Pre-Trip Service
The pre-trip experience was just fine. All great with Wilderness Scotland. Recommend booking early in Aviemore (most places came to require a two night minimum. Stayed at Balaboulin, which was close to the station and super pleasant.
Trip Comments
Superbly organized trip with terrific guide. Treks were well chosen with some vertical, some flat, some long, some not so long. Hiked Lochnagal, Ben Venue, St. Sunday Crag, plus other really great trails. Absolutely stunning scenery, which would have been even more amazing, had we not fought the weather most days--misty, rainy, windy, boggy. One hike in Loch Lomond was cut short due to nasty wind, but our guide kept us happily entertained with a wonderful distillery tour.
Accommodation & Food
We stayed at 4 different venues--three historic and cozy inns, and one more modern hotel (at the end) which was nice and offered good food. All were very comfortable and pleasant, although at our first stop (No. 45--room 2) we caught a room far from the hot water heater and could not get enough hot water for showers. On-site pubs after a day of hiking were a big plus. Very fun!
Your Guide
Ray is ever so wonderful. He is profoundly attentive to individual needs, deliberately accommodating our different trekking styles and abilities. He chose incredible routes, each showing different aspects of the topography, and worked with us to best enjoy them. He has a special gift for forecasting the weather, adjusting the plans for an hour delay or an early start to maximize the daily challenges we faced in that department. One day late in the tour the weather turned miserable and several of us opted to turn back, while Ray took the remainder through very fun, but challenging conditions over the mountain. We had such a fun group, and Ray, with his laidback personality and quiet magic, helped knit it together beautifully. He also is very knowledgeable about the history of the area, as well as the flora and fauna, and it was great fun to learn from him. So grateful that he was our guide and that we meshed so beautifully with the others on the trip.
The Bottom Line
Wilderness Scotland/England was wonderful to work with and provided us with exactly the type of trip we were hoping for--a mix of challenge, learning, and great fun. The only problem I can cite (and I hope they are working on this) is that they cannot yet seemingly control the weather!