David Picken

Dave was great about finding a "plan B" when the weather wouldn't cooperate! I felt discouraged because I was slower than most everyone, but he kept encouraging me and offered me a different hike for the days that my body needed an easier path. He was a joy to travel with

High marks to Dave, our knowledgeable and unflappable leader.

Our guide Dave was the absolute best, he was warm and welcoming but most importantly he really looked after the skill level and needs of the group before the hikes and while we were out walking. He gave an overview the night before as well as recapped the day’s hike making sure that we understood where we walked outlining everything on a map. It really helped me get an appreciation for the geography of the Knoydart peninsula and helped to understand what makes it so special.

On our walks Dave also shared his historical and ecological knowledge of the area and was able to answer the many of the questions we had. He also expertly handled and calmed any anxieties that arose. His patience and sense of humor made everyone feel relaxed and comfortable and I think it really helped us meld as a group.

I also must mention that Tom Pipkin from Wilderness Scotland who accompanied us on the trip was also great. He was also very warm and welcoming, answered all of our many questions and was a great addition and we were lucky to have him on the trip.

Overall, very good, friendly, knowledgeable.
Occasionally let the group spread out too much

more commentary always welcome. However, given the extraordinary limitless exposure to the iron age etc on thid 'walk', there can never be enough.

Dave was an excellent guide. He has a great sense of humor and was full of information about the places we went. He took care to make sure everyone doing okay while hiking. We love Dave!

Dave, our guide was friendly, always on time, very informative and one could see he clearly enjoys his job as a guide with Wilderness Scotland and is a credit to them.

chose appropriately for the poor weather

Our guide, Dave, was just the best! It was great having him in charge and just being able to follow his lead. He was super fun to be around, and always took great care of us with snack, coffee, and tea at the end of each hike. Would highly recommend Dave!

Dave was knowledgeable, made the group gel, and coped with my balance/mobility issue. Thank you.
Cameron was an excellent skipper/guide to the Treshenish Isles.

Dave was better than excellent. He was like a knowledgeable family member. He anticipated our interests and fully satisfied them. He was able to work around weather changes to make each day full of fabulous experiences. His tea, coffee and cake breaks rounded out each day. His knowledge of the area was immense. He is the best!

Besides being a great tour leader, David also managed our time very well as he was able to toss in a small hike before the Uig to Tarbert ferry and a visit to the Callanish stones and Lews Castle before the Stornoway to Ullapool ferry.

Dave was very knowledgeable and adjusted the trip to the wishes and abilities of the group.

We were very impressed with the high quality of their expertise. Friendly and informative.

They found a kayak I could fit into.

David was excellent. He homed in on the 5 of us and I felt quickly assessed our capabilities and needs. It was always very relaxed. He was able to answer pretty well every one of Nick’s questions!!!!!

Dave was knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and fun. We would gladly go on another trip with him.

See earlier comments

very knowledgeable and great company.

Dave was exceptional. He managed the group by spending time w each of us, answered many questions which no doubt had been asked before, made modifications to the schedule to accommodate requests and he just fun.

One of the best things about WS trips is the quality of the guides and Dave was no exception to this. Despite having never me him previously, it immediately felt like I was meeting up with an old friend for a good holiday. A really top bloke.

Dave was great -- knowledgable, friendly, and an excellent tour leader!

Dave is very knowledgeable and gave us just the right amount of encouragement and kindness. The tea and coffee after our walks, with our mugs, was so much looked forward to by all of us. Excellent choice of coffee!

Dave was a superb guide. Lots of fun and encouragement. He chose routes to match the weather and we all were grateful of the tea, coffee and cake at the end of a hike.

Dave is a great guide, very knowledgeable about far-flung wildlife viewing spots, and has a great eye for spotting wildlife. He got us everywhere on schedule--no small feat given all of the logistics on this trip--and even found time for some bonus stops (black-headed gulls, anyone?). He handled it all with calm and good humor. The afternoon tea breaks at the back of the van were such a nice touch!

Our recent trip to Scotland was an unforgettable experience. Our guide, Dave, was not only an excellent driver, but also friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna. As a passionate birder, I appreciated his help in identifying and locating specific birds, such as the Dipper.

Dave was also very accommodating when it came to meeting our individual needs. He made it a point to stop at a post office for my wife and helped me find medication for my heartburn. Overall, our journey through Scotland was seamless and enjoyable, thanks to our attentive and resourceful guide.

Dave was fantastic & gauged the levels of the group brilliantly. There were more birders than hikers, but he made sure to cater for everyone by asking us at the beginning of the week what we were hoping to achieve. Even on the transfer day to Grantown, he made sure to stop along the way to stretch our legs & either stop at a hide, peacock farm, Highland coos or any soaring raptures. While we packed a lot in, the pace always felt at ease

Excellent leadership! Dave had everything quietly and efficiently organised on a daily basis. I think we all felt comfortable to walking at our own pace during the day.

Dave was a great guy and he did anything to make our trip the best it could be. He was totally organized and made us laugh on a regular basis. LOVED HIM!

Knowledgeable, welcoming, with a great sense of humor. What more do you need?

As stated earlier, I was really happy to go at my own pace. Our guide was very friendly and patient with us, always on time, and always prepared.