Joe Mann

Joe was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable and informative. Looked after their the group well and answered any questions we had.

Our guide Joe was absolutely fabulous, his knowledge of wildlife was non exhaustive and his recalling of bird calls were brilliant. He drove us to fro our destination playing Scottish music enhancing the drive as he shared his knowledge of the landscape and passing wildlife. Joe also a reindeer herdsman surprised us and took us to feed the wild reindeer herd on the snowy mountain range where they roam; this absolutely made my trip and so thankful to Joe for organising. I also enjoyed the local coffee pit stops. Thank you just an amazing outstanding guide!

Joe's enthusiasm was infectious...he did all he could to make sure everyone had the best experience. He adjusted the itinerary to make the most of the weather, gave a whiskey tasting experience from his own bottles...and gave us an unparalleled close up encounter with reindeer.

The guide, Joe Mann, was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. After checking the weather forecasts for Saturday & Sunday, he rearranged to schedule to maximise our enjoyment.

Joe was personable, knowledgeable and passionate about the revegetation and rewilding of Scotland. His obvious love of, and commitment to, the environment in which he lives and works was both contagious and endearing.

Joe was excellent. He seemed very well prepared despite taking the trip on at the last minute. He adjusted the itinerary to reflect the weather forecast and was thoughtful about the route choice to avoid e.g. being in the wind for too long- which made for more pleasant walking days. I really appreciated his insights into the local landscape, rewilding efforts, and wildlife. I felt I learnt much more about the area than I would have done walking on my own, and Joe’s passion for the area really came through and rubbed off on everyone (particularly as regards the best hill in Scotland). The visit to see and feed the reindeer was a highlight!

Joe was brilliant. He knew lots of facts and I could ask him any questions. He was really friendly.

Joe Mann was a superior guide. He gave very clear instructions on each day's schedule. He was filled with information on Scotland, the specific landforms and history of how they got the way they looked. He named all the animals and plants, superb knowledge of the park, lakes, rivers, trails, and buildings, history, and environmental trends. He was an excellent driver and we were very comfortable with his knowledge of the roads, very safe. We loved it when he put on Scottish music and the drive home.

Joe Mann was a remarkable guide as I have already pointed out. A true treasure who made this trip exceed my wildest expectations. I know he is not personally responsible for Scotland’s natural scenic beauty but my appreciation for this relatively small part of the world has definitely been greatly enhanced by hiking with him as a guide.

Joe was amazing in every way and we all so enjoyed him, felt listened to and safe and we learned so much. A perfect introduction to Scotland!

Joe couldn’t have been better. He made the trip extra special and quite extraordinary.

Guided -- Both our guides were extremely knowledgeable about the terrain, history, and animals of the areas we covered. They were very conscious of safety -- giving pointers on how to traverse rocky and/or slick segments, and always ready to lend a hand/assist if needed.

I liked both Joe and Lou but would make several recommendations: 1. remind walkers to hydrate frequently - neither ever did. 2. keep an eye on the stragglers - we had a significant separation on Blakey Ridge 3. stop hourly to gauge how everyone is doing - we had several length walks with no stops. Lou and Joe clearly like their jobs, well done and thank you.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

Thanks for your feedback, I'm glad you had such a lovely time with both Joe and Lou. Our guides are carefully chosen, well-seasoned professionals who always ensure client safety is of the highest priority at any given time. As is the nature of good guiding, they will be constantly aware of the group (even if it feels as if it may be from afar). I understand the importance of hydration, and although a good note, I don't necessarily think it falls on the guide to remind individuals to drink. As always, I wish we could choose the weather, but I'm very glad that the adventure was an enjoyable and engaging one despite the beginning being a bit on the soggy side! Thanks again for taking the time to pop us your feedback, it really is appreciated.

One of the reasons for my booking this trip was that Joe Mann was leading it - I'd been on two Scotland trips with him before and I think he is excellent and good fun (both important considerations for an extended trip). While Scotland may be his main area of focus these days, his preparation is always impeccable. Louise Russell led two days of walking in foggy, soggy conditions in the Lake District, as well as providing driving support, cups of tea and boundless enthusiasm throughout the trip: she was fantastic, and I would go on a trip led by her any day. It was also great meeting Ben, who has an impressive 41 coast-to-coasts under his boots.

very knowledgeable on flora and fauna.
very trusting

Our guide was very flexible and provided personal attention since I had a medical issue.

Joe was an outstanding guide. I did need his help at some points when it was very steep and/or exposed, and he always seemed to be available whenever I needed him. I also had a bit of an injury, which fortunately didn't affect my walking, but he always checked that I was OK.
He was also very knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna.

Joe was knowledgeable, interesting, interested in us, always available, put in the hours and effort to make our trip memorable - he was safe and assured. He made sure we used our time well - and got us swimming in both locks and the sea.