WINTER CLIMBING

Just one week before we started our trip to Scotland (my wife, our 17 years old son and myself) I tried to get some guides for scrambling / climbing tours on Skye and around Ben Nevis by writing emails. Steve answered nearly immediately with recommendations and possibilities for us (having described our experience so far - climbing yes, scrambling no). That was the first positive point with Steve: extremely easy to communicate - anwers always on the same day giving the needed information etc. So booking procedure & communication before and after to organise the trips: excellent! Trips: for the first day we booked the InPin (Inaccessible Pinaccle Cuillin). At the end of a wonderful day we were able to do An Stac, the Inn Pinn, Sgurr na Banachdaich and Sgurr a’ Ghreadaidh there. That was our first scrambling adventure and it was really a great day with Steve. We always felt very safe enjoying his competence, tranquility and joy. It was a wonderful full day of adventure, effort, and fun, so we wanted more scrambling! Being around Ben Nevis (Ballachulish) on the following week we did the Tower Ridge with Rich and we just can say the same again: brilliant communication before for the organisation of the trip, feeling very safe with the competence and tranquility of Rich, having a lot of fun as a group together with Rich and: yes, the Tower Ridge is a great adventure!

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.

Utterly 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.

Had an absolutely incredible time climbing Tower Ridge with Synergy Guides. Steve is an extremely knowledgeable guide and a truly accomplished climber. Tower Ridge itself was a stunning and fun route on the iconic Ben Nevis. Steve made it easy to achieve a real adventure in Scotland just a day after arriving from the U.S. without needing to bring any gear. I'd absolutely recommend Synergy if you're interested in getting into the mountains in Scotland and I look forward to some more climbing with Steve and Synergy in the future!

So 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.

We 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.

A great day on the Aaonach Eagach with Rich. Expert guiding throughout-it made what could be intimidating ridge a great fun day out. Thanks!

Just had an amazing few days scrambling on Am Basteir, Sgurr nan Gillean and Sgurr nan Eag with Steve. If you want fun and adventure with a professional, caring and confidence installing guide then Steve is your man only thing to let you down will be the weather and Steve even managed to smile his way through that.

Brilliant 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!

We had a fantastic day out with Steve. My husband and I are both beginners and wanted a route that was challenging but enjoyable. Steve chose a fantastic route (curved ridge) which suited our ability and he taught us lots along the way. We 100% recommend Steve!

I’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.

We managed to get a last minute booking for a novice day learning to rock climb in Glen Nevis and what a day we had! After all the horrible weather we were lucky enough to have the sun shine on us and our guide Steve was exceptional, not only was he patient but we learned so much and have to say, I cannot wait to book another course with him in the near future. Highly recommended.

Another amazing day with Steve Holmes & Synergy guides.With the weather forecast not looking good we changed our plans having originally hoped to head to Skye. But Glencoe looked better & in fact was the correct decision as although showery we had some views & even glimpses of the sun at the end of the day.We scrambled up Sron Na Lairig onto Stob Coire Sgreamhach then onto Bidean nam Bian finishing on the top Stob Coire nan Lochan. Steve Holmes was fantastic - really knowledgable, great company, and very reassuring. He even produced a ‘cake’ at the top to celebrate my 13 year old daughters 50th Munro. I can highly recommend Synergy Guides - this was my 4th outing for myself & my daughter with Steve & have already booked again for September.

Simply Outstanding In short, Steve has taken me from being a keen hill walker to leading Graded scrambles and climbs and doing my first Graded Scottish winter routes - something I never thought I would achieve.

Steve is really easy to get on with which is, in my opinion, really important when you are a nervous climber and being introduced to the technical aspects of scrambling and climbing. He is calm and instills confidence in you as you learn the skills and knowledge. Steve took me out of my comfort zone (by agreement) but I never, ever, felt anything but safe. Thanks to Steve I have had some superb adventures including all but one of the Ben Nevis ridges (getting the last one this year), summits on Skye, some great scrambles in Glencoe and climbs in Glen Nevis and I have managed to bag at least two Grade 3 Scottish Winter routes and now have the confidence to lead other folk on routes.

I can't rate Steve highly enough and highly recommend him to anyone wanting to enjoy the great outdoors in Scotland

Expedition to Nepal I thought the whole pre-expedition planning was excellent. The food was better than expected and none of us got any kind of stomach bug or illness much to the credit of the in-country staff. The whole Expedition was extremely well organised from start to finish, it went way beyond my expectations.