SYNERGY GUIDES - MOUNTAINEERING INSTRUCTORS & MOUNTAIN GUIDES SCOTLAND
From the Highlands of Scotland to the remote mountains of the Himalaya, together with Synergy Guides – your adventure starts here.
DARE TO EXPERIENCE ADVENTURE
Here at Synergy Guides, our goal is to deliver a memorable and rewarding adventure in the mountains and to fulfil our guarantee of providing a valuable experience for our customers. Our aim is to make the most of each day and the prevailing conditions to give our participants an experience to remember.
By working together with our experienced team, Synergy Guides will help you create a tailored training course or adventure. This allows us to build our service around you, offering any amount of days over any time period.
All our climbing instructors and mountain guides hold the highest qualifications in the UK, all of them are either qualified Mountaineering Instructors or British Mountain Guides. Highly experienced, we specialise in Winter Climbing, the Cuillin Ridge and Summer Climbing. We are also one of the few British companies to offer Himalayan Expeditions to unclimbed peaks in Nepal and for a few weeks each year, we run mountaineering and climbing courses in the Costa Blanca region of Spain.
Synergy Guides are all active and enthusiastic; some say obsessive, about the outdoors. Amongst our compact team, we have connoisseurs of classic rock climbing, strong winter climbers and mountaineers as well as competitive mountain and fell runners. By joining us for your adventures you can be sure you will be instructed by friendly passionate people who want to be part of YOUR experience.
- My wife and I booked a traverse of the cuillin ridge at the end of June with Synergy guides. All the details and communications from the start were excellent, and then when it came to the traverse week the weather wasnt on our side but our guide matt assessed our goals and came up with a plan B. We had a cracking 3 days picking off all the munros we had left to do and Matt was quality. He made both us feel much more at ease moving over some pretty gnarly terrain! He also was very easy to chat to which always helps - Couldnt have asked for a better guide. I would have no problem recommending Synergy to folks in the future!read moreread lessLiam Brown7/09/2024Back from a great 2 days in Skye taking on some of the Cuillins with Steve, Andy and Neil. Guys were very knowledgeable guides and kept us progressing to the summits safely, even when the conditions were becoming challenging for some! Great comms before and during so would highly recommend Synergy for trips to Skye or further afield.read moreread lessPeter Walker6/19/2024Steve from Synergy guides made our first trip to Skye unforgettable - his plans were set within our abilities, great patience and time was taken in explaining routes, use of equipment and a great knowledge of the area. No complaints at all and a top guy, thanks so much!read moreread lessAmanda Clark6/10/2024
- Brilliant day out with Steve and Matt. Their knowledge and guidance was great. We didn’t have the best conditions so having the guides to show us safe routes and descents was extremely useful. Learnt a lot and would throughly recommend!!read moreread lessRuth Watson6/10/2024Fab day in a majestic place! Loved learning how to enjoy and respect the ridge - definitely keen to come back for moreread moreread lessVi Russell6/10/2024Excellent experience. Super friendly, great process. All tailored to your goals and abilities.read moreread lessNiklas Hartmann3/10/2024
- Fantastic. Cracking day out with Steve from Synergy guides. Ended up doing South Gully (grade 3) on the Ben, after Steve assessed the conditions. Totally awesome, always calm and in control. Teaching tips along the way, bonus. If you're thinking of doing it, just do it!!!read moreread lessSteve Hall2/10/2024One of the most enjoyable trips I've had into the mountains in recent memory. Can not recommend Steve enough, felt at complete ease and safe with Steve, and was able to really focus and enjoy my climbing because of this.read moreread lessRobert Mc cabe12/10/2023Andy was lovely. The weather was terrible, so he planned a really good alternative to what we had planned. Really safety conscious and clearly very well trained.read moreread lessRhiannon Price10/10/2023
- Had a superb day with Steve, timing was well judged for the conditions and he was a very good technical guide and great company. Thoroughly enjoyed the day and would recommend Synergy guides to anyone.read moreread lessAlastair Mitchell10/10/2023I climbed the Innaccesible Pinnicle on Skye last week with Synergy Guides - these guys are a really professional team - the initial contact and organisation from Steve was easy and reliable - the guide on the day, Andy met us early and instilled confidence from the start - the weather on the day was not good but Andy's manner and friendly approach, along with an obvious knowledge of the route and obstacles made the day a success. Although I'm an experienced hill walker I could not have done this without a guide - and these guys were fantastic - I would recommend them highly. Thanks for the memory, rain, wind and all.read moreread lessStuart Batey10/10/2023Brilliant guide. Need a Mountain guide then make sure you use Synergy Guides, Steve is a fantastic guide, very knowledgeable and he makes sure that you get the best experience possible, my wife and I used Steve to complete the Skye Munros. Steve gave us a couple of days we will never forget. Very friendly, expert climber. Very highly recommended. Book with Synergy Guides you will not regret it.read moreread lessGraeme McPhee9/14/2023
- Excellent couple of days on the Cuillin, highly recommend Synergy Guides and Steve. Great knowledge and interesting routes, giving me a good challenge. Achieved one of my goals of climbing the Inn Pinn. Thanks Steve.read moreread lessEd Chinnock9/09/2023I did my first ever scramble with Steve last week, across the Aonach Eagach ridge, and it was an amazing experience. I was quite apprehensive, mainly because I didn't know what to expect, but Steve put me at ease throughout the hike and gave me confidence in my own skill. He gave me clear instructions and explained why we were doing what we were doing as well. I felt like I was in good hands all the way and that I could 100% trust Steve's skill and experience. He's also really easy to talk to (which is a good thing when you're spending 8 hours together) and has lots of good recommendations and a wealth of knowledge; and despite his being far more experienced and fitter than me, it didn't feel like it was a big deal, in fact I'm grateful for the challenge. I highly recommend Synergy Guides and am already thinking about the next scrambling/mountaineering challenge I can get roped into 🙂read moreread lessJulia9/04/2023Zero regrets in booking with Steve for a day on Skye and the Inaccessible Pinnacle! Communication was great from the initial enquiry email and all arrangements were clear. Really great day out, lots of interesting knowledge from Steve along the way and a successful climb and abseil of the pinnacle. Would not hesitate to book with Synergy Guides again!read moreread lessMegan Baxter9/04/2023
- Just had the best two days completing the Skye ridge traverse with Steve! Could not recommend Steve and Synergy Guides enough. Not only was Steve great company, he was extremely knowledgeable and encouraging! He really takes into consideration his clients as he chose a route he thought would be exciting for us and kept us up to date on weather / conditions / plans beforehand! We will absolutely be completing other hikes / climbs with Synergy Guides going forward!read moreread lessBethan9/04/2023Just wanted to say thanks. Had 3 amazing days being guided by Andy. Absolutely seamless and made me feel so relaxed and never out of my comfort zone at any time. (Unless he was trying to scare me! Probs due to my endless chatter!) What an experience I have had! Found some areas of being in the mountains I never realised I loved so much. Full traverse next time for sure. Thanks again. Lauraread moreread lessLaura Sinclair8/10/2023My partner and I were guided up Buachaille Etive Mor in Glencoe by Andy and we honestly could not have had a better guided experience. Andy was super knowledgeable, a really friendly and interesting guy, we felt well looked after, and most importantly we had an awesome unforgettable adventure. Will definitely be booking with Synergy Guides again 👍read moreread lessLegendaddy8/05/2023
- This was my first time using a mountain guide and what a fantastic and unforgettable experience it was! Synergy Guides listened carefully to what I hoped to achieve during my time on Skye and Steve used his fantastic mountaineering and meteorological expertise, plus his extensive and detailed knowledge of The Ridge, to work out a way in which it could happen safely during the less than favourable weather conditions of two ‘summer days’ on the misty isle. I felt safe and secure throughout but the highest compliment I can pay is that despite the gulf in experience between us, it never once felt like anything other than a fun couple of days out in the mountains with a mate and that we were a team exploring together. I would 100% recommend Steve and Synergy Guides to help you make the most of your time in the mountains and I look forward to further adventures in the future.read moreread lessJ Fletcher8/05/2023Done our last 3 Cuillin Munros today.Guided onces again by Steve Holmes.. Great company and expert knowledge of this range.. Can highly recommend Synergy Guides Ltd to anyone needing a guided service.. Thanks again Steve.. Craig & Karenread moreread lessCRAIG BALMBRA8/05/2023My best day on the hills. I used Steve to help guide me across skyes cuillin ridge on a single day traverse. What to say, well for starters Steve his highly accommodating in regards to finding a date and time that works for you, as the date approaches he keeps you informed of how the weather is looking and provides numerous different options for you to get the best experience out of the days you have available and the weather situation. While on the hills itself I felt totally safe at all times but it was also good that he encouraged me to push my comfort levels and complete certain parts of the route I never thought I'd be capable of even though this would make his day longer it didn't seem to matter and he was happy to just make sure you got the best experience possible. This just added to the sense of accomplishment. His knowledge of the cuillin ridge is superb, whether it be how the mountains are formed, where to find water or what rocks to trust and what ones to avoid. I would definitely use Steve again and if you want a safe and exciting day on the ridge I cant recommend him enough.read moreread lessdavid hutchison7/28/2023
- Synergy Guides are outstanding. I’ve used them twice now and they’re really professional, friendly and excellent guides. Andy and Steve in particular are superb. They go at your pace, make sure you’re doing ok with the technical aspects of climbing and give constant reassurance and encouragement. My recent complete Cuillin ridge traverse was a success because of these guys. I strongly recommend using them. Thanks guys for the great adventure!read moreread lessDave Rice6/30/2023What an absolutely brilliant experience climbing the Inn Pinn. Steve was a tremendous guide and you could tell right away a complete professional. From the communication and organization before hand to the safety and practical side of the climb itself I always felt safe and confident. As well as his climbing experience Steve also has a wealth of knowledge about the Cuillins and Skye itself advising on other walks and climbs. It's not just his experience that is so good he is just a really nice guy. If you are looking for a guide give Steve a message. I hope to return for some more Cuillin adventures with Steve in the future.read moreread lessBilly Craig6/30/2023Steve is an exceptionally knowledgeable guide. He knows every inch of the Cuillins and that gave me great reassurance. He takes safety extremely seriously so you never feel at risk, and yet has an easy calm manner and always puts his clients interests first. I would highly recommend him.read moreread lessCharles W6/30/2023
- Steve was the perfect guide for us. He was efficient before our Cuillin ridge traverse, professional and his technical ability meant we were able to move with no fuss but completely safely. He was a good companion, good to spend time with but also interersted in us. I would genuinely reccomend him to anyone.read moreread lessRichard Sadler5/31/2023Hi Steve, Hope all is well! Just a quick email to say thanks so much for setting up my B.Nevis birthday ascent yesterday! Iain is a superb guide - very relaxed, knowledgeable & of course with great experience too! I’d have never been able to do Ledge Route without such a guide! Many thanks again🙏 Matt.read moreread lessMatthew Dickie5/31/2023Had an epic 3 days ticking off the Cuillin Munros with Steve. Would highly recommend Synergy guides for anyone looking to get out and experience Climbing and mountaineering in the highlands.read moreread lessscott clarence5/31/2023
- Amazing 2 days with Steve on Black Cuillin. I was meant to do the traverse, but because of the weather we decided to split it into 2 days, 8 + 3, which we did. Can't recommend enough. Steve knows every rock, every route, every path, every hold. I felt very safe and sound and every my question was answered. Honestly, wonderful time on Skye.read moreread lesspaweł powszek5/08/2023Massive thanks to Steve and Synergy Guides for the wonderful winter climb adventure on Tower Ridge, Ben Nevis. It was an unforgettable experience and I felt in very safe hands from start to finish. Steve is a superb guide and has all the right human qualities to make sure you get the very best out of the day. It was challenging, fun, action packed and rewarding. Looking forward to the next adventure with Synergy Guides.read moreread lessLucy Gilchrist4/09/2023Great day with Steve on Ben Nevis Ledge Route. Steve inspires confidence with his quiet methodical approach and friendly manner. One of the best days I’ve had on a mountain, did the route I wanted to do with no fuss or bother in good time. Steve is very attentive and will pick you up on any mistakes in a friendly way so I had absolute confidence in him, I haven’t climbed like this for over 20 years so having that confidence was very important to me. He also gave me great advice about my next days route when I would be climbing solo.read moreread lessJohn Savage3/31/2023
- Amazing 4 days with Tom, who was unbelievably patient, professional, encouraging and great fun to be with. Whilst the weather could have been better, I thoroughly enjoyed my first ever winter mountain adventures. Would recommend Synergy Guides to anyone who fancies a tough but exhilarating challenge.read moreread lessKaren Galvin3/09/2023Myself and my friend had our first proper winter climbing experience with Steve and this has given us the confidence to climb the mountains in the winter safely. He was fantastic and full of knowledge, we learned everything About the basics of winter climbing into every fine detail. We were made aware about the seriousness of avalanche risk and what to look out for and how to check the condition of the snow and also how to decide beforehand what mountains are safest. We then got roped up and climbed the Dorsal arête and I’ve never had such a buzz from the mountains so far. We were also provided with every piece of equipment required! On top of everything, he’s a class guy which obviously made the 6-7 hours trip even better that we were able to enjoy every moment of the day.read moreread lessJack Allan2/09/2023Went on a winter climbing trip in januari 2023. Communication on where to go and when and where to meet was verry clear. With verry tricky, avalance prone conditions we were still able to do some great technical routes that were in good condition. The guides have extensive knowledge on the routes and the conditions so even if weather was quite bad we still had great days of climbing. I would highly recomend hireing a guide for winter alpinism as weather is tricky with changing conditions on routes and verry bad visibility most of the time. I would defenatly book with synergy guides again when i have the possibility to go climbing in Schotland.read moreread lessBart S2/09/2023
- Fantastic experience. We booked 3 days with synergy guides and both guides were fantastic. They were well experienced and got us out onto some great routes in a safe and fun way. They knew which routes were in condition and were able to quickly switch options to suit the weather and avalanche risks. we will be booking with them again!read moreread lessClaire Bear2/09/2023We had a great day climbing Sgurr Dearg and The In Pinn with Steve on a wet and windy day. Communication and information before the trip was excellent. Steve has a quiet calmness about him which makes you feel safe at all times. It was like walking with a good friend. He was friendly and chatty and has years of experience in the hills. He inspired confidence in us and was very patient with 2 climbing novices. We are already planning future trips and hope Steve will be available to guide us.read moreread lessFiona Dickson9/28/2022Great experience climbing Inn Pinn with Steve. He made us all feel immediately comfortable with the trek ahead of us and took us via a route which included some fantastic scrambling to help us get used to the rocks prior to attempting the Pinn. The highlight of the trek was Steve allowing me to climb back up Inn Pinn after the first abseil.... and do it all again. Brilliant! Very calm and encouraging throughout and wouldn't hesitate to book another climb with him. Thank you Steve.read moreread lessDaljit9/05/2022
- Awesome ! We had Steve guiding us for the day tackling In Pinn . Steve was first class - informative, helpful, attentive and on top of all that just a really nice guy. Made for a terrific day out. Would definitely recommend Synergy Guides.read moreread lessAllan Sumner9/05/2022Highly recommend Synergy Guides for anyone needing a guide. Steve was very accommodating and allowed us to pick another date when our original date was really wet. On the day, Iain was very knowledgeable and taught us a lot along the way.read moreread lessSelina Jia9/05/2022Can’t thank Steve enough for taking me and my friend out to complete the 11 Munro’s along the Cuillin Ridge last week. Had an amazing experience and it was a very educative experience as well! I’ll definitely use synergy again in the future 🤩read moreread lessEmma Franks9/05/2022
- Steve was great at teaching and showing us all we needed for getting through our climbs! Would highly recommend for anyone to check him out if needing a guide as he can do it all from showing you your equipment to how to traverse terrain and navigate. Would use for future climbs again!read moreread lessmarkforsythhh9/05/2022Andy was a fantastic guide and allowed us to make the most of the day despite the weather! Would recommend 👍read moreread lessHayaat Karim9/05/2022Superb guidance and leadership from Steve on the Inaccessible Pinnacle in Skye. Clear and concise instructions provided. Really helped to allay any anxiety that I did have beforehand. An all round epic day.read moreread lessH Phull9/05/2022
- I recently completed the Cuillin ridge traverse with Steve from Synergy Guides as my guide. Absolutely fantastic experience! From beginning to end, Steve looked after me and did a great job keeping me safe. Throughout the trip I was regularly updated with useful information, and given helpful tips and tricks to maximise the journey experience. Steve is about as sound as it gets, and has a wealth of experience to draw on. Would 100% use Synergy again. Thanks for a great traverse!read moreread lessAlex Stamford8/05/2022We have just had an amazing 2 days with Steve on the Cuillin ridge in rain and cloud. Discrete leadership, encouraging and lots of great conversation. I feel inspired for more challenges and building fitness, and look forward to working with Steve again.read moreread lessDelyth Richards7/05/2022We booked a guided tour up the InPinn and Sgurr Mhic Choinnich in the Black Cuillins on the Isle of Skye with Steve. It was a fantastic experience and we enjoyed ourselves tremendously. Steve is a very competent guide and an engaging and pleasant person. We both had no prior climbing experience and he supported us according to our different abilities, providing both encouragement and challenge at the right level. We can only recommend Synergy Guides to anyone seeking a great day out and would certainly book with them again.read moreread lessNils Kronenberg7/05/2022
- What an awesome day (despite the weather) doing my final 2 Skye munros with Steve!! Very enjoyable with great chat 😃 Highly recommend!read moreread lesskatie wilson7/05/2022Steve Holmes was an excellent guide for our group of three. All of us experienced hill walkers but no rope and harness training. Steve is hands off, letting us find our own pace and lines, but at the same time a reassuring, expert presence. Above all good fun to be with and happy to talk about football and food! Four more Munros ticked. All amazing. We'll be booking again for next year if he can stand us!read moreread lessJosephine Irwin7/05/2022My partner and I recently attended a two scrambling course with Andy. We had an absolutely incredible couple of days. Andy is extremely knowledgeable. He made us feel safe, yet pushed us to challenge our abilities. Communication with Steve and Andy was excellent and their guiding is great value for money.read moreread lessNadine Meaklim6/05/2022
- To Andy and Steve, a massive thank you for an excellent scramble up my first Skye munro. With lots of encouragement and professionalism I felt safe and enjoyed the jaunt up Sgurr Mhic Choinnich despite rubbish weather. Look forward to some adventures with these great guides.read moreread lessPat Baker6/05/2022Had an amazing time with Steve & Synergy Guides climbing some classic Scottish Winter Routes. Steve was an excellent guide — imparting wisdom and skills while also making sure we had a lot of fun getting classic routes done. His flexibility around rest days (and photography skills!) were also much appreciated.read moreread lessRyan Kennedy4/05/2022We were guided expertly by Tom. A great lad, with a wicked sense of humour, fantastic knowledge and really good coach. Lis and I got up the dark side of Ben Nevis and even the sun came out for us. We even managed an eventful decent, but that’s another story. The second day was just as much fun covering trad climbing and ice wall climbing. Great stuff. Thoroughly recommended.read moreread lessJames Dempster4/05/2022
- Steve was a fantastic! All the 5.0 star reviews speak for themselves. He was an incredibly knowledgeable and experienced, while still being accommodating to our slightly “unfit” needs. We’ll be back for sure!read moreread lessMark Atkinson4/05/2022Just had 3 days in the Cuillin with Steve Holmes.Absolutely professional from first contact and throughout the 3 days. He enabled me to get up 8 Munros in the time we had. Enough instruction as required for the situations we were in. Gave me the confidence to tackle the Inn Pin and made the whole experience memorable.Good conversation and company too.read moreread lessSteve Bicknell9/17/2021Just completed the Cuillin ridge over two days (& one nights bad bivvy sleep!) with Andy and Casper, with my brother in law and our two seventeen year old boys (now men after that). As a familiar visitor to the ‘easy, hillwalking bits’ of the Cuillins, I admit to having underestimated the true mountaineering nature of the full ridge, which needs full respect. Steve prep’d us well (no nonsense, thanks!), Andy and Casper were fabulous and importantly risk assessed superbly, guided confidently and utterly professionally, and were also great company. Synergy are top notch, and I advise you to not cut corners up on those crags!read moreread lessJon Morrish8/22/2021
- Cracking day out with on Skye with Steve. Very knowledgeable about the area and geology etc. Made me feel comfortable and confidant even tho I was a little nervous about down climbing etc. Will 100% book again when next in the area. Definatly recommend. Thanksread moreread lessm h8/22/2021We booked in for a Cuillin traverse. Steve talked us through the expedition, what we'd need, and was sure to answer any question we had. Our guide for the trip was excellent and very experienced. We both throughly enjoyed the traverse. Highly recommended.read moreread lessPeter Vickers7/28/2021We had the most amazing three days on Skye with Steve. He is incredibly knowledgeable and really nice to spend time with. We highly recommend him.read moreread lessdanny mitchell7/26/2021
- We were fortunate enough to have Steve take my novice family of four (mum, dad, boys 9 &13) out for a days climbing. Any nerves I had previous to the day were swiftly eased due to Steves professional and calming guidance. The day ran seamlessly from kit being provided to Steves meticulously organised activities for the day. After the days climb it was rounded off with some cliff jumping into a local river, which was the perfect way to cool down after an exhilarating day. Really can not recommend Steve from Synergy Guides enough, due to his extensive knowledge and experience he has managed to create a memorable experience for my family which will be reminisced for years to come!read moreread lessJoanne Connolly7/25/2021Had an amazing day out with Tom traversing the Aonach Eagach ridge on what was a blistering hot day with stunning views. Having a guide who was experienced helped me dispel any nerves and apprehensions and enabled me to relax and enjoy the whole experience. I'd never have had the confidence to do this alone but now feel that I could manage should I want to do it again in the future.Thank you Synergy!!read moreread lessSarah Christen7/22/2021Steve Holmes was our guide (3 hill climbers/munroists) for our attempt to summit the inaccessible pinnacle on Sgur Dearg Isle of Skye. I can not commend Steve’s services enough. His professional approach and his manner in providing the required guidance and information without overloading us with technicalities instilled confidence and self belief. His mountaineering skills and knowledge of equipment and techniques were obvious. Pleasant and humorous chat all the way up and down. Truly fantastic experience all round. Many thanks to Steve.read moreread lessMartin Renfrew7/07/2021
- Outstanding day on the Cuillin ridge with Tom, who was very professional, friendly and instructive. We could not have done anything close to the trip we did with Tom on our own! Learned a ton of new things and picked up some really good tips, including the "lazy mountaineer" concept of setting a slow, steady but continuous pace. The climbing gear provided was excellent and Tom's knowledge of the ridge was very good. Excellent comms through the whole booking process with Steve, who squeezed us in at short notice. We'll definitely be using Synergy Guides on our next trip to Skye.read moreread lessAlan Murray6/22/2021Really couldn't have hoped for a better experience and Tom was a complete legend. Feel very lucky to have had the conditions on our side also which made for the perfect day.The whole trip has been an eye openerread moreread lessGregor MacKinnon6/09/2021Had an awesome couple of days crossing a section of the Cullin Ridge including the Inaccessible Pinacle. Slept a night out on the hills in a bivy bag to ensure early start the next day.The guides were great company, had a wealth of experience and kept us safe throughout the trip. The weather could not have been better. A great time had by all.read moreread lessIan Hamilton6/05/2021
- We had a fantastic day on Skye! Steve was so helpful and everything was so well organised - we felt really safe on our trip, had lots of fun and our guide was very friendly and encouraging. Would highly recommend booking a trip with Steve!read moreread lessHeli Johnston5/31/2021We climbed the Cuillin Traverse. Our guide Iain Murray was a friendly experienced hand, who lead us safely through a fantastic experience. Steve Holmes prepared us perfectly for the expedition, providing advice and guidance before we set off. Highly recommended.read moreread lessAlan Segrott5/20/2021Utterly exciting, memorable, safe and faultless three days with Tom from Synergy Guides among the Black Cuillin on Skye. Also a great company to deal with for quick, clear, concise and friendly exchange of information.read moreread lessChristopher Anderson5/20/2021
- Excellent guide (Tom) highly recommend them imparted lots of mountain techniques & knowledge. Extremely knowledgeable in the Cuillin helped me complete all Munro's on Skye had 3 excellent days scrambling (climbing Inn Pin) especially on Clach glad & Bla Bheinn . Excellent Thanks Tom and Steve GREAT A1111111.read moreread lessedwardo5/19/2021Steve was very accommodating to provide mountain guiding to suit our request to climb the Inn Pinn. He took into account the weather conditions and as a result we rearranged the climb (fortunately he was still available later in the week). He was very calm and reassuring and didn’t make us feel under pressure at any time. We had a really enjoyable day in his company and would highly recommend his services.read moreread lessHilary & George Hartley5/12/2021Well what can I say, everything it says on the tin and more!!!!Two days with Steve on the top 6 Cuillins in really good weather. Ive had UK guides in the past, climbed with guides in South America, Asia, Africa etc but I must admit this one to one with Synergy was the best Ive experienced. Steve has the ability to quickly pick up your strenghts and weaknesses and then suggest the best routes which were just right to push the envelope without being over demanding or super scary. His knowledge of all things Skye was just vast which led to some stimulating and informative conversation from the local geology to how fast you can get between them all!!I would highly recommend to anybody with what ever experience they may or may not have!!read moreread lessDavid Welch5/04/2021
- We had a cracking experience with Synergy Guides in the Cuillins in September 2020. Great and detailed communication in advance - full of expectation management, kit advice and route options. Once our guide was allocated, we had a thorough conversation with him the day before and agreed that a full traverse of the Cuillin ridge would not be possible given the wild weather (sad face). Nonetheless, we certainly made up for it with three amazing day trips on the ridge each with their own adventures. Our guide was an incredibly reassuring professional as well as a great character full of stories from a lifetime in the mountains. Can't wait to get back to have a second go.read moreread lessJamie Wood10/13/2020Spent 3 days in the Cullins with Andy from Synergy Guides, awesome time and was certainly put through my paces. They went the extra mile to provide pertinent training on bad weather days and am looking forward to getting back out with them for some winter progression.read moreread lessGordon Murphy10/10/2020We had a great day with Steve of Synergy Guides scrambling on Sgurr Mhic Choinnich and then climbing the In Pinn on Sgurr Dearg. Having done most of the Munros I was getting anxious about how I was going to tackle these 2 peaks. Steve made it all possible. He struck the perfect balance between letting us do what we were able to and guiding where necessary. His confidence and capabilities just seem to get transferred to us. Once we had started up the mountain all apprehension seemed to disappear. Steve clearly loves being in the mountains and was good company throughout the day.read moreread lessAlison Aldred9/22/2020
- What an epic day! Casper (our guide for the day) was brilliant! Very knowledgeable and full of local mountain info. Day was able to be what we wanted it to be and more! Synergy even brought the sun out with them to make a perfect day!Easy booking and great comms!!Thanks so much guys! Definitely a returning customer!read moreread lessLarry Mann9/10/2020Great experience with Steve & Ian doing Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh. They were very patient with us in testing conditions. Would highly recommend. 😊read moreread lessWILLIAM MCDONALD9/10/2020Booked 2 days to traverse the Cuillin ridge. Iain was spot on with his plans and is also just an all round good guy to climb with. We managed to get round in the two days despite the weather throwing a few curve balls. All in all a really good two days and will definitely use them in future.read moreread lessScott Punton9/02/2020
- As a keen hiker and scrambler, the Cuillin Ridge traverse presented an irresistible challenge for me but one which could not be taken lightly or tackled solo without a lot more prep. Booking with Synergy guides made the adventure accessible and I had a superb experience. Steve pitched the route perfectly for my ability, and guided us expertly and safely through difficult terrain with few clear paths. I'm already looking forward to my next trip with Steve because I see this as the best way to enjoy more technical treks which are beyond my normal limits.read moreread lessTony Spencer9/01/2020Brilliant few days with Synergy Guides! Booked 2 days to try and tackle some of the harder Cuillins during my Munro Round. Iain was great and quickly adapted the days to suit my skill level resulting in my best two Scottish mountain days. Excellent experience and will definitely use them in future!read moreread lessEmma McCahill8/30/2020Casper, one of Synergy's guides, took me along the Cuillin Ridge traverse. He was excellent and if anyone is looking to do the traverse I'd highly recommend going with Casper if you can. Alongside being a skilled mountaineer, he was also an interesting and insightful person to spend time with, with a great amount of knowledge about the area and its history. I learnt a great deal, felt safe, and had a great trip.read moreread lessGuy Cohen8/24/2020
- Me and my dad had an incredible day climbing tower ridge with Steve. Although my dad was a bit nervous at first, with Steve’s clam and clear guidance he was soon climbing with no fear at all and by the time we got to the summit we wanted to do it all over again. Thanks for an amazing day and we’ll definitely be back.read moreread lessonlyhereforthebanter8/20/2020Had an amazing time bagging the Innaccessible Pinnacle and Sgurr Na Banachdaich a couple of weeks ago with Steve and Caspar. We had an amazing day for it and they managed to get all 6 of us up and over in one piece (despite a few of us being nervous). I would 100% recommend getting a guide for the Cuillins as they are a completely different beast from the majority of Munros. We'll be back to tick a few more of the list and will definitely be booking with Synergy Guides again!read moreread lessJamie Christie8/20/2020We completed the Cuillins with Steve, and had an amazing time. He is a great friendly guide, and knows the mountains and his craft so well, that we felt really comfortable up in the mountains. I'd definitely book further climbing days with Synergy, and cannot recommend them highly enough.read moreread lessClare Dickson8/17/2020
- What an epic day! Casper (our guide for the day) was brilliant! Very knowledgeable and full of local mountain info. Day was able to be what we wanted it to be and more! Synergy even brought the sun out with them to make a perfect day!
Easy booking and great comms!!
Thanks so much guys! Definitely a returning customer!read moreread lessLarry Mann8/15/2020Did the Innaccessible Pinnacle and Sgurr Na Banachdaich yesterday with Steve and Casper. We had an amazing day for it, they managed to get all 6 of us up and over in one piece (despite a few of us being a little nervous) and I'm so glad that we decided to book Synergy as guides. I was probably a little guilty of thinking the exposure and need for a guide on the Skye Munros was a little exaggerated having done a few other exposed Munros. But I would 100% recommend getting a guide for Inn Pinnn and some of the other Cullins. We'll be back to tick a few more of the list and will definitely be booking with Synergy 🙌read moreread lessDebbie Ekins8/10/2020Had a brilliant day in Glencoe, was a great introduction to some proper rock climbing and would definitely come back again for more.read moreread lessGreg G8/10/2020 - Yesterday 6 of us tackled the Inn Pinn on Skye with Steve and Casper from Synergy guides. They were totally brilliant and kept us in good humour the whole way. Steve roped me up the Inn Pinn, I was so terrified beforehand but he was so nice and chilled out it really kept me calm(er). Really pleased to have managed it, it was a fantastic day. Steve and Casper are a great laugh too. The Skye munros are tough, we went over another after the Inn Pinn and even with the amazing weather, I was really glad we had the guides for that too as it was tough terrain and it would have been hard to find a safe path without them. I'd really recommend hiring Synergy to guide you in the Cuillins. Thanks guys!read moreread lessKatie Mullen8/10/2020Synergy guides guided my friends and I up Sgurr Dearg to climb the Inaccessible Pinnacle and were absolutely fantastic. Steve and Casper were so relaxed with us all and really helped us enjoy our day out. They explained all parts of what we needed to do and I felt safe the whole time on the trip without ever feeling worried, as they were so encouraging and reassuring. Highly recommend and will definitely use again for the other Munros I still need to tackle in Skye!read moreread lessGrace OKeeffe8/07/2020Highly recommended. Five days being guided through the Cuillin Hills, safe and secure at all times. A great experience.read moreread lessSonja Steinke8/04/2020
- I had a really good day despite the poor weather. We made it up the inaccessible pinnacle and had time for a second munro, getting down before the worst of the rain. Iain gave me lots of tips throughout the day and kept me focused on the task in handread moreread lessCraig Campbell8/02/2020So far, had 1 superb day out winter climbing on Ben Nevis with Steve as subsequent days were postponed due to poor weather / conditions - he's been very flexible and accomodating. Steve is very strong, highly skilled and very good at looking after clients. Highly recommended.read moreread lessMalcolm Smith6/23/2020I’ve been out with Steve Holmes quite a few times and would strongly recommend him as your guide. His sole aim is to give you a great day out. He is an excellent judge of where to go for the conditions, weather and your ability. On the hill, he is ever alert to your safety and also offers good coaching tips. He is such a good climber that I always feel he is completely on top of everything. Importantly, too, he is great company and full of enthusiasm, whatever the weather.I am now in my early seventies, and prone to angina, so the qualities above are very important to me. Steve makes sure that associate guides working for Synergy meet the same standards. Through Synergy I’ve had wonderful days on winter routes at III to V in standard.read moreread lessDavid Wilson6/10/2020