Private Guiding
Walk in the Highlands
There is something uniquely beautiful a walk in the Highlands.
Between us, we’ve all been to many ranges around the world and have seen some incredible peaks but when it comes to sheer beauty, the Scottish mountains have the edge. We may not have the highest peaks in the world but what we do have is a fantastic variety of mountain-scapes. From the great bulk of the Cairngorms in the East to the fortressed peaks of Torridon in the west, the Monoliths of Assynt in the North to the myriad of peaks in the south, the unique blend of wild rugged mountains, loch, sea, and the soft light of these high latitudes gives an unrivalled beauty. There is, without a doubt, a life-time of wonderful sites & adventure up here.
Andy Bateman is our lead guide and the motivator behind Scot Mountain Holidays. He works with a number of local guides in the area who are all experts in the local terrain, flora, fauna & folklore like the story behind reindeer moss. Andy is fascinated by how our environment links up and works together. He absorbs nature documentaries and finds everything on a walk fascinating from ruined settlements to glacial deposits. His wildlife eye is very keen and it’s rare for him not to spot some wildlife during the day.
We can offer private itineraries or trips tailored to your requirements whether on your own or in a group.
Examples of private opportunities include:
winter climbing or mountaineering; walking and wildlife watching; walking and cultural visits like Culloden, Loch Ness, Speyside Whisky distilleries or Blair Atholl estate; charity challenges
OPTIONAL EXTRAS:
meals or just packed lunches
Enquire about this tour
We asked our guests what sets Scot Mountain Holidays apart, why they return year after year:
“the social aspect” – “the camaraderie, food and conversation” –
“the company of the hosts” – “so warm and welcoming” –
“a profound sense of belonging” – “the welcome of Rebecca’s home cooked meal” – “Andy’s skills as a guide, naturalist and leader” – “stewardship, sustainability and a small footprint” – “in harmony with the land” – “a slice of rural Scottish life”
Scot Mountain Holidays is the ONLY adventure tour operator in Highlands of Scotland with a combined home and guest lodge. We strive to be more than just an tour. We aim to provide you with a ‘home away from home’ on your adventures. We thought of no better way of doing this than to welcome you into our own home.
We have owned and operated Fraoch Lodge as our home base and business since 1999. In that time, we have come to embrace our guests as members of our extended Highland family.
We source our meals from locally produced and home grown ingredients to provide you with the most delicious flavours and traditions the area has to offer (while minimising our impact on the environment, too). Our dining room and lounge are shared spaces where we gather with guests and friends to share in the holiday and offer you extensive knowledge of your tour.
No matter the season, the Cairngorms and Fraoch Lodge is a place to relax and explore all its beauty and comforts, and we hope to make you feel as at home as we are.
We have achieved Gold Star Awards from the world’s most highly respected green accreditation scheme, Green Tourism, and were awarded Highly Commended in their Green Star Awards 2013 for both Scot Mountain Holidays and Fraoch Lodge. We offer a Green Travel Discount of £15 to any guests who travel to us by public transport. Our primary aim is to minimise the carbon footprint of our holidays, and to this end we donate 1% of the price of our tours to the RSPB’s Abernethy Reforestation project.
It is a holistic approach we have to the care of the environment. Andy your adventure guide has a passion for the natural world – whether it’s the flora, fauna or fungi. He has a background in geology and a lifelong interest in natural history, as well as being a keen gardener. He knows a Golden Plover from a Dotterel, a Green Shank and a Dunlin. He also makes no apologies to being very excitable upon spying a Golden Eagle!
For further information, please don’t hesitate to check out our Environmental Responsibility page, or contact us directly at info@scotmountainholidays.com.
Hidden Cairngorms – a guided walking break
Outlander Adventure Experience
