About Argyll walking holidays and hiking vacations in Scotland
		If you want to explore the West Highlands and Islands of Scotland on foot, with an experienced and enthusiastic guide.

If you want to walk off the beaten track in Argyll, on Mull, Islay, Jura, Arran, the Small Isles, in Glen Coe, Galloway, Cowal, Kintyre or Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

If you want to hike in a small international group with 4-8 participants and stay in carefully selected comfortable B&B's or hotels offering a warm welcome and good food.

Introduction

Confidence that you are going the right way - our well-qualified, well-informed and enthusiastic guides will look after you.

Small groups - usually between 4 and 8.

Attractive, well-thought-out walking programme - we will do our best to make your holiday interesting and memorable.

Carefully selected accommodation - we book and arrange this for you, taking care to find a B&B, guest house or hotel that offer good food, comfort and friendly welcome.

Transport by minibus - throughout your holiday as needed, including evenings, and from/to Glasgow / Glasgow International Airport at the beginning and end.

Transport by boats and ferries - as required.

Get-togethers in the evening - in a variety of carefully selected restaurants, hotels or pubs to set the scene for the next day's walking. We usually eat in a different place every day, so you will get a good taste of Scottish food.

Visits to museums and other places of interest - entrance fees are included where these are an integral part of your programme.

and most especially
personal care and attention in all that we do for you.

Loch Eck, Cowal

Walking or hiking?

The word 'hiking' isn't used as much in the UK as it is in North America. In the UK we tend to use 'walking' to cover such a wide range of activities that it can mislead. North American readers should probably think of About Argyll's walks as hikes, but at the gentler end of the range. You'll need though boots with a good tread, that provide adequate ankle support. No boots with smooth soles; no trainers nor similar very lightweight shoes which won't cope with the rougher or wetter ground and could be dangerous in steeper places.
We offer two grades of walking / hiking:

• Walking tours: A combination of walking, and visiting places of interest. Daily distances will never exceed 6 miles (10 km) plus varying amounts of ascent, and we don't expect to walk for longer than 4 hours on any day. Most of the walking will be on paths, tracks or quiet roads, but you will get a chance to experience walking off track. There will be some steep sections, but not hundreds of feet up.
• Walking / Hiking holidays: These are designed for people who are fit and used to walking for long periods. We will walk up to 11 miles (17 km) per day with on average 1000ft/300m ascent. On one day the ascent might be up to 3000ft/900m. There are 1 or 2 easier days. Our routes sometimes traverse pathless glens, climb mountains or thread remote passes. On most days as much of our time is spent off path as on it. Scotland can be very wild and tough going: 10 miles here is often much harder than 10 miles elsewhere. All that said, we don’t want to break any speed records, especially not when going uphill and you’ll have all the rewards of walking in one of the most beautiful and fascinating parts of the Highlands and Islands.

The groups

Our groups are made up of individuals who, whatever their background, share a common love of walking in Scotland and a joy in discovery of people and places, of history, wildlife and all the other aspects of life in the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Wherever we're from, we're all curious to find out what's around the next corner.

In recent years, our walkers come from the US, Canada, mainland Europe, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. This international mixture has made for a thoroughly enjoyable atmosphere which has been shared equally by those who come on their own, and those who book with their partner or friends. We know that several new and lasting friendships have come about through walking with 'About Argyll'. Why not come and join us this year?

Think you're too old? too young? As far as we're concerned sufficient fitness is what matters, along with willingness to walk in rough countryside, not age for its own sake. Our oldest walker so far has been 79 - a very fit 79, admittedly. Our youngest visitor has been 13 (a caveat here - our programmes aren't designed with under 18s in mind). Main age groups that we see? 30s / 40s / 50s / 60s.

Comments from our clients in 2007

It was all good, the walks, the guide, the B&B, the care shown for
the success of the week, personal treatment, even the rain was o.k. because
good planning and response minimized its effect on us.
Kali Lightfoot, USA

The fact that I felt I was looked after and didn't have to worry about any details.
The history and wildlife we observed on the walks made them even more interesting.
Anne Southworth, England

My sister and I have done guided hikes before and this was by far the best.
All the way down to the Scottish music the guide played in the van. He truly loves his country.
Going to different places for dinner was a nice touch.
Gail Hebert, USA

I loved the fantastic scenery, the great, relaxed atmosphere within the group
and feeling safe with the guide. I had a lot of fun and really enjoyed myself!
Beate Smirek, Germany

Within hours, I felt as if I had known the others on this tour for a long time,
and every day was an adventure that had its own surprise and joys as well as challenges.
Lorraine Lordi, USA

I liked the opportunity to visit two special islands where everything was taken care of
and where the company was most congenial.
It was a privilege and I thank you for it.
Carol West, New Zealand