Re-wild your mind and body – wild camping in Scotland
Join us for a unique three day wild camping journey through the some of Scotland’s most stunning landscapes. These immersive mountain adventures are an opportunity to learn new skills, challenge yourself and boost your well-being.
Your Guides
You will be fully supported and guided through the experience by Anna Danby and Shona Macpherson.
Anna is a Mountain Leader with a particular interest in sharing the stories of landscapes, enabling exploration off the beaten path and helping you gain mountain skills and confidence.
Shona works in private practice as a counsellor/ psychotherapist. She’s passionate about helping people disconnect from their busy lives and minds and rather to connecting with the present in the natural world. She’s been running outdoor connective experiences for the last 6 years and has recently trained as Forest Therapy Practitioner. She seeks to do this work with playfulness, laughter and kindness.
Our Approach
Over the past few years we have worked collaboratively, with each other and with the landscapes we explore, to bring a unique approach to mountain guiding founded on a desire to help others become healthier and happier. Our personal experience has shown us that time in wild places is synonymous with well-being. The mountains can gift us a different perspective and allow us to explore emotions in new and productive ways. ⠀
The potential for this is greatest when the physical challenge of adventure is balanced with purposeful engagement with surroundings. Our guiding interweaves both these things. Through this three day retreat moments of learning, about geology, nature, history are offered alongside mindful activities such as sit spots, nature connection invitations, self-reflection and sharing. ⠀⠀
The sheer act of being in the hills for an extended period, unplugged from every day distractions, is life changing. Gift yourself this time to slow down, listen to nature and discover how to live more with less.
Accessibility
Our wild camping journeys in Scotland are designed to be as accessible as possible.
The journeys are female led and open to all regardless of gender, age and previous experience.
We work hard to create an inclusive atmosphere where everyone can feel at ease and participate on their own terms. All of the activities are ‘invitations’ and if you do not want take part in anything then you do not have to. We believe that the most valuable experience is one that you feel an active participant within, able to shape your own journey. You will never be made to do anything that you do not resonate with.
There is no requirement to own camping equipment or have access to a car
Locations can be reached by public transport and we provide all the technical kit, food, navigational and camp-craft skills. This removes the requirement for you to own expensive equipment and provides a supported environment in which to learn regardless of previous experience. Enabling you to come together with other like minded people to spend three days walking, living, learning and connecting in remote and beautiful Highland settings.
The Journeys
There are two different styles of wild camping in Scotland journeys, set in various places across the Highlands of Scotland to enable you to choose the one that best suits the level of challenge and type of experience you are looking for.
Each journey will evolve depending on the participants, the weather and conditions underfoot. This means the exact route, distances and ascents will be determined together as a group. However, the following gives you an idea what to expect. If you are at all unsure about whether this is for you please get in touch and we will happily discuss more details with you.
Earth
Earth journeys will be lower level routes, exploring the forests, glens and smaller hills of Scotland. There may be the opportunity to reach a mountain summit but this will not be the focus. As a result these slower paced journeys will suit people for whom this is their first experience of hiking and wild camping or who prefer a more relaxed approach with plenty of time to just ‘be’ in nature.
Distance: up to 10 km per day
Ascent: up to 400m per day
Walking Time: up to 6 hours per day at a relaxed pace Terrain: Paths and rough trails, with rocky uneven ground in places. Gradual ascents and descents and the occasional short, steeper section.
Physical Requirements: A good level of general fitness and comfortable walking on rough ground. You should be able to walk uphill at a steady pace without needing regular stops. You will also need to be able to carry a rucksack weighing approximately 10kg.
Sky
Sky journeys will head for higher ground. Weather permitting they will incorporate multiple mountain summits and involve travelling over some of Scotland’s challenging steep and rocky terrain. They will be more physically demanding than the Earth routes. This means they are best suited to people who have some previous experience of hiking with a heavy bag and are looking to take their skills and confidence to the next level.
Distance: 10 – 15 km per day
Ascent: up to 1000m per day
Walking Time: up to 8 hours per day
Terrain: Rough trails and pathless, uneven ground. Some steep ascents and descents with exposed rocky sections.
Physical Requirements: A good level of mountain fitness and comfortable walking on rough, rocky ground. You should be able to walk uphill at a steady pace without needing regular stops and have recent experience of mountain hiking. You will also need to be able to carry a rucksack weighing approximately 10kg.
What is provided for you as part of this Journey?
Expert Guidance:
Throughout the journey you will benefit from our professional guidance and coaching.
Anna will take time to support the development of your outdoor skills and confidence. For example, the opportunity to work on navigation, movement through technical terrain, camp craft and other hill skills. In addition, learning about the history, geology, flora and fauna of the landscape will be woven throughout.
Shona will offer opportunities to help you connect with the landscape, yourself and each other. A key part of this is creating and holding a safe group experience where you feel heard and seen and where you can contribute as little or as much as feels right. And from this safe space there will be invitations for you to experience the natural world through nature connection invitations.
Top Quality Equipment:
All the technical equipment required for the journey is provided for you. This includes; sleeping bag, head torch and a rucksack to carry it all. All the equipment is high quality, light weight and allows you to test out a range of kit. Therefore, all you need to bring is your own personal walking clothing and footwear.
Delicious Food:
All of the food and drink required to keep your energy and spirits up over the 3 days is provided. We use high quality ingredients and local suppliers to ensure everything we are eating is delicious and healthy. All the food is vegetarian and any other dietary requirements can be catered for on request. The catering is provided by Stronaba Kitchen, Liz has created a bespoke menu packed full of goodness and suitable for carrying in the hills.
Wraps and Rolls: Falafel, hummus and crunchy veg wrap; spiced lentil bites, date and tamarind chutney and crunchy veg wrap; Vegetarian burrito, black beans, rice, veg and cooked tomato salsa; Millet and Black bean burger, cheese and tomato chutney roll.
Sweet Treats: Lemon drizzle cake; orange marmalade cake; Fruit and oat slices; Panforte (fig and nut nougat); Chocolate brownies; Chewy butterscotch cookies with choc chips and walnuts.
A unique experience:
Most importantly you get to create a valuable memory that will stay with you and give you skills and confidence to shape your own future adventures.
Possibly one of the best weekends I’ve had in the outdoors! …an amazing adventure that I will remember forever.Our guides’ knowledge, respect and passion for the landscape was infectious. The equipment provided was top notch and the food delicious. I learned so much over these 3 days, about the mountains and myself and feel so refreshed by the challenge and empowered to get out more.
I would highly recommend joining as it’s worth every last penny – in fact you get back way more than you think you will! Whether you are a seasoned hill walker or have never set up a tent in your life, the experience will be equally magical. A heartfelt thank you to Anna and Shona, not only for helping us traverse through mountains, but for making a truly positive impact on our wellbeing and confidence in the outdoors.
Christina Skounti, wellbeing retreats in Scotland participant
Wild Camping Journeys in Scotland 2024
| Journey | 2024 Dates |
|---|---|
| West Highlands EARTH | Friday 10th – Sunday 12th May |
| Cairngorms EARTH | Friday 31st May – Sunday 2nd June |
| Cairngorms SKY | Friday 12th – Sunday 14th July |
| West Highlands SKY | Friday 6th – Sunday 8th September |
If you like the sound of these journeys but aren’t so keen on camping, or maybe the dates above don’t suit, then check out our Wild Mountain Retreats or Wild Yoga Journeys which are similar experiences.
Two glorious weekends – both very well planned and organised. I really enjoyed the combination of high level, sometimes challenging walks and slower activities in glens and forests, with facilitated mindfulness and connection – both with the landscape and with the others in the group(s).
Maggie Bartlett, participant on a Highland Wilderness SKY Journey & a Wild Mountain Retreat
All the kit that was provided for the camping journey worked well and the food was just right too.
Anna and Shona are a great team. They have impressive skills and expertise, and clearly care a lot about what they do. They paid careful attention to detail and took good care of everyone as individuals. I’m very much looking forward to joining another of the journeys next year.
Booking
The cost of the 3 day journey including all food and equipment is £420 per person
You can pay this upfront in full or a place can be secured with £150 deposit. You are welcome to pay the balance in as many instalments as you like, just get in touch to arrange. Full payment due 6 weeks prior to the start of the journey.
If you would struggle to meet the cost of the course, The Neil Mackenzie Trust may be able to help. They are a small charity who offer a limited number of grants for skills training and expeditions. You can find out more about their grants here.
Groups are kept to a maximum of 6 participants. A minimum of 4 people are required for a trip to run, this will be confirmed no less that 4 weeks prior to the start date.
These experiences are accessible via public transport. For Cairngorms we will meet in Aviemore and West Highlands we will meet in Fort William. We may then travel a short distance to our walk start point but lifts can be arranged for those without their own transport.
Once you have made a booking you will receive an email confirmation. We will then contact you closer to the journey time with further details including a full list of what you will need to bring and details of the meeting point.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.
See our other journeys in the Highlands
For more information or private bookings please enquire below.