Wild Roots Highland Guiding

12/06/2025

Come Sky high in the Cairngorms ⛺️⛰️👌🏼

Due to an unlucky run of cancellations we’ve now got 4 spaces available on our very popular and previously fully booked Cairngorms Sky Trip.

This is a three day wild camping journey through the high Cairngorm mountains taking in summits, ridge lines, sunsets and sunrises, epic camp spots and as always time to deeply connect with the landscape we move through.

All camp kit and food is provided.

Departing Aviemore, 11th - 13th July.

If you still need some persuading then here’s what a previous participant thought:

‘I recently joined Anna and Shona on a sky camping adventure over 3 days in the Cairngorms. When we initially met it was clear that several of us were nervous about being with a small group of diverse strangers for 3 days. But it didn’t take long to settle into the journey.

Anna lent us all high quality rucksacs, tents, sleeping bags and fabulous food and we set off, stopping for circle time and closer observation of our surroundings as well as our own feelings as we related to the environment and to each other.

We shared stories and experiences and were united by our love of the mountains. We had some swimming adventures, climbed some munros, camped in wonderful places and had an amazing experience.

Strangers became friends and we ended with a real feeling of achievement in our journey in so many different ways. Big thanks to Anna and Shona for facilitating, and to fellow campers for their openness and sharing the adventure. Thoroughly recommended. Fabulous.’

11/06/2025

“There is a place in you where you have never been wounded, where there’s a seamlessness in you, and where there is a confidence and tranquility.”  (John O’Donoghue). 

We at Wildroots Guiding we are passionate about creating a space for you to connect with your wisdom and inner knowing - in whatever way and words make sense to you. 

This looks different to each of us.  

It could look like having moments to yourself as you walk, just taking in the perspective that a big landscape and geological time gives you. 

It might be a feeling of calm that you’ve forgotten you could feel. 

It might be that you notice you are feeling more connected to yourself, others and/or the landscape. 

You might notice that you are less aware or concerned about time and lose track of it. 

There are no right or wrongs or should’s about how to feel but as a guides we are always privileged when someone shares these experiences with us. 

This weekend on our Earth Journey in Glen Nevis we were fortunate enough to have time and space to notice, rest, draw, listen to poems, to birds, to each other; and to appreciate. And to share how this time helped each of us. 

Would you like time and space to connect with yourself in beauty? The next opportunity to join on us is on our formerly sold out Sky Journey in the Cairngorms 11th to 13th July. Due to 4 cancellations we’ve plenty space for you - and a friend if you wish!  All details on our shiny new website :)

11/06/2025

Due to cancellations we now have 4 places available on this previously fully booked trip!

Come join us for a three day wild camping and hiking journey through the high Cairngorms. Please do share if you know anyone who might be interested 🙏🏻

Full cost £435, £150 deposit payable on booking Friday 11th – Sunday 13th July 2025 A three day wild camping journey starting from Aviemore in the Cairngorms, Scotland. All camp equipment, accommodation and food provided. Sky journeys will head for higher ground. Weather permitting they

10/06/2025

Glen Nevis & beyond ⛰️🍃🏠👣

At the heart of all of the journeys that we offer are landscape, story and shared experience. Our aim is that whether we are aiming for mountain tops or exploring lower down you’ll get a great adventure and also discover the unique natural and human history of the Scottish Highlands.

Journeying through Glen Nevis beyond the still inhabited lower glen and past the popular steall waterfall takes you into a quiet landscape that is rich in story.

Although people now only occasionally visit here the mark of past settlements and families who called this place home is not hard to find.

Neither is the ancient geology, glacial topography, diverse flora and fauna and big wide open spaces.

It was a joy to be immersed in and share this space with a lovely group on our Earth journey this past weekend. If you’ve not explored the wilder side of this glen then we highly recommend it.

Of course there is the added jewel in this route that you can finish for a well deserved treat ☕️🍰👌🏼 before taking the train home.

What more could you want from a wild camping journey?

08/06/2025

Journeying done right 👌🏼

Three lovely days exploring the breathtaking Glen Nevis landscape. A true delight to unwind and soak up the beauty of this special place. Sharing tales of the landscape with wonderful people and weaving our own stories together.

Feeling grateful to have this stunning backyard and always thrilled to share it with you. Join us on our West Highland Sky Journey in August - spots still available!

01/06/2025

Over East ⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️

A rare change of scene on Friday too Anna over to the Eastern Cairngorms guiding a great group on the White Mounth Circuit.

It’s a big day covering 30km and 5 Munros and in true Scottish style we were treated to all weathers. The skies stayed relatively bright for the climb up Lochnagar but the forecasted improvements didn’t materialise. Instead we were treated to atmospheric misty views and some very soggy skies!

Still it was great to enjoy the rolling terrain of the Cairngorms with its rocky summits and good paths. We also saw loads of great wild flowers and wildlife. A ptarmigan mama and her young chicks and the red deer in velvet were particular highlights.

Lovely to see the regenerating woodland along the shores of Loch Muick too.

Well done team on completing a challenging day. I’m sure there were some tired legs in the morning but hope you’re feeling chuffed with you achievements now!

27/05/2025

Why you should learn to read a map 🗺️⛰️

In our modern world the reality is that electronic navigation is pretty good.

For most people, in most situations, finding your way in the hills using your phone, smart watch or GPS device is adequate.

Of course, caveats apply, have a back up, know how to use your equipment, make sure its reliable, it’s fully charged… Then you can probably happily fulfil a lifetime of walking ambitions without ever carrying a map.

BUT and this is a big BUT. ‘Navigating’ digitally massively restricts the way you can explore. It limits you to only ever going on routes where someone has been there, done that and made the GPX file.

It means you will miss so much of the character and history of a place. Its context in the wider landscape. The opportunities it holds for you to adventure more widely and escape the beaten path.

You’ll never have the confidence to step off the line on your screen, the line worn by 1000’s of footsteps before you, and discover less frequented places.

Maps can be intimidating, overwhelming, an impenetrable amount of information. We know this from our own experience!

But, if you spend time with them, get to know contours, how the layers of information can be deciphered. Then, slowly, you will find a way in and a whole new world of possibility will open up to you.

Here’s some tips for getting familiar with maps:

👉🏻 next time you go hiking take a paper map. Don’t worry about using it to navigate, stick to GPS if that’s your norm. But when you stop take it out, look at it and the world around you, try to match the two.

👉🏻 look at your GPX files in a mapping app on a big screen so you can see your route in a wider context. Pick a few key features on the map that should be visible from your ‘line’ and try to spot them when you are out on your hike.

👉🏻 when you’re home look back over the route you did on a map. Try to match up features you saw, the land you crossed, with how it is represented on the map.

👉🏻 join one of our navigation courses, be immersed in maps & mountains and leave with a whole new understanding of how to find your way in the mountains.

#ᴍᴏᴜɴᴛᴀɪɴʜɪᴋɪɴɢ

25/05/2025

What we do when we’re not guiding…

… go on adventures of course! 🧗🏻‍♀️🚣🏼‍♀️🚴🏼‍♀️⛺️

Team Wild Roots have been making very good use of our time off between guiding trips this spring. Here’s a wee round up of what our multitalented team have been up to.

We hope your spring has been as much fun as this 👆🏻

has been spending lots of time doing her favourite thing of playing on rocks. All the dry weather has been great for getting out climbing. A mega highlight was getting to complete a long held ambition of completing a Cuillin Ridge traverse in a day.

is just back from a pack rafting expedition down the Tagliamento river in Italy. She spent 4 days paddling through this stunning landscape enjoying diverse views and wildlife along the way. Sustainability was at the core of this expedition with the team travelling overland on public transport from Scotland 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

‘s recent adventure was 7 days bike packing in the north highlands with - highlights included visiting the Flow country (now a unesco protected area), betty hill / tongue right up on the north coast, gravel tracks all the way to Ullapool, amazing weather and a lovely group of people.

Last but not least has been training hard for an epic bike adventure which is currently underway. As we type she’s on day 2 of the Highland Trail mass start. 550 miles solo and unsupported biking through some of the most rugged and remote terrain in the Scottish Highlands.

If you’re into dot watching you can follow her progress .cc and cheer her on to keep going through this typically Scottish weather 💨🌧️! Even better contribute to her fundraiser for . We’ll share a link to her just giving in our stories.

We love having a team with such a diverse set of skills and experience. All of which you get to benefit from when you come along on a trip with us 🙌🏻

23/05/2025

Some things to expect on a Wild Roots camp trip 👆🏻

Like the sound of it?

We’ve got a special offer on our next trip departing Fort William on 6th June for two nights/ three days.

Grab a bargain 25% discount and join us for a fully catered, all equipment provided escape to the wilds.

Feel free to drop us a message with any questions.