Em RobsonVerified

“An awesome weekend”

Absolutely awesome weekend with Stephen! We were looking for a guide / instructor to work with us to improve our leading in winter climbing and trad. While the weather wasn't the best, Stephen planned a great weekend nonetheless: one day in Coire an t-Sneachda and another at Cummingston crag (where we could hide from the wind and rain while gaining confidence / skills in leading trad routes). It was a hugely valuable experience.

Charlie and GiuliaVerified

open canoe holidays

“River Spey Trip”

We had a great day canoeing on the beautiful river Spey with family and friends. Being with a guide helped us to improve our skills and becoming more confident with slightly wilder water. Stephen was a great guide, looking after us well, giving clear instructions. Would definitely recommend to others.

Family HVerified

rock climbing

“Fabulous weekend climbing”

My daughter, 13, & I have just had a great weekend climbing with Stephen. I haven't done much outdoor climbing for 20 years and my daughter really wanted to move from indoors to outdoors. Stephen was a fabulous instructor, he gave very good and clear instructions, refreshing my skills and teaching my daughter. By the end of the weekend we now have the skills & confidence to go out climbing by ourselves. Flavours to try at the local ice cream parlour & best local cafe advice were also second to none! It was a brilliant weekend and we would thoroughly recommend Scottish Rock & Water if you want fun, skilled & safe instruction.

Charlotte LobbVerified

scrambling

“Scrambling experience on Skye :)”

The perfect first time scrambling and climbing in Skye! Loved every moment. From the views to the company. Stephen is incredibly knowledgeable and professional and also a fantastic teacher, making sure I felt confident and safe throughout. Thank you for a fab day. Can't wait to book the next trip over!

Melissa MVerified

scrambling

“Liathach scrambling”

Having had a brilliant experience with Stephen last summer doing an introduction to scrambling course I decided to book into a last minute guided traverse of Liathach. Once again had an amazing experience - cannot praise Stephen enough! He's a brilliant guide, makes you feel so at ease and gives you confidence in your abilities. I was terrified about this walk but felt so safe and comfortable with him. Such good company too making it a fantastic day with lots of chat and laughs along the way. Thank you so much, will definitely be booking back for in for another trip in the future.

Louise AllanVerified

scrambling

“In Pin & Sgurr Mhic Choinnich combo”

Stephen helped us achieve 2 more ticks in our Munro book. He expertly made our short ridge traverse highly educational and fun at the same time. We even invested in more basic scrambling equipment within hours of completion as he made us hungry for more! We will certainly use Stephen as a Guide again or enroll on one of his many mountaineering courses, an epic day led by a top Guide! Five stars all round 👍

Ollie HVerified

canoe trips and courses

“Fantastic day-trip with canoes!”

Cannot recommend enough! We booked a canoe day-trip for a party of four up near Aviemore. Had a brilliant experience with our instructor Freddie, who was super helpful in bringing us up to speed (literally) along the river, especially as this was a first-time experience for all of us. Freddie was great company on the day and clearly very knowledgeable - we felt safe the whole way through and had a really special day out. Thanks also to Stephen, who assisted us with the booking via their website. Overall a great experience and will be looking to return in the future!

Alex WalkerVerified

rock climbing

“Intro to Rock Climbing”

Had a great day climbing with Stephen. He tailored a day for 6 of us, who ranged from some experience in climbing to complete novices. Also as a mum with her 2 sons on the rock face, Stephen couldn't have been more safety concious and professional. Everyone was challenged but never overwhelmed and all really enjoyed our time with Scottish Rock and Water. Our day with Stephen was the highlight of our 2 week holiday.

Ruth JonesVerified

Open Canoe Holidays

“Guided Canoe trip on Loch Maree”

Our experience with Scottish Rock and Water started in March when we went on a 2 day winter climbing course with Lou in the Cairngorms. Lou was friendly, enthusiastic, highly knowledgeable and a great instructor. She was keen to get to know what we wanted to get out of the 2 days and planned accordingly and made sure that we had covered all the bases. As for the experience itself, we got to experience a very real Scottish Winter experience, which I will never forget!! Both routes were well suited to our ability, which were challenging yet achievable. A fantastic 2 days, which we enjoyed so much, we decided to go back for more in Skye in May (recommended by Lou), which was led this time by Stephen. We were keen to get more familiar with rope techniques and develop our skills further. Stephen organised the 2 days brilliantly, giving us a mixture of an exciting mountaineering experience on the first day (climbing our first munro!) and then onto a more relaxed second day were we got to practice what we had learnt on the 1st day and go into more detail, learning about making decisions, choosing routes and anchoring techniques. Stephen was very supporting of us wanting to develop our skills to help us to become more independent in the mountains, and once we have had some more time to practice what we've learnt, we will surely return to Scottish Rock and Water to learn more!!!

Lisa MarfellVerified

scrambling

“Guided Ascent of Tower Ridge”

Had a great day out with Stephen climbing tower ridge, great guide. Felt completely safe while traversing tough scrambling conditions. Will definitely be back to book again.

Ryan CameronVerified

scrambling

“Aonach Eagach”

Excellent day. Stephen initially set the scene for the outing, explaining aspects of the route and what to expect. Safety was top focus so tricky sections were managed comfortably making the day so enjoyable . I’d definitely use this company again.

Joan TVerified

winter skills

“5 day mountaineering skills course”

Incredible week with the guides from Scottish Rock and Water. So helpful and knowledgable and made everyone feel safe throughout. Learned so much and can’t wait to put what we learned into practice again. The best time.

Josh RVerified

open canoe holidays

“Canoeing across Scotland-nourishment for the soul”

Just got back from a brilliant 5 days canoeing across Scotland. We instantly felt in safe hands meeting Stephen,the business owner and Liam, our guide. Stephen made sure we were all ready with our kit before sending us off. Happy to answer any questions. The trip was challenging at times, lots of fun at other times and all in breathtaking scenery. Our guide liam was excellent…he really look care of us all, brought us into decision making and paced the trip well; knows his stuff and taught us lots of canoe skills! We were well fed and watered . I totally recommend this adventure. Scotland is magical from the water but we wouldn’t have appreciated it quite so much if it wasn’t for Scottish rock and water and our fab guide. Will def be back for more…

Kate WVerified

winter skills

“Winter walking”

We did 3 days of winter walking with Stephen around the Glen Coe area. It was a great experience - Stephen is very knowledgeable about the area and found beautiful peaks for us with the best snow conditions for each day. Stephen planned the day really well, kept a check on times and progress, and helped us improve our walking/scrambling technique on the winter terrain. He is also humble, friendly and easy to talk to. He was happy to listen to our requirements and mould the day accordingly. Finally, I also noticed that Stephen is very careful in terms of client safety - he is not one to get careless or take risks. Couldn’t have asked for a better few days of Scottish winter.

Pulkit KhannaVerified

Hillwalking Holidays

“Cairngorms Private Guiding”

I would highly recommend Stephen and Scottish Rock and Water to anyone. I had a wonderful day out with him and a friend walking in the Cairngorms. He has a great sense of humour (which helped with the uphills!) and I felt completely at ease and had total trust in him taking us on the walks we did. It was a day I shall remember with great enjoyment and look forward to the next time. Thanks Stephen

Juliet WilsonVerified

open canoe holidays

“Canoe Across Scotland”

Excellent company and service. Our instructor Laura was first class throughout the Great Glen Way. Food provided was delicious too.

Mark CobainVerified

winter skills

“Winter Skills 5 day”

Thank you for an excellent 5 days. Despite quite challenging weather(v windy, wet and warm) James struck a great balance with classroom skills, practical skills and time on the hills. Now feel confident to assess weather and avalanche forecast, improved my navigation skills and learnt ice axe and crampons skills. James has a great teaching manner, calm and inclusive and struck a balance between caution in planning and confidence in execution. Please pass on our thanks James and Finn

James & FinnVerified

canoe trips and courses

“White Water Intro Canoe”

We had a private course with Stephen. He gave us great tips on our paddle techniques, improved our skills on moving/white water and gave us more confidence in our ability in the canoe. Would thoroughly recommend.

Angela and GarethVerified

Open Canoe Holidays

“Guided Descent of the River Spey”

Due to work scheduling we were privileged to take a week out in the wilds of Scotland learning about techniques and equipment to move efficiently and safely in the mountains and rivers. Stephen's biggest assets are his professional and accommodating approach, attention to detail, flexible manner, passion and his extremely broad knowledge and experience base. He keeps the fun in learning and is able to tailor your experience to your own goals, limitations and experience. Our canoeing trip down the Spey was fantastic and I honestly believe it was mainly due to Stephen's skill and management that meant I'm now a keen paddler. Thanks Stephen! Mark Robertson

Mark RobertsonVerified

scrambling

“Aonach Eagach Guided Traverse”

A fantastic day despite the poor weather. I'm not very confident with exposed scrambling and Stephen's manner, humour and expertise were superb. I definitely pushed myself beyond my comfort zone because of Stephen's encouragement and help. Thank you.

Vikki Verified

hillwalking

“Excellent 5 days on Skye”

I just completed the 5 day Skye Cuillin Munros Guiding course with Stephen which was excellent. Stephen's many years of experience guiding on Skye allowed us to make the most of our time on the ridge, and we completed all 11 Munros without problems. Having only a little scrambling experience before the course, Stephen made sure we were not only safe at all times but he also showed us the best routes up to each peak. Throughout the week, he furthermore provided very useful tips on our movement skills which will be useful for future adventures! The ridge has sections which aren't for the faint hearted - However, Stephen always explained how to tackle these before we encountered them, and provided reassurance if we had any hesitation. Knowing the ridge like the back of his hand also helped our group to manage time efficiently, e.g. to avoid common bottlenecks. Having an extra rest day during the week was helpful as it allowed time for recovery: 3/4 days on the hill were 10h long and involved strenuous activity throughout. It also meant that we could avoid the day with the worst weather - useful considering Skye is renowned for its windy and wet climate! I'd thoroughly recommend Stephen to anyone planning to tackle the Skye Cuillin - whether over multiple days, or as a walker's/climber's traverse. You won't be disappointed 😁 Read less

Jess SVerified

open canoe holidays

“Fantastic Experience”

Been away for four days with this company. Can't do enough for you from pick up to drop off. They did all the cooking, the quality of the food was excellent. Our guide Anthony was very knowledgeable and made the experience fun and interesting. Stephen was our organiser and everything went according to plan as he kept in touch with us previously to the start of our trip. We would highly recommend this company and everyone should experience this. We will book again for next year.

Darrel JVerified

scrambling

“Scramble along the Aonach Eagach”

Wanted to do the Aonach Eagach for several years so after looking at the options decided to book with Scottish Rock and Water for a solo guided trip along the Aonach Eagach. All of the communication leading up to the day was excellent and I met Stephen as arranged. The weather on the day was wet and windy so the conditions were challenging but Stephen was an excellent guide and made it a safe and enjoyable experience. Would thoroughly recommend Scottish Rock and Water and will use them again when I come to look at other grade 5 scrambles

David ClarkVerified

open canoe holidays

“Remarkable trip on the River Spey”

Fantastic experience. Easy company to work with. We had a great guide for the river Spey. All of the gear that was provided by the company was in great shape and well cared for. I would absolutely work with them again.

Charlie NVerified

winter climbing

“Winter climbing intro review”

Me and a friend went for a couple of days for an intro to winter climbing/ice climbing and had an amazing time. Because it was a private course the instructor could cater the experience to our skill level and meant that we learnt a huge deal on a course tailored for us. Couldn't recommend more for anybody looking to get into winter sports, the instructor was passionate and encouraging and we got so much out of our weekend.

Charlie JVerified

open canoe holidays

“Unforgettable trip across Scotland”

Our trip canoeing across Scotland was incredible and something I’ll never ever forget. The Highlands speaks for itself, it’s a truly magical place. Our guide Stephen was great at showing us the ropes and helping us feel confident on the water. The food (and wine) he provided was top notch and made wild camping even more enjoyable. As a group of 8 we had a really fun time together eating, drinking, swimming, putting the world to rights in our canoes and telling stories around the campfire. I’m sure I pulled a muscle laughing so much on the second day! I haven’t stopped thinking about the beautiful places we went since getting back home and that’s a sign of a great expedition. I can’t wait to go back 🙌

Joseph RiversVerified

open canoe holidays

“River Spey Guided Canoe Trip”

Recently returned from the 4 day River Spey Canoe Trip and what a great experience! Our guides Stephen and David were fabulous throughout, sharing their expertise on the water ensuring that I felt safe, supported and encouraged. They talked us through how best to tackle some of the trickier sections and were quickly on hand to help out if required. The scenery we paddled through was gorgeous, plenty of wildlife to spot and we stayed at some lovely camping spots along the way. Meals at camp were tasty and there were lots of snacks available too. Nothing quite like a bacon roll and cup of tea outdoors for breakfast. Thanks again to Stephen and David, two genuinely nice guys whose enthusiam and passion for the great Scottish outdoors is infectious! I would highly recommend this trip. I found it very rewarding, enjoyable and certainly memorable. Keep paddling!!!

Debra JVerified

scrambling

“Intro to Rock Climbing”

Myself and my two adult sons Iain and Calum met Stephen in the Stac Pollaidh car park on a very windy morning. We had already arranged for Stephen to spend the whole day with us and with Stac Pollaidh only being a half day we spent the morning at the Reiff sea cliffs practicing some moves above surf pounding on the rocks below. Before we did anything Stephen asked each of us about any medicals, allergies, injuries and about our experience of climbing. He then set up and we abseiled down onto a smallish ledge, even closer to the waves, and had a practice each at a short v diff pitch. All quite scary but excellent practice for what was to come on Stac Pollaidh and very safe due to Stephen's excellent set up and his instruction on abseiling, ropework, belaying and on the climbing itself. After a quick lunch we headed up to the Stac Pollaidh ridge in reduced wind speeds as forecast, but still quite blustery. At the point on the ridge where most people turn around we clambered into climbing harnesses and donned helmets, ready for the scrambling with reminders and tips about technique. Our aim was to get to the true summit (being a Graham bagger) and on the way we roped up twice for a couple of awkward steps with some exposure and made the summit in clear weather with wonderful views. On the way down we only roped up once and found an alternative way around the other steep pitch. Overall we found Stephen professional, informative, attentive to detail, very friendly and excellent company. A fantastic day out with many thanks to Stephen. Very highly recommended!

Simon SawersVerified

winter skills

“Scotish rock and water”

Thanks to Stephen and Josh for a fantastic well organised winter skills course well worth the long trip. Can highly recommend Scottish Rock and Water .

Robert AvonVerified

scrambling

“Cuilin ridge traverse”

Professional, knowledgeable and genuinely just a really nice guy. Stephen has been absolutely class when taking us on the Cuilin ridge traverse. He was great to spend a few days with and is clearly incredibly experienced and competent in the outdoors. Thanks for a great trip Stephen!

JJVerified

scambling

“One of the Best Adventures in Scotland”

I just finished the 5-day Scotland Canoe trip with Scottish Rock and Water, and it was an incredible experience from start to finish. Our guide, Adam, was fantastic — knowledgeable, calm, and always making sure we were safe while keeping the atmosphere fun and relaxed. He’s also a great cook, and his meals at camp really added to the experience. The scenery along the route was breathtaking, and having such a great group of people to share it with made it even better. It was the perfect mix of adventure, learning, and good company. I’d highly recommend this trip to anyone looking for an unforgettable way to experience Scotland.

Alex SVerified

scrambling

“Super scrambling day at the Great Gully Ridge”

I would highly recommend Scottish Rock & Water based on this experience. Stephen provided great theory when meeting that morning on planning, decision making on the day on what is a hugely satisfying if potentially (without being prepared) dangerous activity. He also followed up with an email sharing reference material and photographs. Stephen is also good company and has an inspiring story in changing his career with a lot of hard work, to do something he very obviously has a great passion for.

Steve LudgateVerified

winter skills

“Awesome week”

Ella was my guide for a 5 day winter skills course in the Cairngorms through Scottish Rock & Water. She was absolutely fabulous- clearly very experienced, so knowledgeable and great at offloading nuggets of info throughout the week to help us learn ‘on the job’, ensuring we weren’t overwhelmed with too much info all at once. She adapted quickly to changing conditions, meaning there was little impact on our experience and we were all able to take away what we expected/needed from the trip, despite heavy snowfall making some skills difficult to demonstrate. I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the course and wouldn’t hesitate to book another one. Ella was great fun and left me feeling inspired and informed!

Bryony BVerified

scrambling

“Fantastic four days climbing the Cuillin Mountains”

We had the best week tackling the Cuillin mountains with Scottish Rock and Water. It was one of the most exhilarating four days of my life. Stephen’s (our guide) knowledge and experience was invaluable, we learned so much, especially about how to move across tricky terrain and finding the routes. He is a an interesting guy, a great laugh and is very professional when it really counts. He knows every single rock on those hills, trying to navigate safely without a guide in the Cuillins is not recommended. Any moment of fear during the scrambling and climbs were quickly extinguished because I knew we were in safe hands with Stephen. Getting time with an experienced mountaineer is a must if you enjoy climbing mountains, it could mitigate the chances of accidents happening. Next stop for us is the winter skills course.

Andy NVerified

hillwalking

“4 days on the Skye Cullins”

The Skye Cullins are incredible and very demanding but with Stephen guiding we had a great adventure and always felt safe. Would thoroughly recommend Scottish Rock and Water to others.

David ClarkVerified

open canoe holidays

“River Tay Descent - Killin to Perth”

We had a fantastic 5 days trip canoeing the River Tay from Killin to Perth with Scottish Rock and Water. The Tay is a beautiful river in a tranquil and outstanding area with plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife and the surrounding Munroes and hills. I was pleasantly surprised at the lack of road noise, it was only really noticeable for a very short section where the river flows next to the A9, apart from that the only sounds where the moving water, bird song and the occasional jump of a fish. Despite the at times chilly and wet weather, Stephen looked after the group superbly and his expert guidance on canoeing techniques, picking the best lines to paddle and organising evening camp made sure everyone was well looked after at all times. Scottish Rock and Water is an excellent company to book with.

Steve BarnesVerified

scrambling

“Beginners scrambling”

I did scrambling for the first time Steve explained everything clearly and guided properly he analyse your capabilities and always keep an eye on you . Never rushes allow you to take your time . Looking forward to do more scrambling. I strongly recommend.

SathyaVerified

open canoe holidays

“Canoe Across Scotland”

What a great experience, totally loved every minute!

NatalieVerified

open canoe holidays

“Excellent guided canoe trip down the river spey”

A very fun and well organised canoe down the river Spey from Aviemore to Spey Bay. Stephen was a great instructor for the trip - from kitting us out at the start, guiding us down the occasional rapid and setting up camp on the river bank campsites along the way. Stephen organised and prepared all the food via a cool box - there’s nothing like waking up to bacon rolls being cooked in the morning in a nice location. The river had a good mix of relaxing slower flowing sections and the occasional rapid section - before each Stephen talked us through what was coming up and the best way to go down them. At the end of the trip it was cool to see the river form the road at times during the drive back to Aviemore. 4 days canoeing and 3 nights camping felt like good length of trip. Stephen and the other on the trip made it a very fun and memorable trip. I highly recommend it.

ElliotVerified

rock climbing

“Learn to Lead Climb”

Awesome coaching from Josh on a Learn to Lead (Trad) course covering belaying, anchors, gear placement and more top tips to make the process safe and smooth. The perfect next step for any sport climber/indoor climber looking to add new skills to their rope work and basics of using of trad gear. Stephen endeavoured to find a partner to pair me up with and delivered promptly. All around a great service, exceptional teaching and in an amazing setting. I’ll be looking at more courses from Scottish Rock & Water to build on skills this winter!

Ross GillespieVerified

winter skills

“Winter Skills 2 day”

I have just had a fantastic 3 days in the Cairngorms with my instructor, Ella. I booked this course plus an additional day. Ella covered all of the skills I hoped to learn and develop plus plenty more. She was incredibly knowledgeable and experienced, and went well beyond the remits in adapting the course especially for me, including winter climbing on the final day! I gained enormous confidence in winter conditions, including planning routes, assessing weather and avalanche forecast, navigation, footwork, self-arrests, and moving on steep ground. Unfortunately my partner was unwell and not able to walk, but Ella came for coffee each day and covered as much theory as possible from the ground to make her feel included. Thank you so much, Ella! Thank you also to Stephen, who was so helpful in all of his communication, and booking a course exactly to meet my needs.

AndyVerified

Sea Kayak Holidays

“Sea Kayak the Summer Isles”

We had a great time with Liam, glad he had fun too. He’s a really nice guy, and the lads both LOVED talking about all their kit with him. They both said they would definitely want him to be their guide again. He’s very organised, gets everyone where they need to be when they need to be, and we got everything done that was planned. He knew exactly when bad weather was coming and we got off the water exactly before the winds got up, his timing was perfect. He was brilliant when I got a bit stuck with the strong wind and needed a hand, and was very nice about it. I knew I didn’t know much about kayaking (can just about identify ‘paddle’ and ‘kayak’, lol )and he very patiently taught me loads about the basics as we were going along which really helped. Please say thanks for me. Thanks for the amazing food, it was so nice to be cooked for, please give my compliments to the flapjack maker! They were great. The onion chutney was also amazing. I didn’t realise it was supposed to last 3 days and had wayy too much, sorry everyone! ;0) (but it was amazing). I know we are probably supposed to come up with something that would be an ‘even better if...’ type thing, but I can’t really thing of anything. It was a lovely 3 days. I guess the only thing would have been having some milk and sugar, or maybe just letting us know we needed to bring some, as Paul and I normally drink a lot of tea and coffee, but actually we were ok without it. None of us had done sea kayaking before, and we travelled far further than we thought we could and learned loads. He also took loads of great photos without anyone noticing, and that was lovely too. Fab trip, thanks to everyone, seen and unseen, for giving us a very much needed break. Thanks for arranging the whale too! ;0) 🐋

Gail HollimanVerified

hillwalking

“Mountain Guiding At Its Best”

Great day out in the Skye Cuillin with Scottish Rock and Water. Stephen, Matt, and Louis were obviously knowledgeable and confidence-inspiring guides, but also very likeable making for a safe, enjoyable, and memorable experience.

Iain SVerified

open canoe holidays

“Brilliant River Spey decsent”

The descent of the Spey with Stephen in open canoe was excellent in all respects. Stephen has a relaxed manner but conveys all the instructions needed in a clear and timely manner to ensure a successful and thoroughly enjoyable trip. As I had done some canoeing before, I was given the space to pick my own line through the less demanding rapids which was a great learning experience. The kit provided was in very good condition and was well suited to the trip. The food was also excellent, being plentiful with a wide choice at lunch and very tasty evening meals. As a group we did opt to eat at the pub on the last night although this probably had more to do with the availability of alcohol rather than the relative merits of the food! The group got on very well which is a testament to Stephen's people skills as well as the qualities of my fellow paddlers. It was great fun all the way to Spey Bay. I would wholeheartedly recommend Scottish Rock and Water who, in my experience, deliver on their aim '"to provide a world-class adventure to anyone wishing to explore the best of Scotland's wild places and the memories to be made there."

Bob Edgar Verified

winter skills

“Winter Skills 2 day”

My adult daughter and I hired Scottish Rock and Water to guide us for hikes of the Cairn Gorm and Bynack More near Aviemore over 2 separate days in December. We had never performed winter hiking in Scotland but are reasonably fit and ready to give it a go. Stephen was our guide and was very flexible with itinerary and extremely helpful in helping us plan our gear requirements. He has a conversational style and is a great teacher with many high level qualifications. Under his guidance we learned how to use crampons and ice axe. Both hikes were challenging for us given the weather conditions with wind to 50 mph and sub-zero temps. While the hikes were not technical in nature the climate and terrain contributed to a great sense of accomplishment. Stephen provided expert advice and we always felt assured in what we were doing. We highly recommend Stephen and SR&W.

Phil ColemanVerified

rock climbing

“Learn to Lead Climb”

Me and my partner were wanting to move out of our indoor climbing comfort zone and start our proper rock climbing journey. We booked the “Learn to Lead Climb” 2 day course and preceded to have one of the best weekends we’ve had outdoors in Scotland for a while. We’d highly recommend Scottish Rock & Water whether you’re a total novice or just need that little bit extra expertise on hand to guide you through. We spent two days with our guide Stephen in and around Aviemore/Inverness and his climbing and general outdoors knowledge was unparalleled. The two days were tailored to our skill level and over the weekend we went from never having been climbing outdoors to now caught the climbing bug and very eager to get out there on our own and start exploring those famous Scottish Crags. Stephen is a fantastic guide. He's very professional, but also very easy going and good natured and had us totally at ease over the 2 days. He’s very supportive, not only during the course, but the support provided afterwards was exceptional for all my follow-up questions and queries. I cannot recommend this company enough. In fact after Stephens story of his recent trip to Skye he might have us back sooner rather than later for a guided trip on the Skye Cuillin Munros.

David SpenceVerified

open canoe holidays

“A 10/10 experience from an exceptional company”

I had a fantastic week canoeing the Hårkan River with Stephen from Scottish Rock and Water. Stephen is an exceptional guide. His depth of experience is obvious from the moment you get on the water, but what really stood out was how professional, humble and approachable he is. He has a great way of teaching as you go, sharing his knowledge without ever overcomplicating things and I learnt a huge amount over the course of the week. The rapids were a particular highlight. Watching Stephen read the river and seeing his skill and experience really came into their own on the Grade 2 sections. At every stage I felt completely safe and well looked after, while still being encouraged to develop my own skills and confidence. Stephen was excellent company, we had a good laugh throughout, and the whole trip felt relaxed and enjoyable while still being extremely professionally run. I couldn’t recommend Stephen and Scottish Rock and Water highly enough. It was a brilliant week in a beautiful part of Sweden and an experience I’ll remember for a long time. I’ll absolutely be using them again.

Adam PVerified

open canoe holidays

“Canoe Across Scotland”

It was awe inspiring. We are both 50+ and relatively active. We had the best time getting back to basics and enjoying the love of the land. Rory our guide was amazing and knew all the best spots to camp. Portaging was hard work but we loved it. The views were amazing..

DonnaVerified

open canoe holidays

“Great way to see the Spey and have a great weekend”

We spent the weekend with Stephen going down the Spey River with my son and daughter. Fantastic time and service. After looking around at a few different providers, Stephen was practical, flexible and accommodating. Would highly recommend in a heart beat.

Nick HVerified

scrambling

“Heart racing Tower Ridge”

UNBELIEVABLE!! My trip came more around circumstance and opportunity, otherwise known as the right place at the right time 😁 It was all very last minute but Stephen at Sottish Rock and Water was able to accommodate and plan the most amazing ascent up Ben Nevis via the Tower Ridge path. NOT for the faint hearted!! But Stephens professionalism and coaching made me feel very safe and comfortable the whole time. Thank you soo much and cannot wait for the next trip.

Cameron PriceVerified

winter skills

“Winter Skills”

My Brother and I had a super weekend completing the 2 day winter skills course in Aviemore. Despite challenging conditions (very high winds & storm Ciara!) Stephen managed to get us out on the hill and give us a solid understanding of what is required to plan, maneuver, navigate and enjoy a day in the Scottish Hills. Stephen is a great teacher and his knowledge of the mountains is first class. I would not hesitate to recommend him and would (and probably will!) use the company for any further courses.

Stuart YoungVerified

winter skills

“Winter skills course”

Arrived in Aviemore not really having much clue what I was in for. Was my brother's idea. Steven met us for an early start and filled us with excitement for what lay ahead, despite the severe lack of snow. We did manage to find some on day one and practiced with crampons and ice axe work. Steven said he'd bring some rope to play with the next day. I had visions of messing about on a few metres of rock. Little did I know we were to climb a significant crag. As a sufferer of vertigo I wasn't too impressed. However, Steven was encouraging in all the right ways, and I couldn't help but put my trust in him. He managed to get us up and over, and I even managed a beaming smile with the excitement at having succeeded and still being alive. He's got me hooked. Having since spent a small fortune on good gear I'm seriously looking forward to returning next winter. Steven is a fantastic guide. He's very professional, but also a friendly, warm and considerate person. He clearly knows and loves his craft. Definitely a 6 out of 5 experience! Thanks for inspiring me Steven.

Nick MillsVerified

open canoe holidays

“Highly recommended”

We decided to book the canoeing trip as part of our honeymoon and we had the best time. Stephen and his team were efficient and friendly; our guide Liam was a great cook, fun and interesting and we really could not have asked for more. We would highly recommend Scottish Rock and Water to anyone wanting to have an authentic Scottish adventure run and led by people who care about what they do and want to pass their love and enjoyment for Scotland and the great outdoors onto you and your adventure with them. Thanks so much !

Hannah Verified

open canoe holidays

“Canoe Across Scotland”

Excellent trip with stunning views. Every stage is new and wonderful, an absolute voyage of discovery. Fell in love with Scotland. Given all the food is taken in the canoes it was fantastic quality and vegetarians well catered for. You do have to carry the boats and equipment every day so be prepared to pitch in. The leaders were amazing, knowledgeable and so much fun. Top-quality equipment and even in stormy weather my tent was cosy and dry.

Neil DurnoVerified

rock climbing

“Learn to lead 2 day course”

We were a couple of sport climbers looking to to try a bit of trad. By the end of the weekend we were comfortable with the fundamentals of trad leading - placing gear, building anchors and abseiling. The scenery was cracking and we had a great laugh with Stephen the guide. Came to us highly recommended by friends and we would also highly recommend

Robbie GlassVerified

rock climbing

If you ever want to adventure in Scotland I can thoroughly recommend these guys. We went for a weekend trad climbing course with Stephen as our guide and it was absolutely perfect. Great teaching, great climbing, great time! 5/5 will def do again

Alex ZeitlerVerified

winter skills

“East Coast Winter Summits”

Had a great winter mountaineering week with these guys and Jeremy our guide for the week. He was very helpful, accommodating, worked us hard and provided some great knowledge. Highly recommend these guys.

Colin CooperVerified

rock climbing

Open Canoe Holidays

“BOOK WITH THIS COMPANY RIGHT AWAY.”

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!! Best holiday I have had in the UK. My father and I, canoed the river Spey 17/08-20/08. Steve is fantastic, professional and funny. He provides expert advise and guidance. I learnt many skills and techniques on this trip. Will definitely book again with Steve. Anyone would be foolish not to book with his company- so book your next holiday TODAY.

Philip BarnesVerified

winter skills

“Winter Skills 2 day”

Had a fantastic two days in the Northern Cairngorms. Our instructor Ella was incredibly experienced and a really great teacher. I felt very safe on the mountain and learnt a lot of new skills whilst having fun. Would definitely recommend Scottish Rock and Water and will be booking with them again.

Ellie RVerified

scrambling

“Scottish mountain challenges!”

Had an amazing few days with Stephen on Ben Nevis and on Skye! Stephen has an intimate knowledge of the Scottish mountains, and with great professionalism and with a focus on looking after me, guiding me, pushing me, Stephen enabled me to realise my Scottish mountaineering challenges! I can only recommend Stephen, and I encourage you to speak with Stephen about your aspirations in the Scottish mountains. Together as a team you will have an unforgettable experience!

Stephen RVerified

winter skills

“Winter skills course :-)”

I had a great time this weekend. We were a group of five - one solo, one couple, two mates. We all got on really well. It was pretty challenging conditions on the mountain at times, but we learned a lot from our guide (Harrison) and also had plenty of fun at the same time. Always felt safe. Highly recommend.

Secker FamilyVerified

scrambling

“Scramble on the ridge”

Many thanks to Stephen for a great day on the Aonach Eagach. He was very helpful and informative before the event, calm and reassuring on the day- especially when the rain set in and the going got tougher on wet rock, and very thoughtful afterwards to send the pictures and videos so quickly. Highly recommended.

Emma EatonVerified

open canoe holidays

“Fiaciall Ridge guided scramble - DO IT!”

My boyfriend and I booked the guided scramble of Fiaciall Ridge on Cairn Gorm and it was absolutely the best experience of our holiday! Stephen was such a brilliant guide, tailoring the ascent to our ability (having done some hiking and one previous scramble) and making me (as a slightly nervous climber) feel completely safe at all times. We had a brilliant day with Stephen and would 100% recommend the guided scramble to anyone wanting a day of adventure in the Cairngorms! Totally brilliant!

Another great experience with Stephen! We booked in for a 2 day winter skills course between Xmas and NYE. There wasn’t much snow but Stephen knew the spots to head for and sure enough we were able to use crampons, ice axes and build a snow shelter. We even ticked off another Munro! The weather was supposed to be strong winds on the 2nd day but again Stephen had knowledge of a great sheltered spot where we could base ourselves. We’re repeat customers for a reason! Another great outdoor experience.

Kirsty WilsonVerified

scrambling

“Amazing introduction to scrambling!”

What an amazing day! We did the introduction to scramblers/scrambling for beginners course - we spent the day with Stephen on Fiacaill Ridge in the Cairngorms. We covered planning before going out to do technique/footwork and rope work, before doing the actual scramble on the ridge. Stephen was amazing - so patient and very fun. I was pushed way out of my comfort zone, as someone who had never scrambled before and was (slightly) terrified beforehand, but I felt very safe the whole time, and I was doing things I never thought I would be able to do thanks to Stephen who was a wonderful guide. Thank you for a brilliant experience!!

Louise AllanVerified

scrambling

“Amazing days in the Cuillins.”

Stephen is a really cool calm guy who helped me achieve grade 3 scrambles and overcame my mistrust of climbing equipment to be able to use it and climb with pleasure. Really flexible with plans, great chat and great teacher too!

Sarah BartlettVerified

Hillwalking Holidays

“Intro to Rock Climbing”

I spent a couple of days out with Stephen in the Cairngorms, specifically in the Northern Corries and to and around the Ryvon pass. It was a fabulous experience! Stephen is a knowledgeable, patient, and thoughtful guide, and I will certainly see if I can take another hike with him the next time I am in the area.

Aimee MargolisVerified

rock climbing

“First time trying to rock climb”

Group of 3 looking for something a wee bit different. Spent two days learning basic rope work and climbing skills with josh and stevie, great couple of days finding out how unfit We actually are 😂 Can’t recommend this place enough if your looking for an outdoor experience, Guides were great, easygoing and of course very safety conscious, Thanks again guys 👍

Thomas LoveVerified

hillwalking

“Four days on the Cuiilin Ridge, Skye”

There was a quickly developed trust in Stephen who was instantly likeable. Throught he was considerate, professional and courteous. We were two people in our sixties with limited experience. One day was particularly wet with limited visibility. Stephen guided us round three Munro's with amazing knowledge of these peaks. This is very complex ground that could only be navigated in such conditions by an expert. He had complete confidence in his ability. I had a great time... Would use Stephen again without hesitation.

Jean ClarkVerified

open canoe holidays

“Canoe Across Scotland”

We have just finished the Canoe Across Scotland trip and I can not recommend it enough. Brilliant trip, people, good times and a fantastic instructor in Terry! Onto the next adventure!

Ian HarveyVerified

open canoe holidays

“An amazing experience!”

Most memorable was successfully negotiating ‘The Washing Machine’ & ‘Nockando’ rapids without capsizing. Our guide Rory was exceptional and a top class cook. Thanks to him for a memorable trip down the Spey and to Stephen McCall for collecting us from Spey Bay at the end. Highly recommended!

Graham BVerified

winter skills

“Amazing”

It was amazing! I leant so much and Stephen made sure our group got out of it what we were looking for. Personally, I wanted to take the first step towards alpinism. Learnt about the skills and how to make good decisions when you’re out there. Can really apply this to future adventures. thanks Stephen!

Rosie DVerified

scrambling

“Skye ridge”

Wow what an experience!! Had been looking into and putting off this trip for a while, being a previous client I contacted Stephen and arranged the trip. I was out my comfort zone with the climbing and abseiling but Stephen is very experienced and patient. Thanks scottishrockandwater till next time..

Kevin MacDonaldVerified

hillwalking

“Great walking in Cairgorms”

Enjoyed walking Cairn Gorm 400s great company to do it with made it very enjoyable would definitely recommend this company

Andy SmiddyVerified

winter skills

“Experience of a lifetime”

Highly recommended. The instructor (Stephen) is a great,chilled guy with amazing knowledge on avalanche awareness. I definitely feel more confident on map reading and winter skills.

Dave MayersVerified

winter skills

“Winter Skills 5 day”

Really enjoyed the 5 day winter skills course. Learnt lots, enjoyed the experience and would recommend this to anyone who's interested in experiencing the hills in the snow.

Jessica SteinmanVerified

scrambling

“Classic Scrambling Glencoe”

We did the scrambling course over a weekend and had an absolute blast. Kris was super attentive, and having him to guide us through the mountains and the sometimes tricky route finding meant we could just focus on the scrambling and the incredible views, without worry. He even lent us his sticks to help with a tricky scree descent, which was really kind and very much appreciated. Would definitely recommend!

DanVerified

open canoe holidays

“Paddle across Scotland”

A really unique experience - wild camping next to outstandingly beautiful surroundings. Delicious meals and snacks, and Stephen personalised this with peoples preferences. Lots of help if needed for putting up tents and sorting equipment.

TracyVerified

canoe trips and courses

“White Water Intro Canoe”

My wife and I went on an open canoe coaching day with Stephen from Scottish Rock & Water. He took the time to find out what we already knew and what we wanted to accomplish. He then put a plan together and gradually took us through the skills he knew we would need to acquire. He was patient when we got things wrong and gave us plenty of time to practice each new skill on the river until we got it. We gained so much confidence that we went and ran the same river a couple of days later. We have now booked in for a second days coaching on a higher graded river. If you would like to improve your skills, we would certainly recommend that you use Scottish Rock & Water. David and Andrea

David & AndreaVerified

rock climbing

“Learn to lead rock climbing”

My friend and I just completed a 5 day learn to lead climbing course. Our guide Josh was a great teacher, very friendly and knowledgable and he made sure we always felt safe. The weather was not on our side and we experienced a lot of rain, hail and snow but this didn't stop us climbing. Josh was prepared for this and he found the most suitable places to go climbing in the less than ideal forecasts. We had the best week and learned so much, from abseiling, making anchors, placing our gear in the rock and improving our climbing skills. My friend and I couldn't recommend this course more highly.

Fiona SmithVerified

open canoe holidays

“Mountains to Sea - Guided Paddling of the River Spey by Open Canoe”

We were extremely fortunate to find an outfit that was prepared to guide us down the Spey so late in the season, at short notice and in the middle of the pandemic. With a minimum of only 2 paddlers needed to run a trip, there is a good chance of arranging something that suits ones circumstances. From the outset, through phone calls, emails and the website, arrangements were informative and reassuring with every detail covered. As it turned out, we travelled to Scotland from Norfolk on the wettest day on UK records! Consequently, the Spey was in spate when we arrived. Fortunately, with a spare day in hand, levels had dropped enough for the start of the trip to go ahead but nevertheless, the river was running high and fast (faster than anything we had ever encountered before in an open canoe), which presented a unique set of challenges for us to tackle. We soon realised how "tame" our local waterways are in comparison to the Spey but this was precisely our intention - to get some exposure to fast flowing water and rapids and to gain some experience in starting to learn to read the river itself. The Spey did not disappoint in that regard and it would be an understatement to admit that we were frequently out of my (our) comfort zone(s)! However, again from the outset, Stephen provided constant reassurance and advice, expertly guiding us through the trickier sections. Without making a big thing of it, you could see that he was constantly and quietly assessing and reassessing the river and us from a safety perspective and relaying technical tips and snippets of advice on the way. He was incredibly patient with a methodical teaching style that instilled confidence . Paddling demonstrations were often accompanied by an explanation of the thought processes/theories behind them which enhanced understanding and helped them to become embedded. We had plenty of opportunities to practise some of the new techniques and to develop a degree of self reliance by leading the way on occasions (closely followed by Stephen’s canoe!), useful for learning to read the conditions and select a favourable route through. We shared Stephen’s respect for the water. The trip was a timely reminder to us to do so at all times. An added bonus was the stunning riverside scenery and the backdrop of the Cairngorms in the earlier stages. The weather was also kind after the weekend deluge. WSR supplied all the canoeing and camping equipment which was of high spec and in good working order. We picked up some recommendations for our own set up at home and advice for enhancing safety on forthcoming trips. Campsites were all designated sites along the river. They were basic but perfectly adequate. At that time of year, we thankfully escaped midge attacks. We ate like royalty. We had fresh food each day and plenty of it to satisfy appetites boosted by a day’s paddling. The homemade flapjacks were to die for! After we all parted company, Stephen followed up with an overview, summarising all that we had covered – again very useful for consolidating all that we had learnt. He also sent us photos/video footage taken en route by him which compensated for us forgetting to put a memory card in our waterproof camera! Now, we need to practise. We clearly still have a lot to learn. All in all, a great trip – great experience, great guidance, great company and a privilege to have shared such a great river. The perfect antidote for Covid! We wholeheartedly recommend SRW and Stephen and feel inspired by his passion for the great outdoors. He has an impressive “office”. Thankyou so much SRW. Much appreciated. Till next time....

Yvonne & John WilsonVerified

Open Canoe Holidays

“Guided Descent of the River Spey”

We experienced a fantastic canoe trip on the Spey River. All well planned and organized. Thanks to Stephen and his team!

Marro VreysVerified

rock climbing

“Great day out climbing in Glencoe”

Great refresher climbing day in Glencoe. Covered all the skills that I was fairly rusty on following an injury layoff and climbed a classic multi-pitch route that had been on my wish list for a long time.

May SmithVerified

scrambling

“Excellent day on Fiacaill Ridge”

Thanks so much to our guide Josh for a super fun day on the fiacaill ridge. He was incredibly knowledgeable and supportive - even when I was shuffling around on my bum. Would heartedly recommend Scottish Rock & Water!

Caroline PVerified

winter skills

“Two Day Winter Skills”

Had a great two days on the Winter Skills Course having had no experience of the Scottish Hills in winter before. Iain our instructor, provided us with great advice on assessment of the weather, snow conditions and how to use ice axe and crampons. I gained a great deal of knowledge in this short time. Also met a great bunch of people with similar interests. Hope I can return for the longer course. Thanks

Duncan YVerified

scambling

“Canoe Trip Across Scotland ”

We have just come back from an amazing canoeing trip from Inverness to Fort William- due to the wind direction I believe we went the less conventional way round but I liked it for that! Our guide Adam was great company and really looked after us all so well. Food was great and plenty of it! If I were to go again I might take my own blow up mattress in addition to the one supplied as I felt the ground after four nights (!) and a fellow camper bought some neoprene socks with him which looked a good idea too! Overall it was a fantastic few days and I really loved it!

PoppyVerified

rock climbing

“Fab 'Learn to Lead' course!”

Such a great two days on the Learn to Lead Climb course with Stephen. Not only is Stephen a fantastic instructor (we learnt so much!), but we also enjoyed his excellent company and conversation! We will be back!

Lydia HoneyVerified

winter climbing

“Fantastic couple of days winter climbing - highly recommended”

I went on a Winter Climbing Intro course with Scottish Rock and Water and would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in getting outdoors and learning about winter climbing, or improving their existing skills. Stephen, my guide, was superb - very knowledgeable and happy to pass on his insights and experience, as well as being a great communicator and instructor for all of the skills being taught (and great company as well!). The course was tailored to the skills I needed to learn and improve on, and the routes chosen for the two days were ideal for practicing these (as well as being two awesome days out!). I'll definitely book again!

Tim HardingVerified

winter climbing

“February climbing course”

Introduction to winter climbing 2 day course. I joined my son for this course and had a great two days. Although the weather and conditions where mixed. Stephen provided an excellent 2days. Explain everything in a great and interesting way. Adapting the day to our mixed requirements and at all times making us feel safe, informed and very much part of the process. His communication before the course was also excellent. Will happily recommend him to anyone looking for instruction. Hope might take it a bit further myself!

Danny SVerified

hillwalking

“Scrambling in the Cullins”

Stephen was awesome. We had a fantastic time on the Cullin Ridge. In tough weather conditions (snow, ice, hail) Stephen was able to safely lead and facilitate a combination of scrambling, route finding and Munro baggin. Stephen also helped us develop our own skills in scrambling in the Cullins. Can't recommend highly enough absolutely brilliant.

John McCarron Verified

open canoe holidays

“Incredible Adventure”

Fantastic five days of adventure paddling through incredible scenery in wonderful company. Skilfully led by Steve who looked after us, encouraged us and fed us with delicious home cooked camp meals.

Jon RVerified

open canoe holidays

“4 day descent of the Spey. Aviemore to the sea. Ejector seat advisory”

1st Class open canoe trip down the Spey. Great mix of adventure, jeopardy and relaxation. Guided by Stephen and taxied by Rosie. As a first time open canoe paddler it was a pleasure to draw on Stephen’s experience, passion and knowledge of Scotland’s wild places for a few days. Food, company and hospitality all excellent and would highly recommend to anyone thinking about this to use these guys.

PhilipVerified

hillwalking

“Superb week climbing the Skye Munro's”

Climbing the Munro's on Skye was a bit more challenging than I first thought ,having the guide from Scottish Rock and Water gave me the confidence to climb the difficult climbs such as Inaccessible Pinnacle I would recommend them to anyone who wanted to have the good experience that I did.

Graham HVerified

scrambling

“Aonach Eagach Traverse”

Had the most fantastic day out with Stephen traversing the terrifying Aonach Eagach. Stephen was very attentive in tailoring my experience to help me gain confidence for future sky running races. Throughout the hike he offered tips and tricks on getting across the ridge safely especially in wet, slippery conditions that we had that day. Could not recommend Scottish rock and Waters enough. Will definitely be back to book another challenging hike. Thank you!

Anita SVerified

rock climbing

“Intro to Rock Climbing”

“Liathach scramble”

Great day scrambling with Stephen over the Liathach ridge. He is a first class guide who is very experienced. I have previously done the Aonach Eagach ridge with Stephen and cannot recommend him highly enough. I look forward to tackling some more scrambles with him in the future.

Stewart RafertyVerified

open canoe holidays

“Guided Descent of the River Spey”

Had an excellent time going down the river Spey with Stephen and the rest of the group. Great fun, excellent guidance from Stephen who made sure we were safe and confident in the canoe. Pam loved the bacon rolls in the morning and the many cups of tea at the breaks! 👌 Stephen worked hard to make sure everyone was happy. Excellent trip, highly recommended! 5⭐️

Rene LooperVerified

open canoe holidays

“Fantastic trip!”

Went on the canoe and wild camping across Scotland trip. The trip was amazing saw so much of Scotland that you wouldn’t normally get to see, our guide Rory was excellent, very knowledgeable about the history and nature surrounding the trip. The food was excellent, delicious hot cooked meals every day. I would highly recommend doing this trip and if you get Rory as your guide you will be guaranteed a fantastic experience.

Elspeth BVerified

scrambling

“Aonach Eagach Guided Traverse”

Had such an amazing unforgettable day!! Highly recommend Scottish Rock and Water and guide Alex. Everything was such a quick simple process when booking and Alex was so patient and made me feel safe throughout! Can’t thank you enough....I’ll get booking my next adventure soon 🤗

Victoria MossmanVerified

rock climbing

“Learn to Lead Climb course”

Me and my friend went on the Learn to Lead Climb course, and it was a fantastic experience! Our instructor Steven was brilliant! He was very helpful and took the course at a pace that was suited to our level and how quickly we wanted to progress. Luckily we had great weather too so the views and locations were excellent. Would definitely recommend any one wanting to lead climb to try this course.

Adam KVerified

Scrambling

“Skye Classic Scrambles”

Stephen was recommended to me by an associate. As always when using someone for the first time I was slightly apprehensive but I need not have been. I cannot thank and recommend Stephen enough, I had an absolutely incredible week with him. He is an extremely likeable person, fully supportive and keen to ensure clients meet their goals, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic and very skilful. I felt totally safe at all times. I would not hesitate to use Stephen again and would he would come highly recommended by me. 10 out of 10 for both the week and Stephen

Malcolm ClappVerified

scrambling

“Skye Classic Scrambling”

We had an amazing three days in the Cuillins - highlights were Pinnacle Ridge and the In Pinn. Thanks to our guide Josh, we gained confidence and some technical skills. We would recommend to anyone who wants to have a fantastic time in the mountains but is not yet at the stage where they feel confident independently.

Emily DavisVerified

winter skills

“Winter Skills”

I really enjoyed the 5 day winter skills introduction and I feel a lot more confident now going out in winter by myself. Stephen provided just the right balance challenging our group whilst still keeping the experience enjoyable. I'd recommend this to anyone seeking to gain new mountaineering skills!

Jess IstVerified

canoe trips and courses

“Canoe trip on River Tay”

Fantastic trip down the River Tay from Kenmore to Aberfeldy with my husband and two teenage sons. Jerry was a great instructor and kept us all safe down the trickier bits of the river. We’re all novices but had a great day out. Highly recommend!

Laura SorleyVerified

rock climbing

“Fantastic 2 day climbing course”

I spent 2 days learning lead climbing with our instructor Peter. This was without doubt the best 2 days instruction on any outdoor course I have been on. Our instructor Peter, was relaxed, friendly and good fun as well as extremely knowledgeable in climbing and outdoor pursuits. Over 2 days he shared a wealth of this knowledge with us building on the fundamentals of climbing right through to lead climbing crags. In addition we learned essential skills relating to anchor building and safe practices of rock climbing. A great 2 days thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommended. Thanks to Stephen and his team particularly Peter for his instruction and company over the 2 days. If you are looking for outdoor rock climbing tuition then Scottish Rock and water are highly recommended.

James JamiesonVerified

Scrambling

“Aonach Eagach Guided Traverse”

The Aonach Eagach ridge had been on my must do list for many, many years, but with all that I have read about it I was very apprehensive. For my 65th birthday my daughter booked us on a day on the ridge with Stephen. What you read is true. It is exciting. It's exhilarating, and it's scary. It was a huge personal challenge for me and if it wasn't for Stephen it would still be on my must do list. Stephen was an excellent guide. Knowledgeable and skilled and, with a very personable and patient manner, he was very reassuring. His intimate knowledge of the route and his encouragement and advice gave us confidence to do deal with the trickiest parts. Sarah and I had a brilliant day. Apart from his leadership skills, Stephen is a good companion on the hills. We had a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding day to remember. We would highly recommend this experience to anyone.

Maurice KellyVerified

winter climbing

“Winter Climbing Intro”

I spent 2 days having a private guided intro to winter climbing. It was fantastic. Throughout the course Stephen created a brilliant learning environment building on my previous experience (I also did the winter skills course with SRW in January) and adapting where necessary. We worked through belaying techniques along with establishing anchor points, body belays and snow bollards, effective use of gear and setting abseil points. We worked around Coire an T-Sneachda climbing Jacobs Edge on day 1 and the Hidden Chimney on day 2. I'm really excited for building on this experience and taking the skills forward, I've already been telling people just how much they'd enjoy this course. Thanks again!

SimonVerified

open canoe holidays

“Such good fun”

This is my second trip with Stephen at Scottish rock and water. I would highly recommend going with them. Everything from the equipment provided, food and so much more was fantastic. I felt extremely safe when on the water with stephens knowledge. I will definitely be booking again. Thank you

Jaki CVerified

winter skills

“Excellent adventure, brilliant tuition”

We have just landed back after an excellent weekend with Steven from Scottish rock and water on the basic skills course. This was everything we hoped for and so much more - he took time to really explain the key information, whilst also ensuring we had ample time to practice the various element out for on the mountain. He’s friendly and welcoming and I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting to make a start in winter mountaineering.

Tom WilliamsVerified

winter climbing

“Perfect intro to winter climbing”

We booked on to a winter climbing trip with Scottish Rock & Water on a bit of a whim, without any real idea of what we wanted to achieve. We had some fairly robust hiking experience and next to no actual climbing experience, so the closer we got to the trip, the more we started questioning what on earth we'd actually signed ourselves up for. Turns out we needn't have worried at all - Stephen and Josh met us at the café on the first morning to talk through plans for the weekend and to get a bit of an idea of where we were at, and from there they crafted an ideal weekend for us which not only gave us a solid foundation to build upon, but also pushed us out of our comfort zones just the right amount: it was the sort of trip that had hearts pounding as we scaled Central Gulley with ice axes and crampons, and then had us reminiscing as soon as we were safely back in the pub. If you want a fun, professional way to push your limits, this is it.

James LVerified

open canoe holidays

“one word- AMAZING.”

This is the second time my old man and i have gone with scottish rock and water for our canoeing holiday. Last year we did the river spey. This week we did the river tay. As always , Steve was absolutely fantastic. He taught us more canoeing skills, took us down some amazing rapids and was always happy to help. My dad and i had a fantastic time and its thanks to Steve that we had a great holiday. Steve is such an easy person to get on with + can have a great laugh with. The river tay is an absolutely beautiful river which i feel people should definitely experience. So, if you are reading this review and are wondering whether you should book with Scottish Rock and Water; the answer is yes, 100% you MUST. You won’t regret it and you will have the best holiday. 10/10 Again, thank you Steve for the holiday and laughs. See you next time for the river Dee.

Phil BarnesVerified

open canoe holidays

“Guided Descent of the River Spey”

We done our decent of the Spey at the end of May 2022. We had a fantastic time, everything was catered for to ensure our trip was a success. Our guide Rory was a great instructor, a skilled cook and good company too. It was our first time canoeing on a river, but the tuition from Rory was excellent and he was patient with us too. Our ability and confidence grow each day, we loved all the time we spent on the water. We felt safe at all times. Each day presented a different challenge, the water was flowing fast and we had great fun. The food was first class and there was plenty on offer. The rainy Scottish weather could not dampen our spirits, it only helped the water flow all the quicker. Well looked after from start to finish, excellent value for money. Thanks for the great experience.

SergioVerified

Hillwalking Holidays

“Letterewe and Fisherfields”

Had a fantastic weekend hill walking near Ullapool, made even better with our guide Stephen from Scottish Rock and Water. Very experienced, knowledgeable and really easy to get along with. I would highly recommend Scottish Rock and Water for individuals or groups looking to tackle the mountains with the reassurance of added safety to ensure a great time.

Stuart ArmourVerified

scrambling

“Scrambling”

A very insighful and highly enjoyable day out. Stephen designed the day out to what i required and gained valuable experience both on the rocks and rope. I certainly would highly recommend choosing his business and will be heading back to learn more.

Shaun EllisVerified

winter skills

“An excellent week of winter skills tuition”

My boyfriend and I had an absolutely brilliant time on the 5 day course. Communication was excellent from before booking the course to each day of our trip! Stephen and Josh gave us the confidence to tackle some severe weather conditions through their guidance, demonstrations of skills and sharing of knowledge about the micro and macro details of our route. They really inspired and developed confidence during some harsh weather conditions and we felt safe at all times (including in total whiteout with 60mph gusts). Both Stephen and Josh were really experienced and able to explain and demonstrated things clearly. They were incredibly patient and answered all questions in a personable manner and always encouraged us to independently consolidate all skills from planning, to footwork (both with and without crampons), to ice axe arrests. Each day seemed really geared towards our interests and the skills we wanted to learn. From speaking to others in the hostel it seemed we achieved a lot more, hit more peaks, independently practiced more skills (under subtle supervision) and generally got a lot more from our trip than with other providers. We will definitely be back for some more courses!

Hannah and Jack Verified

scrambling

“Advanced Scrambling Course”

Can't recommend Stephen and Scottish Rock & Water highly enough. He took the time to figure out exactly what we wanted from the course, and thanks to his deep experience and local knowledge was able to tailor the routes we did and the skills we covered perfectly to make sure we got the maximum from the weekend. Hugely professional but good fun and a pleasure to spend a couple of long and demanding but very rewarding days on the hill with. After Lagangarbh Buttress on Saturday and Curved Ridge on Sunday we felt confident enough to take on the Aonach Eagach ridge on our own on Monday - all in all an incredible weekend. Cheers Stephen!

JohnVerified

hillwalking

“Two Memeroble days on The Black Cuillins”

Stephen is an excellent expert guide. Despite less favorable weather conditions he was able to juggle plans so I was able to get out on the hills. His intimate knowledge of the routes in poor visibility on pathless terrain along with advice and encouragement gives you the confidence to progress. A great couple of days and I will definitely use Stephen again

Harry BrownVerified

scrambling

“Great day on the ridge”

Jack was very knowledgeable and gauged the needs of the party as we went along the ridge very well. The pace and level of the group was managed very well with opportunities to challenge ourselves on slightly harder holds etc if we wanted to. Great to hear about the local history and geology during rest breaks as well! Overall a great day and made the more enjoyable with the added benefit of knowing that you were in very safe and experienced hands

Andrew ClaytonVerified

rock climbing

“Learn to Lead Climb”

A friend and I booked Stephen from Scottish Rock & Water for a day of trad climbing tuition, after being recommended him by a friend. We were not disappointed. The day was perfectly tailored to our experience and levels of confidence, rather than being a set syllabus. We took away lots of new skills, knowledge and tips. The summary which Stephen emailed us afterwards is a great way of reminding us everything we covered and handy to refer back to when we are out practising our newly acquired skills on our own. Stephen is patient, calm, knowledgeable and a natural teacher. Importantly, we also had lots of fun! I would not hesitate to recommend Stephen to others and I will certainly be keen to book Stephen again when I feel ready to take my climbing to the next level

Rachel LimbrickVerified

winter skills

“Advanced Winter Skills 5 day”

I arrived at Aviemore by train during on Sunday where Scotland was getting battered by storms Malik and Corrie. Even though there was a tree across the road, Stephen our instructor kept in contact by WhatsApp and picked me up at my B&B in his van with the Scottish Rock & Water logo on the side. All travel is provided by the company. I then meet a lovely couple who made up the rest of the team in the cafe at Tiso’s where Stephen proceeded to outline avalanche awareness with the aid of a laptop. This is a skill that you constantly use in the mountains where Stephen would point out details out that confirmed forecasts seen earlier. Navigation and tips such as getting the right map case and choice and manipulation of the map you would use. We put this into practice through out the course while Stephen added different methods such as taking a back bearing, pacing or confirming you position using a GPS device which gave you confidence your on the right track. I had great fun digging a snow hole though we never got a chance to sleep in it due to the poor weather conditions so the instructor is always looking out for your safety. Stephen gave me pointers and work arounds due to my disabilities after a stroke such as maybe using a longer ice axe and daggering a lot more rather than walking across steep terrain in crampons We summited Braeriach midweek which is the 3rd highest mountain in Britain. We also learnt how to self-arrest with the ice axe in several fall positions, rope skills such as how to build a snow belay and a snow anchor using our ice axes. Stephen gave us confidence in the snow belays we dug out by getting the team to try and brake it by having all 4 of us pulling hard on it! PDFs summaries detailing a lot of the course were also of benefit. We ended most days with hot chocolate and a chat in the cafe where Stephen answered any questions we had during the day in the Cairngorms. Overall as much fun and education you can get out of a cold, wet and windy Scottish winter. Highly recommended!!

Raymond Chin Verified

scrambling

“Excellent guiding for Skye Munros.”

Our third year being guided by Stephen and his team on the Cuillin Munros. All of us would, and have, recommend Scottish Rock and Water without hesitation. In 2023 and 2024 we were guided by Stephen and his two colleagues as a group of 6; and in 2025 there were 4 of us split into pairs with different objectives. The guides kept us very safe, provided clear instructions and excellent advice on moving through the terrain, and good conversation too! They adapted to their clients' different levels of confidence with heights, and varying levels of fitness, very well. Encouraging and supportive throughout.

Richard MVerified

scrambling

“Amazing”

Stephen is the best! I had the most amazing experience on Aonach Eagach ridge. He has great patience and understanding. Thank you for allowing me to experience it.

Heather BirdsyeVerified

open canoe holidays

“Exceptional canoe trip and highly recommend”

From the beginning at booking almost a year ago till we finished our canoe trip the comms with Steve at scottish rock and water was exceptional. Its hard to leave a review that is not just all glowing and can instead give constructive feedback ..... With that in mind the below is a brain dump. 1 - booking - was painless - we had people swap in and out over the year without issue. 2- food- The entire trip was catered, we had alternate hot cold breakfasts, wraps for lunch and hot evening meal all cooked with the groups dietary challenges in mind ( veggie and myself who was allergic to tomato). There was more than enough food coffee tea and hot chocolate. Only possible constructive i would give on this would be dont forget the tea bags :P ( in group joke) 3- activity - the canoe trip had all sorts of weather wind rain waves the lot. Laura our trip guide was exceptional at motivating us when we needed to dig deep to get across a swell and at the same times with humour and banter to keep spirits up. Her water skills are exceptional and i highly recommend you request Laura if she is available. Her knowledge of where to make camp based on the weather etc was paramount to our success in getting across Ness. Even if we did have to bail at times :P. Taking into account various team members physical ability or experience Laura ensured we felt able to push hard when needed. 4 - kit - we brought our own crash mats but other than that everything else was provided by Scottish rock and water. in terms of personal kit i would recommend scuba boots and seal skin socks, dont forget your sun block, a tick remover, dry bags for inside the barrels since the barrels are not water tight. A Battery pack for cameras and phones recharge and most important a snack bag in a dry bag for munchies when on the water. in terms of midge we used smidge and avon skin so soft. 5- Portage - think the itinerary mentions one or two portage on day 1 or such. in reality there are quite a few. on one day there were 3 portage ( all short distance) on another there were one or two long ish portages. Everyone grouped up 4 to a canoe to get them over so dont worry.

Steve MVerified

open canoe holidays

“Five star week”

The trip was well planned, good food and plenty of it. Appreciated the home cooked element. The guide was professional and certainly very experienced. I felt well looked after and that she was always assessing the situation and the surroundings. She set a good pace and constantly checked in with us all. The gear was in good condition and the two person tent was very spacious. Views magnificent and the weather perfect. Definitely a great decision to go the opposite way Inverness to Fort William made for an easier trip. Loved being able to sail so much. Now looking at what to do next year with the other women in the trip, new friends.

Elizabeth BVerified

winter skills

“Excellent Winter Skills course with Jack”

We had a brilliant weekend learning and developing our winter skills in Jan’20. Jack led the mixed group of 4 for 2 days in Cairngorm. He managed the levels of experience well to make sure everyone isn’t he group was learning and not being left behind. The instruction was top level during both conceptual and practical sessions. We will definitely be recommending and getting in touch for doing more courses. Thanks guys!

Simon Shepard Verified

rock climbing

“I can now lead climbs”

Stephen's lead climbing course gave my daughter and I the confidence to climb outside on our own, which we have now done. Success! He was also great company.

Alan HoneyVerified

open canoe holidays

“Guided Descent of the River Spey”

We had a great adventure with Terry as our guide, canoeing down the Spey. The water was high and fast (and cold) so the time spent on the water was less than I'm sure other trips would be. Terry taught us the necessary skills to navigate the fast water. We even avoided almost all the trees on the bank... The equipment was all in perfect condition. The food was excellent and we had a lovely pub dinner at Craigellachie. I would recommend the Spey Descent to anyone wanting an enjoyable canoe trip. Scottish Rock and Water were easy to communicate with at all stages.

Jenna WoodsVerified

Open Canoe Holidays

“Guided Descent of the River Spey”

RikVerified

winter skills

“Fantastic experience on the Winter Skills Course”

Had a fantastic weekends on the Winter Skills Course. Spend 2 epic days in the mountains learning skills on journeys into the mountains. Ben was fantastic and focused on equipping us with the skills go mountaineering independently in winter conditions, tailoring the experience to our individual requests and pre-existing knowledge. The weekend was loads of fun all the way through. Thanks very much.

Tahlia SVerified

winter mountaineering

“Highly recommended mountaineering course and guide in cairngorms”

Amazing 2 days on the winter mountaineering course. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to gain more mountaineering skills and knowledge and have fun whilst doing it. Stephen was very knowledgeable and provided us with a bespoke course tailored to our needs. The weather was challenging but stephen tailored the programme to suit the conditions. Would highly recommend.

Matt BVerified

hillwalking

“Suilven Guided Hike”

Having only a little hillwalking experience, I was unsure of how I would handle such a long day out tackling Suilven, but really wanted the challenge. So after researching lots of local guides, I decided to go with Scottish Rock and Water based on their ethos and excellent reviews. What an amazing day! I cannot put into words how beautiful Suilven and the views from its summit are, you really just have to get out there to see it and feel it for yourself. And if you’re looking for a guide, I would highly recommend having Stephen by your side. Stephen is an incredibly friendly and easy going person, and offered guidance and reassurance where I needed it, in a patient and supportive manner. Also, with Stephen’s positive feedback and sound advice along the way, I feel more confident in myself, and believe I can now gauge much better which hills to tackle next.

Tena MitchellVerified

rock climbing

“2 day lead climbing course”

Thanks for a fab weekend Stephen! Your knowledge and enthusiasm speaks as loudly as you motivation to see people enjoy the great outdoors! Myself and a friend took the 2 day course to help us transition from climbing gyms to outdoor trad climbing. We spent the first day at Kinguisse and the second day up at cummingstown. Made for a great weekend and we certainly learnt a lot. Since then Stephen has been in contact to see how we’re getting on and progressing and has provided insight and support! Top weekend and top bloke!

Steve HeapVerified

winter skills

“Winter skills”

Second time with Stephen after a successful and highly enjoyable introduction to Scrambling course during the previous summer. Once again, a fantastic two days with Stephen and my friend. Stephen is great to talk to and very knowledgeable and can cater the day to your experience and what you want to achieve from the course. Superb Blue bird day the 1st then the second was a tough, windy and very little visibility on the 2nd. Navigation became key on the second day which combined with snow and crampons etc. Was a real winter experience. Superb day and can't recommend Stephen enough! Great weekend summary at the end of the weekend too

Tim PakenhamVerified

winter mountaineering

“First taste of Scottish winter climbing!”

Went on a two day winter climbing course, organised superbly by Stephen, guided by Lou. This is what I wrote to Stephen post course, which sums up my experience: "Just wanted to drop you a note re our course this weekend. Lou was absolutely fantastic - patient, interested, helped us when we needed it and the gauged the level we were at perfectly. Scottish winter climbing is certainly nothing like anything we have experienced before! Thank you for your sorting things out at short notice after John's unfortunate illness. We feel like we have lots of things to work on in terms of single axe mountaineering & would definitely be interested in booking with you again in the near future - thinking about doing something on Skye - if Lou had any dates that fit that would be ideal."

Jonny GoldsbroughVerified

scrambling

“Scrambling weekend Glencoe”

I had a really excellent weekend scrambling with Stephen, first on Curved ridge, and then on the Aonach Eagach. My main goal for the weekend had been to improve my confidence and headspace on exposed terrain and I definitely came away feeling that. A thoroughly enjoyable weekend, and a good challenge too, I'd definitely go with them again. I learnt heaps, always felt safe, tested myself and had a lot of fun! Thanks very much!

Fiona BuckhillVerified

open canoe holidays

“I had an amazing time canoeing down the Spey”

It was amazing I enjoyed the food and drink that had been added to because of my kids. They knew exactly where and when to have breaks. Bacon every morning was very tasty and got us ready for the day. Terry was a brilliant guide a made us have fun.

Abbie MVerified

winter skills

“2 Day Winter skills course in the Cairngorms.”

I had a great 2 days on the Scottish Rock and Water, Winter skills course. It was easy to book and Stephen was always available to answer any questions beforehand. My instructor Ella was superb. Very friendly, knowledgeable and patient. I learned so much from her, and feel much more confident about going out in the hills by myself in the winter. Would definitely recommend Scottish Rock and Water😊

Mattew BVerified

open canoe holidays

“River Spey Guided Canoe Trip”

We had a great time canoeing down the river spey, our guide Rory was fantastic, he cooked us delicious meals every night, gave great tuition for canoeing skills, calming presence and patient with canoe newbies! Stephen had made flapjacks and a curry for us to enjoy on the trip, which we really appreciated! Would defiantly recommend to anyone who wants an adventure in the highlands! We saw lots of birds, herons catching fish, and even a seal as we pulled into spey bay, which was a lovely way to finish! Thankyou Rory and Stephen :)

Maria NVerified

scrambling

“A truly thrilling traverse of the Aonach Eagach ridge in Glencoe”

An unforgettable day out on one of Scotland's most iconic mountain ridges. Stephen is an excellent and highly professional guide and under his calm and hugely experienced leadership I felt completely safe and secure throughout the day, sometimes with ropes and sometimes without. This meant I was able to enjoy the breathtaking and often very airy views with the ever-present dramatic backdrop of Glencoe. Stephen set a steady and comfortable pace from the beginning and his enthusiastic and informed conversation just added to the enjoyment of the day. The online booking process with Scottish Rock and Water is very efficient and the communication before the day was excellent. If you've ever thought of doing the Aonach Eagach ridge but are concerned about the technical nature of scramble, I strongly recommend the guided traverse with Scottish Rock & Water - you'll not regret it!

Phil CossiepVerified

open canoe holidays

“Canoe paddle covering 74 miles coast to coast in Scotland's stunning highland scenery.”

During the adventure we soaked up stunning mountain scenery , rugged wild camping on the shores of three Lochs , evenings around a camp fire mulling over the days events, and enjoyed tasty evening meals prepared for us by our intrepid super guide Rory . "Round the next corner" was always something new to discover, the scottish weather added challenging moments which enhanced the sense of adventure and days achievement.

Colin HVerified

scrambling

“Isle of Skye - Cuillin Ridge 2 Day Traverse”

I would highly recommend Scottish Rock & Water if you are looking to explore the Cuillin Ridge on the Isle of Skye. Stephen was extremely helpful during the initial stages of planning the traverse and replied swiftly to email and WhatsApp enquiries. The website is comprehensively put together and easy to navigate. He phoned shortly after the enquiry to explain what was involved with the traverse and to make sure that the physical requirements were understood. From there he put us in touch with our Mountaineering Instructor for the trip called Josh who also phone to arrange the finer details for the traverse closer to the date. Myself and my friend Dan embarked on the Cuillin Ridge 2 Day Traverse guided by Josh and set off from the Glenbrittle Campsite. On the first morning of the traverse the weather reports were quite changeable and uncertain so Josh made the call for us to go up and take a look and see how we get on. It turns out it was a great call as we were extremely lucky with the 2 day weather window offered to us by the fickle Scottish weather! The traverse went really well and everything seem to come together in our favour for a successful 2 days on the ridge. Josh was extremely professional and we were really impressed with his knowledge of the the entire ridge line. The navigation up there is very difficult with no clear defined path and endless scree and crags so having a guide with such comprehensive knowledge of the Cuillins made the experience much more enjoyable. The traverse included a climb of the iconic Inaccessible Pinnacle which was great to bag as part of the whole thing. My favourite part was at the end of day 1 when we climbed and abseiled the 3 summits on Bidean Druim nan Ramh. After that we set up a bivi and slept overnight on ridge in the dip before An Caisteal. This was a great experience and the view in the morning was breathtaking with the cloud inversion below us. We woke up and completed the rest of the ridge the next day ending on a great scramble/climb to the summit of Sgurr nan Gillean. It was then followed a swift walk out with and a well earned pint in the Sligachan Inn.

Nick GromleyVerified

rock climbing

“Intro to Rock Climbing”

My husband and I had a brilliant two days where we had lots of fun, learned a lot and improved our climbing. Our guide Laura was super friendly, very knowledgeable and helpful when we had questions. We spent one day near kingussie, and the other near the beach further north and both were beautiful settings. Thanks Laura!

Simon RawlingsVerified

rock climbing

“Learn to Lead Climb”

I spent a great two days with Stephen refreshing skills for the SPA award. Stephen took the time to understand exactly what I wanted to get out of the course and, as always, was extremely encouraging, supportive and patient. His excellent knowledge of the crag and award syllabus meant I definitely got the most out of the two days and feel a lot more confident working towards assessment. Thank you, Stephen!

KatieVerified

winter skills

“Winter Skills Course”

My friend Tim and I spent 2 days on a winter Skills Course with Stephen and thoroughly enjoyed it. We learnt a huge amount in the two days improving our confidence and skills in the hills during winter . We were blessed with the weather serving up a dreamy blue bird day. Stephen tailored the course perfectly to suit me and my friend . I would highly recommend to anyone of any ability . Cheers Gordon

Gordon SVerified

hillwalking

“Scrambling in the Cullins”

We had an absolutely amazing time with Stephen - climbing, scrambling and abseiling in the Skye Cullins. Stephen was so expert in taking us through every part of the process. I couldn't believe want we managed to do. Thanks to Stephen we have now completed all the Munros in Skye in the most exciting trips of a lifetime. I cant wait to book some more adventures with Scottish Rock and Water.

John McCVerified

scrambling

“Scramble on Curved Ridge”

A brilliant day on Buachaille Etive Mor scrambling the Curved Ridge! This is an iconic and impressive mountain and ascending its rocky face was a daunting prospect. Stephen is an excellent guide. His reassuring manner, his competence and experience, his tips and advice all combined to give me the confidence to tackle things that I would otherwise have turned back from. This was my second trip with Stephen having traversed Aonach Eagach in 2017. He is good company for a day in the hills. The mood was relaxed and comfortable and it turned what was a difficult challenge for me into a rewarding achievement.

Maurice KellyVerified

open canoe holidays

“Canoe down the Spey”

Had an excellent family canoe trip down the Spey. Cannot fault the trip - camping spots were idyllic, food was tasty and our guide Terry was first class! I highly recommend the company and this trip

Jim MacAulayVerified

open canoe holidays

“River Spey Decent.”

Fantastic decent of the River Spey in a canoe. 4 days, 3 nights. Each day on the water was different, day 1 was twists and turn and good for practise, 2 was flowing well with some waves to enjoy, 3 had the Washing Machine and Knockando rapids, 4 was fast flowing with some great turns in which the current kept you on your toes. Our instructor, Rory, was first class in every respect, great instructor, great cook, great company and he was busy throughout the trip looking after the group. The wild camping was an experience and i was surprised just how well we ate on the trip. It was the first time on a river for me and my friend, but good tuition had us skilled enough to stay afloat for the full 60 mile trip. An awesome trip that provided great value for money. The weather was wet at times, but that only helped the flow of the river. Don’t hesitate, book it now and have a blast!

Sergio BVerified

winter skills

“Winter Skills Course and winter adventures”

I learned a great deal during the course, from how to put on my crampons correctly to ice-axe arrest. It was fast-paced, very practical and enjoyable. We were up on the hill the morning after a short introduction to avalanche safety. Going on my own I felt welcome into the group. Ella was a great instructor with masses of experience, ably supported by Liz, who was shadowing. Immediately following the course, I hiked across the Cairngorms with my tent, camping at frozen Loch Etchachan and climbing Ben Macdui and Bynack More. Without the training, this would have been impossible (or at least very unsafe). I am now looking forward to more winter adventures. My only recommendation for improvement would be a one-page handout during the course with a list of the key information taught and websites mentioned. However, this information was sent out by email a few days after the course, along with very helpful supporting videos and even pictures of the Timing Card, for example.

Marek BVerified

open canoe holidays

“Guided Descent of the River Spey”

Completed the Spey river descent in October 2020.Beautiful river, great campsites and very well looked after by our guide from providing good food at camps to teaching us how to read the river and basic canoe technique.The icing on the cake was the thrill of the rapids on day 3, great fun.Certainly inspired to try my hand at some further river trips.

Paul KingVerified

winter skills

“Winter Skills 2 day”

Stephen took my boyfriend and I up Cairngorm to cover some basic winter skills. The day was completely tailored to our desires and needs. After loosing my confidence in winter through a course run by another provider, stephen completely rebuilt my perception of winter mountaineering! We had a brilliant day and learnt a lot. We both left feeling confident enough to use our skills independently, and left with enough knowledge to equip us for our own adventures. Stephen is professional and easy company and I couldnt recommend another provider over Scottish Rock and Water!

Emily JonesVerified

open canoe holidays

“Brilliant Cuillin Ridge Guiding- munros and scrambling, full on adventure day!”

Excellent guides, knowledgeable, ultra safe, good fun and easy to spend the day with. Stephen matched the day to our ambition, creating a day to suit us. The views and quality of scrambling was spectacular, I highly recommend - and hope to book in future for a traverse. Our group of 4 completed 3 munros including the Inn Pinn with 2 guides.

Jack LVerified

open canoe holidays

“4 day canoe trip down the spey”

Just had the most amazing 4 days travelling down the river Spey with Stephen and Rosie. They looked after us from start to finish and helped us all improve our canoe and water skills , great banter and lots of laughs all the way, can’t recommend this enough , best thing I’ve done in a long time, we will deffo be back . Top company thanks again x

Laura SVerified

winter skills

“Great trip - would highly recommend Scottish Rock & Water”

Had a really great couple of days on the intro to winter skills course. Stephen was a great guide and taught us countless useful tips to help build my confidence in trying conditions.

Will RVerified

rock climbing

“Fantastic Day of Climbing at Kingussie Crag”

A brilliant day at Kingussie Crag with my teenage daughter climbing 4 rocks and Abseiling down another. Stephen is a superb instructor - highly personable and very professional. I'd go with this company again in a heartbeat

Stuart StevensonVerified

winter skills

“5 star winter skills course”

Excellent course! Stephen tailored each day to make sure we got the most out of our week. As well as teaching us essential winter skills he gave us lots of tips on kit and practical advice. We learned a lot and finished the week feeling excited to practice our skills in the winter hills over the next couple of months. Would 100% recommend!

Katy OrVerified

Scrambling

rock climbing

“Learn to lead”

I had a brilliant week. Josh is a great instructor and gave us a great grounding in lead climbing well and safely. Josh took us to a variety of different locations, managing to make the best of the weather. Stephen was very helpful in matching me up with another solo traveller so that the course could run. The whole week was really fun and I definitely would recommend. Thanks guys!

Iona BlairVerified

scrambling

“Fabulous days out!”

We had a fantastic two days with our instructor on the advanced scrambling course. Very knowledgeable and we learnt a lot! The booking process was very simple. Would highly recommend this company for anyone considering it! Did not disappoint!

EmmaVerified

rock climbing

“Learn to Lead Climb”

A great couple of days learning to lead climb at Kingussie crag with Aistė Marcinkutė. Will, our instructor, was excellent and passed on a huge amount in the two days. The course has definitely given us the confidence to go out by ourselves (to some easy routes!).

Duncan LawsonVerified

What people wrote

“2 Day Winter Climbing intro”

“Amazing 👏”

“Canoe Across Scotland”

“River Spey canoe trip”

“Guided Descent of the River Spey”

“Scrambling in Glen Coe”

“Tower Ridge Ben Nevis”

“A great day out learning new tricks”

“Winter Skills 2 day”

“An awesome weekend”

“River Spey Trip”

“Fabulous weekend climbing”

“Scrambling experience on Skye :)”

“Liathach scrambling”

“In Pin & Sgurr Mhic Choinnich combo”

“Fantastic day-trip with canoes!”

“Intro to Rock Climbing”

“Guided Canoe trip on Loch Maree”

“Guided Ascent of Tower Ridge”

“Aonach Eagach”

“5 day mountaineering skills course”

“Canoeing across Scotland-nourishment for the soul”

“Winter walking”

“Cairngorms Private Guiding”

“Canoe Across Scotland”

“Winter Skills 5 day”

“White Water Intro Canoe”

“Guided Descent of the River Spey”

“Aonach Eagach Guided Traverse”

“Excellent 5 days on Skye”

“Fantastic Experience”

“Scramble along the Aonach Eagach”

“Remarkable trip on the River Spey”

“Winter climbing intro review”

“Unforgettable trip across Scotland”

“River Spey Guided Canoe Trip”

“Intro to Rock Climbing”

“Scotish rock and water”

“Cuilin ridge traverse”

“One of the Best Adventures in Scotland”

“Super scrambling day at the Great Gully Ridge”

“Awesome week”

“Fantastic four days climbing the Cuillin Mountains”

“4 days on the Skye Cullins”

“River Tay Descent - Killin to Perth”

“Beginners scrambling”

“Canoe Across Scotland”

“Excellent guided canoe trip down the river spey”

“Learn to Lead Climb”

“Winter Skills 2 day”

“Sea Kayak the Summer Isles”

“Mountain Guiding At Its Best”

“Brilliant River Spey decsent”

“Winter Skills 2 day”

“Learn to Lead Climb”

“A 10/10 experience from an exceptional company”

“Canoe Across Scotland”

“Great way to see the Spey and have a great weekend”

“Heart racing Tower Ridge”

“Winter Skills”

“Winter skills course”

“Highly recommended”

“Canoe Across Scotland”

“Learn to lead 2 day course”

“Learn to Lead Trad Weekender”

“Winter Skills”

“Canoe across Scotland”

“Winter walking in Scotland”

“Superb and expert intro to trad climbing”

“Canoeing the Tay 27-31 May2026”

“Ben Wyvis in winter conditions”

“skye classic scrambling”

“Aonach Eagach Guided Traverse”

“Intro to Rock Climbing”

“10/10 superb course”

“Cracking Cairngorms Cragging”

“Fantastic experience”

“Winter skills 2 day course”

“Brilliant winter skills day”