- Hike in two of the Highland’s most beautiful regions, experiencing contrasting landscapes
- Enjoy an exciting day speeding between rarely-visited islands on a privately-chartered zodiac
- Relax as you stay in two of the very best hotels in the Scottish Highlands
- 6 nights accommodation luxury small hotels
- All meals during the trip, from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 7 (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- The services of an experienced and knowledgeable guide / driver throughout
- All transport throughout the trip starting and finishing in Perth
- Privately chartered RIB / zodiac excursion
- Guided whisky tasting session at the hotel
- Storyteller at Glencoe
Blue Graded Walking Holidays
Blue graded walking holidays are suitable for fit and experienced hikers. We walk at a good pace and you can expect to be out for 6-8 hours a day. You will not always be on a path and the terrain underfoot can be rough and boggy, including boulder fields and mountain tops. Some of the daily walks will involve a mountain ascent of over 3000ft / 900m high. Daily distances will be typically up to 16km but may be longer occasionally. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary.
26th May - 1st Jun 2018
Lorraine McCall
Not happy with just walking up all the Munros, Lorraine walked and kayaked to reach them.16th Jun - 22nd Jun 2018
John Walker
John can be found in the hills at all times whether it be on foot, climbing, cycling, or motoring. Amongst other things, he was the 4429th person to complete all the Munros!7th Jul - 13th Jul 2018
Mike Brian
A former School teacher. Learn more about Mike's thrill for the outdoors and read an interesting story about the Firth of Forth!18th Aug - 24th Aug 2018
Mike Brian
A former School teacher. Learn more about Mike's thrill for the outdoors and read an interesting story about the Firth of Forth!8th Sep - 14th Sep 2018
James Orpwood
From a background in fisheries science, James bring a wealth of outdoor knowledge to every trip he leads.ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
On this trip we use two luxury Highland hotels – spending 3 nights in Highland Perthshire and then 3 nights in Glencoe. In Perthshire, we stay in a 10-bedroom hotel with a renowned restuarant. The hotel is a historic and charming building, which has been lovingly refurbished to create a stylish yet traditional country house feel.
In Glencoe, we stay in a magnificent country house. Each of its 9 suites offer very spacious rooms with expansive views of the mountains or sea. With a fabulous location in Glencoe and warm hospitality, it’s one of our favourite places to stay in Scotland.
SINGLE ROOMS
There is no single person supplement charged to solo travellers however, you will be required to share a room with another person of the same sex. If you require a single room please request this at the time of booking and we will check availability for you. A single room supplement of £1,125 is charged if a single room is available – please see booking form terms and conditions.
You will be met by your Wilderness Scotland Guide at the entrance of Perth Railway Station at 10.30am on Day 1 of your trip. Perth is easily accessible by train, being about 1 hour by train from Edinburgh or Glasgow.
We aim to have you back at Perth by 4pm on the last day. For full details on how to get to Perth, please see our website: Recommended Travel.
Customer Kudos
Every client receives a feedback survey when they return from their guided, self guided or tailor made holiday with us.
Once completed the review is published on our website just as soon as our database updates. The little touches and details are important to us and where issues are raised we make positive changes to our trips to improve your experience.
That's why we read each of our client's reviews and although we don't respond to all of them, if it's glowing feedback then we get the satisfaction of helping to make your holidays truly memorable.
by Betty Craven 29/08/2017
Pre-Trip Service
I was never able to get through to you on the phone. I kept leaving messages at the number you provided but never received a call back.
TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:
Many thanks for your feedback, we always endeavour to answer calls and respond to voicemails in a timely manner. As the office is closed over the weekend it can sometimes be a couple of days for us to get back to you if you left a message on a Friday. We appreciate you letting us know that you had issues getting through to us and have taken this feedback on board, we are always striving to improve our pre-trip customer service.
Trip Comments
Accommodation and Food
See my remarks in response to the previous question.
Your Guide
Pete Grant was excellent ++++!
The Bottom Line
I'm already thinking of joining a group next year and inviting friends to come with me.
TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:
We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your trip and we look forward to welcoming you back again with your friends!
by Carol Teal 28/08/2017
Pre-Trip Service
everyone was always so nice when I called
Trip Comments
Accommodation and Food
Your Guide
Pete Grant was wonderful
The Bottom Line
by Anne-Laure Courbes 28/08/2017
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!
by Karen Stevenson 20/07/2017
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!
by William McClave 18/07/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Trip Comments
Accommodation and Food
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.
by David George 17/07/2017
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.
by Laurie Zelon 17/07/2017
Pre-Trip Service
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!
by Jerry Hiebert 03/07/2017
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.
Accommodation and Food
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.
by Dennis Visser 28/06/2017
Pre-Trip Service
My emails were answered promptly and provided me with all the answers.
Trip Comments
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.
by Richard Buxton 26/06/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Trip Comments
Excellent long walks, hotels and Ken, the guide.
Accommodation and Food
Your Guide
Excellent in every respect
The Bottom Line
Excellent in every respect
Trip Details
If you’re looking to combine wilderness with a touch of luxury and superb hiking, this is the trip for you.
We’ll hike in the wonderful regions of Highland Perthshire and also Glencoe, which offer contrasting landscapes of great beauty. Our hikes will take in valleys, wild moorlands and a few summits too, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the wilderness.
When not out hiking, we will be enjoying stays at two of the best hotels in the Highlands. After a few days at a 4-star Highland hotel in Perthshire, we enjoy a 5-star finish in Glencoe at a wonderful mansion house. As we stay in deluxe hotels on this trip, we’ll ensure that there is enough down time to enjoy the hotels, making this a truly relaxing wilderness break.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 – Into Highland Perthshire
Meeting in Perth, a short transfer takes us to a historic library for the trip welcome. After lunch, we head to Killin at the west end of Loch Tay for the first hike of the trip – a short but steep ascent of a peak which offers outstanding views across Loch Tay. Back in the glen, it’s a short transfer to our comfortable Highland hotel. (L, D)
Walk details: 5km, 450m ascent, approx 2 hrs
Day 2 – Hiking Glen Lyon
Glen Lyon is often cited as being one of the most beautiful glens in Scotland. It is flanked by steep sided hills which offer wonderful walking on their grassy summits. Our guide will choose a suitable hike on the day – which could be an easy walk along the valley floor, or perhaps a hike to one of the easier summits, such as Cam Chreag or Stuchd an Lochain. That evening, we enjoy a whisky-tasting session at the hotel before dinner. (B, L, D)
Walk details: up to 10km, 750m ascent, approx 6 hrs
Day 3 – The Fairy Hill of Caledonia
On our final day in Perthshire, we’ll aim to climb the iconic hill of Schiehallion – which translates as the Fairy Hill of Caledonia. An excellent trail snakes up the whaleback mountain to its lofty summit at 1,083m, which rewards us with expansive views across the Highlands. Back at the hotel, enjoy a pint of Schiehallion ale or perhaps a local whisky to celebrate! (B, L, D)
Walk details: 10km, 750m ascent, approx 6 hrs
Day 4 – A Maritime Adventure
After breakfast, we transfer west to the coast where we jump on board a privately chartered RIB (zodiac) for a memorable journey to Glencoe on the sea. We won’t take a direct route – instead, we’ll visit some islands along the way, such as Lismore or Mull, stepping ashore to explore rarely-visited beaches and coves. We then speed up Loch Linnhe, keeping an eye out for wildlife such as porpoises or dolphins, before arriving in Loch Leven and transferring a short distance to our fantastic hotel, which boasts a commanding location on the hillside. (B, L, D)
Walk details: 4km, minimal ascent, approx 2 hrs
Day 5 – Wilderness and a Waterfall
We’ll start our hike in the small town of Kinlochleven where will climb out of the village, and follow a good trail through the forest, you’ll soon be able to hear the thunder of falling water. The Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall is hugely impressive falling at times almost 50 feet. We’ll continue on our hike as the path comes out of the woods and eventually reaches a remote loch, surrounded by mountains and wild moorlands. On the return, we’ll enjoy stunning views down the length of Loch Leven to the Pap of Glencoe. In the evening, a storyteller shares tales of the Glencoe’s dark history before dinner. (B, L, D)
Walk details: 13km, 350m ascent, approx 5 hrs
Day 6 – Hiking Glencoe
There are countless superb hikes in Glencoe. The rugged mountains offer superb, though challenging, hiking. However, some of the best views in Glencoe are from a lower, easier, yet rarely climbed peak – and that will be our target today. Following a faint trail, we hike up the flanks of the open hillside. The views open up quickly as we gain height. Reaching the summit, the views are simply sensational, as we gaze directly across the valley at the north face of Buachaille Etive Mor, the most iconic sight in Glencoe. Afterwards, we’ll stop in at a well-known mountaineer’s pub to toast the end of the trip before returning to our hotel for dinner. (B, L, D)
Walk details: 11km, 650m ascent, approx 5 hrs
Day 7 – Rob Roy’s Grave and Creag an Tuirc
We leave Glencoe and transfer south to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Here, we’ll stop at the tiny churchyard in Balquhidder and visit the grave of Rob Roy MacGregor. There will be time for a short hike to Creag an Tuirc – a great viewpoint and the perfect place to reflect on a special week. The summit is marked with a large cairn and offers incredible views down the length of Loch Voil. A short transfer takes us back to Perth, arriving late afternoon. (B, L)
Walk details: 3km, 150m ascent, approx 1.5 hrs
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