far exceeded our expectations and we expected it to be great! The hikes were incredible, the fellow 6 travelers wonderful, the weather truly Scotland (sun, rain, wind) but by far the most enjoyable aspect was our tremendous guide, Tim. He did everything he could to accommodate every traveler. His knowledge of the area, history of the inhabitants, wildlife, plants, ability to weave a story and his professionalism combined to make our 5 days together incredibly memorable. We celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary while on the trip and Tim went the extra mile/kilometer by getting us a card and having our fellow hikers sign their well wishes.
Every aspect of this trip was exceptional!

Accommodation and Food
We thoroughly enjoyed the Lovat in Fort Augustus. We had requested a view room if possible and we did get a nice room with a view. The hotel is charming and the restaurant food was very good. I think the sandwiches pre-made for the hikes need to have more substantial filling i.e. more turkey, egg salad, ham, etc. There was an abundance of snacks and Tim always made sure we had energy bars for the trail.

Your Guide
This was our first guided hiking trip and we are pretty convinced we had the best guide ever!!! Tim was engaging from the first minute, making everyone feel welcomed and an integral part of the group. He has that special ability to connect with each traveler using his great sense of humor and his positive approach to every aspect of the experience. He even outwitted Google which may be a first ever. We had a fairly diverse group in hiking fitness and I think everyone was satisfied with the challenges of each walk. His vast knowledge of all aspects of hiking in the Highlands educated us and helped us to appreciate the area's beauty, history and uniqueness.

The Bottom Line
We think the greatest compliment we can give Wilderness Scotland is that we are ready to take another trip and we just got back yesterday! To be able to hike the trails of the Highlands, learning about Scotland and challenging ourselves physically is our idea of a great holiday. Wilderness Scotland and its excellent guide, Tim Willis, created a hiking experience that will forever bring us great memories!

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Pre-Trip Service
Prompt and courteous responses to questions and extremely well thought-out planning documents, e.g., what to wear.

Trip Comments
Our guide, Paul, was knowledgeable, personable, and especially adept at fine-tuning our daily experiences to meet the needs of both the group and its individuals - not an easy feat, yet handled seemingly effortlessly. So many highlights, it’s hard to choose, however, something extra special occurred at the end of a nearly 14 mile hike in torrential rain and high wind. We were feeling well rewarded by a breathtaking vista; yet also well tested by the conditions. After celebrating the sight of our travel van, we observed a piece of writing paper in the gas cap and a package on the front tire. Intriguing .... what could it be? Well, a lovely note from a gentlemen we passed along the path up and fancy new hiking socks for each of us! Smiles all around.

Your Guide
Paul was 100% committed to our having an extraordinary experience in the Highlands - appreciating its history, fauna and flora, geology ... just everything. He exceeded our expectations at every turn. And, his encouraging words enabled us to push ourselves to meet the demands of a Level 7 walk and to realize the beauty that awaits those who go for it!! Sincere thanks and gratitude to you, Paul.

The Bottom Line
A++++++++++++. I can not say enough good stuff about Wilderness Scotland. The itinerary was well thought out, flawlessly executed, and created the foundation for many priceless memories.

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Trip Comments
The whole trip was wonderful, from start to finish. I especially loved the way the trip itinerary was flexible and sometimes changed to include the group's wishes.

Accommodation and Food
Both hotels were unique in their own way, with beautiful views of the sea, great food and helpful staff.

Your Guide
Craig was very knowldgeable and friendly. Both he and Chantal made sure everybody felt included. I especially appreciate the way he never hurried us and gave us time to explore each spot and take pictures.

The Bottom Line
The best travelling experience I've had in my life!

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Trip Comments
I think there could have been more exposure to the creative people on the islands including musicians, weavers, artists, painters and that would’ve added much to the experience.

Accommodation and Food
The shared accommodations on the island of Harris were difficult because there was only one bathroom to share and climbing the steep stairs at night was difficult.

Your Guide
Jillian was an excellent guide full of information and she was kind and helpful especially to those who needed more help.

The Bottom Line
In order to maneuver the large vans on small roads it is essential that they be equipped with a back up camera. I would also recommend in the preparation notes for people to have more hiking experience and walking before the trip. The excellent thing about this trip is that the hikes can accommodate most levels of people.

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Pre-Trip Service
Customer service was very responsive -- answering questions right away. It seemed like my reservation mattered.

Trip Comments
Small group was great. Feeling of a family traveling together. There was much room to express what we liked and wanted to do. We were not hurried from one place to another, but traveled slowly and leisurely. Just what I hoped it would be.

Accommodation and Food
Fabulous -- much beyond my expectation. First elegant Coul House with fine dining, then Glencanispe Lodge. Both very different and wonderful, each in its own way. I couldn't have asked for better accommodations.

Your Guide
Our guide Ken was very responsive to the members of the group, giving us choices what to do and where to go. He was friendly and considerate of someone like me who sometimes lagged behind. It was great to walk with someone who knows the area intimately. He seemed to know everything, plants, trees, birds, geology, history, mountains and their names. I think he did very well.

The Bottom Line
Excellent in every regard! This trip was one of the best I have ever taken.

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Pre-Trip Service
The website was very clear and all my questions directed at customer service were answered promptly. I liked the fact that you designated a rep to work with me over the months.

Trip Comments
The choice of walks was excellent, the guide was knowledgeable and helpful, the hotels were comfortable, nicely situated and personal, and the restaurants chosen for our meals were excellent and thoughtful.

Accommodation and Food
The accommodations were lovely, with delicious breakfasts and beautiful views

Your Guide
Our guide was Liam. He was excellent. He was friendly and helpful and knowledgeable about the history on our walks. He drove the van carefully and made sure everyone was properly equipped. He was mature beyond his years, with a clear enthusiasm for his work.

The Bottom Line
Skye is a special place and seeing it with Wilderness Scotland allowed us to experience it at its best and do much more than we would have been able to do independently. Wilderness Scotland leaves little to chance. Everything is well-planned and executed. An outstanding experience.

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Pre-Trip Service
nothing could have been better

Trip Comments
Excellent walks

Accommodation and Food
Excellent

Your Guide
Kirsty was first class in every respect

The Bottom Line
Excellent in every respect

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Pre-Trip Service
I had to change the dates of our trip and your people could not have made it more simple. Any question was answered very quickly.

Trip Comments
Everything was so well thought out with back up plans in place in case of weather issues. One of the highlights was meeting a Highlander, wearing a kilt, up on the moors. He smiled at us as he passed and said “Bonnie day!” It was so perfect I accused our guide Lorraine and Wilderness Scotland of having staged it! Each day seemed to be better than the last and they were all magnificent.

Accommodation and Food
We were pleasantly surprised at the size of our room and bathroom. Having a nice size bathtub to soak in after a long hike was wonderful. The staff were very friendly and the food very good.

Your Guide
Lorraine was a complete pleasure. She took very good care of everyone, had lots of information along the route and had a great sense of humour. We laughed a lot this week!

The Bottom Line
This is my 2nd trip with WS. I enjoyed the first trip so much I returned and brought my husband. I loved Orkney so much I would happily sign up for the same trip again.

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Your Guide
TIM was great as usual- top noch and very grateful to his efforts in recovering my camera that I left on a walk

The Bottom Line
Orkney is a special place and our first trip there was memorable in many ways. The organisation and presentation by Wilderness Scotland is first class.

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Trip Comments
The Isle of Skye was stunning, and the group was really friendly.

Accommodation and Food
I paid extra to have a single room, and both my rooms were very generous in size, I was not shoehorned into a tiny single room!

Your Guide
Alistair was wonderful. He grasped our relative abilities very quickly. he was always there to lend a helping hand when I wobbled on a rock, or sank into the peat bog. He gave us lots of information about the history, the natural environment and so on. He drove beautifully and he was great company!

The Bottom Line
Wonderful trip, I am already perusing the brochure to choose the next one.

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Pre-Trip Service
This was my first hiking / walking vacation. I enjoyed the whole experience. While there was nothing to improve from the Wilderness Scotland perspective, two of the B&Bs, Bienglass Farm and Edencoille need to improve on interfacing with clients. At Bienglass Farm they poorly documented my daughter's reservation and then blamed her. Later they brought her key for her room to my room. At Endecoille, they would not allow walkers into the B&B without our leader.

Trip Comments
I enjoyed meeting Andy. A native of Worcester England. It was enlightening to here about Great Britain through his perspective. Relative to views, the highlight of the trip of the view of Lock Lomond from the top of the hill where we ate lunch on the second day of the trip.

Accommodation and Food
I enjoyed trying blood pudding and haggis. The packed lunches were good and I liked the little treats packed with the lunches. I didn't realize that the UK has different Kitkat flavors compared with the US. There was no water pressure in the shower at Bienglas Farm.

Your Guide
Dave was patient and knowledgeable. He did an admiral job of herding the 'cats' and always did it with a smile. When asked a question, if he did not know something off the top of his head, then he researched the question and provided an answer. Dave was a delight.

The Bottom Line
Excellent. One of the most enjoyable vacations that I have ever taken.

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Pre-Trip Service
The process was straightforward, and all the information regarding essential gear, walking grades etc. very useful.

Trip Comments
From meeting our guide at Mallaig, to saying all our goodbyes I was in my element. It was great to share experiences with people who appreciate the same things - wonderful wild scenery with majestic mountains and sea, ever-changing light (a lot of rainbows). Our group of ten from diverse backgrounds quickly felt comfortable and formed a team culminating in an impromptu brief game of cricket at Loch Coruisk! Our guide Dave was extremely competent and encouraging and I felt we were in safe hands from the start - likewise with the skipper of our boat. Dave is enthusiastic and passionate about the mountains, wildlife and local history, and the surprise visit which he organized for us to Kinloch house on Rum was much appreciated. Back at base the team at the lodge was wonderful and I think with all the great food we were served many of us went home a kilo or two heavier (yes, despite being out walking for hours every day).
Interesting to get a glimpse of life on the smaller islands. Also when island-hopping you never know when some marine-life will pop up and we were very lucky to see some minkes and porpoises.

Accommodation and Food
Accommodation was simple but comfortable. Use of a torch as there was no electricity after 11.30 p.m. added to the adventure, as did the walk down to the lodge from the road. Although we never had to do this path at night it was still a job to stay on your feet sometimes, because of the mud (it rained a lot hence vital to have good gear). I couldn't use my hairdryer as it would have blown the fuses, so I quickly adapted to that situation as I had better things to be doing than worrying about my hair.
As I mentioned already the team at the restaurant where we had breakfast and dinner really did themselves proud with the variety and quality of the meals and their consideration for anyone with dietary requirements.

Your Guide
Dave is an excellent guide and his passion for the outdoors is wonderful, and because he is professional and competent and knows the area really well, we didn't have to worry about a thing.

The Bottom Line
This holiday made me feel alive and I have so many great memories of it.
The problem now is to decide which trip I'll book next.

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Pre-Trip Service
We found any emails and communication with WS to be responsive, timely and spot on in terms of responding to our queries.

Trip Comments
We had a fantastic time on the trip. The group bonded well thanks to Tim's leadership and the design of the program which eased us into the hiking program and into connection with each other.

Accommodation and Food
The accommodation at Ardvreck House was very satisfactory with good breakfasts to start the day. The rooms were a good size to spread out and have some space. Evelyn the host went out of her way to meet our needs. We were particularly grateful for the support Evelyn gave Sue when she was sick for a couple of days and needed to see a doctor.
Something to consider for the future - one of the items we were given in our daily food package was a packet of chips - our preference would have been for healthy fruit and nut bars or energy boosting chocolate bars to help us up the hills.

Your Guide
Tim was a model of professionalism. He was polite, considerate, engaging, funny, absorbed and managed any challenges in the group, asserted his leadership role when it was required, and was very informative and supportive. We have been on lots of walking holidays around the world - Tim is up there with the best.

The Bottom Line
It was fantastic, and thanks to WS for your back up support when Sue was sick for a couple of days and plans required some adjustment. As an indicator of our time together I will send separately the poem (hurriedly written but you get the sense of things) I wrote and read out on the groups' last night together to say thanks to Tim.

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Trip Comments
The scenery in Assynt is spectacular and very different from anything else in my experience. The guest house accommodation was lovely, with excellent breakfasts and responsive, kind hosts. The weather was lovely five out of seven days, okay on one day, and only one day was really rainy and windy. The guide, Keith, made the trip great.

Accommodation and Food
Comfortable, clean, good hosts, lovely setting.

Your Guide
Keith really made the trip great. He’s flexible, understood our abilities, extremely knowledgeable about the area, well organized, kind, and very good at managing groups of people with differing levels of ability successfully. I learned and saw a lot—-flora, fauna, geology, conservation policies, mountaineering, etc.

The Bottom Line
Wonderful!

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Pre-Trip Service
I was only doing a green level walking tour so there really wasn't a whole lot to correspond over, however Jane and Bridget were always very quick to get back to me with any questions I did have. Since it was my first trip with Wilderness Scotland I found the information packages, itineraries and videos on your website very informative and cut down immensely on my need to ask questions. Rachael's apology over the email glitch was epic and reinforced why I love dealing with businesses who are serious about keeping good client relations!

Trip Comments
Having previously been employed in the logistics field, I was highly impressed by how well organized and seamless the trip was, especially since weather can (and did) change our itinerary on a daily basis. Our guide Craig was able to plan and change our daily excursions based on group feedback, and made it all look effortless (although I suspect he had some help behind the scenes as well); nevertheless, the combination of the original planning and Craig's ability to adapt on the fly was the cherry on top of an already amazing trip. It's almost impossible to pick my favourite part of the trip it was all so good, but if I had to I think hiking along the cliffs of Oa on the last day was the best. Stunning beauty at every turn of the trail and we were even treated to a "sailpast" along the way by U.S., French and U.K Navy ships steaming up to the American Monument to take part in a remembrance ceremony.

Accommodation and Food
We only stayed at two different hotels on our trip but they were both excellent in different ways. One was more "out in the country" and the other was in town, but both had excellent hospitality, accommodations and outstanding sea views. One had a private bar that looked out over the sea where you could watch the sunset and sip your favourite whiskey in the evening, while the other had an attached public bar with fabulous live local music to enjoy (while you sipped your favourite whiskey) so we really had the best of both worlds. I loved both places!

Your Guide
I'm sure your guides get this a lot but I really can't say enough about Craig. Not only was he extremely knowledgeable, fit, and easy to get along with, but he always went out of his way to get to know and interact with everyone on the trip. Our group was made up of mostly singles but in no time his relaxed and genuine personality had us bonded into a group. I really liked how he always tried to incorporate everyone's level, wants and needs into our daily excursions. As I mentioned in another review, his effortless logistical abilities never ceased to impress me and the fact that he was so personable and kind just made the trip entirely. Thanks, Craig! You rock! :-)

The Bottom Line
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Wilderness Scotland to anyone! I'd previously never used a tour company, preferring to travel and sight see on my own, but the benefits of travelling with Wilderness Scotland have definitely been revealed to me. When you are only travelling with a small group of 7 or 8 people, it feels more like you are travelling with a group of friends instead of a tour, and when you add the expertise of the guide, you not only have that added knowledge of a "local", but someone to co-ordinate all your logistics for you and just let you relax and enjoy! One of the first things I thought of when I got home was to go back to the Wilderness Scotland website and start to plan which trip I could do next!

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Pre-Trip Service
Very detailed information provided. Helpful links for insurance. Helpful links for lodgings given too.

Trip Comments
LOVED IT! From start to finish, Will was a great guide. I loved meeting all the people on the island like Tony, Willie, and Donald John. The hikes were fun. The beaches were beautiful. The food was great. The group was a fun group of people, who got on well and had some great laughs!

Accommodation and Food
Hotel Hebrides was really lovely. The room was beautiful and the bathroom was really nice. The Stein Inn was rustic and authentic, loved that it was so rural and peaceful.

Your Guide
Will was a great guide. He is very knowledgeable about Scotland and the Hebrides. I liked that he wanted us to really see what makes the Hebrides such a unique place in the world. I learned a lot while enjoying myself hiking. This was my first real trip back to Scotland since I was a kid, bought back all the great memories I had of living there

The Bottom Line
Absolutely loved my trip! It has made me want to go back and visit the Islands again. I will definitely be taking another trip with Wilderness Scotland

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The Bottom Line
We found the walking tour of Skye and the Outer Hebridies to be pure and wonderful exhilaration, thanks in no small part to Gill's guidance. We are immensely grateful to Wilderness Scotland. We've since traveled to Mull and Iona and haven't yet returned home. After we're home, I'd be happy to provide a fuller review.

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Pre-Trip Service
Always cheerful on the phone. The website is easy to use and your email follow ups are always prompt

Trip Comments
Soval lodge is a lovely place to stay for a week and the scenery in the Outer Hebrides is just stunning.

Accommodation and Food
The lodge is fantastic, really comfortable and in a stunning location, looking out over the loch every night is a real treat. The fact that Wilderness Scotland groups have it all to ourselves is great.

Your Guide
Mark is just brilliant! He is so enthusiastic about the outdoors that you can’t help but be inspired too. He is knowledgeable, down to earth and funny, ( with just the right amount of sarcasm!) His breadth of experience is invaluable; we didn’t have the best weather the week we were away but he always got us out walking somewhere, often having to change the plans on the day as the wind decided what it was doing! I always felt safe and confident in his decisions and enjoyed all his walks, he really gave us a great week. Wilderness Scotland always have great guides and Mark is another perfect example of this.

The Bottom Line
I have now been on three trips with Wilderness Scotland and I will definitely travel with them again, (I was checking out the website within two hours of arriving home!) This trip is truly wilderness walking, challenging but worth it with fantastic scenery in a beautiful place.

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Pre-Trip Service
I called with questions and your office staff provided the answers I needed. I also appreciated the periodic emails as the trip date approached.

Trip Comments
The week-long walking holiday was beyond my expectations. Every aspect of the holiday was well-planned and well-executed. Even the weather cooperated and the other participants on the trip were perfect traveling companions!

Accommodation and Food
The accommodations in Aviemore and Newtonmore were outstanding. The hosts were congenial and very attentive. All breakfasts and packed lunches were filling and delicious. The Callater Lodge offered fresh baked sweets. Coig na Shee Lodge provided an excellent evening meal before our last day. The availability of laundry services at Coig na Shee was a welcome surprise.

Your Guide
Both Rosie and Al were experienced guides who competently led our outings. I felt confident in their abilities to handle any challenges we might face.

The Bottom Line
The walking tours provided by Wilderness Scotland suit my needs---reasonable distances and terrains to be walked each day with a qualified guide to ensure safety and to provide information on history, legends, weather, land use, and local flora and fauna. The accommodations provide comfortable spaces for relaxing, rooms with comfortable beds, en suite baths with plenty of hot water, and a variety of choices for breakfasts and packed lunches. The restaurants we visited for evening meals offered a good assortment of local food and drink in a cosy atmosphere. Castle visits and distillery tours complemented the walking experience. When the weather is consistently good and the walking companions are congenial and compatible, the result is pure bliss!

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Trip Comments
As always, the trip was wonderfully organized. I couldn't possibly pick one highlight. The weather was pretty close to perfect, the newborn lambs appeared right on schedule and the masses of daffodils were a total surprise!

Your Guide
This is my second time with Tim. He hasn't lost any of his enthusiasm for whatever he is showing us. His humor, knowledge and patience were beyond great. I'd follow him anywhere!

The Bottom Line
I'm in love with Orkney and, if I could get our dogs, donkeys, chickens and husband through quarantine, I'd move in a minute.However I might need a translator for the first few months. many thanks for a memorable trip. Now to get my knee replaced before taking on another Wilderness Scotland trip!

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Pre-Trip Service
Prompt response to queries. Friendly and helpful.

Accommodation and Food
Excellent apart from the B and B at Kinlocheven. The host was in the wrong job! He didn't seem to like people at all.

Your Guide
Dave made the trip for me. So friendly, knowledgeable, dependable and a great sense of humour.

The Bottom Line
I was thrilled with it all. Met some great people. Brilliantly organised. All I had to do was walk!

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Pre-Trip Service
All questions were answered.

Trip Comments
My highlight was Suilven, a place I have wanted to visit for ages and would never have done without a guide.

Accommodation and Food
The B&B is excellent and the choice of restaurants was great too.

Your Guide
Iain is well-organised and knowledgeable.

The Bottom Line
I really enjoyed this trip. The scenery is marvellous, the walks are varied, and the whole thing ran smoothly.

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Your Guide
Susie was the perfect guide, knowledgeable, super organised and efficient.

The Bottom Line
One of my best holidays ever. Highly recommend this trip to the Outer Hebrides.

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Pre-Trip Service
It was easy to contact you and the payment schedule was very nice; it made it affordable to be able to have several months to pay incrementally.

Trip Comments
This trip far exceeded my expectations! At first, I was hesitant because it was rather expensive, but after having gone on the trip I realise it was worth the entire amount. Everything from the beautiful guided hikes themselves, to our B&B (which was absolutely superb!) to the amazing food! I was so happy a to have such a variety of choices for dinner and that I was able to truly gain a sense of Scottish cuisine and wasn't forced to eat from a pre-selected menu. The lunches were also amazing considering how much energy we needed on the hikes. I honestly can't say enough about this trip. I travel a lot and do a great deal of different activities when I travel; this trip will certainly always be one of my most memorable, if not the most memorable. Thank you for making my time in Scotland an absolute joy!

Accommodation and Food
As stated in the previous question, our B&B was wonderful. It was so comfortable and the owner and staff were some of the best hosts I could hope for. What a pleasure to stay there, and what a beautiful location! The food was out of this world. I had no idea we would be given the choices of food that we were and that the food would be so delicious. It made this trip even better than I had envisioned.

Your Guide
I honestly can't say enough about our guide Tim. To say he was outstanding is an understatement. I realise that this is his job, but he was so genuine about how much he cared about our safety and our happiness that you could tell it absolutely meant something to him for us to have a good time. This was more than a job for him. He made us feel like a family and for eight people, with different personalities and being complete strangers to come together and enjoy each other's company in the way that we did is a testament to Tim as our leader. He was such a joy to hike with as well; he is so knowledgable about the terrain, the wildlife and hiking in general that we felt so comfortable and safe. I also very much enjoyed learning so much about Scotland and Scottish history. As an American, I don't get the chance to really learn the culture and history of such a wonderful country and I am so blessed to have been given the opportunity to learn it from someone who cares so deeply for his heritage. Tim was also so accommodating to our needs, especially when one person on the trip was not feeling well and had to stay back a day. He made sure she was completely taken care of and gave us updates throughout the day on how she was feeling. Finally, he was amazing at rearranging our hiking schedule to suit our needs, experience levels, while trying to maximise the good weather days we had. He ended up adjusting the itinerary a great deal as the weather patterns changed and we were so fortunate he did it; we had some of the best views I could have ever hoped to see. Again, I truly can't say enough about Tim. I have no doubt the trip would not have been the amazing experience it was had it not been for our very entertaining and experienced guide. Thanks Tim!!

The Bottom Line
This trip is a "MUST DO." Wilderness Scotland is by far one of the best adventure/travel companies I have come across. You will be guaranteed to have a truly memorable time. I'm so fortunate to have done this with Wilderness Scotland. Thank you!

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Pre-Trip Service
Quick responses, detailed feedback, answered the questions we had

Trip Comments
Our Guide, Cory, really made the trip for us - he was great fun, kept the group dynamics going, was really informative on so many different aspects and just made the trip a really memorable one for us
The Lodge we stayed in was excellent
The Scottish weather was very kind to us providing so many amazing photo opportunities - who knew Scotland had such wonderful beaches!

Accommodation and Food
The Lodge was perfect - it was the cleanest place I've ever stayed in - from the kitchen to the bathrooms and bedrooms
The food was fabulous
The staff were super helpful and friendly

Your Guide
Cory was a star - such a great guide - fun, informative, felt so comfortable with him and knew that he was keeping an eye on everyone no matter their ability. He kept us going with all his stories and chat and we laughed a lot. Only sorry he can't join us on our next trip...

The Bottom Line
This was such an excellent trip - all aspects of it - the group we were with, the guide we had, the weather we had, the accommodation and food, the walks and other adventures - all in all it was just perfect - thank you!

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Pre-Trip Service
Everything was very straight forward

Trip Comments
While the food was excellent, the accommodations were very rustic...very thin walls (every conversation and footstep was heard) and the bathrooms should really have a male/female divide.

Accommodation and Food
Please see the previous comment

Your Guide
Rosie was fantastic

The Bottom Line
It was a wonderful trip, challenging and beautiful

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Pre-Trip Service
The dossier provided was complete and clear. All emails were answered promptly.

Trip Comments
Generally, the trip exceeded all my expectations! Our guide was excellent, the walks were beautiful.

Your Guide
Cannot say enough good things about our Guide!

The Bottom Line
The trip exceeded all expectations! I am recommending Wilderness Scotland to all my friends!

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Pre-Trip Service
Very thoughtful and comprehensive.

Trip Comments
Each vista represented different breathtaking views.

Accommodation and Food
The accommodations were varied but each presented courteous and competent personnel. The rooms were welcoming as was the staff.

Your Guide
None better. Knowledgeable, competent, and caring, especially when faced with varying levels of hiking abilities.

The Bottom Line
The experience was stellar, one I would recommend.

The walks were informative and sometimes challenging...just what I love.

The information shared allowed me to connect with the experiences.

The weather, although rain and wind, provided an backdrop to be able to explore the beauty that surrounded us.

The level of difficulty is not identified in the dossier. I wasn't expecting the ascents, nor the rock challenges. I'm delighted to have experienced them. The duration of the walks was perfect, the level of difficulty, excellent.

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Trip Comments
Walking into the clearance villages on Skye and having Gill read one of the poems inspired by the clearances was just a very special moment.
And just the general beauty of the trip. I like that the guides have the flexibility to tailor the trip to the abilities of the group, but are able to challenge us as well. And Gill's knowledge of the area was amazing!!

Accommodation and Food
Clean, comfortable, friendly staff. You couldn't ask for anything more.

Your Guide
Gill was simply fantastic. Her passion for Scotland and her knowledge was evident in everything she planned. She tailored the hikes for the group, had amazing spots found for lunches and breaks. I would highly recommend her for any trip!!!

The Bottom Line
This was my first time travelling with Wilderness Scotland and with doing a guided hike and I would highly recommend both to anybody looking for this type of trip!! If I have another opportunity in the future I'd use Wilderness Scotland again!!

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Pre-Trip Service
on line booking didn't work but telephone service excellent so in future I will just phone. Very personal service and flexibility was good.

Trip Comments
Everyday had a highlight. Variety of experiences everyday with surprises added into the itinerary eg cliff top lunch spots with world class views and only us there

Accommodation and Food
spacious and comfortable bedrooms. Lovely multiple sitting areas to relax in.

Your Guide
Tim Francis did all that you could ask from a guide and more. Calm and relaxed but super organised and efficient. He made the whole trip a great experience for everyone. His knowledge of all topics is immense yet he doesn't overwhelm you with info. It is all in context and spread throughout the week, passed on in conversations.

The Bottom Line
wonderful, will be back

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Your Guide
Excellent in every respect

The Bottom Line
Excellent

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Pre-Trip Service
Payment got a bit confusing - I paid a deposit but in the meantime prices rose & it was unclear what I was to pay. A few emails sorted it out but it coulda have been clearer.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONCE:

Thanks for your feedback. You booked your trip during our Price Freeze Promotion before the prices changed for the next year. The invoice you received at the time of booking reflected your trip price and this didn't change when the prices did but we're sorry that wasn't clear.

Trip Comments
All I can say is that it was great. Well supported (ie lunches, crate of goodies in the van) and most importantly of all a fabulous guide. The archeology was fantastic, the walks were memorable- Old Man of Hoy was a stand out, as was Midhowe.

Accommodation and Food
Brilliant.

Your Guide
Lorraine was superb - couldn’t have wished for a better leader. Kind, knowledgeable, flexible, responsive and absolutely lovely.

The Bottom Line
Brilliant.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONCE:

Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Hopefully we can welcome you back to the Highlands soon!

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Trip Comments
The trip was well organised and Tim Willis made sure the trip was informative and fun. We were pleased we decided to do the trip in October as the autumn colours were beautiful. I loved the walk through the Douglas Firs at Loch Affric and Plodda Falls. Staying at The Lovatt Hotel was also a highlight - excellent service and delicious food.

Accommodation and Food
The Lovatt Hotel team is very service orientated. The small touches make a difference and they exceeded expectations. There was plenty of choice on the menu and they catered for individual dietary needs without any difficulty. We went to a couple of other venues for dinner on two nights and I enjoyed the food at both, although I preferred the Loch Inn.

Your Guide
Tim communicated well throughout the trip ensuring we had the information when we needed it and avoided overloading us. He is very knowledgeable about the area and listening to him was enjoyable, informative and entertaining. He was organised and always fully prepared, with a flexible approach to handling individual needs and enabling people to get the most from the trip. He remained calm and positive throughout, which felt reassuring.

The Bottom Line
I had a great time. Beautiful location, excellent guide, fabulous hotel. I found Wilderness Scotland to be professional and always mindful of our safety.

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Pre-Trip Service
Phone calls and emails were handled promptly and professionally. Website was very informative.

Trip Comments
Ken is a great guide. Very on top of conditions and able to adjust the itinerary as needed due to variable weather. Very good at knitting the group together.

Accommodation and Food
The second hotel was definitely better than the first. The food was excellent.

Your Guide
As mentioned, Ken was a great guide and clearly a very experienced and capable hiker, knowledgeable of our surroundings.

The Bottom Line
The trip exceeded our expectations. It was a fantastic experience and we would certainly recommend it to others. Wilderness Scotland clearly cares deeply about the country and its clients who are there to enjoy it.

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Pre-Trip Service
We would have preferred to know the intended accommodation in advance.

Your Guide
Howard is clearly a knowledgeable, capable and experienced guide who exercised latitude, tolerance and patience for the benefit of the group.

The Bottom Line
Good weather, group compatibility and clear organisation were key elements in making the trip successful..

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Pre-Trip Service
All was fine, no complaints

Trip Comments
The weather was pretty bad all week in Torridon area - very wet and windy - so we had to go off the planned itinerary a few times. Despite this I still had a really enjoyable week (as did the rest of the group) with lots of challenging walking. Kirsty, our guide, was absolutely brilliant. Totally unflappable, always ready with Plan B (and C, D, and E..) and irrepressibly good-humoured. It's a really beautiful area. I'll go back.

Accommodation and Food
Myrtle Bank hotel in Gairloch was top-notch. Great food and service, and really nice owners and staff.

Torridon Inn was more of a mixed picture. Big and comfortable rooms, and nice bar and restaurant area. Well-placed for good walks straight out of the door. Unfortunately let down by its service. Three of the five meals we had there took an age to arrive. Waiting half an hour for a plate of porridge or scrambled eggs is not acceptable (and they got some orders wrong). The kitchen and restaurant seemed to be understaffed and badly run. The manager/barman is a fairly annoying character - maybe its just his sense of humour - either way he comes across as rather rude and unwelcoming. Wifi in my room was poor.

Your Guide
Kirsty has had universally great feedback and I agree with this 100%. She's a top-class guide. Her ability to change the advertised programme due to bad weather and still give us enjoyable and challenging walking was extremely impressive. She's clearly focused on giving the customer his/her money's worth regardless of conditions, and she totally succeeded in this. The group gelled really well and we had some great laughs - whether it be hunkered down in the emergency shelter while a northerly howled outside or crossing a rain-swollen torrent - which was no small credit to Kirsty. She's very knowledgeable and her enthusiasm for, and love of, the Highlands is infectious.

The Bottom Line
This is my 2nd trip with WS (last year in Assynt). In their different ways, I've really enjoyed both. On the basis of these two trips, it's clear that WS are a very professional organisation with excellent guides who know their craft, have intimate knowledge of the areas they operate in, and work very hard to ensure their customers have a safe, but challenging and enjoyable adventure.

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Accommodation and Food
wonderful first hotel- those views to die for; second hotel staff seemed slightly less on top of things but room still comfortable-with bath!

Your Guide
Truly exceptional. Our guide was skilled at 'reading' the group and their needs, always on the ball, perceptive, energetic, and fun to be with.

The Bottom Line
Brilliant to be in the mountains, lucky with the weather (most of the time..), good companions and lots of support when needed.

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Pre-Trip Service
I never saw the packing list, I do not know if this is because my husband booked the trip. I did check the website and the dossier numerous times and it would have been more helpful if the packing list was included in the trip information/dossier. I think that would also have given me a better idea of what to expect on the trip. I received multiple emails about providing information to wilderness scotland, including multiples about providing the same information which was confusing because I was not sure if more information was needed or I just needed to confirm the information I previously provided was correct.

Accommodation and Food
Staying at the Soval Lodge was fantastic. Mairi was a wonderful host who paid attention to every detail. She was stellar at providing vegetarian meals which I was concerned would be an issue while I was travelling, but it was quite the opposite. I loved staying here!

Your Guide
Mark was absolutely fantastic.

The Bottom Line
My husband and I had a wonderful time on our adventure holiday with Wilderness Scotland. Our guide Mark was friendly, knowledgeable, and a lot of fun. We loved it and had a wonderful time exploring with an amazing group of people.

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Pre-Trip Service
Details from website were complete. Toll free for calls from US helpful. Agents helpful on phone, perhaps could have had a grasp of a few more details of the trip.

Trip Comments
Rigorous hiking/bushwacking with knowledgeable guide. He kept pushing us and we completed all portions of all hikes and were proud to have done so! Less great weather or group members not in top condition could have been a problem. We were very lucky.

Accommodation and Food
Certainly not 5 star, but did not expect that on this trip. WIFI worked well and food was excellent and plentiful. More salads would have been a plus.

Your Guide
This was a pretty rigorous event given day after day. HOWEVER, for those of us who have spent a lifetime getting and stay in shape it was extremely rewarding. Andy did find routes that gave some relief from boulder scrambling at request of several. Our group completed all of every hike thanks to Andy's encouragement, persistence and great weather. Without all of that it could have gone the other way....

The Bottom Line
Excellent as it included sightseeing and lots of history as well as flower and bird ID thanks to an excellent guide. Everything was taken into account and planned including all snacks and meals. That was great in that it allowed us to focus on the activities. I would be clear with future clients that at least this trip required well above average fitness and experience and to be prepared for extremely challenging circumstances IF the weather is not relatively dry. I was pleased to return home to an elevation of 5,000 feet and find that my cardiovascular strength for a couple of hours per day of strenuous exercise has not decreased!

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Pre-Trip Service
The trip exceeded my expectations. The guide was excellent, our accommodations were fine and eating opportunities were very good.

Trip Comments
Beautiful walking with a knowledgable guide.

Accommodation and Food
The accommodations were very good overall. Low point was in Tyndrum. Loved the rest of the accommodations (and the quirky Kinlochleven B&B provided for lots of conversation amongst our group).

Your Guide
Tim was a fabulous guide. Very knowledgable and had a great demeanor.

The Bottom Line
Excellent trip- scenery is outstanding and Wilderness Scotland really offers a gem of a West Highland Way trip.

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Pre-Trip Service
Service was fine except for disappearing PDF documents from WS. Other people commented on this also so the issue must be on your end.

Trip Comments
On the Sutherland luxury tour we had three participants which made the trip almost a private one. It is good that you will do a trip with so few people.

Accommodation and Food
On the Sutherland luxury trip the two hotels were both excellent. We ate all meals in the hotels which, while great food, was somewhat repetitive. I think the trip would be improved if some meals were eaten outside of the hotels.

Your Guide
I thought our guide, Ken, was quite attentive to the needs and desires of our small group.

The Bottom Line
The trip was a good way to walk in an area of Scotland that was not known to us before. The hiking was pretty easy - in some of your literature it was rated a 2 and in some places a 3 - you need to make it clear that it is a 2.

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Pre-Trip Service
Initial phone calls were handled in a freindly way, and all required information and documentation was sent promptly.

Trip Comments
Good food and hotel, comfortable transport and good itinerary

Your Guide
Pete worked very hard to give us a good holiday, and was always friendly

The Bottom Line
Well worth taking this holiday, it has a comfortable hotel and visits most the major important sites

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Pre-Trip Service
All required information was available in an quick and easy manner.
I had a few additionnal questions which were answered to very swiftly and in a very friendly way that I really appreciated.
So in a nutshell, very effective and friendly!

Trip Comments
I liked that safety was taken seriously from the start as I have been used to "safety first" in my career !
The trip fully met expectations with :
- a wonderful guide, Peter, who made every effort to accommodate our hiking styles and our wishes incl. my wish for scone & cream at Bridge of Baldgy!
- we had a mix of challenging and less challenging days that pleased everyone in our little group. I specially enjoyed the extra challenge of Grey Mare's tail falls :)
- everything works smoothly without a moment of wasted time.
- the Scottish landscapes are amazing and the choice of the walks make the best of them.
- the sailing day between from Oban to Glencoe was awesome and just unforgettable in many ways: stunning views, some history, the kindest skipper and icing of the cake, Pete waiting for us on Glencoe pier playing pipebag. An incredible souvenir!
- Hotel accommodations as a whole was perfect with only one wee low amongst many highs. Glencoe House is absolutely wonderful and way above my expectations.
- and last but no least the Scottish weather has been incredibly kind to us with no rain when we were outdoors! And in the series of not controlled by Wilderness Scotland, the midges left me alone. The use of Smidge and Avon Skin so soft worked perfectly in the couple of occasions we faced some.

Accommodation and Food
As I described in my general comment there had been a low point at Fortingall hotel which I will separately comment on but that was balanced by the overall experience at Fortingall Hotel and mostly by the incredible and unforgettable experience of Glencoe House where my bedroom was just magnificent with a view of the loch and its own fireplace (and I have already been very lucky and blessed to have had opportunities to travel in luxurious places so I believe I can assess accordingly!)

Your Guide
See in general comments.
Pete was wonderful. He made sure our heterogeneous group would be fully happy and safe. I appreciated that extra materials such as poles, Smidge or midge nets was available for those who had not everything. Always felt safe even in the more challenging conditions we asked him to provide for us who wanted a bit more challenge,
He was on top extremely kind to all of us, making sure we would have a really good time which I definitely had!

The Bottom Line
Amazing trip that was not only in line with the program but also met all my expectations and above! A truly unique experience with a great group! Perfect hikes in magical sceneries, lots of laughters and rest in great places!
Hope you can provide many more hikes of this quality to explore other places in Scotland or Ireland!
Heartfelt thanks for 7 wonderful days!

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Pre-Trip Service
I liked the fact that I could send email with questions and get a quick response. What could be better: the "chat-bot" approach leaves something to be desired - I tried the chat once and got no real help.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONCE:

Thanks so much for your feedback. We don’t use chat bots at all, only real people during office hours. Out of hours you there is an option to leave a message which will be picked up by the team the next day.

Trip Comments
Our guide (Rosie McKenzie), the folks in Doune, and our fellow travelers were all wonderful people. We were so fortunate to be "thrown into" a group with such great chemistry. Knoydart is an amazing place and we'll never forget the places we visited.

Accommodation and Food
The food was FANTASTIC!! The beds and baths were comfortable but, of course, somewhat rustic (which was to be expected). Minor point - the wifi was up while we were there but internet access was not.

Your Guide
I always felt that Rosie M. cared about us and wanted us to have a great time. Her knowledge of Knoydart, Scotland, nature, etc. is very thorough and she shared it readily. She also was very watchful of group members who tended to fall behind (I was one of them) and made sure they were OK. What could be better: the meaning of phrases such as "a wee ascent" or "a wee bit boggy" is lost on those of us from across the Atlantic. The fun-meter tended to nosedive on the off-path portions of our walks (more on this later).

The Bottom Line
When I think back on my week in Knoydart and the surrounding islands, the only real negative is the terrain. We read the trip dossier carefully and were completely on board with the mileage and climbs (although we were somewhat intimidated by SGURR COIRE CHOINNICHEAN, 796M and would have opted out of that climb if offered). We also made sure we did a couple of training hikes in the North Georgia mountains every month in preparation before out trip. But our efforts could never have prepared us for the "wee ascents" and "wee bogs" we encountered (and I'm smiling right now as I write this - rest assured). That's one of the things that makes Scotland so wonderful - the land is so BIG!
I think you'll have two general types of hikers that sign up for this tour: 1) folks who really want to scale those beautiful summits and glory in the accomplishment and 2) those who want to amble about this gorgeous country on long walks that don't involve steep ascents or off-path terrain (I belong to group 2). For example, I don't regret my climb up Roinn na Beinne at all - but I wouldn't do it again on a bet or to please an old school chum.
Perhaps there could be a "Full-on Knoydart" adventure for the over-achievers and a "Knoydart Lite" for the rest of us? For example, the climb up An Sgurr could be the big push for the week for the lite trip and other walks could be those such as the low-level walk across Rum to the beach at Kilmory or the 17 km trek from Doune to Inverie by way of Airor and Inverguseran (Note: near Iverguseran I believe we could have crossed that river, stayed on track/path and the walk would have been even more fun than it was! There's risk involved in any walk in this wild country - I could have twisted/broken my ankle in a hole I stepped in off-path (hole depth was up to my knee) so an injury fording the river was not more likely, in my opinion.
All that being said - the final verdict is that my trip to Knoydart and my experience with Wilderness Scotland are definitely 95 out of 100!! I would go again in a heartbeat - and I would certainly be wiser next time around <grin>.
Thank you so much for an amazing experience!

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Trip Comments
Loved the small size of the group and hiking off the beaten path.

Accommodation and Food
Accommodations were good or great (Black Swan). The Rowardennan Hotel at Loch Lommond was passable, but it didn't truly have internet access (only via Facebook and even that was spotty). We were there 3 days, so that was not good. I did like staying at least 2 nights in each place.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

Thanks very much for your comments. We are pleased to hear that you found the accommodation to be good overall. We have worked with the Rowardennan for a number of years on a few of our trips, and feedback has generally been positive, but your comments have been noted. Having said this, for various operational reasons, we have decided to change the accommodation we stay at in Loch Lomond next year.

Your Guide
Keith was phenomenal when it came to the environment. He was very knowledgeable regarding the geology, flora and fauna and he was an attentive and experienced hiking guide. Even though this is a "outdoor sport" tour, I would have enjoyed a bit more insight on the culture/history of the places we visited, but I don't think that's Keith's area. We had the good fortune to have Rupert from the corporate office join our tour. He was very personable and kind and a great complement to Keith.

The Bottom Line
I would recommend Wilderness Scotland. I think the UK National Parks tour was fantastic -- just maybe a bit too long. It might have been nice to mix in a few more non-hiking activities given the length (ex: canoeing, kayaking, sight-seeing).

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Pre-Trip Service
All advice was accurate and timely. The tone used in all correspondence was a nice balance of friendly informality and professionalism.

Trip Comments
This was my first group holiday and it exceeded my expectations. I laughed more in that one week than I’ve laughed in a year. I loved all of the walks and by the end of the week I was ready for more. Such a great group with a great guide in a beautiful and interesting place, what could possibly go wrong?

Accommodation and Food
The accommodation exceeded my expectations. The room we got was fantastic with plenty of space so that we never felt like we couldn’t get away from each other. The food, amenity and service were all fabulous. The sight of the owner driving up the drive way in his vintage convertible car with his spaniel in the passengers seat, well that was priceless!

Your Guide
Our guide Lorraine was wonderful. Her passion for the country was evident and infectious. She gently encouraged all of us to challenge ourselves and taught us skills that will hold us all in good stead in the future. She also provided some welcome comic relief by almost disappearing in a bog and then advising us not to follow her.

The Bottom Line
I would have no hesitation in recommending Wilderness Scotland to others and I will definitely be back for another trip.

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Pre-Trip Service
Very prompt responses and comprehensive answers. Bridget was lovely.

Trip Comments
Dossier give a clear description of what to expect. And our guide Judith was effervescent!

Accommodation and Food
We loved both hotels on Skye. I would stay in both again.

Your Guide
We all loved Jude. She was SO POSITIVE!!!

The Bottom Line
Couldnt recommend this company higher - I heard about Wilderness Scotland from a friend in Seattle and everything they said was spot on !

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Pre-Trip Service
I truly can't think of how this trip could be better. Our guide was knowledgeable, kept us safe, and an all round lovely individual. The guesthouse was wonderfully comfortable with friendly helpful staff. The restaurants were well chosen. I felt cared for, listened to and happy. A wonderful experience with scenery and people I shall never forget.

Trip Comments
I learned a great deal about myself, internally and externally. Found strength I didn't know I had and pushed past what I thought were my my limitations. I cannot single out any one thing as the trip as a whole felt like a highlight.

Accommodation and Food
The guesthouse was comfortable, the breakfasts great and terrifically friendly staff.

Your Guide
I can't say enough about Iain. He never lost his cool, has a dry sense of humor and treated us as individuals with specific needs. He's thoughtful, careful and went above and beyond in making sure everyone was happy and safe.

The Bottom Line
Outstanding.

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Pre-Trip Service
I appreciated that I had not to wait long for a reply when I asked a question.

Trip Comments
This walking trip was one of the best I made, considering the quality of the guide, the program, and the company of people from all parts of the world. Even the weather contributed.

Accommodation and Food
I would return to Loch Erisort facility anytime. For the quality of the service, the confort of the house and the beauty of the landscape.

Your Guide
Dave managed the group to make sure that every participant met his/her expectations. I appreciated his choice of paths and activities, according to conditions. He managed stops when we passed through beatiful places. And most of all, he gallantly walked for a long time twice during the week, to retrive the car when when we were beginning to be a little bit burned out. I am very thakful for that.

The Bottom Line
Just saying that I liked it so much I would do it again....

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Pre-Trip Service
Jane was big help in advising us on getting to the Jacobite steam train and then again when the ending got changed.

Trip Comments
We were finally able to get to the Outer Hebrides while leaving the planning to Wilderness Scotland.

Accommodation and Food
Hamersay House was excellent. Polochar Inn had a very small room. Castlebay Hotel was better than anticipated. Where was that linoleum? The food was generally very good.

Your Guide
Dave did an excellent job. The group was basically half fast and half slow, but he managed to keep everyone happy and within sight of one another. I liked his detailed knowledge and explanations with the maps.

The Bottom Line
If you wish to get to walk in a remote island atmosphere I would highly recommend this particular trip. I am also impressed with Wilderness Scotland as the trip provider.

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Pre-Trip Service
Everything was great

Trip Comments
Everything was great

Accommodation and Food
Everything was great

Your Guide
He was impressive

The Bottom Line
Everything was great

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Pre-Trip Service
I really appreciated how fast the team were in answering my questions!

Trip Comments
The guide, itinerary and weather were brilliant! I know you cannot do anything about the weather, but we were so lucky. I also found the accommodation really lovely, and was grateful for all my gluten-free meals.

Your Guide
Don was brilliant! He was also really aware of different needs and wants along the way and very patient.

The Bottom Line
I cannot wait to book another adventure with Wilderness Scotland, thank you!

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Accommodation and Food
The second hotel where we stayed had very small rooms. However, the rooms were very clean and the staff was nice.

The Bottom Line
Fantastic trip. I enjoyed all the hikes and the boat trips. We had a really good group and an excellent guide.

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Trip Comments
Terrific guide, wonderful scenery and a great group of people.

Accommodation and Food
Doune Lodge is a magical place and the food is beyond words.

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

The Bottom Line
A very special place.

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Trip Comments
The walks were varied and the scenery was stunning - and the leader (Mark) was very accommodating as he would take those who wanted something more or a bit challenging for an extra session at the end of the day. This meant everyone in the group who were at different levels got something from the hikes. He also made time for us to nip into shops/cafes etc for those who wanted to buy a few souvenirs.

Accommodation and Food
The main advantage of the accommodation was the location. Not all the rooms had views over the sea, but it meant you could walk out of the door and immediately be in a fantastic setting. The food was locally sourced and the fresh fish some of the best I've ever had.

Your Guide
Mark was highly experienced and very knowledgeable about the areas regarding the history, wildlife and flora and fauna. He had great communication and people managing skills and made everyone feel included.

The Bottom Line
The thing I really like about Wilderness Scotland is they focus on small groups. For people like myself who hate being in a large group it's perfect. You go to places you'd normally never get to see. It was one of the best holidays I've ever had. Why would you ever want to go overseas when you have all this on your doorstep? Although I thought it was expensive at the time, after being on my first hiking trip I realise that actually they are very good value. I'll certainly go on another next year.

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Pre-Trip Service
All very easy to look, book and pay over the internet. You also sent out the politest email apology ever for something very minor!

Trip Comments
Another great 7 days with a great group of people from different parts of the world. A top class guide in Craig and his unofficial little helper Chantel. Lots to see and some interesting castles with differing stories behind their demise. The walks were also excellent and even though the trip to Jura was slightly curtailed due to the windy conditions it was a fun boat trip. Also had great weather which is always a bonus.

Accommodation and Food
Both hotels had spectacular views and both were very welcoming, especially the second one on Islay.

Your Guide
Craig was an absolute credit to your company, always wanting to make sure we was happy and would action any questions and made sure we would get the best out of each day

The Bottom Line
This was my 4th trip with WS and each trip has provided me with a great 7 days of walking, scenery, history and getting to meet really nice people. This was another fantastic holiday. Thanks again see ya soon

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Pre-Trip Service
Documents attached to email describing gear, etc. disappear 30 days after being sent. Had to request in another email. This is inconvenient for your staff and me. I didn't notice being forewarned?

Trip Comments
Nice group of hikers, accommodations, food, hike and guide.

Accommodation and Food
Food and accommodations were both great

Your Guide
Dave did great job of accommodating different hiking speeds. Three different speeds in general. Pleasant, easy personality!

The Bottom Line
Great experience. Beautiful scenery. Would love to do another similar walk. Hiking was challenging but not from altitude changes, climbing or descending. It was length of time on feet that made it challenging.

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Pre-Trip Service
Quick responses and we really appreciated the gear recommendations etc.

Trip Comments
Good accommodations, restaurants and hikes.

Your Guide
He was attentive to our needs. Good source of local information. Very punctual.

The Bottom Line
We loved the trip and it exceeded our expectations. The scenery was stunning. We really enjoyed the chartered boat cruise to Jura. The captain of the boat was very knowledgeable. We would certainly consider another wilderness holiday.

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Pre-Trip Service
Fantastic food, great accommodation. Guide was very knowledgeable; we had rubbish weather (strong winds and rain) most days but he still managed to get us on great walks everyday and we all felt safe under his watch. We were extra lucky as we had a member of staff with us as a guest which gave the group more flexibility. Our group got on very well and we all had lots of fun. Highly recommended trip.

Trip Comments
Kylesku restaurant by the water- trying whisky and gin and sharing puddings after a great day on the hills.

Accommodation and Food
Food was fanstastic. The B+B provided an excellent breakfast to set you up for a day on the hills. Beautiful spot to stay.

Your Guide
Felt very safe in their hands. Brilliant knowledge of the area and we had a good walk everyday despite the weather.

The Bottom Line
Loved it. I'd do it again (but ideally not in the aftermath of hurricane Irmer!)

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Pre-Trip Service
Website is clear and easy to follow.

Trip Comments
A great trip to a wonderful place, packed lots in, very lucky with the weather and a group of really nice people, a fantastic guide (Tim) who discretely made sure everyone was happy and went the extra mile to make our experience special.

Accommodation and Food
A good traditional hotel.

Your Guide
Tim was brilliant, a lovely person who brought people together and put in lots of effort to make sure we had a wonderful holiday.

The Bottom Line
Wonderful trip. I saw things I would never have seen on my own. I am wary of group trips but this was great, small enough group to be friendly but not overwhelming, and enough time alone to chill. And lovely to have someone else do the research and all the hard work!

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Pre-Trip Service
Great trip! ; leader had a diversified group and made it accessible & enjoyable for all.

Trip Comments
Great trip ! Leader had a diversified group and made it accessible & enjoyable for all!

Accommodation and Food
Accommodation vey good and representative of Scottish hospitality !

Your Guide
Our trip was quided & although there was an unavoidable change she was very knowledgeable, great with our diverse group and fun to be with!

The Bottom Line
Based on my experience I totally endorse Wilderness Scotland as a go to company

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Pre-Trip Service
Rachel Gavan's is amazing! She always got back to me promptly and efficiently. She was very friendly and helpful. Your website could use some tweaking. If vacationers could make an account (similar to what cruise ships offer) where you can go in to see what you owe, specifics about the trip including itinerary, equipment needed, etc., basically a one stop shop, it would be helpful.

Trip Comments
Kirsty was a wonderful guide! Very knowledgeable, tailored our itinerary based upon the weather to get the best views/experience, briefed us each evening on our walk for the next day. She was with us 24/7 and always accessible. She was motivational, kind and fun. We had a nice group of people with varying aptitudes and Kirsty tailored the walks to meet all needs. The food was amazing, accommodations were clean and comfortable.

Accommodation and Food
Accommodations were clean and comfortable. Nothing fancy but suited our needs. It was fine.

Your Guide
Cannot say enough about Kirsty. Kirsty was a wonderful guide! Very knowledgeable about the geography, wild life, birds and flowers. She tailored our itinerary based upon the weather to get the best views/experience and briefed us each evening on our walk for the next day (type of climb, what clothes to wear or bring). She was with us 24/7 and always accessible. She was motivational, kind and fun. We had a nice group of people with varying aptitudes and Kirsty tailored the walks to meet all needs. .

The Bottom Line
Knoydart was an amazing trip! The location was breathtaking, the food was superb, the company fun, accommodations clean and comfortable and the guide (Kirsty) was wonderful. Everything was well executed and went off without issue.

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Trip Comments
The hike up Cul Mor was an excellent start to the trip and the climb up Suilven although hard for me was also the high point of the trip, despite the very hot weather we encountered. I would like to suggest one walk of 14 Kilometers or so kept in reserve which does not include a hard climb for the less athletic of your clients or for when the weather is too bad to do a hard climb.

Accommodation and Food
Excellent accommodation. It couldn't be bettered.

Your Guide
Susie Hill was an excellent guide. She worked really hard to make our trip successful.

The Bottom Line
I really enjoyed the trip. From meeting our guide at Inverness Station to her dropping me off at Inverness. I had a great time with sometimes hard but always enjoyable walking with pleasant company from the other travelers. Susie our guide was always sensitive to our needs and capabilities. A very happy experience.

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Pre-Trip Service
Every email was answered kindly and promptly was so helpful and reassuring!

Trip Comments
Guide was amazing and fun and friendly! Loved the pace of the days and inclusion of guests thoughts and opinions. Lovely time overall!

Accommodation and Food
Hotels were beautiful loved the coziness and setting on the water of each hotel (Skye trip) I did suggest a few more veggies for the packed lunch even if it's carrot and celery sticks :)

Your Guide
Sarah was awesome and warm and funny and answered questions if she didn't know one she made sure to research and get back to us later that evening or the next day! Her enthusiasm for her job was infectious! Inspired leader.

The Bottom Line
Amazing loved it highly recommend, great energy and feeling no pretense just nice and enthusiastic people enjoying beautiful and inspiring geography and places. Would highly recommend.

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Accommodation and Food
I really enjoyed staying atSoval Lodge, it was so relaxing to have the place to ourselves.
Meals were good but it would have been helpful to have extra salad or nibbles with the packed lunches, eg. Carrot sticks, celery sticks, tomatoes and/or nuts and raisins.

Your Guide
Mark worked really hard to check what everyone wanted to do when the weather meant we could not do the highest peaks. He gave us lots of options and made sure we saw a lot of the islands. Very well informed too and he conveyed his love of the islands.
His easy manner put everyone at their ease too. Thanks Mark!

The Bottom Line
I really enjoyed this trip and rate it one of my best holidays with Wilderness Scotland. Thank you team at WS.

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Pre-Trip Service
The staff responded quickly to every question and concern and were friendly and helpful!

Trip Comments
Alastair was a wonderful guide. He ensured each person's individual needs were met. He was full of information about the places and people where we hiked. It was a spectacular exeprience.

Accommodation and Food
Each accommodation was comfortable and the staff friendly.

Your Guide
Alastair was the perfect guide for our group. We had very diverse hiking skills and he was able to ensure each of us participated and saw the sights while keeping us all safe and happy!

The Bottom Line
I would ( and already have) recommend Wilderness Scotland to anyone wanting a great outdoor experience. Everyone from booking the trip to the last day of the hiking was helpful, friendly, and full of information about Scotland. One of my top vacations!

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Pre-Trip Service
Our trip was organized through a travel agent, so we didn’t use your website very much, except when links were sent to us, and then it was fine

Trip Comments
The walks took us to many places in Orkney, and combined nature, history and culinary experiences. The trip was made all the better by the experience of our guide Mark, who balanced the itinerary with the needs and wants of the group and the weather.

Your Guide
Mark was knowledgeable on a range of relevant information - plants, animals, birds, history and knowledge of the trails ( and a lot of good stories). He was very respectful of the needs of the group and had a consultative style.

The Bottom Line
This trip exceeded our expectations. We were lucky in the beautiful weather and the group dynamics which played an important part in our enjoyment. We were also fortunate in being able to complete the planned itinerary because of the favourable weather conditions.
The Orkney Islands came as a lovely surprise. They were more sophisticated, had great infastructure, and were totally unspoilt.

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Accommodation and Food
The only issue I experienced was a hotel room in Tarbet that was far too warm to sleep well in and although a twin room was small for 2 people with luggage (and we both travelled with relatively little).

Your Guide
Will was fabulous - an excellent your leader.

The Bottom Line
An excellent trip that provided an opportunity not just to explore a very beautiful part of the world but to meet its people too.

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Pre-Trip Service
Everything was perfect!

Trip Comments
We brought sunshine to the Isle of Skye! Very lucky! Our guide Jude, was amazing, professional, and always accommodating!

Accommodation and Food
Both B & B’s were clean, great views, and food was great as well!

Your Guide
She was wonderiful!!! Great driver, sweet, knowledgeable and very friendly ❤️

The Bottom Line
Very challenging but satisfying at the same time. A little more free time from the group would be nice too.
LOVED it!!
Thank you❤️

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Pre-Trip Service
The initial brief received and the trip dossier were super clear, all the questions I asked were answered promptly and the recommendations I was looking for were received in a clear way... The special dietary requirements that I had were understood and met perfectly..

Trip Comments
The sceneries, the nature, the people we met on the way, the information our guide provided, the accommodations except for the one in Tyndrum, the food and the overall experience was super...

Accommodation and Food
All the places we stayed at were amazing, starting from Drymen all the way till the Magnificent Kinlochleven and Fort William, except for the Tyndrum Inn which wasn't a good lodge, no hot water was there to shower, no WiFi in the rooms and to get to the rooms was like walking in a maze, the food at the bar was amazing though ... The rest were super super amazing...

Your Guide
Alisster was chilled, patient, didn't rush us and stress us around... He was caring and left us on our own pace as we were a small group... Kept checking on everyone, and provided loads of information about nature, vegetation, animals, history and answered all the questions we had in mind... Also he helped me in managing my meals according to my dietary needs... Super calm and polite...

The Bottom Line
My overall experience is indeed unforgettable and unbelievable, I enjoyed every day with its uniqueness and challanges... Having to cross 155 km/96 miles in 7 days wasn't a piece of cake still it was an amazing accomplishment... The way the trail is constructed and clearly marked was wonderful... Whether u r planning to self guide ur trip or join a guided group both would be an unforgettable experience, the people u meet on the way, the Scottish people and thier kindness is wonderful...


TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

I am sorry there wasn’t hot water in your room, we’ll follow up with the hotel to make sure that doesn’t happen again. Unfortunately, WIFI can be spotty in the Highlands and sometimes the thick walls in old buildings means that it is only available in public areas. It sounds like you had a great time on the trip and what a wonderful achievement to hike the whole way!

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Trip Comments
The Outer Hebrides is an amazing place with wonderful scenery, wildlife and fabulous history.

Accommodation and Food
Very spacious and comfortable. Our hostesses made every effort to cater for all our needs.

Your Guide
I just love travelling with Kirsty. Her enthusiasm and knowledge is fantastic and if a question is thrown up that she can't answer immediately, she finds out , no matter how obscure. She also makes sure that everyone in the group is included in conversation and allows enough flexibility for people to have their own time should they wish to do so.

The Bottom Line
Absolutely brilliant!!

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Pre-Trip Service
The online stuff is very efficient but a tad remote and I felt focused the consequence of any error to me.

Trip Comments
a swim in the Atlantic, the clearing of the clouds and a chat with an islander

Your Guide
Andy did great - we were quite a challenge at times. Professional.

The Bottom Line
Overall experience was great. It was a relatively expensive holiday for me. Hence could not recommend to all my friends.

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Pre-Trip Service
Always quick to respond and answer questions

Trip Comments
We had a great guide, Pete. I admired his ability to assess interests and ability/fitness level and tweak the days accordingly. His all round general knowledge is impressive.

Accommodation and Food
Lovely hotel with excellent food and very pleasant staff

Your Guide
We were very happy with Pete. He was very in tune with the group.

The Bottom Line
We love Wilderness Scotland. This was our second trip. We went to the Outer Hebrides last year. We will definitely do more. The guides have been excellent, as has the accommodation. The trip planning and organisation works seamlessly.

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The Bottom Line
Excellent service, guides, accommodations, food, and lovely walks. It was the first time I have left the planning up to others and the result was a thoroughly enjoyable trip. Thanks to Rosie, Al, and the Wilderness Scotland staff.

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Pre-Trip Service
liked the clarity provided

Trip Comments
boat transfers and the hiking.
Making the most of the varying Scottish weather/conditions to maximise what we got out of the hiking by varying the itineray as appropriate

Accommodation and Food
good food and great setting

Your Guide
Peter was very good, great knowledge of flora and fauna exhibited, kept the group walking at the required pace. Dealt efficiently with any issues and group dynamics. Particular highligths wwere his motivational poems/talks every morning and the passion he displyed for his job and the coumtryside.

The Bottom Line
Excellent, I and my 3 walking companions will use Wilderness Scotland/Ireland again.

One final request/suggestion for the future, it would be great to be able to choose from a jacket or rucksac as the pre-trip freebie to suit individual needs, a small point I appreciate.

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Pre-Trip Service
The preinformation and the equipmentlist was perfect, all necessary information was clear.

Trip Comments
Fantastic landscape. Sarah our guide was very proffesional and she counted on us all.
The walk on Quiraing was amazing with the views, but the hardest one with tons of photogear in my backpack. The walk to Neist Point and coastal circuit with nice sea views. All the walks was great.

Accommodation and Food
Both hotels were excellent with friendly staff and the beds were very good.
Resturants: The Old school in Dunvegan with Seafood and The Resturant Red Skye were in my opinion excellent and very tasting with good wineselection.

Your Guide
A thousand thanks to Sarah. She made this trip great.

The Bottom Line
I will use Wilderness scotland for my next trip to scotland. The next time, I hope it will be one of the photography trips.

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Pre-Trip Service
The pre-trip communication was consistently friendly, clear, and prompt.

Trip Comments
We had a fantastic guide (Ken) and an unofficial co-guide (Sonja) who---every day--- brought their enthusiasm, boundless energy, deep knowledge of Scotland, and dry humor along for the most beautiful hikes I've ever experienced. And did I mention patience? We asked a LOT of questions, sometimes two, three, seven times.

Accommodation and Food
The Stein Inn and the Harris Hotel were both perfect. The food was plentiful and delicious, and each hotel is in a unique and beautiful setting.

Your Guide
We lucked out. I'm sure the other guides are spectacular, but come on, they can't be as awesome as Ken, can they??

The Bottom Line
The trip far exceeded our hopes, and we're already planning for next summer. Thank you.

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Pre-Trip Service
Personal service on telephone is excellent. Website did not let me make a booking but maybe not a problem for others.

Trip Comments
Landscape, mountains, coastal walks, beaches. Very quiet walks-usually only our group out on the hill.

Accommodation and Food
very spacious and comfortable. good location with views and also central for access to different areas of the islands

Your Guide
Great personality, calm and reliant. Huge interest and knowledge re all around us from flowers and insects to all the birds. History and geography shared with ease as we walked.

The Bottom Line
As a repeat customer never disappointed. Highest of standards once again

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Pre-Trip Service
The wilderness staff are all very knowledgeable and welcoming.

Trip Comments
From the moment we all met at the train station, until we parted there, it was a hugely enjoyable trip. It was the best of everything you could wish for on a holiday

Accommodation and Food
The hotel was fabulous, I loved it. The food was heavenly, we were spoilt for choice.

Your Guide
Kirsty is the most professional, the most knowledgeable, and the most competent guide, let alone the loveliest person you could have to guide your Wilderness holiday

The Bottom Line
The trip to the Orkney Islands is a fabulous experience, combined with Wilderness Scotland makes it an experience not to be missed in anyone's lifetime

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Pre-Trip Service
Emails were answered promptly and the call-back service much appreciated especially with different time zones and cost of international calls.

Trip Comments
The varied nature of the Knoydart Peninsula walk - islands, mountains, paths beside lochs, social history, local communities - and the Doune Bay Lodge accommodation with superb food.

Accommodation and Food
Warm, clean and comfortable and the food was excellent.

Your Guide
Tim was an enthusiastic, energetic and extremely knowledgeable guide. He worked hard to ensure that diverse expectations within the group were met as far as possible.

The Bottom Line
Excellent, thankyou.

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Pre-Trip Service
Before booking it was good to talk through the trip with member of staff. The staff had good knowledge of the trip and were able to answer all of our questions.

Trip Comments
There was a good balance of walking, seeing archaeological sites and flora / fauna. The onsite tour and talk by the archaeologists at Ring of Brodgar,the Swandro dig and Maes Howe were all excellent in putting the history into context. I also appreciated having the time (and weather!) to explore the flora and fauna on the walks.

Accommodation and Food
The staff at the Lynnfield hotel were all friendly and helpful. The bedrooms were very comfortable as were the lounges, dining and bar areas.

Your Guide
Peter was a great guide: Very knowledgeable of the islands' history and traditions. He made a point of talking to each member of the group and drew them into conversations with others. He also encouraged people to share their knowledge and experiences of "The Great Outdoors".

The Bottom Line
This was a fantastic trip with a good balance of archaeology, walking and seeing the flora & fauna of the islands.

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Pre-Trip Service
Website had an error re: number of participants needed for a trip to be confirmed. The error persisted well past a reasonable time to have had it. My conclusion: technical staff has weak skills or administrative staff are a bit casual about the accuracy of the website.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONCE:

Thanks so much for your feedback. I am sorry that there was confusion here that caused worry but I do know my collage spoke to you in person and clarified the issue. I can assure you that none of the team are casual about admin but rather technical issues are generally more complex than they look! It sounds like you had an amazing trip over all and it’s great that you are keen to travel with us again.

Trip Comments
Our guide (John Walker) was excellent. The itinerary was spectacular. The lodging (room and board) was good, but not excellent. The food could have been improved (bananas and meat are not a good combination!). There was no place to dry clothes. Our room had only one small towel rack, and the minimal electrical outlets limited our ability to charge our electronics.

Accommodation and Food
see prior comments

Your Guide
John Walker is a fantastic guide: professional, experienced, compassionate, and extremely capable of meeting the needs of a diverse group of hikers. He's also a excellent driver; I'd rate him in the top 2% of all drivers I've experienced in my lifetime.

The Bottom Line
Amazing trip. The Cairngorms are stunningly beautiful. The itinerary chosen by Wilderness Scotland gave us the opportunity to experience many of the splendors of this area. Fantastic guide (John Walker). Good lodgings and meals. We'd happily book another trip with Wilderness Scotland.

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Pre-Trip Service
We were not able to book the trip online initially and had to book over phone. The original invoice confirmation was written as if it was for one person when I was booking for two people. It was sorted out, however, and worked fine.

Accommodation and Food
It would have been helpful to have the name and address of the accommodations ahead of time. They were not sent to us and customs gave us a hard time entering the country.

The Bottom Line
The trip was amazing and our guide was great. A little more information about the accommodations ahead of time would have been very helpful however.

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Trip Comments
More emphasis on serious walking, felt at least one of the group just wasn't able enough to manage the walks.

Accommodation and Food
Very comfortable with fantastic breakfasts but could do with somewhere to leave dirty boots and wet walking clothes.

Your Guide
Keith was just outstanding, can't speak too highly of him.

The Bottom Line
Wish we'd been with a more fit and able group with more enthusiasm for the walking. Rightly or wrongly I was expecting a mountain walking holiday but what we got was more a touring holiday with 2 or 3 good walks. Having said that, our leader Keith managed a difficult situation very well.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONCE:

Thanks for your feedback. We do our best to make sure everyone on the trip is suitable for the hiking involved although we can only go the information they give us. Our guides do have our absolute support to ask someone that is not capable of the hikes to sit out some of the days if needed. Having said that this is a blue graded trip which means there are longer hiking days interspersed with shorter more relaxed days. It sounds like perhaps a more challenging trip may have been a better option for you but we’re so glad you had a good trip overall.

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Pre-Trip Service
It is not enough to transfer the money with only a credit card from the Netherlands or the rest of the European Union. Offering the possibility of regular bank transfer would be nice.

Your Guide
Andy was postitive, knowledgable and watched good how the group "worked"

The Bottom Line
It was good, unfortunatly we had to abort our trip :-(

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONCE:

We were so sorry to hear you had to leave your trip early. We're sending our best wishes from the whole WS team.

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Pre-Trip Service
Friendly and helpful

Trip Comments
We had a fantastic time! The group got on really well and Tim was a fabulous guide/host - helpful, considerate, knowledgeable and funny.

Accommodation and Food
Generally thought all the accommodation exceeded expectations. Food everywhere was really good. Felt the Tyndrum hotel was a bit "tired", however again food in the restaurant and service was good. Guesthouse in Kinlochleven was a hoot - everything you could ever need and enough going on to keep us talking for days!

Your Guide
As before, Tim was great. Very helpful and really knowledgeable. The evening briefings were good and he was always good company. He kept things moving and ensured everyone was doing ok, encouraging plenty of snacks and water breaks. Also, he was enthusiastically Scottish, which (as the only other Scots in the group) we thought was brilliant. Its important that people leave singing the praises of Scotland and Tim played a big part in ensuring they did so.

The Bottom Line
We had a wonderful time on the West Highland Way. The scenery (and the weather!) was stunning, the company was great and the accommodation and food excellent. Tim was the perfect guide and host. Would definitely recommend this trip to others.

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Pre-Trip Service
Every stage of booking, from payment to what to take was clearly put down, so no worries about getting it wrong!

Trip Comments
I knew it was a new trip but that didn't put me off. There were many highlights so a bit difficult! Kinloch Lodge lived up to your description. I was a bit concerned about sharing a bathroom, but it was never a problem after all. I was glad to see the sea stacks and John o Groats, but the big highlights were climbing Ben Hope, the rib boat to Seal Island and the Cape Wrath day. Big achievements, although the way up Ben Hope was rather tricky in places.

Accommodation and Food
It was an expensive trip, but Kinloch Lodge was well worth it. Having the lodge to ourselves was a relaxing experience. From the fabulous bedding to the exceptional food and drink, it was a joy to stay there. I liked the remoteness of it and no need to have room keys! The staff were brilliant and did so many little extras to make sure we had all we need - even altering meal times when necessary. And having open fires!

Your Guide
Our guide, Tim, was beyond helpful and always cheerful. I felt very safe with him, as some of the terrain was difficult and he always helped us, if needed and never left anyone behind, so to speak. Each day, we had a talk about how it went and what would happen the next day. And a very careful driver.
I must also mention Rupert, who did a superb job of photographing everywhere. He must have so much film and was always ahead of us to get the best shots. Also, he was very helpful with some of the terrain and good company too.

The Bottom Line
Very glad to know your company. Having been on 2 trips now I'd easily recommend you. It must have been good if coming home, I might do a third!
The only reservation was on the first day at John o Groats - the drive from there to Kinloch Lodge seemed a bit too long, but I can't think how that could be shortened, except to miss out going to John o Groats, but clients may not want that. It's a difficult one as the sea stacks were lovely too, but we did have gorgeous weather! But can't do anything about that!

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Trip Comments
Our guide, Mike Brian really had a fine grasp of every detail of the trip and paid particular attention to my safety. The adjective I would use to describe every aspect of the trip is " superlative."

Your Guide
I've been on a lot of climbs ,treks,and hiking trips. As a guide Mike Brian stands at the top of my list with perhaps two others.

The Bottom Line
An excellent experience in a wonderful country!

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Trip Comments
The trip was full of variety and benefited from an excellent guide.

Accommodation and Food
The hotel was comfortable and the food outstanding.

Your Guide
Craig was extremely knowledgeable regarding the history and archaeology and had a wicked sense of humour which helped a disparate group (British, American, Australian and Belgian) to blend very well.

The Bottom Line
This was one of the best holidays I have ever been on. The combination of physical and mental exercise was highly stimulating.

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Your Guide
Ken is knowledgeable and organized. He adjusted hikes to weather conditions when necessary. I am not a strong hiker and Ken was encouraging and reassuring so i was able to maximize my experience.

The Bottom Line
The trips (Sutherland and Skye) which we did back to back were beautiful.

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Trip Comments
Challenging, but worth every step ! Stunning scenery, good food, nice lodgings, and most of all : lovely people. We had a lot of fun along the way.

Your Guide
Tim just made everything easy and cool. He’s very thoughtful and supportive, has a bright sense of humour, so we all had a lot of fun together. Thanks for being such a great “drover” !

The Bottom Line
One of these things you’re just must experience once in your life !

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Pre-Trip Service
Prompt and helpful advice, especially when I struggled to open attachments in emails

Trip Comments
Lovely group, cosy and friendly accommodation, very competent and fun guide(s).

Accommodation and Food
What a lovely place at Ullapool, our host Evelyn made us feel so welcome, nothing was too much.
Choices of restaurants were great.

Your Guide
Both our guides were extremely comptetent, fun, engaging and knowledgeable. They had to be extremely flexible as the weather didn't allow us to stick to any firm plans. We still had a great time with lovely walks.

The Bottom Line
I have not been on a group trip before but am firmly planning my next adventure with WS.

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Pre-Trip Service
Good instructions on what was needed for equipment etc

Trip Comments
Dave was great. He was very enthusiastic about the area and the hikes and he was good at making you go a little further than you thought you could. The food and the staff at the lodge were great.

Accommodation and Food
As previous the food was great the accommodations were a little rustic and the shared bathroom was a bit off putting at first. It would be nice to have a separate place to dry clothes etc

Your Guide
As mentioned Dave was great. He was very enthusiastic about the area and keen to show it to you. He was also good at getting you to push yourself out of your comfort level.

The Bottom Line
I had a wonderful time. Knoydart is a beautiful area of the world that I am very glad I got the opportunity to see it. Our Wilderness Scotland guide David was great as was the staff at the Doune Lodge. The food was amazing. I would definitely recommend the trip to anyone. Just make sure you bring your waterproofs.

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Pre-Trip Service
Everyone was very responsive. And willing to go out of their way to pick us up at our hotel a little further along the route from Inverness.

Trip Comments
This was an outstanding trip. The choice of walks was perfect. Every day had different scenery and different types of walking. Some were steep and wild, others low and more technical. The scenery was breathtaking.

Accommodation and Food
The hotels that were chosen were very good - clean and comfortable with lovely views and a personal service.

Your Guide
Liam was a terrific guide. He was very knowledgeable, very committed and friendly. He kept the group on track and moving smoothly from one point to the next. He was very reassuring during slick weather conditions in higher elevations. And he was great in running forward to get the van when we walkers were tired and drinking tea.

The Bottom Line
We loved our trip to Skye. The scenery was out of this world, the walks challenging and invigorating and our guide very knowledgeable. We never would have had the nerve to explore these areas alone.

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Pre-Trip Service
The web site has all necessary info. The only 1 thing that could be useful to mention is if the B&B does provide complimentary toiletry (shower gel and shampoo) or we need to bring our own. Not a big deal but useful to know!

Trip Comments
Despite the bad weather we had (the worse I had on my holidays in the past 30 years! Nothing we can do about it though!) I did enjoy all the walks we did. I am sure we didn't follow the itinerary mostly because of the weather but who cares! I always do trust and rely on the guide and Mark was fantastic in suggesting very good walks to make the most of our time out there!

Accommodation and Food
Cosy, warm, clean, welcoming, remote and beautiful B&B. It was very hard to leave in the morning when rain was pouring outside! On one occasion I was very tempted to stay in with a good book! Mary was very lovely and her cooking was 10/10. Only 1 'negative' if I may say: I had a room on the ground floor (I am not a fan of ground floor I am afraid!) with view on the car park (not a fan of this either!) and so I couldn't open the curtain and window all week -for privacy. Living in a city I do love to have a better view when I go on holiday! Apart from that it was perfect.

Your Guide
Mark was fantastic! We were not lucky with the weather unfortunately and Mark was excellent in suggesting alternative walks that we could still do. We managed to walk every day thanks to him. He was very accommodating, flexible, friendly, energetic and patient. Great walks and itinerary. I would love to have him again next year on my next trip!

The Bottom Line
Great walks, great guide/driver, great B&B host, great group, love everything about this trip -except the weather! This was my 2nd trip with Wilderness Scotland, and I will book with them again next year, not only for the places/tours/scenery but also because they only do small group (8) which does make the trips even more enjoyable. Big thank you to Mark, Mary, the lovely people in the group and the team at Wilderness Scotland.

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Pre-Trip Service
Our guide Tim was excellent - extremley helpful, knowledgable, kind and caring which really made a differnece to the experience. Only real crtisism was that the packed lunches were generally pretty poor. No one wants to eat unhealthy white bread sandwhiches these days, everyome wanted brown and yet all hotels only had un healthy white bread. Would have preferred more walking and less sight seeing, but only a personal observation!

Accommodation and Food
I think it would have been much nicer to have stayed in the Isle of Barra Beach hotel as opposed to Castle Bay Hotel. Tim couldnt tell us why it had changed?

Your Guide
Truly excellent guide (Tim) - made the trip for eveyone really great!

The Bottom Line
Very weather dependednt (we were lucky). Great trip, well organised, brilliantly guided. Would definately come again and recommed to others. The Outer Hebrdies, on a sunny day, is definately one of the the most beautiful, unspolilt places in the UK...

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Pre-Trip Service
Very responsive and helpful.

Trip Comments
It’s hard to break down what was so excellent about the trip - it was on all round great experience. Accomadation was amazing. Guide was so skilled at his job. Food was outstanding. Walks were all lovely. What was with the sunburn though - I thought this was a walk in rainy Scotland ?

Accommodation and Food
I would stay at the accomadation again anytime. The location was lovely. The hosts were delightful, accomadating and kind. The actual hotel was gorgeous and very well set up in terms of the rooms, the breakfast location and the lounger for tea drinking and sea watching. The food (breakfast) was of very high quality and was delicious and plentiful. The time of year was very fun with all those lambs gambling about

Your Guide
I really liked our guide Keith. A wealth of information on the local cultural history and natural history. He had a great combination of outdoor skills, leadership, weather, people, driving and plant and animal identification skills - and funny as well... where do you find these great guides !

The Bottom Line
A lovely part of Scotland to explore with a great company who provides exemplary service throughout.

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Pre-Trip Service
Clerk I spoke to was very helpful in guiding me to a walk that I would be comfortable with in terms of distance walked each day, etc.

Trip Comments
My guide Alan Smith was very good - informative, friendly, easy-going, listened to the group.

Accommodation and Food
I can't quite get over the British preoccupation with single beds. (And they are much smaller than the single bed version in North America!) Not much you can do about this part of travel in Scotland. In the future I will likely choose the single supplement to avoid the single bed experience.

Your Guide
Alan Smith listened to the group, he is friendly and relaxed, and full of information.

The Bottom Line
I had a wonderful time walking the Outer Hebrides from July 14 to July 20. The weather was lovely, the group was a fun collection of people, and the guide was excellent.

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Pre-Trip Service
Had some questions prior to trip and needed some advice booking train from Ft William to Glasgow. Staff was very helpful!

Trip Comments
I had very high expectations for this trip and all were exceeded. Great trip! Would highly recommend!

Accommodation and Food
Accommodations were better than I expected. Special highlight: Edencoille Bed and Breakfast in Kinlochlaven.

Your Guide
Loved Allen Wright! If I ever book another trip with Wilderness Scotland, I'd choose a trip that Alan was guiding.

The Bottom Line
I expected an amazing trip and I was not disappointed. This trip exceeded every expectation I had!

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Trip Comments
This was my third trip with Wilderness Scotland, and the first time I brought 4 family members along with me. We had a great time! I continue to recommend this company to anyone who asks about my Scotland travels.

Accommodation and Food
Loved the two hotels where we stayed! Each had a good restaurant and pub attached, and each was clean, comfy and charming with friendly staff. Can't beat the lake views at the Loch Melfort!

Your Guide
Andy was a superb guide -- very knowledgeable, personable, patient and accommodating!

The Bottom Line
This was my third trip with Wilderness Scotland, and the first one on which I brought along four extended family members. We had a great time! All of us agreed that this company provides a fantastic value for the money, and works hard to ensure that all guests have a terrific experience with great attention to detail and a lovely personal touch. I will continue to recommend Wilderness Scotland to all who ask about my Scotland travels.

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Pre-Trip Service
Always helpful when I had questions. Very quick to respond

Trip Comments
Our first time with this sort of trip. We loved it!

Accommodation and Food
Lodging and food was outstanding

Your Guide
Craig McDonald was the absolute BEST!! He was so knowledgable , loves his job and really took interest with his group. He has certainly set the bar high for any future guides and trips we take.

The Bottom Line
Without a doubt the best trip we have ever taken!! Thank you

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Trip Comments
Lorraine was an absolutely fantastic trip leader. She has a thirst for life and deep love and appreciation for the wilderness of Scotland. It was such a privilege to spend a week with her!

Your Guide
Lorraine was the highlight of our hikes and frankly our whole trip! She is kind, funny, and badass! Privilege to know her!

The Bottom Line
Overall very fun trip and Lorraine is the best!!

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Pre-Trip Service
Very efficient and friendly communication (all by email for us)

Accommodation and Food
Lynnfield Hotel is excellent

Your Guide
Tim is terrific! So knowledgeable on all relevant topics, and his experience in guiding groups really shows.

The Bottom Line
Wilderness Scotland are the company to use if planning a trip in Scotland. Itineraries are great for seeing parts of Scotland that most tourists don’t get to.

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Pre-Trip Service
No trouble finding info on website. Staff replied timely to my questions. Booking was easy online.

Trip Comments
Liked climb up mtn on Eigg. Castle visit on rhum. Variety of hikes.

Accommodation and Food
The food was great for variety, scottish choices, very well prepared. The lodge was fun with group to mingle and meet people more.

Your Guide
David really knew the area hikes and kept things interesting with descriptions, local info, was able to pick hikes suitable for our group, helped us find local products and services.

The Bottom Line
All around excellent. Plus location very beautiful. All wilderness scot staff very friendly and helpful!

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Pre-Trip Service
Whenever I rang the phone was always answered immediately and my queries satisfied!

Trip Comments
The holiday was much more than we expected, the Island of Orkney is full of history with great walks. Just the right number of walkers!

Accommodation and Food
The Lynnfield Hotel was great. My only concern was there was no notice in the entrance hall about walking boots. My husband and I took ours off and carried them upstairs and left on newspaper but I did notice others just tramping up stairs in boots, luckily we had mostly fine weather!

Your Guide
Craig was an extremely good guide, he knew the Islands well and the history. He was always on time!
He organised our days to suit everyone and managed to avoid the cruise ship hordes which I was a bit concerned about! We all mixed very well and had plenty of fun!

The Bottom Line
Loved every minute of this holiday, have already recommended you to friends!

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Pre-Trip Service
Valuable, detailed information.

Trip Comments
Best guide ever. Crazy weather but tender love and care from all Scots.

Accommodation and Food
Some Days the rain was so hard that it was impossible to eat the lunch. Pretty hungry by the end of the day those Days.

Your Guide
Liam Allan, so sweet and mature beyond his years. Careing and smart. A real gem.

The Bottom Line
So well managed trip. You feel safe and well taken care of.

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Pre-Trip Service
Any questions we had were answered quickly. All the trip information was helpful in our planning

Trip Comments
The pristine beaches on the outer Hebrides
Boat trip to Mingulay - seals and puffins

Accommodation and Food
Each place we stayed was unique from the other. First 2 nights were at a more modernized place while the last night’s were at older character hotels. We enjoyed them all. Last hotel overlooking the Castle in the bay was a great ending view for the trip.

Your Guide
Tim was fantastic! Very good at meeting the needs of the different personalities and hiking capabilities. He was a wealth of information which added immensely to the enjoyment of our trip. We jokingly referred to him as Encyclopedia Bri”Tim”ica. Excellent driver, super sense of humour and very comfortable to spend time with.

The Bottom Line
This trip exceeded our expectations regarding the scenery and wildlife. We experienced both the rain and then the gorgeous sunshine which helped us to see both the beauty and “ the beast”! We hiked no matter what the weather which we enjoyed. On one particularly wet morning we visited a museum for a few hours until the weather cleared up which was very interesting and helped us to better understand the lifestyle of folks on the Hebrides.

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Trip Comments
We had high expectations of the Knoydart trip, because it was a part of Scotland which is normally inaccessible and intriguing, and the idea of several island trips, with a dedicated boat at our disposal, was very attractive. Our expectations were exceeded on all accounts, and we had a marvellous week’s walking which we could not possibly have done without a guide.
A walking highlight for me was the climb to the iconic An Sgurr on Eigg, which looked beyond my ability until we were actually there.
The food was consistently superb, but the highlight would have to be the 10kg moutain of fresh langoustines on the last night.

Accommodation and Food
The lodge was perfectly comfortable, and in an idyllic setting. The description in the pre walk dossier was completely fair - the bedrooms were fairly basic without much storage, and the bathrooms were shared - you might have to wait your turn for a shower at the end of the day!

Your Guide
Kirsty was a superb guide. She was cheerful and knowledgeable, calm and encouraging at all times. We learned a lot about the flora and fauna whilst we walked.
Our weather was mixed during the week, but she matched the walk to the conditions with great skill, taking advice from the skipper too, on the sea conditions.

The Bottom Line
Surpassed our hopes and expectations- a wonderful week’s walking.

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Pre-Trip Service
Guide was very adept in managing the group. His verbal instructions were clear and concise, aided by visual aids like maps and hand written instructions (which we photographed with our phones).

The Bottom Line
I was very happy and satisfied with the service of Wilderness Scotland .

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Pre-Trip Service
On-line booking procedure for 2 people was not very clear. I mentioned this to Colin White on the trip and he said he had already sorted it out. It needed it!

otherwise, very prompt and helpful responses to all specific queries and timely and relevant pre-trip information.

Trip Comments
Excellent guide, excellent company (fellow walkers) and excellent accommodation.

Accommodation and Food
It was excellent but for us, it was unnecessarily luxurious. We would have been equally, or more, happy with lower grade accommodation. I appreciate that does not apply to all your clients, and that you take the best that is available. Practical details, it would have been good to have had a less thick duvet. I admit I did not ask, as I don't like to be demanding and awkward, but what was available in the room was winter weight and much too hot, even for a normal summer.

Drying room and boot room much appreciated

Your Guide
Can't imagine a better guide, enthusiastic, friendly, knowledgeable, skilful, and always willing to go the extra kilometre or 10, on the ground and metaphorically in tracking down eg flower species, word origins etc.

The Bottom Line
Re last score of 4/5. It could be 5/5 but a number of my friends have to watch their finances and others would prefer less comfort.

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Trip Comments
the different walks were perfectly selected and gave a nice representation of the specific area.

Accommodation and Food
They were both different from each other but great. I’m glad the 2nd place had a little more room (didn’t have to share a room). It was a nice way to be able to relax at the end of the trip.

Your Guide
Iain was excellent. He was quiet at first which was a good thing. I think he was taking all of us in! He was knowledgeable about the land and animals. We had a lot of questions for him and he answered all of them! He was considerate of everyone and tried to make sure everyone was happy with what we were doing. He was very patient with us.

The Bottom Line
It was great and I will be back to do another area with you!

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Pre-Trip Service
Plenty of information provided about the trip. Enquiries were dealt with promptly.

Trip Comments
We loved every minute of this trip. The small group added to the experience and it meant there was more flexibility in what we decided to do each day. It is hard to choose one highlight as there were many! I loved Rackwick Bay and also the Deerness walk...but really all the walks were beautiful and each one was so different. I also enjoyed visiting Kirkwall and Stromness and being able to spend a little bit of time in each. Visiting the archeological sites was also fascinating and incorporated into the trip in such a way that it allowed us to do plenty of walking but we also got to experience the incredible history of the place. Maeshowe and Skara Brae were real highlights. This trip just ticked so many boxes!

Accommodation and Food
We loved staying at the Lynnfield Hotel. It was like stepping back in time. The lounge areas were great for having a drink and debrief together at the end of the day. Everything was very clean and comfortable. Our room had plenty of space and the biggest bed I've ever slept in! Breakfast was excellent and dinner meals sometimes missed the mark, but were generally good. Packed lunches had different sandwich fillings every day and plenty of food was provided. We ate out for dinner a few times and those meals were very good, the standout being Skerries Bistro ( outstanding view and food). It was nice to mix things up a bit and try different places.

Your Guide
Pete Grant was a fantastic guide and just a lovely human being! I felt from the start that we were in safe hands with Pete. Pete was a great listener and tuned in to our group very quickly and organised the itinerary accordingly. Great sense of humour so there were lots of laughs. I really liked the way Pete debriefed with the group each day. He was always happy to have feedback and input and kept us informed about the weather ( always important!) and any changes to our itinerary. And he had the knack of knowing just when we needed a coffee break! Pete had a great understanding of the Orkneys and shared wonderful stories and insights which really added so much to the trip.

The Bottom Line
I would highly recommend visiting the Orkney Islands.We were fortunate to have beautiful weather which made for a really fabulous trip. The Orkney Islands are stunning and endlessly interesting and travelling from Australia it was a long way to go but absolutely worth it. We were really happy with every aspect of the trip and we are already looking at future trips with Wilderness Scotland.

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Pre-Trip Service
Rachael arranged our two trips- one group trip to Argyll and the Isles, and one bespoke to Torridon. Arrangements were faultless and comms excellent. Thanks Rachael!

Trip Comments
Great group- bonded very quickly - eclectic mix of nationalities, backgrounds and age and ability- all equal on the hill - and many laughs on the way

Accommodation and Food
Loch Melfort hotel - fabulous views- welcoming venue.
Packed lunches not good however - need to work on these.

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

The Bottom Line
As always- utterly brilliant. A life affirming, invigorating and fun adventure.

Future clients- read the kit list! waterproof trousers and sturdy boots Important!

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Pre-Trip Service
informative website, quick response to emails and friendly phone operators

Trip Comments
extremely well organised, fantastic guide who could spin a yarn with the best! and good accomodation

Accommodation and Food
The accommodation was better than I expected and the food excellent. I am vegetarian, but eat some fish, which was fortunate as total veggie dishes were rare. The only accommodation comment would be that thank goodness all had drying rooms as without these the hike would have been very uncomfortable.

Your Guide
Fantastic, best guide I have ever trekked with. Efficient, organised, funny (joined in with the spirit of the group and told a good story). Took great care of us all

The Bottom Line
Highly recommend this trip and Wilderness Scotland. So good that even the 6 out of 7 days of rain didn't spoil it

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Pre-Trip Service
I initially booked another trip and did that with a discount , when I had to change the trip a couple of days later I was not able to carry over the discount as the deadline had just passed. I felt at that point that more flexibility could have been used. In the end we had a long email exchange and discussions on the phone . We sort of met halfway. I think this experience tainted my booking somewhat.

Trip Comments
Slick organisation, lovely accommodation, great knowledgable and fun guide, we felt safe when walking, challenged but all within a good limit.
I did NOT like the timing and itinerary of the last day: by using ferry from Tarbert we had to drive a much longer distance back to Inverness. No time for a walk or anything . I wonder if it would be better to get a late ferry on the Friday night.

Accommodation and Food
Wonderful peaceful setting, clean, comfortable rooms. Nice food and very accommodating staff.

Your Guide
Dave was fun and took good care of us without patronising or over organising. He went over and above to give us a great walking and outdoor experience.

The Bottom Line
A wonderful trip! Recommend it to everybody. ( but please my comments on last day itinerary).

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Accommodation and Food
The hotel in Gairloch was super...the only complaint being the portion sizes were huge!! Whilst the accommodation at the Torridon Inn was excellent the service at meal times was extremely slow.

Your Guide
Kirsty was absolutely superb. The weather proved to be consistently difficult and consequently she had to change our schedule daily, sometimes having to change plans mid hike, but still managed to give us fantastic hikes every day.

The Bottom Line
Wilderness Scotland were brilliant from the very first contact all the way through to being dropped off on the last day. The hikes were great, the accommodation was great and the only word I can think of to describe our guide is 'perfect'. Already researching my next trip with Wilderness Scotland and can't wait!

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Your Guide
Tim was the best of the best!

The Bottom Line
Great Company, Great Trips with lots of variety and excellent food!

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Trip Comments
Gill is an amazing guide with a love of nature & her country. I leaned so much about the history of Scotland, geology, plant & animal life on Skye. She quickly adapted to our preference for dining early by moving dinner reservations. She also quickly assessed the physical capabilities of our group & adapted the daily routes. Food & accommodations were all superb.

The Bottom Line
Final verdict: I LOVED the trip! I will return in hopes of another adventure in Scotland with Gill.

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Accommodation and Food
fantastic

Your Guide
knowledgeable, helpful, efficient, patient, friendly

The Bottom Line
Well organised trip, excellent guide. Clientele on this trip seemed to be people who were completely new to the area and terrain (this is not a negative point, just something I'm not familiar with)

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Pre-Trip Service
Great to have the possibility to actually talk to somebody. Nowadays a lot of companies can only be contacted by email and this is definitely not the same servicr. Thanks

Trip Comments
Great guide (Kirsty) and great company.

Accommodation and Food
Hot water was very limited - sometimes hardly enough for a quick shower.

Your Guide
Kirsty made an excellent job

The Bottom Line
Enjoyed it very much. However already mentioned to Kirsty at end of trip that according to trip description/grade info, I thought that hikes would be partly on hiking paths. If I would have known that all hikes were on rough terrain - which I'm not used to - I might have chosen a different trip

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Pre-Trip Service
Staff happy to answer any queries and look after any special requirements.

Trip Comments
So many highlights! The food, the guide, the wildlife, the place, it was a great trip.

Accommodation and Food
The food was brilliant.

Your Guide
Full of enthusiasm, and just what we needed for a great trip.

The Bottom Line
Simply a brilliant trip in a brilliant place with a brilliant guide. Magic.

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Pre-Trip Service
Easy to reach by phone, even across an ocean.

Trip Comments
Tim provided excellent leadership. We always had warm beds and meals. His handling of logistics was masterful.

Accommodation and Food
Better than expected.

Your Guide
See prior comment.

The Bottom Line
World-class organization: superb guide, fellow clients, and overall experience. Worth every penny.

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Pre-Trip Service
We had questions about how much luggage per person and about paying the balance of the trip price, but our questions were quickly answered.

Trip Comments
Our guide, Ken, made the best of every situation be it weather or other guests with limited anilities

Your Guide
Ken had to adapt plans, but I never felt we missed anything as a result

The Bottom Line
I had a great experience, aided by an outstanding guide who shared his knowledge and passion for Scotland and hiking.

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Pre-Trip Service
Prompt and helpful responses to questions

Trip Comments
It was all brilliant, well organised, lovely group of people, amazing days out walking and learning about Orkney Islans.

Accommodation and Food
Very comfortable and so nice to not have to share with someone i don’t know.

Your Guide
Tim Francis was brilliant. He is very knowledgeable and has a wonderful way of sharing this with the group.
His organisation and sensitive, gentle manner in sorting out the day to day arrangements and itinerary was lovely. Tim went above and beyond to provide a wonderful and varied programme for us.

The Bottom Line
It is a ‘must do’ for anyone interested in walking and learning about Scotland’s wilderness lications.

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Pre-Trip Service
The amount of paperwork seemed minimal, and everything seemed to be handled as efficiently as possible.

Trip Comments
Our guide, Craig McDonald, seemed prepared to handle any situation, such as dealing with late ferries. He got a bit of a challenge when one member of our party tumbled over a wall.

Accommodation and Food
The accommodations were excellent. It was nice to stay in a place with some character. The food was generally good, although some of it it was saltier than what we are used to and at times the service was a bit spotty.

Your Guide
Craig, with his Scottish accent and fast manner of speaking, could be a bit of a challenge to understand at times, although he was clear about imparting vital information. He has the best interests of his clients at heart all the way.

The Bottom Line
The trip covered everything described well. However, I think the "walk details" give the impression that group activities will last only four or five hours per day. Usually that was not the case.

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Pre-Trip Service
Only thing that could be better was that the information sent to us, at some point close to our trip, had to be refreshed by your office. Not sure why that was, but we did end up getting it again:

Trip Comments
Fantastically beautiful!!

Accommodation and Food
The restaurants we are in were all great, but one - and that was more because of the waitstaff not due to the food. On our last night our host, Marion, at the B&B made dinner for all of us. She must be a professional chef! The food was some of the best I've had anywhere, and the presentation was beautiful. What a great way to end our stay there!

Your Guide
Our guide James was the absolute BEST imaginable. He took excellent care of everyone in our diverse group, and he knew the area like the back of his hand. I honestly can't imagine a better, more inspiring, enthusiastic guide. He was just excellent!!!

The Bottom Line
Couldn't have been better!

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Pre-Trip Service
Loved all the detail! Answered almost every question I had, very organized and easy to read. Plenty of links (that actually worked!!), really good visuals that helped me get a sense of the trip and what it would be like. Being new to hiking in Scotland, we chose Wilderness Scotland BECAUSE of the website.

Trip Comments
I won't lie, this trip was a real challenge to me. First time overseas, first hiking trip of this caliber. Yet everyone was so helpful and encouraging (especially our guide, Rosie McKenzie who was like something out of a fairytale!!) when the going got tough, they made what could've been difficult actually fun! Beautiful, beautiful scenery, amazing food, wonderful group

Accommodation and Food
Beds were really comfortable, NEVER ran out of hot water (amazing, considering there were 11 tired, achy people at the end of each day!), food was incredible every single meal. Only suggestions are tiny ones - a wastebasket in each room, face cloths for us crazy Americans who use them, a sink dedicated to laundry (so I don't have to wash my socks where I wash my face).

Your Guide
Rosie McKenzie was just the BEST. Always cheerful, patient and encouraging, fun to be with, she took us to wonderous places I would never imagine trying on my own, and I loved it. She was full of interesting tidbits about plants, animals and birds, a delight to talk to and be with. Her enthusiasm and love of hiking the Highlands is so strong, it carried us through any of the difficult parts of the hikes. If I could choose a companion to just spend a day with tromping in the fields, it would be Rosie!

The Bottom Line
I'm SO glad we went with Wilderness Scotland for our first (of many, I hope!) hiking trip to Scotland. They were organized, detail-oriented, helpful and kind, going out of their way to accommodate our requests. Every day was well planned to get the most enjoyable time possible, they made us feel welcome and sent us home happy with the trip and sad to leave. I couldn't ask for or want anything more!

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Trip Comments
I was pleasantly surprised by the high quality of our accommodation along the way.

Accommodation and Food
Accommodation was excellent, and breakfast choices were very good in most places. If there's one thing I can suggest it would be to slightly improve the nutritional value of those pre-packed lunches. Although I'm grateful that most places accommodated my request for gluten-free sandwiches, most of the rest of the lunch included sugar, sugar and more sugar. And chips. Fortunately, I had my own healthy options, as I simply can't eat bad food. I think it would be just as easy to offer: more fruit (e.g., 2 apples/bananas, instead of one), nuts and bars of a more healthy brand, such as "Nak'd" (no added sugar).

The Bottom Line
This was an unforgettable experience, despite less than optimal weather. The Highlands are simply stunning, and I would love to be back!

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Pre-Trip Service
BEAUTIFUL PLACES, ,EXCELLENT ORGANIZATION, AND...... A SUPERGIRL SARA GUIDE

Trip Comments
Every day different places and tours

Accommodation and Food
Very good

The Bottom Line
SUPER

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Pre-Trip Service
The daily descriptions would benefit from more input from trip leaders and less from marketing.

Trip Comments
Excellent food was a pleasant surprise.

Accommodation and Food
The accommodation seemed very good for the locations.

Your Guide
Knowledgeable, friendly and efficient.

The Bottom Line
I had an excellent trip but aI think your classification should take in more than daily distance and altitude change. The conditions underfoot are a factor.
The walks were generally quite short but the terrain certainly was not all “good paths and hill trails” on at least one day. You do say “mostly”, but you could do more to flag the exceptions.

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Pre-Trip Service
All went very smoothly as usual. No issues at all.

Trip Comments
Lots of laughs. A good group. Good walking despite the weather. Good food and accommodation.

Accommodation and Food
Food was very good and both hotels were comfortable and welcoming.

Your Guide
Ken is an excellent guide. Knowledgeable, caring and flexible. Also a very safe driver.

The Bottom Line
A great experience from beginning to end. Thanx.

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Pre-Trip Service
I tried on several occasions to contact the office when I found there was a problem with public transport between Inverness and Oban, but the phone was not answered and my message not responded to.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:
Many thanks for taking the time to fill in you feedback. I am so sorry to hear that we have not responded to the message that you had left. We do check all of the messages during office hours and get back to people as soon as we can so I am not sure how we managed to miss yours.
As one of our long-term clients who has travelled with Wilderness Scotland many times before it is very disappointing to hear that we have not hit the mark on this occasion. Please accept my apologies in this failing in our service, we hope that you will give us another chance to impress should you travel with Wilderness Scotland again.
I am glad to hear that the trip itself was wonderful, Assynt is one of my favourite areas!

Accommodation and Food
The standard of food in Scotland seems to be improving. Eventually I got fed up with really big breakfasts

Your Guide
Tim was very good at altering the programme to fit in with the weather and the group's abilities, there were some changes which produced really good days

The Bottom Line
A really good trip and a fabulous area

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Pre-Trip Service
It seemed very personal and human

Trip Comments
It felt very special - and sort of perfect for me
I suppose because it gave me exactly what I hoped for ie
Challenging walking A small group A remote place to stay but that was really comfortable A guide who really loved the place and knew his stuff
I think WS is special? My first trip But I noticed there were lots of people who's done trips with you before
I think you just do things very well And your marketing is spot on because you create niche trips so people can really select a trip that's perfect for them And you describe trips very accurately
Well that's how it worked for me anyway
Well worth paying a bit more than say exodus ...

The Bottom Line
I will be booking more trips with you You have another devotee ..

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Pre-Trip Service
All very thorough, efficient and friendly. A great start to the experience.

Trip Comments
The itinerary was well thought out and accommodations were great. Hats off to the Wilderness team who provide a packing list. All of our group had good footwear and waterproofs- jacket AND TROUSERS. it makes a difference when all are well prepared. Our group members had also taken time to identify their ability level. This meant we all enjoyed the challenge of the experience.

Accommodation and Food
The view from my bedroom was stunning! Well chosen hotels with attentive staff.

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

The Bottom Line
True confessions, I’m a serious fan of Wilderness Scotland with many experiences behind me and two new ones on the books for next year. This organization really is as good as it sounds!

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Pre-Trip Service
If there is one place left, you might want to indicate on the website if this place is reserved for a man or a woman due to accommodation arrangements. This prevents disappointment after booking.

Trip Comments
Lot's of time in the car.....

Accommodation and Food
Excellent views, good food, friendly staff...... personal preference for historical buildings.

Your Guide
Professional.

The Bottom Line
High quality.

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Pre-Trip Service
Easy to get info. I booked through a travel agent at someone’s advice and not sure that was to my advantage though...it would have been nice to get the final trip info directly to me as the travel agent delayed a bit getting it to me. Always very fast and helpful responses from staff though so I did not feel I was missing anything.

Trip Comments
First time on a guided trip of any kind. Was not sure how it would go but it was excellent. I felt very well looked after. In particular, it was great to be driven around. I am not sure how the guide knew the roads so well but he did and was an excellent driver. I would do a trip like that again.

Accommodation and Food
I really liked the first and third accomadation s. Not quite as happy with the second (may have been comparing it with the first which was my favortite). It was very small and cramped - but manageable. I think a staff person was staying down the hall at our end though and there was quite a bit of late night walking back and forth in the squeaky corridor.

Your Guide
Great guide, very good knowledge of the area, history and culture. Also a great naturalist. Driving skills exemplary. The group was not always moving at the same pace - usually managed very well but not always, I noticed sometimes the front people would get the benefit of some info about something and would also have a break - but as soon as the slower folks arrived off we would go so the slower folks would not get a break or sometimes miss some interesting info. That got sorted out a bit better at the end as the group was given some freedom to go their own way a bit. Good use of time and good use of weather changes.

The Bottom Line
It was a very positive and enjoyable first guiding experience. I would never have gotten to the places we did and done the things we did on my own. Thanks so much for making my first trip to Scotland so great- because of you I will come back !

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Pre-Trip Service
Clear instructions and guidance - can't think of anything that could have better

Trip Comments
All of it but especially:
Old Man of Hoy
Guide's knowledge and expertise
Bird watching and Neolithic remains

Accommodation and Food
But we experienced problems with smelly drains in the room. Whilst this was not immediately resolved we were generously compensated by the hotel.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

Thanks for sharing your experience. The Lynnfield is a really lovely hotel, so we are very sorry that you had this situation during your stay. Having raised with the hotel, we believe this to be a one-off, however we have noted it for the future.

Your Guide
Mark was a brilliant guide and was one of the key reasons the holiday was so successful. Knowledgeable, great company, great at judging when to engage with people and when to give them space, when to encourage and advise. I'm sure that all your guides are great but fnd it hard to believe they are as good as Mark - a terrific ambassador for your company and an absolute star!

The Bottom Line
A great trip that exceeded our expectations as Mark Cox was such a fantastic guide, everything was very well organised although flexible to reflect conditions. Also we were blessed with great weather to boot!

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Pre-Trip Service
No complications! Accomodations were marvelous at the Lynnview Hotel in Kirkwall. Our guide, Pete, took the best care of all of us, and I appreciated that he had so much knowledge about not just the land and history of Orkney, but the flora and fauna too.

Trip Comments
It was all good.

Your Guide
Any minor detours made during the course of our travels only enhanced the overall experience.

The Bottom Line
Many 'thumbs-up' for Pete and everyone at Wilderness Scotland! I hope to be able to take another walk with you all again!

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Pre-Trip Service
You were easy to get a hold of plus always answer question quickly with useful information.

Accommodation and Food
The hotel was comfortable with a great stock of Scotch. Food was well prepared. Breakfasts were fun because of the variety of selections. We had a great room with a sitting area.

Your Guide
Tim was wonderful. Very knowledgeable about the history of the sites we visited. We were interested in the archaeology of numerous sites. He provided full days of interesting sites. We were interested in the Neolithic era and the mysteries surround our knowledge of the people.

The Bottom Line
The trip went very smoothly from the time we were picked up in Inverness. It was a great way to find out about a region of the world we otherwise wouldn't have. Mind expanding.

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Trip Comments
The "surprise" boat cruise at Skildig followed by dinner at the pub was fabulous after a hard days walking.
The flexibility of Kirsty in rescheduling walks around some very challenging weather was exceptional., she made it all seem so effortless. She really went out her way to make sure we had every opportunity to experience Scotland in all its wild variety.

Accommodation and Food
The Myrtle Bank Inn at Gairloch was excellent. The staff were very obliging and food was varied, interesting and offered something for everyone.
The Torridon Inn presented beautifully and the accomodation was very good. The service was, however, mixed. Meals were often very delayed and the young staff appeared to be let down by a lack of coherent Managment systems.

Your Guide
Kirsty is a legend. She seemed to glide effortlessly though the days while managing the constantly changing weather, interests and varied abilities of the group. We couldn't praise her skills enough.

The Bottom Line
Don't walk the Torridon in September. No, seriously, we had a great time and the weather just made it memorable in so many ways.

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Pre-Trip Service
Excellent support from the team. We particularly appreciated being assured that should earlier train delays mean that we missed the Mallaig train, the boat would either meet us off the later train (in the middle of the night!) or overnight accommodation would be arranged for us in Mallaig.

Trip Comments
I loved the variety of the walks, despite the weather constraints, and the superb scenery, wildlife and geology. Travelling around by boat was also fun.

Accommodation and Food
Simple accommodation but perfectly fine, and thankfully the hot water was endless!

Your Guide
Pete was an excellent guide (even if no otters appeared in the bay as promised on "Otter Wednesday"!). He took great care in planning each day's itinerary to make the most of Knoydart and the surrounding islands, despite the weather constraints, and engendered a great group dynamic. We all appreciated his knowledge of the flora and fauna, and always looked forward to his morning literary quotes, hot tips on bush-craft and 101 things to do with a bracket fungus ;-)

The Bottom Line
A great experience from the initial booking to the end of the trip. I am already looking forward to my next holiday with Wilderness Scotland

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Pre-Trip Service
I received very full and helpful answers to all of my questions.

Trip Comments
This was my first walking trip. I enjoyed being with a group of experienced walkers. Highlights were the view from Reuval over North Uist and the trip to Mingulay. I loved the sail round the island seeing the puffins and other nesting birds.

Accommodation and Food
All of the rooms were clean and comfortable and food was good in all 3 hotels.

Your Guide
Howard is an excellent guide. He gave me advice whenever I needed it so was clearly keeping an eye out for how I was getting on. I liked how we discussed options for walks each day before setting out and that he was able to make adjustments to cope with changing circumstances. I felt well looked after.

The Bottom Line
I came home feeling really relaxed and happy. This trip is one of the best holidays I’ve had. It was great being out in the fresh air all day. I enjoyed climbing the hills, including the parts where I needed to put in a bit of effort. Wilderness Scotland put together a well-paced itinerary with an excellent guide.

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Pre-Trip Service
Bridget was very helpful and great sorcere for informatiom, from my initial inquiry then guiding through the booking process. My husband was also given valuable information links to book my train tickets, accommodation. Nothing was too much even if it may have seem trivial.

Trip Comments
"I was so apprehensive at the binging but thrilled an over joyed to have gone on the trip. Our guide Keith was outstanding : knowledgeable, friendly, safety- conscious, and had great sense of humor. Has motivated me from day one till the trip finish as this one was my first hiking tour. Can’t wait to book an another one..

Accommodation and Food
All individual accommodation needs were catered for.

Your Guide
The words inspiration and motivating best describe Keith. Keith has many other exceptional qualities

The Bottom Line
“Outstanding service from the initial booking to the end of the trip” Try it even if you’ve never walked furtter then your local park, it’s beautiful.

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Trip Comments
Excellent trip ... well thought itinerary and combination of culture and nature along with the walking

Accommodation and Food
Just loved Lynnfield ... very restful

Your Guide
Tim is a first class guide. He spends time orienting one which is helpful and he had a very good knowledge of plants and the local history. He made lots of effort to include little extra visits as well.

The Bottom Line
Well I keep going ... have now done 4 trips!

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Pre-Trip Service
Helpful and informative all round

Trip Comments
Walking on the Quirang, Trotternish peninsula, boat and two ferry trips I had not done before! Seeing ancient brochs, ruined and preserved. Listening to some live Scottish music in a friendly pub. A well paced easy going walking experience.

Accommodation and Food
The second hotel Eileen Iarmain was a good hotel but not to my taste personally. A bit staid, old-fashioned and stuffy. Lovely location mind.

Your Guide
Our guide Jude was the best ever guide I have been with on any guided tour. So cheerful, positive, helpful and responsive to everyone’s needs. Such a pleasure to be with her company.

The Bottom Line
Fantastic trip to Skye and we had the weather as well! Just wonderful.

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Pre-Trip Service
All communication with the office by email and phone worked perfectly.

Trip Comments
The itinerary was really varied with glen, coastal and mountain walks, and a boat trip to the Summer Isles. Assynt is unique and the trip gave me a great taste of the potential for further exploring in the area. Being based near Ullapool at one guest house made for a relaxing trip without any need for packing and unpacking, and Ullapool is a lovely town with a couple of super bookshops and all the facilities we could need.

Accommodation and Food
Evelyn at Ardvreck was a superb host. The Guest house was comfortable and clean and had superb views overlooking Lock Broom. Food both at the guest house, the deli-made packed lunches and the dinners was great (and plentiful).
I would have been very pleased to have been able to walk into Ullapool independently in our moments of 'downtime' but it was just a bit too far (although Tim was always happy to try and accommodate such requests).

Your Guide
Tim is a superb guide. He prepared fully for each day and took into account weather forecasts, tired legs etc, aswell as numerous individual requests. His knowledge of the area is great, and his enthusiasm for the Scottish landscapes is infectious. His evening briefings were really useful to help us prepare for the 'big' days. Tim made every effort for us all to have a great week - thank you, Tim.

The Bottom Line
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Wilderness Scotland walking holidays. I have been on 2 holidays now and have found them both to be really well-planned and a great way to explore new areas of the country.

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Accommodation and Food
Hotel room excellent - meals average and service willing but slow.
Manager seems disinterested!

Your Guide
Professional, knowledgeable across broad spectrum of plants, birds, and archeology / history. Always willing to check his facts. Serious about safety - necessary on the cliffs during gales. Strong motivator - very engaged! Excellent time-keeper.

The Bottom Line
Remarkably well balanced group mixture - age wise and as walkers.

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Pre-Trip Service
Despite the 8 hour time difference, I always had a friendly informed person to speak with. I appreciated your timely and informed help, especially since I was making arrangements to both a foreign continent and country. You were wonderful!!

Trip Comments
John was an excellent guide. He always prepared us the day ahead for what we were to expect. His knowledge and love of Scotland and its beautiful out-doors made the experience extra-special.

Accommodation and Food
Loved the B&Bs, Guest Houses, and Small Hotels - it furthered my Scottish experience. The breakfasts were wonderful. Lunches - for a few locations could be improved. Most hikers are health conscious and therefore it would be preferred if white bread and candy bars could be replaced with whole grain bread, fruit, yogert etc. Most locationsdid provide fruit. The food for the group dinners was very good at most all locations.

Your Guide
As stated earlier, John was excellent. He was always aware of his group and accomodated as needed for individuals during the hike. Appreciated his calm and always cheerful and witty demeanor.

The Bottom Line
Highly recommend your company!!! Just a word of advice for potential hikers for The West Highland Way - if you hike regularly (12 - 15 miles) with some elevation gain 1,500 to 2,000 feet - this hike will be fine....but it is not for someone who does not hike regularly as you are hiking 12-15 miles a day and one day 20 miles over the course of 7 days for 6 plus hours. I enjoyed the hike very much - but there was so much beauty - I wished there had been a bit more time to just linger and take it all in.

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Pre-Trip Service
WS was very responsive and also did a good job with the preparatory material. I ended up making some of the arrangements through a travel agent, and there may have been some issues in charging on a credit card from the US? (not sure about this however)

Trip Comments
Wilds of Assynt trip was great. The scenery, of course, the variety of the terrain we covered, the group of hikers and Sarah Crowsley was an outstanding guide. The weather was, of course, quite Scottish but in a way, that was part of the fun - to schedule each day in a way to maximize the most favorable conditions and then to chalk up the wind and rain to being a great adventure that we pushed through successfully. We interspersed higher elevation "up" days with less climbing "down" days, which was physically optimal for a group like ours. Because of wind conditions, we deferred the cruise around the Summer Isles to the last half-day of trip, which was a good way to end the week. WS might consider hard-wring this into the schedule on the last day rather than mid-week, although this might mean the trip would be missed if the last day is too windy.

Accommodation and Food
Ardvreck House was certainly not extravagant but it was just right for this trip. It was well located both for the ease of getting into Ullapool for dinners and supplies and then heading north to hiking venues, and also for the great views above Loch Broom. The rooms were clean and comfortable, the plumbing worked fine,and the staff was very friendly and helpful. On trip like this, you're not spending much time in the hotel, so modest and functional accommodations are all you need.

Your Guide
Sarah Crowsley was terrific. She was very energetic and organized (good at estimating time requirements for various aspects the daily plan and making sure we neither had not enough time or too much to get through the schedule. Sarah was particularly impressive at picking out the daily activities to take advantage of the most favorable wind and weather conditions to make the most of each day. This meant that we varied from the itinerary on the WS website, which was perfectly fine - I think everyone appreciated the flexibility we had. Sarah was also very attentive to coaching us across the more challenging terrain that we had to navigate and was attentive to the variable capabilities among members of the group (e.g.., one woman had a knee that had been injured right before the trip started and needed some additional care and attention). I also have to give Sarah high grades for her dedication and willingness to undertake a couple of longer linear hikes where she had to retrace our steps, running, to pick up the van to collect us (from a beer garden in Lochinvar, twice)

The Bottom Line
Wilds of Assynt was a perfected combination of indulging in the fantastic scenery and varied hiking experiences in the Northwest Highlands, in the company of a very congenial international group of hikers and a top notch, friendly guide.

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Trip Comments
Great guide, great food, rather damp weather!

Accommodation and Food
Accommodation rather basic but food excellent

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

The Bottom Line
I am familiar with the terrain and the unpredictability of the weather. Some of the group found the going tougher than expected and the pace a bit fast but no one complained.