Walking Holidays Scotland

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
Personal contact and emails.

Trip Comments
Great locations and walks. Gordon was a great guide who always had interesting stories to tell.

Accommodation and Food
Uig hotel particularly good. Nice range of restaurants

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

The Bottom Line
Very good. Thank you.

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Pre-Trip Service
I thought I might be contacted a few days before the trip to make sure I had everything I needed and was in fact still going! Just a courtesy call. I realise once I had booked and paid your job was done!

Accommodation and Food
I think the accommodation was great considering what we were doing!

Your Guide
David was an excellent guide. There were a few from around the world! He was very patient with the slow ones, one of which was myself! I just wanted to enjoy the walk and not rush!

The Bottom Line
I think I would definitely choose to have single occupancy if you are travelling alone. It was a bonus to have bags transported from a 2 b and once on the trip everything is organised so you can relax and enjoy the experience.

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Pre-Trip Service
Website clearly set out. staff on phone and email very friendly and helpful

Trip Comments
Our guide helped make the holiday as he was very solicitous and kind and made sure that everyone was having a good time. The sunny weather that we had also helped a lot. The highlight for me was Rackwick Bay which was absolutely gorgeous - a magical place.

Accommodation and Food
The hotel was very comfortable and friendly and the staff all helpful. The food was excellent everywhere , especially the restaurant at the Tomb of the Otters (Skerries Bistro) and the Cafe at Birsay (Birsay Bay Tearoom) near the Earl's Palace.

Your Guide
As I said before our guide was excellent. His enthusiasm for the archaeology and wildlife of Orkney was genuine as was his concern for our welfare.

The Bottom Line
I have always recommended Wilderness Scotland to everyone with the proviso that its isn't cheap but good value and that you have to...walk...in...Scotland. Unfortunately its the last part that puts people off. I honestly don't think people believed me when I said that we had fantastic sunshine all last week in Orkney. I shan't climb off my soapbox - that's their problem!

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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
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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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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Accommodation and Food
The accommodation itself in the Lynnfield Hotel was good but the evening meal service and breakfast service were inconsistent and sometimes very slow.

Your Guide
Pete was a superb guide, knowledgeable about the areas, adventurous, great conversation, and paid good attention to peoples' varying abilities. He has a good environmental ethic which he shared and encouraged without pressure. His attention to details such as wildlife we might see was excellent.

The Bottom Line
Overall the trip was great. One comment about planning for a future Orkney trip is to perhaps avoid the Tomb of the Otters. As a scientist I found the scientific presentation unusual, and by including it in the trip, it seems to have the same level of validation as the major archaeological sites, whereas it may be more of a commercial venture. The access to the Tomb was very narrow and confined and I didn't feel safe or comfortable going in.
However the Skerries Bistro food and setting were excellent and it is worth going to the location for that.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

Thanks for your feedback. The Tomb of the Otters is often mentioned as a highlight of the trip but of course that doesn't mean that everyone will enjoy it. It is perfectly safe to enter the tomb but we'll make sure to stress that it is optional for anyone that doesn't want to go it. Sounds like you had a wonderful trip overall and hopefully we can welcome you back to Scotland soon.

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Pre-Trip Service
I really appreciated receiving important trip info right away upon booking and then hearing from the office prior to travel.

Trip Comments
The itinerary was well-planned to include a nice variety of scenery, historical interest and activity. Our guide Craig McDonald was very friendly and easy to get along with in addition to being mindful of the group's abilities and interests.

Accommodation and Food
The choice of accommodations and food was very good. The garden and ocean view at the hotel Loquefort (sp?) are real highlights and the hotel in Port Charlotte was special as we got to hear traditional music in the bar one night.

Your Guide
Our guide Craig McDonald is easy going and has a perfect personality for being a guide. He is good at assessing the interests and abilities of the group. His historical knowledge of the country and various regions are a highlight.

The Bottom Line
Traveling with Wilderness Scotland is special. Each trip is well-planned to provide a satisfactory experience of such a beautiful country. The guides are knowledgeable, fun and enhance the adventure!

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Trip Comments
Andy was the best part of the trip, showing us some magnificent places that we could never have found on our own!

Accommodation and Food
The accommodations were excellent! And the food was great! I especially loved breakfast at each location. I don't know if I needed dinner every night and it might have been nice to have a choice, even though group dynamics seemed to expect that everyone would attend. I would have enjoyed the choice of an evening walk!

Your Guide
Andy was the best part of the trip!! He was sensitive to everyone's wants, needs and desires and definitely went above and beyond all expectations.

The Bottom Line
This was a great first trip with Wilderness Scotland. I would choose my next one to ramp up on the activity level and have less emphasis on the time spent eating.

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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
emails got answered immediately

Trip Comments
Great guide, lovely places. Fantastic food. Guide really knew his history.

Would have liked a map as part of the trip itinerary and a map given to us at the start of the trip. Would also have been useful to have on the intinerary the time spend on board the bus when travelling between the hotel and the start of walks. Also we specified for a twin room which we did not get.

Accommodation and Food
Specified twin beds which we did not get.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

Thanks very much for the feedback. Unfortunately your room preference was not passed on to us by your travel agent so we weren’t aware of that request but it sounds like you had a wonderful trip anyway!

Your Guide
Loved the history knowledge of the guide and he was very good with getting us fruit and snacks.

The Bottom Line
Had a great time, lovely scenery and easy walking

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Pre-Trip Service
The Website is easy to use.

Trip Comments
Fabulous group of people. The guide assisted with this.

Accommodation and Food
Pretty good accommodation. Beds tended to be too smalI. I understand the availability of good accommodation may be limited on the WHW.

Your Guide
The group blended perfectly and the guide helped with this.

The Bottom Line
Very professional. Well managed with attention to detail.

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Trip Comments
There is so much to see and enjoy in Orkney - history, natural history, scenery - and this trip gives the chance to experience most of the highlights, but in a relaxed way. I would say that this is not a trip for walkers wanting to stretch themselves. However, as a walker myself I came away feeling that if we had spent more of each day walking then we would have missed out on the huge number of other Orkney experiences, so overall I feel the balance of activities was a good one.

Accommodation and Food
I loved the characterful hotel we stayed at. The food was good and the staff were helpful and friendly.

Your Guide
Lorraine was a delightful and extremely competent guide (and driver!) In a relaxed style she was alert to group members’ needs and expectations and made sure that as many of these as possible were achieved. (Birds don’t always appear on cue!) Thanks, Lorraine!

The Bottom Line
I loved this trip and would very happily do it again sometime - there is just so much to enjoy. Orkney‘s rich history gives much food for thought. But I also think back on a relaxing holiday with a fun group of people and lots of laughs.

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Pre-Trip Service
My parents planned the logistics for this one, so I didn't have too much interaction with Wilderness Scotland before the trip. Seems like they had a good experience though!

Trip Comments
Ken Keith was a fantastic guide. His passion for Scotland and the Orkneys really made the trip fun, and I felt safe even on cliffs! Really great trip overall.

Accommodation and Food
Accommodation was fantastic, and the food was pretty good. Lunch wasn't the best, but I'm vegetarian so that's probably my fault.

Your Guide
Ken Keith was an awesome guide. Really fun hikes and a great mix of history and nature. He worked really hard to make many different personalities happy, which was very impressive. Thanks, Ken!

The Bottom Line
We showed up and everything was taken care of -- accommodation, food, and amazing hikes every day. The guide was fantastic and the entire experience was wonderful.

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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
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
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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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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Pre-Trip Service
Staff was great about answering my questions re: travel details.

Your Guide
Andy handled a diverse group with grace and intelligence. His knowedge of yhe area was also first rate.

The Bottom Line
Professionally planned trip in all areas.

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Pre-Trip Service
Actually my wife did all the planning, so she can elaborate further.

Trip Comments
The weather was ideal, we really enjoyed the small group of personalities, and our guide, Helen, was fantastic. I learned so much about the history of Scotland along with the wildlife and landscape of Scotland. The Inns and BnBs were all very nice. The lunches they provided along with breakfast kept us well-nourished. This trip is undoubtedly one of the greatest experiences of my life. Everything was well-organized and I especially enjoyed seeing Glencoe, which I highly recommend becoming part of the normal itinerary of the trip. I understand that we only stayed there because Kingshouse was under repair, but I would have missed possibly the most beautiful area had we not stayed in Glencoe.

Accommodation and Food
I really enjoyed the uniqueness of each BnB/country Inn. The rooms were all nice and clean...some smaller than others...but all were very warm and welcoming. The final hotel in Fort William was especially beautiful with the view of the loch. Plus you were so nice to have them present my wife and I with champagne for our 25th anniversary. I am not sure if the office executed that or Helen, but it was a beautiful touch and much appreciated.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

We were so glad you choose to celebrate your 25th anniversary with us and glad you enjoyed the champagne. It was a gift from the whole team and hopefully made the day just a wee bit more special!

Your Guide
Helen Marsden was the perfect guide. She was informative, organized, efficient, and kept everyone on pace so that the group could stay together. She handled some delicate situations very professionally when we had 3 people that needed to pull-out of the walk for physical reasons. I thoroughly enjoyed my conversations with Helen, who taught me so much about the history, the culture, the fauna and flora of Scotland. She also shared her personal stories about her life and professions. So it was very pleasant to get to know our guide on a personal level as well.

The Bottom Line
I want to utilize your company again in the future! I may actually try to sign-up for the mountain biking trip that Helen leads.
Thank you so very much for the most memorable trip of my life(and I have had some really wonderful trips in my 52 years).

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Pre-Trip Service
Everyone I spoke to was very accommodating and directed us to make everything as easy as possible.

Trip Comments
Our guide, Gordon, was fantastic. I loved learning about the history and about the geography of the area. Each hike had breathtaking scenery - and the accommodations were very comfortable and had beautiful views, as well.

Accommodation and Food
The accommodations were great! Very comfortable rooms with beautiful views. The food was good as well - but I think we would have preferred more casual dining for dinner. There may not have been many choices on Skye, so it may not be an option. This is just a personal preference - we appreciated having reservations made for us at good restaurants.

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

The Bottom Line
Our overall experience was excellent. From the ease of booking, the beautiful hikes, the fantastic guide...you guys provided us with a truly wonderful vacation.

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Pre-Trip Service
Only one small criticism. I couldn’t find the name of the hotel we were staying st anywhere in the description of the Autumn Highlands adventure. It just says ‘relax in one of the most eco-friendly hotels in Scotland.’ I had to search through customer comments from previous trips to find out it was the Lovat and then I was able to find their website and read about the place. The Lovat turned out to be fantastic so why not refer to them by name them on your website description of the holiday?

Trip Comments
Our guide Tim went to no end of trouble to find variations to walks on the the itinerary to please everyone in our group, some of whom were super fit and wanted longer challenging walks and others who wanted easier walks. Highlight of the trip for me was the fantastic guided walk around Trees for Life learning about forest restoration and the walk through the Douglas Fir woodland in Galen Affric.

Accommodation and Food
Fabulous food at the Lovat and I was lucky enough to get one of their garden rooms which was 5 stars in my book.

Your Guide
Tim was terrific. As I wrote earlier, he taylor made the walks to please everyone in the group, even going on extra walks for those who wanted more miles! He was knowledgeable about plants, the history of each area, geology, folk tales and a lot more. He made each walk more than just a walk by giving us so much information.

The Bottom Line
Fantastic trip. Everything I had hoped it would be and more. Super accommodation and food at the Lovat. Our guide had a wealth of knowledge and experience and I felt total confidence in him to handle any unforeseen situation that might arise. This is a well-run company and it was a pleasure to have traveled with them through a small part of the most beautiful area of Great Britain.

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Your Guide
Our tour guide was Andy, who was knowledgeable, excellent as a guide and adaptable to our group as a leader to make the experience the best one for everybody.

The Bottom Line
Great experience, highly recommended, would not hesitate to use Wilderness Scotland again

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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
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
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
the correpondence and reminders were good

Trip Comments
Jude was a fabulous guide - easy going, organised and nothing was too much trouble. we were not well for a few days and Jude looked after both of us even organising my travel buddy to see a local doctor. She was patient, kind, helpful and full of information about each local area we went to.

Accommodation and Food
The Uig Hotel was great but i think had we not had a downstairs room it would have been excellent. We had two nights of listening to our neighbour's dogs running back and forth across the floor which was a little annoying. Brilliant location and brekfast was superb.

Your Guide
have mentioned in previous comments how impressed I was with Jude and her service and friendliness. She had us organised each day and nothing was ever too much trouble if we wanted to visit a shop or place that wasn't on the list she sorted it for us. Couldn't have experienced a better guide!

The Bottom Line
For a taste of Skye the trip with Wilderness Scotland was excellent. Our group experienced many of Skye's highlights as well as many lesser known places. It was a real mixed bag which i enjoyed. Our hotels were excellent and having a base for a few days meant not having to pack up daily. The van was comfortable and our daily lunch packages a treat to look forward to. I'd re-visit Wilderness Scotland next time I'm in Scotland.

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Pre-Trip Service
Lots of information with a personal touch. Makes you feel important.

Trip Comments
Wonderful weather, wonderful guide, wonderful Harris. Blessed peace and quiet.

Accommodation and Food
Roomy, clean, cosy. Sometimes you might wish for more place to hang your wet clothes and maybe an opportunity to use a washing machine. But overall fabulous hotels.

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

The Bottom Line
Trustworthy and experienced people. Great walks. Immaculate planning and excecution of all the trips i have so far been taking with you.

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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
Highlights of the trip: 1) Leader Ken Keith-- fabulous! 2) itinerary of hikes, sightseeing and meals were truly excellent 3) Stein Inn and Harris Hotel were tops-loved them.

Accommodation and Food
Loved the charm and setting of Stein Inn: my favorite. All food was excellent.
Really liked the meal we had with "Flavour" in their home. Great idea!!

Your Guide
Thank you, Ken Keith for a wonderful experience. I felt completely relaxed with you in charge of our group experience. Your expertise in the outdoors, your knowledge of the area and ability to be flexible with regard to the weather and adapting our activities when needed, and your skill in leadership skills were consistently phenomenal. You thought of everything, and I felt very well taken care of throughout the entire trip. Thank you for great hikes and outdoor experiences, wonderful food, and enjoyable companionship and group cohesion. I can't wait to do it all over again!

The Bottom Line
Our Wilderness Scotland experience was:
well organized from beginning to end
an excellent value
guided by a strong and confident tour leader who set a friendly/fun tone
based on plentiful daily walking/hiking experiences in a variety of beautiful settings
a great balance of comfort and adventure
superb!

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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
David was very helpful and phoned back promptly with information.

Accommodation and Food
The B&B was excellent. Evelyn was keen to help and a great source of local knowledge. Breakfast was delicious. The packed lunches were great and I always had leftovers as there was so much. The local restaurants we ate dinner in had a large choice and the food was delicious.

Your Guide
Andy did a great job with a relatively varied ability group. He discussed routes and suggested changes with the group and was always full of energy & enthusiasm. He chatted with all the group and was very friendly. He was also very knowledgeable about the countryside, wildlife & plants and if he didn't know something would find it out. I would definitely go on another trip with him as guide.

The Bottom Line
A fabulous trip with amazing scenery.

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Trip Comments
We've traveled extensively and thought this was one of our very best trips. We chose the Hebrides trip because of the timing but were just delighted to be introduced to this very special part of Scotland. The natural beauty combined with the ancient history were breathtaking. What made it so special was the guidance of Andy Heald as our leader, who had a wealth of information about everything we saw. We were also fortunate to be with a very compatible group of hikers. We all enjoyed our week so much that we discussed doing another trip together next year with Andy.
Bravo to Wilderness Scotland for helping us experience a magical week.

Your Guide
Andy Heald was fantastic-- very knowledgeable, interesting and flexible. A perfect combination.

The Bottom Line
I gave my feedback before but our group is considering another trip next year with Wilderness Scotland and Andy as our guide. That says it all.

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Pre-Trip Service
Having never been on an organized trip before, I found Bridget to be very helpful. She responded to my questions and gave me answers to questions that I hadn't thought of yet. The confirmation e-mail was very clear with all the information clearly stated. I did appreciate the video explaining the different route gradings.

Trip Comments
Our guide and the people that I walked with were fabulous. We had a lot in common and so conversation was never a problem. I grew up in the prairies so climbing Suilven, Star Pollaidh, and Quinag were highlights for me. The encouragement and help to get to the top was so appreciated. The views were nothing that I have seen before. Oh.... the accommodation was fantastic. The food was plentiful and delicious..

Accommodation and Food
The choice of accommodation in Ullapool was fantastic. The rooms were comfortable and extremely clean. The hosts were so helpful and accommodating. The breakfasts were delicious!

Your Guide
Keith was a fantastic guide. He had a diverse group of individuals but he managed to ensure that we had interesting hikes everyday. He was a wealth of information about the area and animals. Keith was so kind, and encouraging. An excellent guide.

The Bottom Line
I loved my Wilds of Assynt trip and will absolutely book another trip with Wilderness Scotland!

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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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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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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
Very easy and straightforward

Trip Comments
The walking was excellent, especially the trips to Eigg and Rhum. The food was absolutely delicious and the location was suburb.

Accommodation and Food
See previous comments

Your Guide
Our guide, Rosie was excellent, exactly the right balance of professional leader and friendly walking companion, a real credit to the company.

The Bottom Line
A fantastic wilderness experience,can't wait to go again!

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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
Loved that the phone was answered by a live person and my calls were always quickly returned if I left a message. Customer service excellent.

Trip Comments
Way beyond my expectations. Everything was so smooth and well thought-out with flexibility for certain choices. Will Snow provided fun side-trips in addition to hiking such as a local museum, weaver, artist, and distillery tour plus time for shopping! Will was amazing in his knowledge of the area, it's history and geology. We took evening driving tours so he could show us areas we were not hiking. Could not have asked for a better Guide. Food was delicious and the best brown bag lunches I ever had- especially from Chris on Harris. All the meals were delicious and the two dinners by George and then Chris were the best. Hotels beautiful- loved that we were on the water in Skye.

Accommodation and Food
Would love if we could have single accommodations but after seeing the hotel sized perfectly understood the doubling up. Hotels themselves were both wonderful in their different ways and the food at both was excellent

Your Guide
I have also referred to the exceptional guide we had on this tour but just to add to my comments- Will's personality was perfect for 5 unattached women. He handled up expertly. During the hikes, there were various levels of hiking proficiency. He managed to give the mountain goats their space to lead as well as never let the slowest person (me) ever feel that I was holding up the group. I liked the fact that he did not feel he had to lead and often positioned himself with different people during the hikes to visit. At the same time, he managed to keep us all in sight and on course.

The Bottom Line
Again- way above my expectations. I couldn't imagine any better and how nice that the weather also cooperated. :)

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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
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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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
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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Pre-Trip Service
We would have appreciated significantly more detail on the itinerary. In particular, we would have liked a paper copy a few weeks before the tour.

Trip Comments
The best thing about the tour was our guide, Pete Grant. He was indeed excellent in every way. The hotel was very good, though service at meals sometimes a bit slow. The outings were always interesting and the walks within our capacity.

Accommodation and Food
See previous comment

Your Guide
Pete Grant was excellent in every way. See previous comment.

The Bottom Line
Generally very good

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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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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
Information was clear and concise. My first contact was a friendly guy.

Trip Comments
The trip was a good mix of walking, culture and eating and the right pace.

Accommodation and Food
Food was good but the best meal was not at the Hotel. (Skerries Bistro was a really excellent fish restaurant).The evening meals were good but not outstanding and they were a bit over fussy. The accommodation was comfortable but I found the room a bit too warm and the bed a little too soft for my taste.

Your Guide
Pete got the measure of the group and adapted the pace accordingly and he mixed things up nicely so we had some surprises and he was very adaptable.

The Bottom Line
I would recommend it as a carefree holiday where there has been some thought put into giving the traveller the best of Orkney in the time available.

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Pre-Trip Service
Reassuring, prompt, and detailed information about our trip.

Trip Comments
Our guide, Gill, was fantastic! So informative about a variety of subjects: plants, history, geology, etc. We had the good luck to be part of a wonderful group of people. All had a great time.

Accommodation and Food
The food was most surprising! Delicious and expertly prepared. Accommodations were attentive and comfortable. Only hitch were the lunches at Harris Hotel. Disorganized and lackluster.

Your Guide
Gill was one of the best guides we've ever had. Not only was she prepared and a fount of information, she was attentive to the group. She was a great communicator and always ready with a "plan B" if needed.

The Bottom Line
Unforgettable! Scotland is captivating and we got to experience it without crowds of people (and lots of sun!).

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Pre-Trip Service
I asked about parking in Inverness and was sent helpful information

Trip Comments
Climbing up Suilven was the highlight of the holiday. It was a wonderful day, sunny and clear, and the views from the top where awe inspiring.

Accommodation and Food
Lovely guesthouse with great breakfasts and friendly staff.

Your Guide
Very good, friendly personality and paced the walks well and listening to the group.

The Bottom Line
This is an excellent trip with wonderful scenery. Our group was very lucky in having sunny weather with no rain or midges whilst we were there. The walks all offer good views of the coast and surrounding scenery. The highlight of the week was going up Suilven and the awe inspiring views from the top. I had a wonderful holiday in beautiful scenery and a week I will never forget.

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Pre-Trip Service
I like the detailed itineraries and schedules, including distances hiked and elevation gain per day, also the photos and videos. Also the number signed up for guaranteed to go status for planning. No complaints.

Trip Comments
Guide was excellent, good pace & concern for the group's well being, keeping together, etc... Organizing alternative plans for when mother nature was feeling humorous. Excellent knowledge of flora & fauna, wild life and geology of region. Highlights are numerous, Slioch day (whole day and route), numerous wildlife (deer, goats, eagles, do sheep count as wild life ?) sightings, RIB ride, all summits. Exeprience the "real Scotland" on Beinn Ghobhlach, wind and rain. Numerous river/brook walks.

Accommodation and Food
I especially liked the ocean front lodging in Gairloch, watching dolphins from the dinner table. Sampling Scottish ales from both places.

Your Guide
Good knowledge of local flora, fauna, geology, peak names. Set a good pace the groups was comfortable with. Kept group together. Good at organizing activities, including alternatives during bad weather. Good company.

The Bottom Line
Excellent organization, check out web site to find an itinerary & schedule that appeals/works to you. Whatever you choose will be of excellent quality, based on my experience with the HPTRS program. Office staff very helpful with any question on the programs or Scotland in general.

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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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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
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
John, the willow tree, was a great guide and always helpful, knowledgeable and thorough in ensuring a wonderful Scottish experience. We were a fast paced group, compatible despite being mostly Americans - ha! I have recommended your trekking company to my hiking friends here in Colorado and thank you again for a wonderful trip!

Trip Comments
The trails were well marked and maintained, the hotels comfortable and well appointed, and the food was excellent.

Accommodation and Food
Lovely hotels and food. The B and B in Fort William at the end of the trail was welcoming with a lovely sea view. Every hotel was just different enough with friendly staff, great breakfasts, packed lunches and hot showers.

Your Guide
John made our trip remarkable with his stories, knowledge of flora and fauna, wearing his family kilt at our last dinner and making sure we had a better understanding of what Scotland us all about.

The Bottom Line
Coming from Colorado and hiking our mountains I was not expecting this trip to be much of a challenge. I was wrong as 96 miles over a weeks time, hiking in all kinds of weather, delighting in seeing the Highlands and the wild life made it one if my top overseas hiking trips. Thank you!

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Pre-Trip Service
The website provided the appropriate details for the trip. The person who received my booking adequately responded to my questions.

Trip Comments
I enjoyed our hikes because the planned hikes were well suited to my abilities. I also liked the hotel where we stayed and the food was excellent. Ken, who was our guide, was very encouraging and very patient dealing with 8 different personalities. he tailored the hikes depending on what we want for that particular moment.

Accommodation and Food
Food was excellent. The staff in Lovat is also very helpful. we needed our laundry done and they did it on the same day. I wish that they would provide an area where we can leave our muddy shoes so we do not track dirt to our rooms. Or they should have a hose where we hikers can clean up.

Your Guide
Ken is the best. He restored my faith on hiking tours again

The Bottom Line
Wonderful trip!

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Pre-Trip Service
The site was easy to navigate and the detail given each trip helped us choose between a few. We did run into some errors when trying to purchase the trip via the website, but a quick phone call sorted things out right away.

The only other thing that could be improved would be sending us the address for our accommodation ahead of time, as not having it caused a bit of a delay for my friend and I at customs.

Trip Comments
Everything from the accommodation to the climbs to the food and the alternate activities we did on bad weather days was excellent and helped make this an incredible experience. Not only was each day unique and a really fun challenge, but our group was balanced in a way that lent a hand to great conversation and lasting friendships. When asked about my favorite day, I keep having to say all of them—which is the truth! Finally, the glue that kept our group together and made everything an adventure was our guide, Paul. His unflappable calm and good humor was so appreciated and his knowledge of the area and its history was incredible.

Accommodation and Food
Our room was lovely, breakfast was delicious, and our hosts were so friendly. I wouldn’t change a thing!

Your Guide
Paul was a perfect fit for our group! His experience with the area and commitment to making each day a great one was obvious, and we all enjoyed getting to know him.

The Bottom Line
This was the trip of a lifetime for me, full-stop. I’d do it again in a heartbeat, and am so glad I went!

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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
Prompt response to any/all questions...couldn't think of a way to improve the process

Trip Comments
Hiking awesome and challenging; loved the small group adventure!

Accommodation and Food
just perfect! Loved the meal in the couple's home - just exquisite and a wonderful way to understand the folks that make a home in these remote locations....

Your Guide
Very knowledgeable. A few times we lost sight of guide on the trail or some of our group lagged far behind...difficult to manage the varied comfort/skill levels.

The Bottom Line
It was stellar and I will join you again and have already told other hiking friends to look you up!

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Accommodation and Food
The food at Knoydart was the finest cuisine I have ever had on a trip! It was world-class.

The Bottom Line
We had a great time and would love to come back! This was our second trip with Wilderness Scotland and we are hooked. We are already looking at a trip for next year.

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Pre-Trip Service
All very efficient and friendly, as per my previous experience with WS

Trip Comments
My third trip with WS (the other two in Assynt and Torridon) so my expectations were already high and I wasn't disappointed. If anything, Knoydart was even better than the previous two - due largely to the huge variety of scenery and walks, the boat trips and the superb accommodation and food at Doune Lodge, not to mention Tim, our guide, who continued WS's excellent guiding reputation. I could have perhaps done with a few more challenging walks but the weather conditions prevented this and this didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the trip. April turned out to be an excellent time to be there - no midges and some snow on the tops adding to the beauty of the place.

Accommodation and Food
Beautiful spot at Doune, fairly basic accommodation but everything you need and food is quite exceptional - all very fresh, locally sourced where possible, and extremely tasty. I'd come here for the food alone.

Your Guide
I've come to expect excellent guides on WS trips and Tim Francis was no exception. Sociable, engaging, knowledgeable and caring - sums up Tim - and tuned into client's needs.

The Bottom Line
Another great trip with WS. Couldn't fault the location, organisation, trip itinerary, or guide. The owners and staff at Doune Lodge are first class. The icing on the cake was the train ride from Glasgow to Mallaig and back - the West Highland Line - 'most beautiful train journey in the world' is no hype - it's quite stunning.

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Pre-Trip Service
Looking good.

Trip Comments
Paul was especially helpful with his knowledge of the local history, geology and plantlife. His sense of humor always helps!

Accommodation and Food
Coul House and Glencanisp Lodge were excellent!

Your Guide
Paul was very good! We all enjoyed his knowledge. He was able to tailor the hikes to our abilities.

The Bottom Line
I would highly recommend the hiking trips for people who are not familiar with Scotland (as were my wife and I). We intend to return to the Highlands and western Islands for more hiking! Scotland is a great country and we enjoyed seeing the pastoral farms as both us grew up on farms in Iowa USA.

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Pre-Trip Service
Great communication

Trip Comments
Knoydart Peninsula was amazing. Loved doune lodge. Food was awesome. Hiking was challenging

Accommodation and Food
Amazing food and lodge was beautiful

Your Guide
Andy received feedback well that the hiking on the first day was too fast paced and didn't allow time for rest breaks or lunch. He slowed the pace down after that.

The Bottom Line
Scotland is a wild and rugged place that is beautiful and challenging

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Trip Comments
I really enjoyed the trip to the OuterHebrides

Accommodation and Food
Very comfortable accommodation, great views
So important that a dry room was provided

Your Guide
Mark Cox is a superb guide
Always cheerful and enthusiastic
Hard trip for him as planning was difficult due to to the high winds making higher points almost inaccessible

The Bottom Line
Great trip in a wonderful location with really comfortable accommodation, a fantastic guide and a nice group to go on holiday with

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Pre-Trip Service
I asked for advice on hotels and immediately got a list. Our luggage was lost on by the airline and one call to your office helped me figure out when and where we could have it delivered.

Trip Comments
Ken Keith was simply a fabulous guide. Knowledgeable and quickly adapting the hikes and drives to accommodate varrying interests of different people without ever inconveniencing anyone.

Accommodation and Food
The Lynnfieldnin Kirkwall was great. Staff was friendly and Malcolm, the proprietor, was an absolute gem. Not only did he recommended great whiskey and wine at affordable prices, but Malcolm also went out of his way to drive to the airport to pick up some luggage without ever being asked. The hotel lobby area was also a delightful place to sit and read, or talk, or share a wee dram. But never any pressure to drink. In sum, a great hotel with a warm feeling in a nice location. Only possible improvement would be new mattresses but Malcolm keeps the place so comfortable that I am sure our mattresses was an anomaly.

Your Guide
Ken was the best. Knowledgeable, friendly, accommodating, and considerate of everyone's comfort needs. Ken made the trip memorable and special.

The Bottom Line
This was a 60th birthday trip and it was very special. We took our three adult daughters. We had an absolute blast! Beautiful scenery with a great guide. Great balance between education and exercise and relaxation. I would recommend it to anyone, whether traveling with family, solo or even a romantic getaway. Ken Keith, or guide made the trip special and facilitated an environment that made all of us feel like old and dear friends with our companions.

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Trip Comments
Due to almost perfect weather conditions the trip was clearly less demanding than I had expected it to be.

The Bottom Line
Great experience!
(Would like to do the way from Fort William down to Milngavie some time in the future - always like to have a look from the other side :) !)
This was my second trip with Wilderness Scotland – and definitely not my last if I can help it!

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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
I particularly liked the recommended item packing list.

Trip Comments
The particular area - Knoydart - was fantastically beautiful and isolated. I liked the fact that transport was by boat shuttle on a daily basis.

Accommodation and Food
The food was the best food I have ever had on an organized trip. The freshness and bountifulness was unbelievable. Now I am spoiled and want to eat that way everyday.
The lodge was in a beautiful setting; there was immediate access to the islands trails and to the boat service. It was fun to live dormitory-style with a group of middle-aged strangers who were all wonderful people.

Your Guide
Our guide was very prepared with the hiking skills necessary for the trip and very personable. She accommodated all of us. She acted appropriately in our "emergency" situation (Coast Guard rescue). One downside - she didn't allow much time for "appreciation" of the surroundings. In general, we hurried along across much rough cross-country terrain. But we never had any concern about missing the water shuttle so we could have proceeded more slowly. I was probably the slowest member of the group but I didn't feel I hindered the group's time schedule.

I had, however, signed up for the particular time of this trip - late June - specifically because of the reviews given to another guide who ended up not being part of this trip. In that, I was disappointed because he was known to have a keen knowledge of the natural history of the area. Notice of his substitution arrived "last minute."

The Bottom Line
A big thumbs up for people looking for outstanding natural beauty and great hospitality.

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Trip Comments
Our guide, Ken, was fabulous. He was very knowledgeable and took us to the most beautiful places on Orkney.

Your Guide
Ken was extraordinary.

The Bottom Line
Wonderful experience. I can't wait to come back to Scotland again on another Wilderness Scotland trip.

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Pre-Trip Service
Problem with credit card when booking. But when I phoned everything was dealt with efficiently.

Trip Comments
Excellent guiding and the area is beautiful. You just need to sort out the weather to get to excellent.

Your Guide
Nice guy good sense of humour massively knowledgeable.

The Bottom Line
Assynt is so beatiful it verges on the sureal. Wilderness Scotland are an efficient company and are good for running tours with small group sizes. But when you go to Scotland you are rolling the dice.

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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
Prompt responses and help navigating application.

Trip Comments
I had a wonderful time. The trip was well planned by Wilderness Scotland to give a great experience and taste of the country and culture. Advice about equipment was helpful and accurate. Suggestions about preparation for the weather were appreciated.

Accommodation and Food
Hotels and staffs were great and comfortable. Any problems promptly attended to.

Your Guide
Tour guide Rosie McKenzie was excellent----knowledgeable and sensitive to our needs and capacities. She exceeded my expectations and made the trip something that I will always remember----including singing the Scottish Natl Anthem while driving the van. She seemed to know the answer to every question or had the answer in short order. Would definitely travel with her again.

The Bottom Line
It was a great trip and I would travel with Wilderness Scotland again.

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Pre-Trip Service
Very straightforward

Trip Comments
The whole trip was amazing, lucky with the weather, great group of people and our excellent guide Pete. Great mixture of walking, stunning scenery and history.

Accommodation and Food
The Hotel was great, 400 different whisky's! Lovely large rooms and very friendly. The places we are at were all excellent, special mention to Skerries Bistro at the Tomb of the Otters, amazing. You don't starve on these holidays!

Your Guide
Pete was a kind gentle spirit, determined that we all had a great time. Took the effort to get to know us all, lovely sense of humour. Was very safely conscious, especially apt given we were peeking over numerous cliffs! An absolute pleasure to have him guide us for the week...thanks Pete

The Bottom Line
3rd trip with Wilderness Scotland, all brilliant. This was a fantastic holiday. The scenery, people, hotel, food, history, walking,weather and of course our guide Pete were top class. Thanks once again.

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Pre-Trip Service
Excellent: efficient booking and very helpful information on all aspects of the trip.

Trip Comments
What fun I had - the whole week could not have been better. I loved the whole experience which was clearly based on such attention to detail by Wilderness Scotland. The ethos of Wilderness Scotland shone through. The walking was amazing.

Accommodation and Food
Evelyn at the guest house was so friendly and helpful, making the stay most comfortable. Dinners in the evening were the perfect end to the day - super restaurants and delicious food with great company.

Your Guide
Iain was truly the perfect guide. His amazing expertise, personal experience and extensive knowledge made this excellent week. He profoundly enriched my own appreciation of a landscape I already loved - something that will stay with me. He looked after us all with such good humour and kindness, always making sure that the experience was the best for everyone in the group. A further joy was having Chantal with us too.

The Bottom Line
Fabulous. Thank you.

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Pre-Trip Service
The pre-trip information was good and covered alot of little details that were really good to know. But the fact that the link to the equipment list had stopped working by the time I was about to pack was a really annoying issue.

Trip Comments
Gordon took us on some really amazing walks and I think he made the very most of our opportunities despite the unstable weather. The Doune lodge had the most amazing food and some very friendly staff that made us feel right at home.

Accommodation and Food
Best food I've had on any premium hiking trip of this kind (this is my 4th).

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

The Bottom Line
When I go to Scotland again your trips will be the first I look into!

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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
Excellent, received all necessay info. It would have great to have also received info on the B&B (name and location so as to have a little peek!) and maybe the list of people booked on the trip -although only 8 so easier to remember all the names within a couple of days!

Trip Comments
Loved every minute of this trip: stunning scenery and beautiful walks. Some walks were quite challenging and long though so this could be difficult for some people. I did question myself whether I could do a few of them but thanks to our wonderful guide and group I did manage to do them all and enjoy them all!

Accommodation and Food
Perfect! Evelyn at the B&B was excellent, very helpful and had great recommendations on places to go. The B&B was very comfortable, clean and with stunning views. Food was delicious, fresh and plentiful. Loved the different places we went to eat. Great to have the choice and flexibility.

Your Guide
Andy was the perfect guide, I don't think we could have had better. Very caring, flexible, friendly, motivating and with a superb Scottish accent. He was always checking we were all ok and very accommodating with the choice of walks or places to go and eat. I would love to have him again on all my future tours!

The Bottom Line
First tour with Wilderness Scotland and not the last! I have already booked another tour for next year! Andy set the bar high so might be difficult to have the same or beat it (no pressure!) The group was also wonderful, with Andy they surely made that tour even more special. Loved everything about this tour and highly recommend it to all nature, wilderness lovers and walkers!

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Trip Comments
The trip is the perfect introduction to the rich history and beautiful cliff walks of the Orkneys. Particular highlights were the sea cliffs of Hoy , Scara Brae and Maeshowe. I won't forget the stranded ships in Scapa Flow.

Your Guide
As well as being good company, our guide was knowledgeable and always ready to adapt the itinerary if there was something we particularly wanted to see. Very good at dodging coach parties.

The Bottom Line
This is an excellent short escape offering the chance to explore and enjoy the landscape, history and hospitality of the Orkneys. The relaxed pace and small grouping allowed us to get off the beaten track in a way I have not found offered by other companies.

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Accommodation and Food
The Accommodation was excellent, the food was average.

The Bottom Line
I will recommend the West Highland Way, but doing it in one week is too demanding and has consequences.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

Thanks for your feedback. The West Highland Way is a challenging hike, which is why we give it a grade of Blue 6 however it is not unusual to complete the hike in in 7 days. We always do recommend having a look at our trip grading videos to get an idea of what to expect and our team are always around to chat through the trip before hand. It sounds like you had a fantastic time over all and well done for completing the West Highland Way, what a fantastic achievement!

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Accommodation and Food
As I prefer having a single room when I'm on holiday, I was disappointed that this wasn't possible, although I booked a long time before the trip. It would be good if single rooms could be provided when you book a long time in advance.

Your Guide
Tim Willis is the ideal guide: Always in a good mood, almost exuberant, he obviously enjoys his job. He made great efforts to see to it that nobody had to do walks that were either too difficult or too easy for them, and at the same time he always found beautiful walks.

The Bottom Line
My walk was great, partly because it took place in October, which is a great time of the year for the outdoors, and partly because The Great Glen is a beautiful area and Fort Augustus a nice little town. The Lovat Hotel also is above average, both as far as the rooms and the food go.

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Pre-Trip Service
I liked that online reservation process was saved automatically. We had troubles paying by credit card but it was solved by phone contact.

The Bottom Line
Great experience, very professional approach.

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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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Trip Comments
11th trip and wettest yet, but Gordon kept us going with good humour, despite torrential rain, fast running streams etc.

Accommodation and Food
Good hotels in interesting places enabling us to go out for a further walk on return to hotel in the evening.

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

The Bottom Line
With Wilderness Scotland you can be sure of good guides, good hotels and good food - shared with others who enjoy walking (sometimes challenging) in Scotland's wild places.

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Pre-Trip Service
basic accommodation but Ok very good Wifi. I got to used to sharing loos !!

Trip Comments
We had such fun. we had a nightly guessing game which everyone at Doune took part in. That was very bonding for the group. we had an impromptu ceilidh with Jane who sings classically and beautifully, Liz on the fiddle and Andy ( boat) on the piano accordion. We laughed a lot. tough walking at quite a pace

Accommodation and Food
excellent

Your Guide
he gave us 11/10 and said we were the best group he'd every had. He relaxed and joined in with us all and managed a very diverse group of people.

The Bottom Line
excellent

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Pre-Trip Service
Just great

Trip Comments
Great guide, great overall arrangements.

Accommodation and Food
Lovely places to stay.

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

The Bottom Line
I am so happy that i found wilderness scotland. You can easily feel that they are always doing their best and they can truly be trusted. I am looking forward to travelling with them again.

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Pre-Trip Service
I found photos and some information difficult to download but that may be just me as I am not very good with modern technology

Trip Comments
the climbing was quite challenging and I did feel this was not reflected in your blue 6 grading.Our excellent leader said that previous trippers had made this comment

Accommodation and Food
excellent b and b and more food than I could manage in the packed lunches

Your Guide
Andy was brilliant and very patient with us all

The Bottom Line
it was very hard but I enjoyed the challenge

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Pre-Trip Service
Generally the support was excellent. Better help with ground transportation would be welcome, especially re train connections, etc.

Trip Comments
The actual walking part was terrific. There was a bit too much down time, but this probably reflects the variety of fitness and interest among the guests. Loved the whiskey tasting and the story teller in the evening.

Accommodation and Food
Daily snacks could be improved -- those Stoats are so dry and dull. Perhaps nits and dried fruit instead? The Fortingall Hotel was very nice, but some of our group had quite an inferior room. It was a bit tedious eating dinner in the same restaurant for three nights in a row. I will be int he minority here, but I did not especially like the Glencoe House. It has a forced grandeur to it and much more room than anyone needed. I'd rather have stayed in a manor house where there was a real family to host you. Also, the overall trip cost could be decreased substantially by forgoing the over-the-top accommodations at Glencoe.

Your Guide
Laura McCauley is fantastic! She is so knowledgeable, friendly, funny, resourceful, enthusiastic. Everything you could want in a guide!

The Bottom Line
This was a great trip and we were especially fortunate to have sunny weather to see Scotland at its beautiful best. (The boat trip was a highlight I neglected to mention above.) Ideally the guests would have been better matched in terms of fitness. I know you try hard to make sure guests understand the level of difficulty and rely on people's self-assessments. But I was disappointed that we cut a number of outdoor activities short because some guests found the climbing and/or weather conditions too difficult. Overall, a wonderful experience. We love Scotland and we'll be back!

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Pre-Trip Service
All my questions were answered very quickly and very kindly. When looked after by 2 different people there was perfect follow-up between them.

Trip Comments
Summary = 6 days on perfect happiness in heaven ! Even the weather was cooperative! I understand this trip is new and this was the first trial. Huge success!

Accommodation and Food
Kinloch lodge was exceptional as a base. The decor was a bliss to my eyes, flowers in every commun room, toiletry products, bedding, all excellent.
Initially when I read we would have to share bathroom, I thought this is far from ideal for a “luxury trip “ but I have to admit that this was not at all an issue. Such a level of perfection together with kindness and thoughtfulness of Liz, Marina, Angela and Ernst, I really felt like the “Lady of the Estate”.
There is only 1 thing I would improve = provide a box of tissue in every bedroom.

Your Guide
Tim was very attentive / considerate to our safety with the help of Rupert in trickier situations.
He listened to every one of us to understand our objective and likes/specifics.
Tim also went out his way to provide for our wishes (e.g. hot tea at lunch picnic, music/dance in a pub one evening)
He was very knowledgeable but right balance for me as he didn’t not try to push it on you.
I found him Very considerate and helpful when someone in the group was struggling more than the others.
I particularly enjoyed the perfect balance to let us go ahead when no risk with clear rules (visibility “I need to be able to see you”)
At last but not least, he is lots of fun to be with with a great sense of humour.

The Bottom Line
Before I do this, let me give a word about Rupert who accompanied us to take pictures/films. Athough with us to tell the trip story / take pictures, Rupert was always ready to help and support Tim on the more challenging parts of the hike (Seal island for ex). Before the trip, I was wondering how this filming would go but I must admit this added an additional pleasure to the whole experience. Rupert is extremely kind and considerate when taking pictures. Felt i was filmed/photographed by a friend. And btw, love the pictures he took of us. They reflect perfectly the “joie de vivre” that was shared by all the members of our hiking group.
so in a nutshell, as I said in introduction, one perfect blissful week of hiking in wonderful and varied landscapes with a wonderful group of people which I would have loved could never finish! Icing on the cake being Kinloch Lodge and its wonderful and always responsive staff.

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Pre-Trip Service
Rachel was a continuous source of great information. Not only about the trip logistics, but with ideas for hotels and things to see before and after.

Trip Comments
Ken is a rock star! Perfect temperament with a diverse group. Full on information about geographical and botanical issues. The pacing of activities was excellent. We had time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, 5-6 hours of strenuous hiking and then time to grab a pint prior to dinner. Accommodations and food were beyond our expectations.

Your Guide
Already mentioned that Ken's approach and attention to participants was outstanding. We had one participant that was not comfortable with some of the physical challenges, yet Ken was able to keep everyone satisfied.

The Bottom Line
Already planning a return trip to Scotland! That should say it all.

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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
No it was good. Fast response to queries

Trip Comments
Having the use of the boat to the islands with the flexibility between Tim the guide and Andy the boatman to choose the itinerary according to the weather forecast.
I really enjoyed Eigg and the remoteness of Knoydart and the food was amazing. As a vegetarian who prefers little dairy the care over the food choice was second to none. Even though the walking is my main objective it did make a welcome difference overall.

Accommodation and Food
Good but glad I could have my own room which might not always be possible.

Your Guide
Tim is a very good guide and aware of everyones needs and abilities.Also Tim went the extra mile over many small things.

The Bottom Line
A good trip which enables clients to access parts of Knoydart which would be harder to do by oneself without knowledge of the area.Everyone involved on the whole trip from booking to being dropped off at the station was a pleasure to deal/be with.
Thank you

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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
Easy to book. Questions answered promptly and courteously.

Trip Comments
It rained every day but one, so the views were limited and conditions at times were tough. Nothing Wilderness Scotland can do about the weather.

Accommodation and Food
All good.

Your Guide
John was great. Gave us great information on geology, history, flora & fauna. Also had a fine sense of pace. He's an excellent guide.

The Bottom Line
I heard the highest compliment you can give about a service, or in this case an experience, is to say it was "not bad". If that's correct then this trip was Not Bad. Thanks.

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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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Trip Comments
Incredible trip. The walks were just spectacular and the setting at the lodge at the end of the day was just what was needed for my tired legs and lungs.

Accommodation and Food
An amazing lodge. Full of history, beautiful decor, and the most friendly and helpful staff. It truly felt like home away from home.

Your Guide
Tim was so helpful to me. This trip was personal challenge for me and he was attentive and encouraging. He provided great information in a timely way, and shared options that allowed the group to address any needed changes in the itinerary. He was hugely informative about the history and ecology, and shared great tales. I loved his sense of humor and he always had a positive attitude. I would love to tour with him again. What a positive start to my adventures with Wilderness Scotland.

The Bottom Line
So memorable. Stunning vistas, challenging walks, great tales of history and information about the ecology.....I'll be back.

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Pre-Trip Service
Very well organised. Hotel and food very good. Guide excellent, very knowledgable and good company. Made it very evident that he really enjoyed his job and made it very enjoyable for the group.

Trip Comments
Highlights Hoy and Scara Brae, but all walks and archeology were great.

Your Guide
Ken was a great guide and made the trip excellent

The Bottom Line
It was a wonderful trip and I would do it all again

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Pre-Trip Service
Website easy to navigate. details on every aspect of trip which was very helpful when planning my first hike

Trip Comments
Our guide Craig was awesome. I was a little nervous that I would be able to keep up but Craig was very intuitive to the whole team and planned days that could meet all the teams abilities. Craig's had an extensive knowledge of the history of Scotland and was able to share many stories and historical facts.

Accommodation and Food
The accommodations were great and the variety of food choices allowed something for everyone.

Your Guide
Craig was a great guide. He was able to assess the team members individually and planned each day to make everyone's trip successful. He provided some flexibility also, if here were special requests ( time allowing). Easy to talk to, humorous and very knowledgeable.

The Bottom Line
This was my first experience with a organized,guided trip. I would absolutely book another trip with Wilderness Scotland and will recommend it to friends.

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Pre-Trip Service
Literally everything was great. The people, the friendliness, the care taken to make sure that (dietary, physical, medical) restrictions were addressed...

Trip Comments
Our guide was great and catered to our interests each day (was it rainy? Let's do a shorter hike and go see this cool archaeological site!) instead of being rigid. We also ended up having fabulous weather for most of the trip, so we got to see a lot of Scotland in the sun :) My personal favourite was the hike up to the Kitchner Memorial, when I glanced over to the field and saw dozens of rabbits. I've never seen so many bunnies together before! The scenery was stunning and Ken was always knowledgeable about everything we saw.

Accommodation and Food
The Ferry Inn was a highlight! That's the best fish and chips I've EVER had. Our hotel was wonderful, Malcolm was so nice and friendly, and went above and beyond what you'd expect from a hotel manager to make our stay great. The food there was great too -- though my personal favourite was the pavolva for dessert! I didn't love Lucano's but I have a very high bar for Italian food, so it wasn't actually bad. We managed to get in a tour of the Highland Park distillery and that was actually so fun and interesting (to see how the whiskey is made, *beyond* the whiskey tasting afterwards) that I would recommend it to future participants as the perfect end to a day of hiking.

Your Guide
Ken was AMAZING. So knowledgeable, so friendly, and so intent on making sure that everything was perfect for everyone in the group (despite our disparate interests, ages, and abilities). This was quite honestly the best tour I've ever taken, and most of that was because of our guide.

The Bottom Line
If I had to choose one word to describe this experience, I'd be hard-pressed to pick between "wonderful", "incredible", and "amazing". Such a great trip, and every single aspect was taken care of.

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Pre-Trip Service
Very clear directions and preparation provided. Would have been helpful to know we'd be walking from rooms to dinner - I would have brought rubber boots too.

Trip Comments
One of my best vacations every. Great exercise. Amazing scenery. So peaceful! Loved the boat trips too. Food was so amazing - everything made from scratch!

Accommodation and Food
Accommodation was basic but so comfortable. Food was so delicious! Even made my special lunches for me.

Your Guide
Dave was great. Funny, helpful, instructive. Just a delight to travel with and felt in very good hands.

The Bottom Line
In my top 5 best vacations ever! Thought I'd never make some of those hills but I did and enjoyed every minute of the trip!

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Pre-Trip Service
So, the web experience was poor because when I tried to book my trip online the portal was down. So I contacted your team, and they were amazing, super helpful and booked my trip for me. It was a delight to work with them.

Trip Comments
I loved the trekking. Our guide Dave was fantastic. The inns were nice. Food was good. And my luggage never got lost.

Accommodation and Food
Delish.

Your Guide
Dave was fantastic! He knew a ton about the geography and history of the West Highland Way. I had total confidence in his ability to navigate and keep us safe.

The Bottom Line
I can't wait to travel again with WS!

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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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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
This is a fabulous trip. Accommodations were great. Alister was fricking amazing. His information on history and frankly everything else was stellar. A skilled guide who also knows where he is in history and physical descriptions of what the area was was as much a part of the trip for me as the hike. My buds on the trip were a blast. I was belly laugh8ng for most of the trip. Alister balanced a trip of all strong women who were not shy. God bless him I am coming back for another trip!

Trip Comments
Loved the gals in office as I was coming from states and the guidance for travel was the best I have had from an adventure company thank you Bridget

Trip highlights. I think this trip was perfect because it was a small group. Made it pure joy and I think made it easier as we stopped frequently to take photos and just really enjoy and speak to fellow hikers. Conic hill the fault and the crazy approach and wind was a surprise treat.

Accommodation and Food
Only one place that had no hot water was an issue alll other accommodations were great

Your Guide
Already commented. Loved Alister and would seek out a trip with him again. He does not over guide and true to control group. He gets his job done but let’s everyone enjoy everything. And his stories and experiences were so memorizing. I am so glad he was willing to share

The Bottom Line
Don’t hesitate book this trip. You will have an awesome lift experience

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Trip Comments
This trip for our family of five was simply fabulous. We loved our guide, Ken Keith, and found both the accommodations and the hiking/travel exemplary.

Accommodation and Food
We loved Lynnfield Hotel, including the restaurant and bar. We also really loved the food at the Ferry Inn in Stromness.

Your Guide
Is there a category better than excellent? Because Ken would certainly fall into that category if their work. He did a terrific job of adjusting our hikes and other activities to meet our group's very disparate interests. Knowledgeable, cheerful, friendly- the embodiment of Scottish hospitality.

The Bottom Line
Final verdict: a winner! We will definitely be back.

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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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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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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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Pre-Trip Service
We needed to change from a bike tour to a walking tour. The staff were very helpful in figuring out what we could do within our time and other constraints.

Trip Comments
Our guide was the best! John was very enthusiastic, knowledgable, and patient with us. He was also great at reading the group and figuring out what we'd want to do and helping us to get there.

Accommodation and Food
Callater lodge had wonderful breakfasts and hosts. The rooms were beautiful and comfortable, although the shower in our room was so tiny it was hard to move once in it - a minor issue. The homemade treats left in our room each afternoon were a great surprise. Coig na Shee gave us a bit more space in our room (and a shower that one could turn around in), but less of the personal touch (no home baked goods). The main (and minor) negative of Coig na Shee is the lack of a common area for guests to gather and sit/chat. Overall, both were fantastic.

Your Guide
See previous comments, with notes about the guide. John is fantastic. HIs enthusiasm for the area, the history, the mountains, is contagious. He really made the trip for us.

The Bottom Line
If all trips with Wilderness Scotland are as great as this one, then you cannot possibly be disappointed.

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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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Trip Comments
Laura was a great guide, and a wonderful companion. She did everything she could to make sure the experience was what we had hoped for.

Accommodation and Food
Glendale House was just a level above anything we expected. Thank you for the unexpected and most wonderful treat.

Your Guide
With a group of differing strengths and expectations, Laura made the balance perfectly and gave us all a great trip.

The Bottom Line
Fantastic!

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Pre-Trip Service
My emails were answered promptly and provided me with all the answers.

Accommodation and Food
I would give at least 7 out of 5 in this category, maybe more for the accommodation.

Your Guide
The guide really took the effort to know us all and adjusted to what we and the group desired. We could not of had a better guide.

The Bottom Line
Your expectations will be exceeded. If you are lucky the group you travel with will be a great as the group I was with.

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Pre-Trip Service
Great overall trip, visting Eigg and climbing An Squarr was wonderful, equally visiting Kinloch Castle on Rum was fascinating.

Trip Comments
There were so many, but watching wales and seeing vibrant rainbows was an unexpected surprise.

Accommodation and Food
Doune lodge accommodation was good, warm and comfortable.
The homemade food was excellent, amazingly produced in this remote place, a real credit to to the owners and staff.

Your Guide
Dave was a great guide, capable, caring and considerate and took us on some great hikes.

The Bottom Line
Fantastic trip, highly recommended not to be missed.

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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
always very prompt and honest over the phone they are not masking any niggles or mis-selling. What they say is what you get, a fantastic experience!

Trip Comments
The trip from start to finish was amazing - Each day in the Cairngorms was different and the expanse of space was wonderful. I especially loved the pine forests, they were so peaceful and the smell from the pines invigorating. Some really special had to be there moments like at Blair castle, hearing the bagpipes in the background as we entered the church ruins. The sun came through the window ruin and beam of light onto a tomb of Duke. that ray of sunlight with the bagpipes playing and birds chirping was lovely moment. I got lost in mediation most of the trip. From a person who is constantly buzzing away in my head this was total headspace and I loved it!

Accommodation and Food
Both accommodations where great and had great locations. loved both of them and the breakfasts were to die for - you wont go hungry here and expect to be delighted with the accommodation.

Your Guide
I NEVER give feedback, it just isn't my sytle. This is my third wilderness trip and this is the first time i've given feedback - why....because our guide was so AMAZING. Dave Greer is a true Scot with wild blond hair and long beard - he looked like a highlander as he greeted us with a warm smile and hearty deep laugh at the station. He was so welcoming, inclusive and great fun. He obviously LOVES Scotland and cannot wait to tell you stories of folk law, history, plants and fauna. I agree with him that the reason that the green loch is green is because that is where the fairies come to wash! Poetry was read and it captured the essence of this wild space which just hypnotized you with its beauty. Dave knew his would happen to us all and he enjoyed guiding us through the wonderful journey. Well done Dave - you definitely sell with passion what you believe in and a jewel in Wilderness' crown!

The Bottom Line
Great trip and one I will never forget for the right reasons. Thank you Dave and Wilderness Scotland!

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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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Trip Comments
WHW -Great walk. Excellent Guide.

Accommodation and Food
Packed lunches -boring

Your Guide
Management of diverse group,excellent.

The Bottom Line
Great service!

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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
Our guide Craig was GREAT : most friendly, with a great sense of humor and outstanding historical knowledge. He brought us to wonderful hiking paths which were challenging but within our capacities, we always came back proud of ourselves and with awesome memories of outstanding landcapes! I particularly enjoyed the Quiraing (isle of Skye) and the view on top of Toe's Head (Harris Island) was magnificent!

Accommodation and Food
I ADORED Stein Inn on Skye island: outstanding seafood and fish, great atmopshere at the pub and bedroom facing the sea WOW. Harris Inn was quaint in a lovely way , we were treated to 2 gourmet dinners which were quite exceptional: one at a restaurant on isle of Scalpay and the other at a pop-up restaurant in a house. Chef had been trained in Glasgow and his food was delicious!

Your Guide
Our guide Craig was GREAT : most friendly, with a great sense of humor and outstanding historical knowledge. He brought us to wonderful hiking paths which were challenging but within our capacities, we always came back proud of ourselves and with awesome memories of outstanding landcapes! He even treated us to drinks after our hike to Toe's Head which was a bit challenging, as we did not wait for him and took a rather harder (mountain sheep) path!!

The Bottom Line
wonderful trip which allowed us to discover the exceptional beauty of the Scottish isles. Our guide Craig was most friendly and knowledgeable in history and also about safety on the paths. I highly recommend!

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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
Would have said excellent if it were not for the little slip-up of sending an out-of date dossier with confirmation email that incorrectly said all dinners were included! Otherwise very prompt and efficient.

Trip Comments
Highlight was revisiting Sutherland after 45 years absence!

Accommodation and Food
Both very high standard. I could not believe I was actually going to stay in Glencanisp Lodge with view of my favourite mountain.

Your Guide
Paul was brilliant. I could not fault him.

The Bottom Line
Great trip but I would have preferred it more of it (preferably all!) was in Sutherland. I think the title of the trip gives a false impression of the focus of it, though obviously I had realised before booking that first half was in the East.

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Pre-Trip Service
Website and post-booking documentation was fantastic. Contained all the information needed to organize and book my trip. No contact was required with the pre-booking team.

Trip Comments
Truly an amazing experience I would not have missed for the world. Even when there were some accommodation issues (not the fault of Wilderness Scotland) Jen, our guide and the Wilderness Scotland Ops team bent over backwards to resolve the problem and I couldn't be more thankful.

Accommodation and Food
Accommodations were overall pretty good from standard hotels to quirky B&B's. Food was terrific with a wide variety of options from traditional Scottish fare to pub food and even a few multiple course meals. The occasional brief stop during the middle of the day at a tea house or route-side pub were very welcome.

Your Guide
Jen Roberts was beyond excellent. Any future group lucky enough to have her as their guide should consider themselves fortunate. Extremely knowledgeable about the route, the geography, flora and fauna, and the history of the area. Anything she didn't know off hand she quickly got back to us with answers on any number of subjects (many not relating to the route at all). Extremely personable and attentive to the needs of everyone in the group, Jen made it a point to spend one-on-one time with each group member every day.

The Bottom Line
The West Highland Way was everything that I hoped it would be from amazing scenery and a great hike to getting to know Scotland and meeting a really great group of people. If I have the opportunity in the future to do further travelling in Scotland I would not hesitate for a second in booking again with Wilderness Scotland.

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Pre-Trip Service
I had to request the equipment list in the few weeks before the trip departed. Although it is possible this might have been sent to me earlier and I had overlooked it.

Trip Comments
Doune was a very special place by virtue of it's setting, but also the culture created by the staff. They were so welcoming and hospitable. The food was out of this world. The boat trips to the start of each walk added an element of excitement and adventure, and a chance to really soak up the views - the combination of hillside and water was spectacular. I know I'm in a minority but I loved being able to swim in the sea in the bay just outside the lodge and know I could quickly warm up with a hot shower just a few steps away. I liked the simple accommodation which struck the perfect balance between communality so we got to know eachother, but the twin/single rooms also allowed a enough privacy so we could find our own space when it was needed

Accommodation and Food
Please see previous comments, it couldn't have been better. I have never eaten so well and I loved getting to know the cooks who seemed to put their heart and soul into everything they served us.

Your Guide
Somehow Andy managed to pull off being extremely professional and technically competent, whilst at the same time being relaxed and fun. He was very supportive to us all, as well as concerned to ensure the needs of individual members of the - very varied - group were met. He went beyond the call of duty to respond to his demanding clients - demonsrating his ceilidhl dancing with good humour. He is clearly passionate about the Scottish highlands, and seemed to enjoy the trip as much as we did, which makes for a great atmosphere.

The Bottom Line
An unbeatable combination of peace, mountain and sea, made very special by the hospitality and warmth of the team at Doune.

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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
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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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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Trip Comments
Very good guide and good group. Great weather and mix of accommodation. Food overall also good.

Accommodation and Food
Some packed lunches had too many goodies and not enough sandwich. One night B&B (Kinlochleven) was not as good as the other night's accommodation (grumpy host, room smelt, over cooked breakfast).

Your Guide
Very good, well organised, well informed. Made the group work well together.

The Bottom Line
Well organised with everything taken care of.

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Pre-Trip Service
Very good at answering my email questions.

Trip Comments
The evenings should have been more flexible. I wanted to explore Scotland and not have a 3 hour dinner every evening.

Accommodation and Food
Food was excellent just too much focus on food for my preferences.

Your Guide
Andy was so very understanding of all the group's needs.

The Bottom Line
Good trip. May do a self directed trip next time to Scotland.

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Pre-Trip Service
I always got a response, even if the person I sent the email to was out of the office.

Trip Comments
Gill was flexible in planning our daily outings, being sensitive to the needs of the group on any particular day. She was very knowledgeable about botany, history, geology, etc. She also shared a little about herself, so I felt like I knew her to some degree.

Accommodation and Food
two meals were particularly special, one was at a pop-up restaurant on Harris and the other a restaurant on Scalpay-the North Harbor Bistro. The Harris Hotel was fine, but I enjoyed the smaller slightly more rustic Stein Inn a little more.

Your Guide
see previous comments about our leader. I loved all the varied scenery of the trip. No two hikes were the same. And I loved the remoteness of the Hebrides.

The Bottom Line
Truly being in Nature without tourists was one of the great features of the trip. I felt the experience of being on the land. I would love to do it again.

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The Bottom Line
A company that can be trusted

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Pre-Trip Service
All interactions were positive, can't think of anything to improve.

Trip Comments
Great guide, great accommodations, great food. Can you arrange for less rain :-)

Your Guide
John was great. Informative, energetic, helpful. Even made a recommendation on a bagpipe shop in Sterling where I purchased some pipes.

The Bottom Line
Very enjoyable experience. Would recommend Wilderness Scotland without hesitation.

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Pre-Trip Service
Very responsive replys

Trip Comments
A challenging trip - met my desire for the most rugged trail I could find

Accommodation and Food
Restaurants very good and packaged lunches very satisfying

Your Guide
excellent people-person, interacts well with all clients, very caring

The Bottom Line
This trip requires a physically healthy hiker with some experience on long hikes.
The trail requires endurance and determination as parts of it is truly rugged and dangerous with many wet days. It is a once-in-a-life-time adventure worth taking.

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Pre-Trip Service
Briiliant scenery, amazing knowledgable guide, extremely well planned in view of the weather, and lovely hotels to relax in after a day on the hills. Another 5 star trip, Wilderness!

Trip Comments
Getting to the tops of some hills i privately thought looked too hard, and then Mark gradually led us up and up till we got to the top., where the views were just stunning.

Accommodation and Food
great comfortable hotels. Mark found us 2 extraordinary dining options, one in a community hall where the food was top restaurant quality, and the other in a pop up restaurant in soneone's house,where the chef was in my view, 3* michelin quality- and he speargunned the fish himself- how cool is that!

Your Guide
Mark was truly professional and helpful, and great fun for the whole week. He encouraged, supported and advised at every step of the way, he knew and loved the landscape and shared it with us with pride, - I can't imagine a better guide for this trip!

The Bottom Line
Skye and Harris are great wilderness destinations, remote and ethereal in beauty and splendour. This trip enable us to see and do a lot in a few days, I still can't believe I was up that hill!) taking in and appreciating as much of the different qualities of the Western isles as possible.Yes it rained, but our guide planned each day carefully to make the best of the weather. Just fabulous!

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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
My wife said that you were very helpful and responsive

Trip Comments
- Our guide, Craig MacDonald - was great fun ,very humorous, knowledgeable, and sensitive to the group. You are lucky to have him.
- We had a great group which bonded well
- Much of the hiking, at least for us, was quite challenging. The trip reminded us that we are not as fit as we want to be.
- The countryside was stunning
- The Stein Inn was very cool - felt like Scotland
-

Accommodation and Food
I neither want nor expect great food on a hiking trip. I'd go to a city if I wanted that.
On the other hand, the pack lunches were barely edible. But it doesn't really matter.

Your Guide
Craig MacDonald was excellent. He challenged us to our limits, which was good. Also, offered us choices, such as whether we wanted to go further. We always did. Also, he is highly informative with a great wit.

The Bottom Line
Physically challenging, exhilarating, great bonding, lots of laughs, stunning scenery. My legs are still sore, but I'd happily do another one. I doubt we could handle a week of Level 3, however, at our fitness level (which we thought was pretty decent) for our age (mid-60s).

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Pre-Trip Service
Pre-trip, I was in contact with David Russell who was very helpful with any and all questions I had.

Trip Comments
Our guide, Jennifer Roberts, is amazing! She is very smart, knowledgeable, energetic, competent and very attentive to each guest in the group. Her warm, pleasant smile is ever constant. Any group with Jen as leader will have a great experience.

Accommodation and Food
Each morning the breakfast offerings were plentiful and varied. Packed lunches were also plentiful; in fact, I often had more food than I could eat. The two dinners hosted by Wilderness Scotland provided options; meals were plentiful.

Your Guide
As stated in a previous answer, our guide, Jennifer Roberts is simply amazing. She is a great, skillful leader and any group with her as guide will have a fun time.

The Bottom Line
The West Highland Way offers an experience any reasonably fit hiker will enjoy. Wilderness Scotland's staff and guide is committed to helping each guest have a great experience.

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Pre-Trip Service
Excellent snd efficient service

Trip Comments
Laura our trip leader was excellent and her love of the outdoors and the enthusiasm she exhibits everyday in her interactions with people around her was exemplified everyday. She is excellent in executing her responsibilities as a trip leader and providing first class guest service.

Accommodation and Food
An experience never to be forgotten especially the lodging facilities which were nothing like anything I ever expected nor have ever experienced before - we were everyday living the travel brochure life -- and always exceeded expectations which cannot be said of many past experiences.

Your Guide
Simply overwhelmed with her first class concierge type services - excellent effort and execution.

The Bottom Line
Wilderness Scotland would be my first choice if returning to Scotland.

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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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Your Guide
Peter was an excellent guide. He worked tirelessly to adjust the programme as necessary and to ensure we had a good time. He even devised a quiz and slideshow on our last day

The Bottom Line
Thank you for an excellent holiday and thanks too to the weather gods

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Your Guide
Andy was the perfect guide in every way and went out of this way to ensure we all got as much as possible from our highland adventure.

The Bottom Line
I have always wanted to explore some of the wild places of Assynt. Wilderness Scotland provided me with the opportunity. I thought I may have left it too late but clearly not and i'm up for more.

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The Bottom Line
Outstanding in every way. A joy.

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Pre-Trip Service
Having the single supplement available when booking would make the process simpler

Accommodation and Food
Something in town would be great, or with all rooms being withviews, I much appreciate wilderness Scotland’s efforts to rectify this for me though

Your Guide
Paul was a whizz, great fun, great route guidance, cheeky on making every walk sound shorter though!

The Bottom Line
Bravo, the attitude of the company re:sustainable produce through to walks while being super fun is fantastic. Great to be apart of.

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Pre-Trip Service
Booking was super easy and office always answered questions immediately. They were always very pleasant too.

Trip Comments
This was my second trip with WS and once again I could not have enjoyed it more. Everything we did was amazing and I just had such a wonderful time which was a direct reflection of what WS arranged and how great our guide was.

Accommodation and Food
Both locations were great. Our second location specifically was outstanding. Just so comfortable and big and even with what seemed to be a fully booked inn it still felt secluded and peaceful

Your Guide
Paul was so good and so much fun!! He did an amazing job accommodating us when I wanted to do the harder hikes when the others weren’t as keen. He was so very focused on ensuring we were happy and above all safe. We put our trust in him completely and took great care of us. Our “guest” guide Ian was also great and he’ll make a great permanent guide. Thanks to Paul this trip was outstanding from start to finish.

The Bottom Line
I can’t say enough about how amazing this trip was and I do hope I can do another. I will happily tell everyone about WS!

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Pre-Trip Service
Our guide, Gordon Anderson was fantastic. He kept us motivated, even in torrential rain and galeforce winds. The accommodations were very nice and the food was fantastic!

Trip Comments
Our guide, Gordon Anderson was great. The accommodations were excellent and the food was fanrastic. We also had a great group pf people!

Accommodation and Food
Both hotels were much better than we expected. Especially liked the Hotel Hebrides.

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

The Bottom Line
Had a great time, but I do feel that the trip rating was a bit inaccurate. The distance and climb descriptions werevfine, but this was not a walk on country paths on even trails. The trail was often rocky underfot and required a lot of hopping from rock to rock to avoid deep bits of bog.

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Your Guide
If there was rating higher than excellent, I would give Laura McAuley "excellent plus." She has the unique set of talents it takes to be an outstanding guide: exceptional skills, intelligence, knowledge, personality, thoughtfulness, sensitivity and a genuine love for what she's doing. Not to mention that she did a great job driving that big van. Laura really put it all together for us.

The Bottom Line
Excellent itinerary, great weather (thanks!) and an exceptional guide. All in all a terrific experience.

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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
Due to a laptop crash, I'd lost some of my saved informational documents about the trip. The direct US call number made it easy to call Wilderness Scotland, the woman who assisted me was very gracious and within moments, I had replacement copies of everything I needed.

Trip Comments
The scenery on Skye was simply breathtaking, unlike any place I'd ever visited before. After every single hike, I thought, "It can't get better than this!" and then, the next day, it got even better! The accommodations were very comfortable. The food at the restaurants we visited in the evenings was quite good, with a lot of variety in the menus. Our guide, Gordon, was truly outstanding. He was skilled, supportive, and kind and had a great sense of humor. The stories Gordon told always were interesting and I learned a great deal. He took a genuine interest in each and every member of the group. We couldn't have asked for a better guide. Our group was congenial and truly enjoyable to spend time with.

Accommodation and Food
The food and accommodations consistently were of excellent quality. The innkeepers at Uig were especially friendly and helpful. The meals at both of the restaurants housed in old schoolhouses were especially good.

However, the service at one restaurant (called, I think, something with "antlers" in its name) was rather poor, very slow and they appeared to have forgotten to put in orders for two of our group members. The desk staff at our hotel in southern Skye seemed to be rude and not very helpful to more than one member of our group.

Both hotels could be a bit noisy; I was grateful that I'd happened to pack some earplugs. :)

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

The Bottom Line
This was a wonderful adventure! I cannot wait to hike again with Wilderness Scotland. Thank you!

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Pre-Trip Service
Always friendly and helpful!

Trip Comments
Fantastic time in a nice group of people in oustanding places

Accommodation and Food
Best food ever!
Basic but extremely comfy

Your Guide
Gordon did his best to keep us cheery despite the weather

The Bottom Line
Great trip! Would def do it again!

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Pre-Trip Service
I was happy with the information I got

Trip Comments
The food was amazing especially the 2 we had at venues close to the end of the day's walk - Loved the fact that changes were made according to circumstances - and the changes were actually for the better - flexibility is essential. Good humour and patience in the face of some difficulties. Ability to vary a day due to weather - excellent. Highlights were getting to the top of the 2 main mountains - even as in the case of Suilven missing dinner (worth it to get everyone up and give feeling of achievement to those unlikely to be able to repeat the experience)

Accommodation and Food
B/Bmore than excellent, apart from last night all food was excellent - amazing value. Fresh fish and what an excellent range

Your Guide
Andy displayed humour and patience - this made for a very relaxing experience.

The Bottom Line
Excellent

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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
Everyone was very helpful and accommodating with the changes that we need to make to our arrangements.

Trip Comments
Excellent trip leader. Excellent accommodations and food. The walks themselves were great.

Accommodation and Food
The Callater Lodge was amazing. Great food and a great place to stay. Coig na Shee was also great!

Your Guide
John Walker was an excellent guide for our trip. He is extremely knowledgeable about the Cairngorms and was able to tune our walks for our abilities as a group and for the expected weather.

The Bottom Line
I would absolutely recommend Wilderness Scotland to my friends, and I will return myself for trips in the future. I may even apply for a job with 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
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
your office was quick to respond to my questions

Trip Comments
Excellent would have been more sunny weather. Of course you don't have control over that.

Accommodation and Food
The hotels were very welcoming and the food was excellent.

Your Guide
Our guide was very personable and friendly. He filled us in on much of the history and background. He managed the group very well.

The Bottom Line
The scenery was worth the sore muscles!

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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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Pre-Trip Service
Not much info on trip or where staying etc

Accommodation and Food
All v good except packed lunches from second hotel.

Your Guide
She was very good indeed. Really went the extra mile on everything

The Bottom Line
Very good indeed

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Accommodation and Food
Maybe one too many basic sandwiches though.

Your Guide
We couldn't have asked for a better guide than Ken!

The Bottom Line
I wouldn't use anyone but Wilderness SCOTLAND for an active holiday in Scotland because they know their country best. We loved the smaller group size compared with a U.S. company we have used to do walking trips in other parts of Europe. The daily pace was great too.

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Pre-Trip Service
The pre-trip emails and information on travel gear, etc came in a timely fashion and follow-up on questions were the same.

Trip Comments
All of it! From to point to point the change of topography, scenery, trail and sometimes lack thereof made experience that I would not soon - if ever - forget.

Accommodation and Food
Some of the accommodation was better that other, likewise the food. I suppose that is nature of a point to point walk. Kudos to the Hawthorns, the Rowardennan hotel, Clachaig Inn and Edencoille.

Your Guide
Helen Marsden is an exceptional guide. Her knowledge of the area and walk was outstanding. She was keenly aware, observant of and attentive to all members of the walking party which made for an individualized experience. She enjoys guiding and that transferred over to the group. She is quirky in the best way and she helped me to more efficiently use my poles. Two thumbs UP for Helen!

The Bottom Line
This was my third trip with WS and I enjoyed all of the trips. The guides were all experienced and knowledgeable. The accommodations and food were average to excellent, but I that I put down to availability. I keep coming back because of the people and customer/guide service. The people in groups have always been exceptionally amiable and great to be around. Shout out to Keith M., Helen M., and Rachael G.

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Pre-Trip Service
Emails worked out, but sometimes phone (Skype to phone) was required a 2nd try to match schedules (time difference).

Trip Comments
(Caveat: I was moved from a level 2-3 Wilderness Ireland trip that didn't meet minimum numbers to this level 6 Wilderness Scotland in May. There wasn't another option as I had this trip between two other vacation segments. I consider "good" a fair outcome given the circumstances.)

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

I’m glad you were able to join our Wilds of Assynt trip and enjoyed it despite it being a harder hiking trip that you had intended.

Accommodation and Food
The B&B alone is excellent - our hostess went out of her way to help. Lovely location and spacious rooms. Food ranged from good to excellent with Skylesku hotel standing out positively for food quality and location. The simple place we ate (part of Ferry boat inn??) on Wed, July 19 was also quite good.

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

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

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

The Bottom Line
The scenic beauty and having the support of an experienced and support guide (both hiking and all the details) is a real plus. These trips go away from the crowds (except maybe for dinner). This is my second trip - and would consider another in the future.

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Pre-Trip Service
Gil was the most competent and likable guide ever. She is perfect!

Trip Comments
I loved hearing Gil read stories and poems. She is such an interesting person and it was a pleasure getting to know her. In addition she is an excellent driver and I miss her. The time we spent at the clearances was a moving and sobering experience. She has such heart. The pace of the walks was suitable to our group. In addition the group experience was so good. We really liked each other and met as strangers and left as friends. thanks for the pictures. and thank you for such a wonderful experience.

Accommodation and Food
Our accommodation exceeded my expectations. The food was good and staff very helpful and welcoming.

Your Guide
Gill was fabulous. She has a great reading voice and I enjoyed the poems and stories. I learned a lot from her about Scotland, flora and fauna and history of the country. She had a lending library of books and I appreciated that. If I lived near her, we would be best friends. She is all heart!

The Bottom Line
This trip could not have been better. I loved every micro second.

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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
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
Everything was fine and liked the meeting time.

Trip Comments
Trip was excellent I pariculary liked the experience of our tour leader Ken.. he did justice to the trip and picked excellent hiking and walking daily. The lodging was also great.

Accommodation and Food
No improvement necessary.

Your Guide
Ken was excellent+ I had a fantastic time along with the others on the trip including my wife Mary

The Bottom Line
Fantastic time hiking, walking and being treated with great food especially in Scalpay ad with Chris and his wife at Flavour

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