Guided Walking & Backpacking in Scottish Highlands
Guided walking in the Scottish Highlands is a fantastic way to experience the beautiful scenery and wildlife. With a wonderful range of landscapes to explore including sweeping ridges, arctic plateaus and wild coastal walks. If you want to experience them at their best then you should get outside and go for a walk. There are walks to suit all levels of experience and fitness whether it’s your first hill or you’ve been hill walking for years. Maybe you’re interested learning more about the mountain environment by looking at geology or wildflowers. Then I’d recommend hiring a guide to maximise your experience.
I’m a professional hill walking guide with over 20 years experience exploring the Scottish hills. My friendly supportive approach will help you make the most of your time in the hills whatever your experience or ability. I specialise in guiding individuals and small groups all over the Scottish Highlands and Islands. With bespoke tailored trips from your first Munro to your last, basic skills courses or backpacking through the Highlands then check out the activities on offer and get in touch!
Munro’s, Corbetts & Other Hills
Are you working your way through a list of mountains in Scotland? If so and you’re after some help with any of the hills or mountains on your list then get in touch. The Munro’s are the hills over 3000ft in Scotland and offer some great hillwalking with lots of accessible hills to start on and progress up to more remote or difficult peaks. I’ve compleated three rounds of Munro’s and have guided a lot of people up a large number of them numerous times. This means I have an especially good knowledge of the different routes and options for climbing them.
If you’ve finished your Munro’s and are looking for your next challenge or have already moved on to walk up the Corbetts or the Grahams or other hills then I can help with that too. Enjoy walking on the wilder side because there are fewer paths and walkers on them. You can make a really challenging and rewarding day out by combining a Corbett or Graham with a Munro or both. Even if I’ve not climbed a hill before I love experiencing new corners of the Scottish Highlands and Islands so just ask!
Introduction to hill walking
Are you new to hillwalking or just starting out? Then I can give you a helping hand while you are learning the basic skills and discuss what equipment you need. It can sometimes be a little daunting starting out with lots of different information and so many hills to choose from. I’d be happy to help you pick good walking routes that let you progress and build up your experience. Hiring a professional and experienced guide will help you develop confidence in the hills quickly learning things along the way.
You might be more interested in visiting wild places in the Scottish Highlands rather than bagging summits. Then I’d be happy to take you on easier or lower lever walks to find beautiful views and hidden gems in the great outdoors.
Navigation Skills
Navigation is a fundamental skill if you’re heading out in the hills. Knowing how to read a map and relate it to the ground will help you find your way. Equally important is learning how to use a compass and take a bearing. When these skills are combined and followed with practice you will be able to find you way safely. This is partcularly useful when the cloud comes down as it so often does in the hills!
Mountaineering Scotland have got excellent online resources covering navigation and other skills. They also have a Sofa 2 Summit online course that will help you work out what you know already.
My courses are built specifically to suit your needs and previous experience. If you’re looking to learn the basics because you are just starting out we can focus on that. However, if you are looking to do a navigation refresher and sharpen up you skills I can certainly help you too. We can even climb a hill while we are doing this since that is what it’s all about. Generally the whole course will be done outside opn the hill if possible. I would look to cover the following skills depending on you needs.
Bike & Hikes
A mountain bike can make some of the more remote hills, glens and lochs significantly more accessible. Especially when there are good forest or landrover tracks to start along. It is certainly possible to shorten a long day making some routes more achievable in a day. A week based in Braemar for instance can make a lot of remote hills comparatively easier. It also saves your legs from some long walk outs on hard tracks. If you’re new to mountain bikes then I’d be happy to help you learn the basics or develop you existing skills.