Hiking vacations in Scotland

Environment

On all our vacations we have a 'leave nothing, take only photographs' policy. Our guides are asked to explain and encourage this policy. For example, leaving an apple core or feeding a seagull on a mountain summit may seem innocuous but it detracts from the 'untouched wilderness' aspect and can have a detrimental knock-on effect e.g. on the indigenous wildlife. Our guides are not only there for our clients safety & enjoyment but also to informally share their knowledge of the mountain environment - from its geological beginnings and natural history through to contemporary land management and its associated politics. We also like to convey an appreciation of the close interrelationship and intricacies between the geology, natural environment and the socio-economic aspects, past and present.

As part of our continuing commitment to environmentally responsible vacations we are have installed a biomass boiler at our home base and we have extended the productive growing areas of the garden immeasurably with the help of summer volunteers. We also produce all our own kindling and have for years been self-sufficient in our wood supplies.

Along with the history we also like to convey the contemporary opportunities and pressures facing the area both environmental & socio-economic e.g. the detrimental effect of second home ownership.

We are sponsors of the "Snow White" scheme on Cairngorm Mountain and are currently working with the RSPB to sponsor a local woodland scheme.

We were Highly Commended for the Golsdstar Green Tourism Awards 2013 and the "Taste our Best" awarded by Visit Scotland QA (2013)

Community

Our staff are all local to the village. We always source locally first and encourage our guests to participate in as many of the events which take place in our village as possible.

We buy from local suppliers for all our catering supplies and have recently converted to using local artisans to supply some of the furniture, soap and pictures/frames around our home, which is your base for your trip.

Our local butcher is now a farm shop supplied by a farm almost next door to our son's school. There meat is all of local species and animal welfare is at the core of their business.

We work closely with local environmental agencies including the RSPB for the protection of local species and Cairngorms Connect project to extend the coverage of native Caledonian pine forests.

We are also keen supporters of Scotland the Big Picture. Scotland the Big Picture seeks to develop a wilder Scotland and supports the reintroduction of native species to Scotland.

Landscape

We are committed to exploring and continually developing our knowledge of the Cairngorms. Our main guide and ambassador for the business, Andy, is a mineral engineer whose knowledge of geology and fauna scotica is unmatched and stems from a genuine interest in the world around him.
We incorporate local produce, crafts, sights and stories within our trips to enhance our visitors experience of the landscape they are enjoying.