Ian Stephenson's Mountain Freedom Guiding Services

Guided adventure - walking, hiking, scrambling, climbing, wilderness camping and mountain activities throughout Scotland and further afield...

Previous trips -2008

 

 

Archive - Follow this link to see details of trips from 2005 and earlier (Skye, Torridon, Peru, Glencoe, Spain)

Archive - Follow this link to see details of trips from 2006 (Glencoe scrambling, Club Aventure walking Scotland, Peru)

Archive - Follow this link to see details of trips from 2007 (Skye Cuillin, Glencoe + Skye walking with Hewlett Packard, Club Aventure "Lochs et Highlands", Skye High scrambling week, Guardians of Assynt mountain walking, Lakes photo shoot, South Glen Shiel Ridge)

 

Skye and the North West- January 2008

Taking advantage of perfect winter conditions for a couple of grand days.

Red Cuillin Bruach na Frithe and Am Basteir Sgurr nan Gillean Bhasteir Tooth Bidean Druim nan Ramh

 

Glencoe- February 2008

A long-awaited break in the recent stormy weather gave a quality day out. A Powerpoint slideshow of this day is available, Email me and I'll send you a copy.

Stob Ban, Mamores Buachaile Etive Mhor Buachaile Etive Beag Blackrock Cottage Ben Nevis and Sgurr A'Mhaim

 

Glencoe- February 2008

A stable high pressure system gave week-long perfect conditions for these folk having their first taste of the Scottish winter scene. If only it could be like this all the time! Thanks for an awesome couple of days - the photos are amazing and will provide great evidence to show our mates what we've been up to! (Karen, Birmingham)

Ascending a gully to the crest of the ridge Heading up to Coire nan Lochan On Sron Garbh looking towards the South Glencoe peaks Coire nan Lochan On the summit of Stob Coire nan Lochan

 

Group walking Mini-break, Glencoe and Ben Nevis -Easter 2008

Eight people from several different continents all enjoying the delights of an Easter break based in Glencoe, in conjunction with Walkabout Scotland . Wonderful walking and whisky tasting! It was my first visit to Scotland and trekking through the Scottish Highlands was breathtakingly impressive, living up to all my expectations.  Our guide was amazingly knowledgable, caring and patient. My fellow hikers on the trip were great fun and inspiring.   The accommodation was comfortable and clean with a good breakfast spread.  All this combine to make the whole trip extremely memorable. (Grace, London)

North Face of Ben Nevis Traversing under the North Face The team beneath the North Face of Ben Nevis Glenfinnan hills from Ben Nevis In Coire Gabhail - the Lost Valley

 

Mountain Skills Day, Ben Sgulaird - April 2008

Despite a savage forecast, an enjoyable (and mainly sunny) day on the switchback ridge of Glen Creran's Ben Sgulaird.

Bheinn Fhionnlaidh with Bidean nam Bian behind Looking accross the Firth of Lorn Glencoe from Ben Sgulaird A very windy summit! Looking North to Ben Nevis

 

Private Guiding, Skye Cuillin - April 2008

A small group enjoyed superb conditions for a couple of days on the Skye Ridge, which was looking particularly alpine with it's coating of spring snow. If you want to see Skye in perfect sunshine, then Follow this link to view all Ian's photos for this trip

Alasdair, Thearlaich, Mhic Coinnich and Banachdich The View to Rum Scrambling to the summit of Sgurr Dearg Scrambling above an icy Lochan Coire A'Grunndha The View across Upper Coire Lagan

 

Isle of Skye Discovery - May 2008

A week's programme of "exciting but not demanding" hiking throughout Skye. Great weather, superb varied scenery, excellent company, and swimming every day! This trip was run in conjunction with Walkabout Scotland . This was an absolutely wonderful vacation!  The weather gods smiled on us the whole time and Ian was a fantastic guide!  So knowledgeable and passionate about the land and it's history.  The scenery was beautiful and all the members of our group really hit it off.  Couldn't have asked for a better trip! (Linda, USA)

Boarding the "Bella Jane" for Coruisk Duntulm Bay On the Mini Beach, Loch Scavaig Seals in Loch Scavaig Looking up Loch Eishort from Boreraig, Skye

 

Western Lochs and Highlands - May 2008

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, Ben Nevis and Glencoe. Ascents of Ben A'an, Ben Lomond, The Cobbler, Ben Nevis and Buachaille Etive Mhor. Superb weather!

 

Cairngorm Classics - May 2008

Truly big days out on the high tops of the Cairngorms. These Danish Ladies were more than adept at the huge amounts of ascent and descent we did each day, even though their home country rarely reaches 100 metres above sea level! Still a fair amount of snow about too...

Loch Etchachan Fording the mouth of Loch Avon scrambling up Allt Coire Raibert Loch Einich Loch Avon and the Shelter Stone Crags

 

Ben Nevis Adventure - May 2008

A group of Belgian ladies braving the Bank Holiday heatwave to do battle with the Ben. Superb weather and riotous company! A mini-break in conjunction with Mac's Adventure.

Walking in to the CIC hut North Face of the Ben Strolling through the Steall meadows The Castle and Castle Ridge Deer with heatstroke!

 

Private Guiding, Skye Cuillin - May 2008

A second venture into the Cuillin for this group, this time getting to grips with more advanced scrambling and mountaineering. Traverses of the four tops of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh and a round of Coire Bhasteir were completed in superb sunny conditions.

Teetery ledge on Sgurr a' Bhasteir Gendarme arete, Sgurr nan Gillean Looking to the summit of Am Basteir Tooth Chimney on SW Ridge of Sgurr nan Gillean The Southern Cuillin from Sgurr a' Fionn Choire

 

Isle of Skye Discovery - June 2008

Another week of gentler but rewarding walking throughout Skye. The weather was superb and we were treated to the sight of a couple of whales cruising off Neist Point on the final day! This trip was run in conjunction with Walkabout Scotland . A great holiday. Skye is a beautiful island with breathtaking scenery and Ian the guide is fantastically knowledgable and also good fun (Helen, London) follow this link to view all of Ian's photos from this trip | follow this link to view Dawn and Tim's photos from this trip | follow this link to view Helen's photos from this trip

The Team at Neist Sgurr nan Gillean sunset An Cleit, Quirang On Oronsay island The cliffs of Neist Point

 

Holland's Highland Adventure, Newtonmore - June 2008

A group from the Netherlands relaxing in the Highlands before their friend's wedding by doing some hillwalking and whisky tasting! Highlights included Ben Nevis by the Carn Mor Dearg Arete and an impromptu floor show by the guys in a Pitlochry car park! (photo not included for reasons of decency!) The trip was great fun even though the "proper" rain that was promised us several times didn't come :-). We ended with quite some Monroe's in our bag. Definitely a trip to repeat sometime!! (Han, Netherlands)

Tower ridge from the summit of Ben Nevis Whisky tasting at Glenfiddich Distillery Carn Mor Dearg Arete, Ben Nevis Carn Mor Dearg and the North Face of Ben Nevis On the summit of Ben Vrackie above Pitlochry

 

 

Ben Nevis - June 2008

A group of Aberdeen-based engineers from India, completing their second Scottish mountain after tackling Lochnagar a couple of weeks previously. A fine way to spend the midsummer's day! And good weather too! We had a fantastic trek on 21st June on Ben Nevis.I would like to thank you for assisting us on our trek. Fortunately weather was also very nice and kind with us. Our trek went very well everbody had completed ascent and descent without any problems. Thanks again on behalf of all trekking members. (Devdatta, Aberdeen) Follow this link to view Neel's photo album for this trip

 

Isle of Skye Discovery - July 2008

A great group of people on a superbly varied week of walking. And singing! And photography! Follow this link to view Carole's photo album for this trip | Follow this link to view Don's photo album for this trip | Follow this link to view Tomas's photo album for this trip | Follow this link to view Kent and Celia's photo album No.1 for this trip | Follow this link to view Kent and Celia's photo album No.2 for this trip | Follow this link to view Kent and Celia's photo album No.3 for this trip This trip was run in conjunction with Walkabout Scotland .

Looking to the Cuillin from the Elgol coast path Honeycomb sandstone at Elgol Coming down from Coire Lagan A Boulder with a view! South ridge of Blaven

 

 

Western Lochs and Highlands - July 2008

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, Ben Nevis and Glencoe. Ascents of Ben A'an, Ben Lomond, The Cobbler, and an Irish/ US/Mexican/Malaysian/Chinese team on Ben Nevis!. Follow this link to view Camilla's photo album for this trip | Follow this link to view all Ian's photos for this trip

Ascending Ben Lomond Approaching the Cobbler Ben A'an Summit Wild Water, Glen Nevis Lunch cave in the Lost Valley, Glencoe

 

Heart of the Highlands - July 2008

A base in a comfortable Newtonmore hotel gave our group options to explore the Cairngorm mountains to the East and the Lochaber area to the West. A varied program of walking, both on the Bens, and through the glens. The superb weather was a bonus, too! This is just to say that I have enjoyed my holiday enormously.  It wasn't just that we were very lucky with the weather, the scenery was breath taking and the company and the guidance were excellent!  I am already thinking about where to go next, as Ian has told me that the west coast is also very beautiful. Anyway, I'd never been on a group holiday before, but I'm sure I'll go again. (Bernice, Netherlands) Follow this link to view all Ian's photos for this trip

Spaceships above Loch Laggan! heather in bloom Sgurr Gaoithe On the cairngorm tops Loch An Eilan

Historic Glencoe- July 2008

An enjoyable week of gentler walking in and around Glencoe with the emphasis on history and culture. We visited the Lost Valley, Glenfinnan, the Isle of Lismore, Glen Nevis, Loch Eilde Mor, Kinlochleven, and the White Sands of Morar. We sang, played the piano, drank champagne, talked about the history of the Highlands, paddled, went on boats, and generally had loads of fun! Follow this link to view all Ian's photos for this trip

Above Loch Leven Hooray I'm in the Lost Valley and the sun is shining! Lismore sculpture(wood) Lismore sculpture(stone and shell) Stob Coire Screamhach

Isle of Arran- August 2008

From a comfortable hotel base in Lochranza our small group was able to enjoy some magnificent routes with a healthy dose of scrambling on Arran's mountains in glorious weather. As well as a pastoral charm, the island has some extremely rugged mountains and it's accessibility make it a grand destination for challenging outings. Follow this link to view all Ian's photos for this trip

At the top of the North GoatFell Ridge Relaxing before Chir Mhor Chir Mhor and Goatfell Lochranza Local The Rosa Pinnacle

 

Isle of Skye Discovery - August 2008

A truly memorable week. Especially for Debbie!Follow this link to view all Ian's photos for this trip

Skye High - August 2008

Despite some very wet and windy weather our small group managed several memorable days in the Cuillin as well as some fine coastal walking. Making our way up the slabs of Coire a'Grundha as water streamed everywhere around, and over, us was certainly exhilarating!

"Guardians of Assynt" -September 2008

Another week of challenging walking in a remote North West Highlands setting, enjoying full board in a comfortable base in Ullapool. Largely glorious weather with ascents of Quinag, Stac Pollaidh, Ben More Coigach and Suilven. Contact Walkabout Scotland for further details of this trip in 2009. Follow this link to view Vera's photo album for this trip | Follow this link to view Ian's complete photo album for this trip

Stac Polaidh from Ben More Coigach The veiw North from Stac Pollaidh Suilven

 

Western Lochs and Highlands - September 2008

Ascents of Ben A'an, Ben Lomond, The Cobbler and Ben Nevis were made during this enjoyable week based in Arrochar and Spean Bridge. Our group enjoyed a full range of "Scottish summer conditions"! Thanks for making our holiday something to remember. We both had a great time and enjoyed all the walking, climbing, eating and of course drinking.(Lesley + Colin, England) Follow this link to view Ian's photo album for this trip

 

Glencoe - October 2008

Walking with a large family group enjoying a get-together at a Highland hotel. Superb weather and a dusting of snow on the mountains made Glencoe look it's magical best! Follow this link to view Ian's photos of autumn in Glencoe from this trip

Buachaille Etive mor Glen Etive and the South Glencoe peaks Clouds over Stob Dearg

 

Ben a'Bheithir - November 2008

A classic horseshoe mountain above Ballachulish with 2 Munro summits giving superb views of Loch Leven, Glencoe, and down Loch Linnhe to Mull. We took the Northeast ridge route which gives some lovely scrambling. Follow this link to view all Ian's photos for this trip

Ballachulish, Loch Leven and the Pap of Glencoe Looking to the Aonach Eagach Aonach Eagach The Arete of Sgurr Dearg North ridge of Sgurr Dearg

 

Eastern Mamores - November 2008

A wintry foray from Edward VII's old place, Mamore Lodge, onto the eastern end of the Mamore Range above Kinlochleven. Baled out due to some rather harsh weather arriving!

On Sgurr Eilde Beag Getting rather dark! Snow clouds over the Buachaille Eye of the Snowstorm Sgurr Eilde Mor

 

North Glencoe - December 2008

Winter skills training on the hills to the North side of Glencoe, Sron Garbh and Stob Mhic Martuin. Grand views. The soft snow conditions made for heavy going! Follow this link to view all Ian's photos for this trip

Bidean Nam Bian Stob Ban Buachaille Etive Beag Ben Nevis and Sgurr a'Mhaim Garbh Bheinn

 

Ben Sgulaird - December 2008

Another venture into the snow, this time to Ben Sgulaird above Loch Creran, south of Glencoe. The snow still stubbornly refusing to consolidate so hard going but the views more than compensated for that! Follow this link to view all Ian's photos for this trip

North from Sgulaird Looking over the Firth of Lorne to Mull Loch Creran South from the summit ridge Looking back to the summit of Ben Sgulaird

 

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