Ian Johnston

There was nothing Ian didn't know or couldn't do. He advised us well before each excursion as to clothing and kit, and got us out walking at each opportunity we had, despite the weather and re-routing. He led us well as a whole group too, taking care of individual needs, abilities and concerns. I felt extremely safe with Ian guiding us, and I only needed to think about the physical demands of the walk. I think he gauged our physical limitations well.

Ian was a flexible and inclusive guide.

Ian was excellent! Would sign up on another trip just because he was the guide. He is a great driver..no scary bits on the road. He was always watching to see who needed help but then left us to have our space as well.
He did an awesome job of letting us know what the plan of the day was…but was flexible if he needed to be. He is a very good teacher and very positive! AND he can read poetry to make a hike even more special!

Thank you, Ian! Aunt Val feels very proud that she was able to complete the walking each day and not have to sit out.

Ian was wonderful. He was knowledgable and helpful with a wonderful sense of humor. He always took the 'pulse' of the group. We really enjoy having him as a guide and would love to be on another of his trips.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

We're delighted you had such a lovely time with Ian, he's a brilliant guide.

Ian is a wonderful guide. He really knows his stuff. Incredibly experienced, he’s full of advice on the art of hiking (technique & gear). But he also shares tales of his past that are mesmerizing on the trail. Also, he skillfully balanced the varying abilities & desires of a diverse group, keeping us all happy when faced with poor weather or logistical deadlines involving transfers & inflexible meal reservations. Above all else, he kept us safe whenever conditions became difficult.

Ian was very personable, extremely knowledgable (flora, fauna, geology, cultural history -- and music!) and worked harder than anyone realized to keep the trip both organized and fun. He was particularly attuned to the various needs of our group. We would gladly join him on another adventure.

Ian Johnston, our guide was incredible. He was skilled in mountain trekking, knowledgeable about the history of our environs, and had a razor wit that put us all at ease. Having gone on several Wilderness Scotland treks, I believe the guide makes the trip, the group camaraderie takes second and a third is what you are actually doing. Ian's wealth of experience, often related in very entertaining stories, his physical strength, wise observations, and general calm helped make our trek a success. He seemed to be a good judge of human nature and I loved how he was able to have conversations with everyone and was a good accessor of our physical abilities. He offered us help scaling some of the more difficult scrambles and had wonderful suggestions for how to best climb a challenging path.

Ian was very safety conscious but fun at the same time. He did an excellent job managing people with different abilities (and some egos!). He got all of us--including some 70 year olds--up Goatfell, which was impressive. We felt like we were in very good hands at all times. We liked his stories and history lessons. He is a natural at trips like this and he really made the experience special.

As mentioned above, Ian Johnston had just the right blend of deep knowledge and a self-effacing sense of humor. He made constant efforts to learn more about each group member and was discreetly attentive to any personal needs or limitations. Awesome guy!!