Scotland is an amazing place for adventure activities and wildlife-watching. The reasons why it’s so good are also the reasons why booking a good guide is a smart move.
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Scottish adventures and wildlife
If it’s adventure you’re after, Scotland has it in spades.
With some of the most spectacular and varied landscape in Britain, coupled with an extremely complex coastline and unpredictable weather patterns, many visitors and residents alike undertake adventure sports and expeditions of all kinds every year in Scotland.
Scotland’s widlife is just as diverse as its landscape
…with a fascinating natural history to match. Many of our habitats and species are internationally rare and protected, making birding and wildlife-watching a popular activity.
Why book a guide in Scotland?
Despite it’s relatively small size, Scotland can still present a number of surprises and challenges during outdoor activities.
Changeable weather
Unexpected weather changes can mean big trouble on the mountains or sea. Avalanches happen during short winter days and long summery days can bring increased risk of fire and dehydration (honestly).
Beat the weather with a guide!
Responsible access
We are proud of our ‘Right to Roam’ in Scotland. This gives us responsible access to vast areas of private land across the country. However, it’s not always obvious what ‘responsible’ behaviour is.
Stay legal with a guide!
Hidden meanings
Scotland’s ancient history, special wildlife and fascinating geology are often not obvious. In fact, you can roll right by some nationally and internationally important locations, animals and plants without even knowing!
Discover more with a guide!
Wild places
Scotland’s wild places have been travelled by people for many centuries, yet they are mostly still beautiful, empty and spectacular. Although there are many good paths, wilder areas can still present tricky navigation and routefinding – often because of the weather and terrain.
Stay on track with a guide!
Quality learning
Adventure activities, by their very nature, involve the unexpected. Furthermore, learning new skills or looking for some wildlife can be really tricky without experienced help.
Get backup with a guide!
Adventure activities in Britain should be led by guides with the appropriate National Governing Body leadership award (eg: Summer Mountain Leader, Mountain Bike Leader, Mountain Ski Leader, etc). Look for STGA (Scottish Tour Guides Association) accreditation if you are looking for town and coach-based tours. All guides should also have correct first aid, insurance and vehicle license.
It depends on the setting. Some employers may require fluency in another language and many internationally-qualified guides will have some foreign language skills. The majority of self-employed guides working in Scotland are English-speaking, however, some may also have Gaelic or European languages.
Arc Guiding: all about wildlife and adventures
Based in the Cairngorms National Park, Arc Guiding helps people explore wild places found both here and in the wider Scottish Highlands. One of the strengths of Arc Guiding is actually two strengths: year-round expertise in both wildlife guiding and adventure sports coaching. Since 2005 many people have enjoyed a range of activities in Scotland with Arc Guiding.
The summer programme includes:
- Wildlife excursions to find famous species such as Ptarmigan, Golden and Sea eagles, Capercaillie and Scottish Crossbill
- Guided walking in some of the wildest and most remote peaks in Scotland
- Mountain biking on renowned Scottish Highlands trails.
In winter, Arc Guiding also provides
- Winter skills courses to provide summer walkers with new skills.
- Guided winter walking on Cairngorms peaks and beyond.
- Ski touring courses for beginners to experts.
- Winter wildlife watching for species such as ptarmigan and eagles.
Many of these activities are based on the Cairngorm plateau – Britain’s own little piece of the Arctic. However, with experience throughout the Highlands, Arc Guiding can deliver these experiences in other places too.
Expert leadership
Arc Guiding is led by Malcolm O’Reilly, who is a professionally qualified instructor, Zoology graduate and wildlife guide. With over twenty years in the profession, gained across Scotland and abroad, he has a wealth of experience to share. He holds the national governing body awards for all the activities he leads, together with appropriate insurance and CPD (Continuing Professional Development).
Guiding designed around you
Guests have included young families, individuals, couples and groups from Britain and overseas. At booking, you will get the chance to discuss your aims and abilities, so we can come up with a plan that works for you. Private bookings are a speciality, but Arc Guiding does also run public bookings too. Many people have found that Arc Guiding’s flexible guiding options are ideal for making the most of time and weather. Online booking and live availability makes things even easier.
Passionate about learning in wild places
Leadership and training is delivered with professionalism, imagination and a sense of humour. Another key theme is sustainability: wherever we go, we make efforts to reduce and minimise any negative impacts impacts on the environment. After all, wild, natural surroundings are what we are motivated by!
Arc Guiding has also delivered training for outdoor professionals, for example instructors, wilderness guides and school teachers, with topics ranging from environmental interpretation to avalanche safety.
Traditionally, adventure sports and wildlife watching have been seen as mutually exclusive – polar opposites, even. But, in this uncertain age, people all over the world are seeking connection with nature more, because they realise just how important it is for our own health. Appreciating the natural world with care is more important now than ever. And Arc Guiding exists to help make that happen.