Tel: 07980 213439
A Highland Fling
XC Scotland for Pilots & Partners
Dates: 23 - 30 April 2022 8 Days / 7 Nights
£1350 per person
Introduction
On the right day the paragliding in Scotland is amongst the best in the world. The unmistakable mountains and glens of The Highlands stretch from coast to coast below you as you fly cross country at 7000 feet over Glencoe, The Cairngorms, Torridon or the Isle of Skye.
If there is flying to be had, our team will get you to the right place to enjoy it. However, the Scottish weather is famously fickle and so this week also includes a full programme of non flying fun, meaning it will be a memorable and enjoyable holiday for pilots and non pilots too. If the weather is on the pilots will fly. If it’s not, they will join their partners in their activities for the day, which will include boat trips, river canoeing, sightseeing, beautiful walks and more.
What's Included
The price includes transfers to and from Inverness, accommodation at our very special base in the Highlands, all meals & packed lunches, all listed activities, transportation and guiding for both pilots and non-pilots, retrieves.
What's Not Included
Alcohol, personal purchases, unplanned activities, travel insurance.
Single Supplement
A supplement of £200 will be added for guests in single rooms.
Maximum Group Size
The group is limited to a maximum of ten with maximum number of pilots limited to five.
Who is it for?
This trip will suit confident cross country pilots, with experience of flying in a thermic arena and the physical ability to walk uphill with their gear for up to 1.5 hours. Enquire for more info.
Accommodation
Welcome to East Craigdhu, a tiny hamlet of four houses perched on the sunny side of Strathglass in the heart of the Highlands. This is the home of Warwick Lister-Kaye, a fellow paraglider pilot, who’s family will host us in this stunning rural setting overlooking the River Glass half an hour from Inverness. We’ll be accommodated in extremely comfortable cottage accommodation. Most of the rooms have en-suite bathrooms and all have access to kitchens and sitting rooms.
We will dine en famille in the main house on home cooked meals and breakfast will be continental style either privately in your cottage or with the family in the main house. The atmosphere is one of a Highland house party, while also offering each couple privacy and comfort in their accommodations.
Paragliding Guide - Kieran Campbell
Despite having flown in great mountain ranges such as New Zealand’s Southern Alps, the Indian Himalayas, and Pakistan’s Karakoram, Kieran is never happier than when exploring all that his Scottish homeland has to offer. Indeed, there’s nowhere he’d rather be in spring.
Kieran has built his experience as a paragliding guide in various corners of the world - from India to Colombia, Morocco to Macedonia - and is looking forward to applying his individual-oriented, safety-conscious approach to leading our adventure through Scotland. On the ground, Kieran will help you get the most out of each day through pre- and post-flight briefings, as well as providing individual feedback based on his observations while flying with the group. In the air, Kieran is often praised for the valuable insight he provides on radio, sharing his interpretation of conditions and his decision-making process, not only showing pilots how to improve their flying, but helping them understand why.
All the flying images on this page are Kieran's - see more here.
Paragliding in Scotland
Late spring and early summer tend to be the best periods for cross country paragliding in Scotland. We can enjoy spells of fine weather and good thermic conditions that allow pilots to fly dozens of kms regularly. The highest terrain is between 3000 - 4000 ft and base is typically between 5000 - 7000 ft, sometimes higher, allowing spectacular views across Scotland’s famous hills and glens.
Scotland benefits from the ‘right to roam’, meaning that all rural land is accessible by foot. That means that any hilltop is a potential launch. We know of dozens that work under different conditions but sometimes we’ll go and try a brand new one too. There are only three chairlifts in Scotland, so walking to launch is the norm here. If you land out, you may also have a walk to get back to a public road. We’ll try to ensure that the walk isn’t too long, but if you decide to go big and land in the boonies you may face a walk of some hours.
We will bend over backwards to get you flying, including driving you up to four hours to get you to the right place. However, it is important to be honest, the weather is fickle here and there is a possibility of a week with no flying, even at the best time of year. That is why we have designed the week the way we have. If we don’t get flying, you and your partner will still enjoy a superb holiday in the Highlands with a programme of fun and varied activities that will create many happy memories. We won’t be sitting about waiting for the weather to improve as seems to happen on a lot of flying holidays!
Non Flying Activities
We’ll provide a programme of activities that suit the interests of the group, as far as is possible in a group trip. There is a good deal of flexibility in what we can offer and decisions with weather conditions in mind.
Possible options include:
Bottlenose Dolphin Watching Boat Trip
We take a rigid inflatable into the coastal waters of the North Sea to search for the resident population of bottlenose dolphins - the largest on the planet! Seals, porpoises, sea birds and occasionally Minke whales can also be seen.
West Coast Day Trip
No visit to the Highlands is complete without driving out to the west coast. We’ll put together a day of sightseeing through beautiful scenery, walking on stunning sandy beaches, visiting a castle and picnicking in the wild.
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The Affric - Kintail Way
We’ll lead you through some of the most beautiful and dramatic scenery in Scotland on the feted Affric - Kintail way; a footpath through the stunning mountains, lochs and woodland of the Glen Affric National Nature reserve.
We’ll meet some special local friends along the way too!
A Ceilidh
Pronounced 'kay-lee', a ceilidh is a traditional Highland evening of fireside entertainment - music, poetry, stories and no doubt a whisky or two. We’ll combine this evening with a pre-historic cooking demonstration.
Canoeing the River Beauly
Warwick’s house sits on the River Beauly and our canoe trip takes us down this winding body of water into the spectacular Aigas gorge, where 100ft cliffs tower above us as we gently paddle downstream. This is one of the most photographed canoe trips in Scotland.
And More!
Additional options include pony trekking, climbing a ‘Munro’ - one of our 3000ft peaks, felting, natural dying, batik and other traditional crafts.
Of course local shopping and extended lunches can also be arranged!
Enquiries and Booking
Please contact us to enquire about this trip or to book. We're happy to answer your questions.