Booking is essential 48 hours prior to the event to ensure we can send you your booking details and required event information. For late availability please contact us on 07899765240. This experience is guaranteed to run with a minimum of four people.
NOTE this specific event is a Community Joint Venture Pilot event for Highlands Rewilding. It is one of four scottish Highlands Rewilding CJVs that form part of the FIRNS project funded by NatureScot, Net Zero Scotland and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Although free this event must still be booked in advance (48 hours). Places are limited due to the nature of the activity.
Relaxed walks on mainly flat or graded paths and tracks within easy access of a road/parking with little or no steep ground. These walks are designed to take in a specific tourist site or experience - perhaps to visit a ruined Scottish castle, wildlife centre or ancient carved stones - and are suitable for a wide range of abilities, typically never more than 3 miles or 2 hours of walking.
Leisurely walking on paths and tracks with occasional steep or uneven sections or steps. Designed to offer an immersive and relaxing experience connecting with nature and the outdoors these walks help promote wellbeing and may include walks around lochs, along beaches, through woodland and glens, to visit a specific historic or geological site, to learn about foraging for wild plants or to reach viewpoint. These are suitable for a wide range of abilities and are typically 3 to 6 miles with up to 5 hours of walking and 300m of ascent and descent.
Expect a full day of walking using a mixture of paths, tracks and over mixed terrain. There are likely to be some steep or uneven sections or steps. These walks are suited to those used to being active and may include easier hill summits, coastal walks, sections of long distance trails such as the Kintyre Way, visiting sites off the beaten track and sunset walks. Walks are typically 6 to 8 miles with 4 to 6 hours of walking and no more than 600m of ascent and descent.
An active day of walking using a mixture of paths, tracks and over mixed terrain which is likely to have steep rough sections. These walks are suited to those used to being active and may include hill summits, coastal sections with a lot of ascent and descent, remoter areas, longer sections of trails such as the Kintyre Way, visiting sites off the beaten track, trig point hunters and Wainwright baggers. Walks are typically 7 to 12 miles with 5 to 8 hours of walking and up to 800m of ascent and descent.
A full day of walking over varied ground, which may incorporate a mixture of tracks and paths but is likely to include rugged steep pathless terrain, requiring advanced skills, good fitness and stamina. Walks at this level are usually either long distance, which may or may not incorporate good paths, or in remote and mountainous areas. Typical walks include the easier Munros and Corbetts, the higher Lakeland and Welsh fells, challenges such as the Yorkshire Three Peaks and long distance backpacks such as the Coast to Coast or Pennine Way. Distances vary but are typically 10-25 miles with ascents of up to 1600m. A full days walking may take anything from 6 to12 hours.
A full day of walking over varied ground, which may incorporate a mixture of tracks and paths, rugged steep and rough pathless terrain, exposed ridges and non-technical scrambles requiring advanced skills, good fitness and stamina. Walks at this level are usually either long distance, which may or may not incorporate good paths, or in remote and mountainous areas. Typical walks include the harder or more remote Munros and Corbetts, routes such as Striding Edge in the Lake District, high level or remote long distance backpacks or ultra long distance events. Distances vary but are often over 15 miles with ascents often exceeding 1000m. An example is the Patterdale Round which takes in 17 Wainwrights, is 30 miles and has over 3000m of ascent. A full days walking may take anything from 8 to16 or more hours.
Immersing one's senses in wild places has been an important part of my life since childhood, whether exploring summits and coasts or sampling wild produce that has tantalisingly caught my eye, something I can thank my parents for, all those years ago. There is something magical about being able to meander through our less trodden landscapes, sampling wild ingredients and taking a cooling dip, which makes one feel so very alive and thankful for what nature gives us.
Your immersive sensory experience on land and in water is held in beautiful Argyll. Our locations vary throughout the year to include hidden gems, stunning sea and freshwater lochs, from the tranquility of the Tayvallich Peninsula to the inlets and beaches of Knapdale and Kintyre. We tailor each adventure to tie in with local weather conditions, tides, seasonal wild foods and to ensure you have an experience where you can immerse your senses, above and below, with two qualified guides, Heather and Dónal.
The area’s woodlands and coasts are rich with mosses, fungi, lichens, trees and wildflowers and the coastline an abundance of different seaweeds, making this an ideal place in which to learn. Whilst exploring this wild space and some of the species that grow here, you will be able to learn about wild foods, identification, history, harvesting, leaving no trace and how the landscape supports different species. We will explore the deep connection with Gaelic culture and language and how the Gaelic language offers a very different perspective to some of the species we find, which often accompany myth and legend.
Your immersive experience includes the opportunity to enjoy pristine waters and immerse your senses under the supervision of Dónal, your qualified open water swim coach, who will also introduce you to the calming Gaelic sense of place and nature and the inner peace gained from cold water bathing or an introductory snorkel (this will be noted if a possibility). The clear waters and array of wildlife means you may see anything from kelp forests to otters and porpoise.
We will enjoy foragers' cake and a drink together mid morning before a lunchtime wild food picnic together where we will enjoy discussing Gaelic culture and stories that connect us to sea and land. Return home with a sense of rejuvenation and connection with Argylls' wilder side.
We will send you the exact time, meeting point and directions with your final details although this community event is specific to Tayvallich Estate. Where a specific area is mentioned we will ensure you know if there are any changes (ie due to weather). Generally we meet at 9.30am for these experiences and expect to finish around 1.30pm. Where appropriate we will suggest meeting points so that people can car share if parking is limited.
All our activities can be booked for private groups as bespoke experiences.
Prices and terms & conditions for bespoke experiences apply.
All our activities can be booked for women only groups either as bespoke experiences or where advertised.
Although we do not recommend this level for children please check with us if your child is over 12, used to walking at this grade and has the right equipment.
All children under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult (see terms)
Directions for your meeting point will be given in the final booking details prior to your experience. This event will be held on Tayvallich Estate. We choose the specific meeting point carefully to protect the ecology and tie in with the weather and tides, which is particularly important for the wild swim element of this adventure. All days start at 9.30am unless otherwise indicated and last for approx. 4 hours. We will notify you if there is the chance for a snorkel as this is very area specific.
Please bring plenty to drink and attire suited for a half day adventure on land and in water come rain or shine (we will send you our kit list). You will be sent an Emergency Contact/ Health form and swim questionnaire which needs to be completed prior to your adventure. We also sell Heathery Heights Multiwraps and bespoke refillable steel water bottles, in our bid to reduce waste, and brightly coloured swim hats suited for open water swimming.
