Mark Cox

see above

Mark was brilliant & made sure that we filled each day with good activities and great memories. His knowledge & experience is considerable & he made sure that we got the most out of each day.
A great guy to lead your adventure.

Mark was fantastic at balancing the needs of the group. He also deserves much credit for his efforts in arranging alternative plans when our Noss boat trip was cancelled. We loved the opportunity to go to Mousa, and would recommend this as an addition to the trip. We also really appreciated him engaging James to help us find otters.

Mark was excellent his wide knowledge & experience were invaluable.

Mark, our guide, was the best of the best. He was social and cheerful, and made everyone feel appreciated and included. He was extremely knowledgeable about the plants, animals, geology and culture of the area. He willingly and patiently answered our numerous questions, large and small. He attended to everyone's personal preferences and helped the group work together harmoniously. He is an exceptional guide, and person.

He is a superb well experienced guide who made every effort to give us an amazing experience. He has a clear love, knowledge, and appreciation for nature and history. He is somewhat unique in his ability to engage people of all types. His own enthusiasm for Scotland, for nature, and for life is quite contagious.

I couldn’t have asked for a friendlier or more professional guide. He made us feel safe as well as ensuring we had the best trip possible.

Mark is great. He made the trip. He was so much fun.

Evem though I'd not met Mark before, it felt like I was meeting up with an old friend again he was that easy to get along with.

Mark is fantastic! Smart, friendly, knowledgeable, cheery, calm, great paced

Mark was so knowledgeable - and very firm in his guidance while also being open to our ideas and things we'd like to do. He was the perfect balance and was equally tuned in to everyone on the trip

The guide was very friendly, professional and very attentive. It was a real pleasure to have a guide like him.

As said previously, Mark was an excellent guide, and we felt very much at ease in his company and enjoyed all the moments with him.
Also, he was keen to share his knowledge of the island culture, which we all greatly appreciated.
And last but not least, he has a great sense of humour, which suited us just fine and contributed to make our week a success.

Mark remained cheerful and positive in rather difficult circumstances and was swift to organise interesting alternative walks while we waited for the weather to improve. We could see that he was working very hard throughout the trip to make it a good experience despite the (inevitable) delay in getting across to Orkney.

Guide did a great job, constantly make changes as necessary because of weather and transport problems.

Brilliant. Kept calm and good-humoured despite everything! Very professional.

Mark and Andy provided superb service. Their knowledge of sea kayaking proved outstanding. They both delivered clear technique guidance to help us to develop our skills and demonstrated excellent knowledge about our environment. First class service.

Big thanks to both Mark and Andy who were excellent guides

As previously stated I recently sustained a back injury, the guides went above and beyond to assist.

Our Guides were the best! They were calm, informative, worked well with themselves and us. They supported those of that were learning the skill of Sea Kayaking but also, not me, (!) pushed and encouraged those with previous experience to build on what they had learned. Mark and Andy were two fantastic people and made the whole week a wonderful, fun, exciting, knowledgeable, relaxing holiday. Great fun!

Very good range and mix of knowledge. Managed the group well, with a mix of walking speeds - will some walkers feedback that the overall pace was a bit high??

Mark was knowledgeable, confident and personable.

I've already mentioned Mark and Mal. You have two knowledgeable, personable guides, who certainly go the extra mile. They made our trip.

Our guides Marc and Malcom were very kind, interesting and professionnal. Everyday they made their most to enable us to have the best conditions possible.
Just a remark : we had the technical advice rather at the end of the trip and it may have been more profitable for everyone to have them from the start (I was a beginner in sea kayaking)

Mark is a 10/10 guide. Not only very knowledgeable and experienced, but down to earth, highly in tune with the group, what's best for the group, and fun to be around.

Mark Cox was truly an outstanding guide. He had to deal with a lot of itinerary changes on this trip due to no fault of his or WS - - chalk it up to February in Scotland! But he was able to provide entertaining and meaningful experiences just the same and we always felt like we were getting the trip we wanted.

Not possible to put a price on an experienced and able Guide. Mark is very good at his job.
Thank you Mark, it was great having you as our Guide

We can't say enough good things about our guide, Mark Cox. Knowledgeable, capable, fun, encouraging, and of good cheer, he made a wonderful trip infinitely better.

Mark did an awesome job of ensuring safety during brutal wind conditions and finding alternatives when ferries and walks were cancelled due to weather. He made sure that the trip was fun for everyone!

Mark was amazing as his knowledge of guiding weather hiking or touring was just what we enjoyed.

We loved the hikes Mark took us on.

Mark kept the group together even though we had different abilities. He was full of info about wilderness restoration, cultural info, and very good to talk to. And patient with us Americans

We could not have asked for a better guide than Mark Cox. His sense of humor, knowledge and love of Scotland came through as he guided us on hikes, walked on beaches or drove along the roads. You are very lucky to have Mark as part of your team. He was always concerned that we were doing thing and going places that were interesting and different and exposed us to all things. Mark is an incredible guide. We will definitely come back and ask for Mark again.

As all my other comments have said, Mark Cox was a great guide. He knew his stuff, he shared generously of his knowledge, he was there to help when needed, and he was an overall good companion on the trail.

Mark was excellent in every way. His area knowledge & good humor made each walk a unique experience. He was a keen observer of people which kept everyone safe and cohesive as a group.

Mark is a top notch guide. Since it was my first hike I was a bit nervous about what to expect. He assured and guided me when needed. His wealth of knowledge was outstanding and his humor kept us all smiling.

Mark Cox was great.

As previously mentioned, we thought Mark did a fabulous job. He especially demonstrated his ability to read his audience and provide tailored experiences that worked for our group. We also loved our kayak instructor, Caig (? sp). She was delightful.

Our guide, Mark Fox, could not have provided us with a better experience. We appreciated his experience, safety consciousness, and good driving and navigation. He always steered us toward the level of activity and venue appropriate for us. We especially appreciated his easy-going nature and sense of humor. At the same time, he was extremely organized and conscientious. We always felt we were in the best of hands.

Mark.. excellent guide. Very knowledgeable about Flora and animals.

Mark was an excellent guide. His knowledge of the islands and his flexible approach ensured that every day was well-organised and very enjoyable. He was always very professional in helping to meet the expectations of all members of the group. Thank you, Mark, for a great trip!

Mark provided great information in a very accessible way. His enthusiasm and adaptations to the itinerary (when necessary) maximised the enjoyment of the time we had on Orkney.

Mark was great! Just the right mix of enthusiasm, knowledge, and humor.

See my previous comments about Mark.

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Excellent, took account of everyone’s abilities, gave good advice and helped us all have fun.

Brilliant Guide who understood and managed the needs of each individual in group. Very knowledgable of area. Good forward planning. Safe management in remote area.
Ensured a fun trip.

Fantastic job considering the age and ability variation he had to deal with in the week. Got us all up and down safely and gave us all a very enjoyable week. Couldn't have asked for more.

Mark was outstanding at every level.

Mark is a great guide. Assessed our small group very well and we felt in great hands during the whole trip. His knowledge of the area is wonderful and enlightening.

Really wonderful person with plenty of knowledge, know-how and a refreshingly positive outlook with a dash of humor to get us through the days.

Mark was very friendly and kind. He made sure everything went smoothly and was very well informed about the locality - from history to geography/geology to flora/fauna to current culture. He was interested in each member of the group and looked after everyone’s needs on the trip. I would be very happy to have him as a guide again in the future.

Mark was professional, accommodating, considerate and very pleasant to be around Thanks Mark

Mark was brilliant. Having a guide on a sailing holiday such as this worked so well on many levels. It was such a treat to relax knowing that Mark would make decisions on where to walk to enable the entire group to get the best experience possible, including ensuring we made time to lookout for wildlife, admire wild flowers, learn some history and geology and go wild swimming. He kept a careful eye on everyone making sure we were all happy and able, for example, to cope with a bit of scrambling and uneven ground. There were some unexpected incidences to cope with, which Mark, and the crew, dealt with brilliantly. Having a guide take the group away for a few hours also allowed Mungo and Stella to have some time to themselves. This was their first experience of partnering with Wilderness Scotland, and they also very much appreciated having the guide share with communicating and organising the group.

Our guide was enthusiastic, knowledgable about the area and positive.

Could'nt have wished for better guides in Mark, Mungo and Stella

Fab

Mark was excellent. Very knowledgeable of the flora & fauna, the geology and the history of the area. He was also extremely good at judging the ability of each individual and ensuring the group as whole was happy.

Mark was very informative and quickly assimilated leading quite a disparate group of guests most of whom had not known each other before they left.

Very knowledgeable of the area and they tailored the trip to suit us based on the conditions. We had a different experience every day. They were both very friendly and approachable. From a safety point of view however, I think it would have been appropriate for one guide to lead and the other be at the back of the group making sure everyone was OK, especially when we were in rough waters. This didn't always happen and I think it made some members of the group a little uneasy. I would also add that they did talk a lot! Sometimes it would have been nice for peace and quiet so that we could enjoy the tranquility and the scenery and have more chance of spotting wildlife. We did drop a few hints!!
Overall though I was more than happy with the guides and the group felt very comfortable with them.

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:

It's lovely to hear that you had a varied, engaging adventure, and that you got on so well with everyone in the group. We understand that it's our guides that really elevate our trips, so we ensure to employ the very best. It's of paramount importance to us that you feel safe at all times (even during chosen challenges) so really appreciate your feedback. I'm delighted you felt very happy with the guides even though they were a wee bit chatty! We would be very happy for you to join us for another kayaking adventure.

Did a splendid job in all respects .

Donald and Mark were a good combination - Donald in particular is so knowledgeable about the wildlife and history of Scotland. Gave good tips on kayaking and also let me practise a capsize.

Marc led one of my previous trip and it was brilliant to have him back. He is an excellent guide (and driver), very caring and knowledgeable. He made us comfortable under the current Covid situation and suggested great alternative walks when the weather was playing up.

Both our guides were excellent - knowledgeable and endeavoured to work well with the whole group notwithstanding that there were a contrasting range of personalities!

Mark was welcoming, knowledgeable and has a good sense of humour. He enabled the group to work together well even with Covid-19 restrictions. We learned a lot about the local area and being prepared for walking.

Mark was an excellent guide who readily shared his knowledge and passion for the Cairngorms. He has a great sense of humour which quickly puts people at ease. He also encouraged people to share their knowledge of the great outdoors.

Helpful and friendly with excellent local knowledge

Mark was welcoming and explained all the arrangements with regards to Covid -19 and let us have the opportunity to ask any questions. He was knowledgeable about the local area. He enabled the group to work well together. He was able to be flexible with our walks according to the weather conditions. I learnt so much about the local area but also about walking, walking kit and it’s care. He was approachable and had a good sense of humour.

The best...Mark was very informative, enthusiastic and keen to share. Pointing out cuckoos and white tailed eagles were highlights. Also he used the schedule to account for a visually impaired member of the party to great effect. We can’t speak highly enough of him as a guide.

Mark was an excellent guide- please see first comment.

Great guide. Very knowledgeable and risk conscious. Relaxed and made the trip a learning experience as well as being enjoyable. Despite the unseasonable weather. Looked after us in terms of all logistics as well as guiding.

Mark was amazing. Great knowledge of the land, nature, geology and wildlife which he shared readily with us. I even had map reading lessons which I was thrilled with. He certainly went the extra mile with us. Always there encouraging us on. He even took us to a hill sheep farmer displaying his dogs rounding up sheep. Amazing! I throughly enjoyed Mark’s company. Great banter too. I’d definitely want to be on one of his trips again.

both guides were very helpful and informative, teaching me to kayak. I appreciate their efforts.

The couldn't have been better.

Great teachers, fantastic energy and outstanding knowledge.

Mark is a superb guide!

Mark was a wonderful guide. Each day's activity was well-designed to get the most from the day. Getting to the "tourist coach" attractions - Skara Brae, Italian Chapel - ahead of the crowds gave us a much more personal and evocative experience. Our group bonded and meshed really well, and I'm sure he had something to do with that as well. His knowledge of what we were seeing, and what we might see was impressive and invaluable. An endless supply of stories, and just a lot of fun!

Mark was exceptional. He was approachable, open, funny, witty, organised, efficient, relaxed, knowledgeable. The list really could go on! He catered for everyone's needs and abilities, was supportive of any personal issues that occurred & encouraging for those that were challenged along the way. He went out of his way to mark a birthday for one member of the group, and he also ensured that we were able to celebrate it together as a group that evening. Mark is the best guide I've had on any adventure trip I've been on. I couldn't recommend & commend him highly enough for making the trip to the Orkneys very special & memorable in many ways!

Mark Cox was an excellent guide. Informative, enthusiastic, and was willing to go the extra mile to make everyone happy and comfortable.

Mark did an excellent job and was helpful, informative and professional at all times. He made sure that everyone was happy and safe, and got the most out of the trip.

Mark went beyond the call of duty to help one participant find his ancestral home. He tried to insure everyone had a great time.

Mark is an excellent guide, sensible in leading our walks, good-humoured all the time, and really went out of his way to help our fellow traveller in searching for his ancestor's house. He takes great photos too.

Mark was a great guide, very informative and helpful.

Mark was fantastic. Our well being and safety were paramount. His positive and happy demeanour helped make this such a good trip. He exceeded expectations.

Once again - Mark was fantastic and a real catalyst for the group

Extremely knowledgeable of Scotland. Very kind helpful funny and a joy to spend the week with touring Scotland.

We loved the hikes Mark took us on! They were challenging and they were reasonable for us to follow.

Mark was well knowledgeable positve fun and well organized. Great job!

I can’t say enough about Ross and Mark we enjoyed them for their knowledge and energy and for the friendly relationship that they had with each other. It felt like we made some new friends.

Mark Cox was a knowledgeable guide in history, geography, flora and fauna and provided a great mix of historical sites and gorgeous walks with stunning vistas. He also had an abundance of stories. He was very consultative and took the interests of and the safety of the group in mind in all decisions. He was also a lot of fun.

Mark was a brilliant guide and was one of the key reasons the holiday was so successful. Knowledgeable, great company, great at judging when to engage with people and when to give them space, when to encourage and advise. I'm sure that all your guides are great but fnd it hard to believe they are as good as Mark - a terrific ambassador for your company and an absolute star!

Mark was knowledgeable on a range of relevant information - plants, animals, birds, history and knowledge of the trails ( and a lot of good stories). He was very respectful of the needs of the group and had a consultative style.

Cannot say enough good things about our Guide!

Great photos. Well done Mark. Quietly efficient and safe to be with when conditions were blustery. Kept the group together and provided interesting pieces of information. Was respectful of my sometimes awkward hearing loss.

Our guide was great! A good communicator, knowledgeable, relaxed and fun. Passionate about Scotland and his outdoor activities, and very good with people.

Professional, knowledgeable across broad spectrum of plants, birds, and archeology / history. Always willing to check his facts. Serious about safety - necessary on the cliffs during gales. Strong motivator - very engaged! Excellent time-keeper.

Mark was fantastic! We were not lucky with the weather unfortunately and Mark was excellent in suggesting alternative walks that we could still do. We managed to walk every day thanks to him. He was very accommodating, flexible, friendly, energetic and patient. Great walks and itinerary. I would love to have him again next year on my next trip!

Mark Cox is a superb guide
Always cheerful and enthusiastic
Hard trip for him as planning was difficult due to to the high winds making higher points almost inaccessible

Mark worked really hard to check what everyone wanted to do when the weather meant we could not do the highest peaks. He gave us lots of options and made sure we saw a lot of the islands. Very well informed too and he conveyed his love of the islands.
His easy manner put everyone at their ease too. Thanks Mark!

Mark was absolutely fantastic.

Mark is just brilliant! He is so enthusiastic about the outdoors that you can’t help but be inspired too. He is knowledgeable, down to earth and funny, ( with just the right amount of sarcasm!) His breadth of experience is invaluable; we didn’t have the best weather the week we were away but he always got us out walking somewhere, often having to change the plans on the day as the wind decided what it was doing! I always felt safe and confident in his decisions and enjoyed all his walks, he really gave us a great week. Wilderness Scotland always have great guides and Mark is another perfect example of this.

Mark shared so much knowledge of the area, the plants, animals, safety, etc that we all came away with so much more insight into the Cairngorms, plus how to use ice axes, mountain bikes, walking poles, etc. On top of it, he was so flexible with us and just wanted us to have a great time, which we did. He was the ideal guide for our teenagers too.

Mark (Cox) was our guide, and we enjoyed Mark's passion for Outdoors activities, as well his appreciation of Scottish history and culture. Mark had a lot of advise both on planning the day-to-day itinerary, was always aware of the environment and safety, but at the same time, was great fun to be around. There was a lot of driving around Skye, which couldn't have been the most fun, but Mark took us to many places around the island, and we appreciate having a chancs to see different aspects of the rugged and diverse island of Skye. If weather was warmer, it would've been awesome to have an afternoon of kayaking around one the Coves around Skye. Maybe next time.

Mark, you are simply the best. Thanks for going out of your way to address our concerns and for being so sensitive to our needs

Mark was highly experienced and very knowledgeable about the areas regarding the history, wildlife and flora and fauna. He had great communication and people managing skills and made everyone feel included.

WOW, was Mark the perfect guide for our family! Professional, hard working,skilled...but also a great companion. He reads people well and makes each day great for each person...an impressive skill.
I have seldom met a person better suited to his chosen craft. Would take another trip with him in a heartbeat!

Very knowledgeable. A few times we lost sight of guide on the trail or some of our group lagged far behind...difficult to manage the varied comfort/skill levels.

Excellent choices of route and venue, taking us through a variety of environments. I was helped to improve my paddling technique. Everyone was looked after individually too

Both guides worked well together. Kept us well informed of plans and reasons for changes where neeeded. Were good company

My guides were Mark Cox and Becky. Both very friendly and professional . Mark especially very knowledgeable on wildlife/history/landscape of the areas visited which certainly made the trip more enjoyable. They both tried hard to adapt the trip in view of poor weather conditions to get us out kayaking which I appreciate, but did mean it was a little disjointed.

Mark was an excellent guide, informative, funand very efficient. Becky was clearly being tutored and did well.

Mark was truly professional and helpful, and great fun for the whole week. He encouraged, supported and advised at every step of the way, he knew and loved the landscape and shared it with us with pride, - I can't imagine a better guide for this trip!

Mark was great provide knowledge of the country and I think read the ability of our group and adjusted accordingly

Mark is a great guide, very patient and professional. He gave us a lot of different information about everything

Marc showed us what we have hopen to see from the Scottland-Highlands: his fauna and flora, his mountains, his wilderndess and this all whis a great knowledge.

Our guide, Mark made the holiday extremely enjoyable. His knowledge of the area, flora and fauna was very comprehensive. He was very caring of each member of the group and encouraged us to develop our own knowledge of the above. He was interested in why we had chosen the holiday and also in our own individual interests.

His ability to make decisions and alter the itinerary when required made for the smooth running of the holiday. Fortunately, this happened on one occasion.

Mark gave support and confidence at just the right level and at the times when needed. An excellent guide.

Mark is a seasoned guide and does his job in a professional way, sharing his passion for the outdoors with the group members. a 5 star guide

Mark was outstanding - very knowledgeable, passionate about the outdoors, supported the group to bond well, communicated effectively. It was a privilege to spend a week outdoors with him.

Mark was a major factor in the success of our trip. He is extremely knowledgeable and quickly assessed the dynamics of the group to allow everyone to gain the most out of the trip.

Mark could not have been better. Friendly, clearly well informed, and a joy to paddle with.

I have already commented on the excellence of our Guide, Mark Cox. High energy, competence, knowledge, communication , humour, diplomacy and leadership skills. Having lived in the Hebrides, his knowledge of the environment was impressive.

Can't say enough here. As already stated, Mark Cox made it all happen for us. We quickly became a supportive cohesive group with a confident leader. This is not an easy thing to find. He wasted no time setting up our goals, our proximate agenda. Especailly he emphasized open communicate with each other and him about our expectations, special wishes and/or needs. Since this was my first experience of a group trek in the wilderness, and my fist solo vacation in decades.. I was a little reticent about saying what I wanted, but soon he got me talking and laughing and well at ease. Can't thank him enough for this.

Mark was an excellent guide, the best.

Our guide was excellent. He learned us a lot of things, found the best walks despite de bad weather and adapted the walks to our rhythm and interests.

Excellent guiding, teamwork and tuition from Mark and Sarah. Mark is full of information and Sarah is a great girl who was very intuitive and attentive to the needs of the group.

This was my first guided trip and I'm amazed how comfortable this is and how great the profit. I discovered and learned so much about your country, its faune and flore, history and economy. But also about navigation and the right equipement and the right behavior in nature. Marc was very generous in sharing his knowledge and rich experience. Thank you so much!

Mark Cox made this a truely once in a lifetime experience for our small group. He managed to show us paths and spots we will never Forget, and he worked hard to offer us a UNIQUE experience. He was very funny, explained everything we wanted to know (and many things we didn't even think of asking). It felt as if a friend was showing us around in his home - thank you Mark!

Third time I've had Mark Cox as guide and he is still the best!. Sarah complemented him to every detail and we couldn't have asked for more.

Our guide, Mark Cox, was terrific. A deep well of information and knowledge of the area, its natural environment and its history. He was cheerful, secure and enthusiastic. He certainly made a substantial contribution to the enjoyment of the trip.

Both very good at paddling, obviously very attentive to the details of the trip and excellent people skills as well.

Mark and Sarah are outstanding. Lots of enthusiasm, Mark's knowledge is encyclopaedic, like being on a trip with friends.

Very considerate, excellent time planning, high standard of knowledge - overall brilliant

Mark was an excellent guide. Knowledgeable about the area, its history and wildlife. Firm but friendly.

Mark is a fantastic guide! Very funny and full of knowledge. He planned all walks in an excellent manner, always asking for our views and wishes, very observant to what each situation and participant needed. Could improvise, always with the best result. I for my part, had initially chosen the trip mainly for the history and the archeology in Orkney, but now I got to see some of the fantastic birdlife on the islands too.

Mark and Erin (Queen of scrambled& poached eggs) were both very encouraging and enthusiastic.

Our 2 guides - Mark and Erin are superb and did their utmost in all ways.

Mark and Erin were outstanding. I particularly appreciated Mark's encyclopaedic knowledge of the area's history and natural history, which was a real bonus. Erin's enthusiasm was inspiring.

Erin and Mark were great. They gave us clear guidance, direction and encouragement with humour and a lot of really interesting information about the environment we were paddling in too.

Mark is a fantastic guide in every way, full stop. Andy was the best assistant guide I've ever met, wise beyond his years, attentive and excellent social skills, extremely hard working. Without doubt a pleasure for the lead guide to work alongside as never needed prompting. The only area that needs improvement....his custard making skills!

TEAM WILDERNESS RESPONSE:
Thanks for the feedback on Mark and Andy, having joined you on this trip, it was the first time I had the pleasure of spending a few days with Andy I couldn't agree more...including his custard making skills - we'll blame it on the kind of milk we were using but he certainly tried hard ;-)

Very professional team

Superb - thank you.

professional, careful, friendly

Mark Cox was a formidable guide. Our assistant guide Paul was great, and undoubtably very busy behind the scenes.

Mark was great fun, and knowledgable, very pleased.
Paul was great at preparing food etc

Perfect. Great motivator. Great team builder. Highly informative. Never patronising but always caring. All of us rated him 10 out of 10. A fun person to spend a holiday with.

Mark and Amanda were an excellent and efficient team. Mark has outstanding knowledge of local history and wildlife which he is keen to share. Amanda provided constant support, advice and good humour.

Mark was a first class guide.

They were very professional and just a joy to be around. I loved learning about the islands and flora and fauna.

Mark is a very competent and knowledgable guide who is enthusiastic about the area we were walking in. He provided interesting insights in archeological and social aspects of the area.
Mark was very attentive to the needs and interests of the individuals within the group.

Mark we fabulous. He truly wanted to know what each of us wanted out of he experience and used the flexibility built into the schedule to meet our needs. The itinerary was delivered a promised, but the walks and other activities that were added were appreciated.

Mark's energy and enthusiasm are to be admired! His local knowledge really brought the Western isles alive....learning about the geology, history and sense of place, were an added bonus.

Mark took every trouble to make sure that we achieved the aims for each day. Friendly , cheerful and very knowledgeable, he made us aware of what we were looking at throughout. Fantastic timing and planning.

Good to have the chance to work with both guides.
Lunch and coffee stops brilliant. Really gave this trip the edge.

Great guides, immense knowledge and experience, great sense of humor always positive even in the most tough conditions.

Mark is a fine guide. He has a wealth of knowledge on every aspect of the landscape and is sensitive to people's needs and wishes. And very good tempered and prepared to go beyond the call of duty..

Mark yet again proved his capability to provide walk (and driving) opportunities as the weather permitted, he always had ' one up his sleeve' if the planned walk wasn't going to happen.

Mark Cox was very knowledgeable and provided the perfect combination of info on flora and fauna. He was enthusiastic and sensitive to the needs of, and preferences of, the group in terms of ideal pursuits. He was safety conscious but discreetly so

Mark is at the top of his game in terms of local knowledge, and ability to interpret the walking environs he took us through. An exceptionally talented, friendly and adaptable individual. Although there were only 3 of us on the walk he made sure we were all catered to in terms of questions, information and attention.

Our walks were chosen both to suit our fitness level and to satisfy our love of beautiful scenery. We just had a perfect walking holiday, mainly thanks to the experience, enthusiasm and cheerfulness of our guide.

Couldn't have been better: very professional and utterly reliable - and a wonderful sense of humour!

Mark and Kevin were a 'magic' ingredient. Good communication, patience, support and fun.

Could not have asked for better guides and I don't think I've ever had such helpful or awesome instructors before. These guys are the best. I really appreciated how patient they were and how customized they made the trip for each rider.

Mark had a firm grasp on everything from the beginning. His experience was evident and his ability to manage the various parties on the trip and the riding part, while also providing an enjoyable experience for all is very impressive.

Very good. Kev gave clear indication at defined stages of the journey and then let us get on with it. Mark had a different style, was more talkative. Both were cheerful and happy which was very helpful.

Guides were very knowledgeable and chose fantastic venues for the kayaking, especially with weather conditions being unfavourable. Felt safe in their care and learnt a lot in the 5 days away. The knowledge of the guides for wildlife, nature and the surrounding environment gave an additional bonus to the trip.

We were made to feel at ease straight away, given lots of advise and encouragement

Mark Cox was an excellent guide. Knowledgable, great teaching style, eager to share his wider knowledge of the environment and surrounding areas he was a great lead guide. Andy Croy was a great assistant whose humour, compassion and skill added nicely to the group - and his photographs are fab :) A great team and whilst this was their first joint trip it seemed to work well from my viewpoint.

Both Mark Cox and Andy Croi where very friendly and always ready to teach us new stuff about kayaking. We cerainly feel that we have made 2 new friends!

The guide and assistant were both extremely approachable and provided advice and coaching throughout the trip. The day to day planning was well explained with options and each day had variability and interest. The guides made every attempt to answer questions and highlight the wildlife that was around.

The guide was very professional.
Always relaxed, with good sense of direction and knowledgeable about the land.

It was a pleasure to meet and be supported by our professional and highly competent guides Mark Cox and Cory Jones. A refreshing aspect was their passion for this special corner of the world combined with their desire and ability of sharing its gifts safely and with flexibility. Mark and Cory compare well professionally with our Australian friends and guides that have turned sea kayaking and guiding in wonderful places into a lifestyle career choice. I would be happy to bring those friends to the Orkneys and utilize Mark

Mark and Tim were incredibly helpful, patient, understanding and knowledgeable about the area.

Mark instinctively understood what each member from the team needed and delivered appropriately. I was definitely out of my comfort zone a couple of times with the sheer heights and weather and I have to say there was no one I would have trusted more to get me over them.

Tim really made the Hebrides come to life from a walking, culinary, and historical perspective.

Second time with Mark he is a top guide. Will consider coast to coast next year if I can link up with mark again.

It was really an exelente guide, taking attention to all the group and providing us extra equipment when it was necessary without let us feeling guilties. Really good knowledge of the area

Relaxed. Competent in coaching kayaking skills and tour planning. Great knowledge of wildlife.

Very good and knowledgeable.

Mark was a competent instructor and guide. He was able to assess our level of experience and introduce us to new techniques. He instructed us in putting these skills into practice under easy, to more challenging, conditions suited to our level of experience. He new the local area well and was able to propose different locations depending upon weather conditions etc.

All guides always looking to enhance the experience for the guests.

Mark - endless passion, enthusiasm and knowledge for both the bike ride and the natural environment.

Dave - calm, attentive and knowledgable.

Laura - sharp eyes saved the day beside Loch Builg

Both very knowledgeable about the areas, both very personable and professional.

Personable, knowledgeable, flexible and encouraging. Good local and community knowledge as well as up to date on all things mountain

As mentioned above, Mark was absolutely brilliant! I can't speak more highly of him. He really made the trip for me.

Mark had a superb knowledge of the area, backed by his expertise, and a total enthusiasm for what he does and imparts to others.

Really knew and loved the area, very helpful without being intrusive. I'd be delighted if he turns up as guide on a future trip!

Mark was both informative and likeable and made an effort to communicate with all members of the group.

Mark was absolutely brilliant; knowledgable, helpful with excellent social and interpersonal skills.

Mark - very knowledgeable and informative - drew everyone in together - plenty of chat

Mark was friendly, chatty, knowledgable and experienced, and 100% trustworthy.

Appreciated Mark's planning and flexibility to maximise the walk opportunity with the day's weather, resulting in stupendous views and a varied programme.

Very knowledgeable about local area, sea, tides; took time to make sure everyone on trip was comfortable in kayak; kept group together but allowed time to explore.

Both Jeremy and Greg were fantastic. Even though it was the first time working together, the chemistry between the two as very good. They both certainly knew how to treat clients/guests.

Have nothing but good things to say about Mark Cox! Luke Partridge is a keeper. He took a lot of ribbing from the guests (age differences!) and he was very good about it all. He made a special effort to meet up with the guests at the train station - even though traffic was horrendous. He certainly didn't have to but that he did certainly did not go unnoticed.

Both guides were super. Good fun and very professional.

A psycho-analyst's dream! Mark was the Bear Grills character, who was excellent at maintaining enthusiasm and putting a positive light on all situations. He also showed great initiative in suggesting the 'Golden Road' option. Dave worked his way in, sized up the group, and was the empathic character. The more I got to know Dave, the more I liked him.

Both Guides were excellent with differing personalities one very outgoing and one laid back but they made a perfect blend. Very encouraging, helpful, always looking out for you We were all sorry the week disappeared so quickly.

As the tortoise of the group, they really helped me through the program. I learned some things and they made it really enjoyable. Mark is a truly inspirational person and Dave has a good read on who is struggling.

Your guides make your business. Dave and Mark did a great job - both very encouraging when the going got tough and enthusiastic - welcome cups of Tea when needed and good tips on mountain biking. Good to see Mark decked out in Wilderness Scotland kit - Dave should have had some more WS kit though. Both also made a good effort to be sociable in the evenings and Dave was particularly good at sharing cultural insights. I would definitely travel with both of them again. Great guys.

Both complemented each other well , they made the trip thanks v much to them

Very helpful, very dedicated, personal and became part of the team - they got to know all the individuals well. Mark Cox was a little more driven in terms of being more competitive and was very 'Go Go Go' (probably from his RAF background) whilst Dave Picken had more empathy with the individuals, had a more gentle style and had a very detailed knowledge of the history and background to the islands. Their different styles complemented each other very well. Both made a real effort to ensure everyone had what they needed (Mark lent me his riding glasses), bikes were in good order, we were given training on mountain bike riding when needed and it was really well organised. PS. Dave really needs some Wilderness Scotland branded gear to balance it up fairly - Mark appeared to have a full Wilderness wardrobe (assumed provided free of charge) whilst Dave was generally in his own (but very decent) clobber. Please kit him out gratis - he really deserves it and the kit gets very hammered out there!

Both Mark and Dave where exceptional and explained the options available and reasons for choices every night.

Both were extremely knowledgeable about the area we cycled through and providing us with a great service at the hotels as well. Learnt a bit about cycling and bike maintenance as well which was great. Thank you both very much Mark and Malcolm!

Very good guides with excellent historical and geological knowledge about the sites we travelled. Excellent lunches were provided halfway. Mom would not do it any better. It's only a pity the guides had to ride on 26" mtb's. Hard to keep up with the 29ers ;)

Marc and Lou were brilliant. I especially loved how they managed to improvise on the program during the first days when the weather was too bad to kayak on sea, so that we could go out on the water somewhere else.

Good also in extra information about nature, historie and countryside.

Very hard working/ good planning and organisation /

-I was impressed with the way Mark and Lou were very knowledgable about the terrain, weather conditions, and navigation through the isles,and camping.
-also very appreciative of the way Mark/Lou had to fish me out of the water twice but were very professional about it and did not make a fuss.
-Also thought that they went beyond the call of duty when we ran out of water on one particular night due to leaking containers.
-also appreciated how Lou stuck with me to give me paddling advice.

great guides. very positive, added to the overall experience.

Without Mark Cox and Louisa Reynolds Summer Isles are just piles of rock midst of the sea. Trust them and always ask why, to learn more about the Scottish coastal nature. Both of them are very professional in bad conditions

Mark is a very knowledgeable guide and obviously very familiar with the area. I learnt a lot from Mark talking through his thoughts about possible routes and locations, taking into account the effects of wind and currents

Mark worked really hard to set up some good paddling trips that worked with the wind weather. Very grateful for his hard work doing bike and running shuttles which allowed us to do one way paddles!

Mark had great local knowledge which meant despite a south-westerly gale for much of the week we were still able to have some really interesting and enjoyable days sea kayaking. He was also very informative about local history and wildlife in the area which really added to the trip.

Mark remembered me from a previous trip. I had struggled with the deeper wider kayak last year, so he added a capella to the mix, which made a big difference to my enjoyment of the whole experience this time. He also organised lighter winds and more sun ( No, he doesn't actually walk on water, but he is an absolutely superb guide and group leader!)

See above.. felt involved in the process of deciding what group was going to do. Flexible and unruffled for both. Good knowledge of not just paddling, but of area, wildlife, history and what other activities are available. I'd be very happy to find either guiding a trip in the future

Mark lived up to his reputation as one of your best guides. Easy to get along with, helpful re: paddling and has a great sense of humour.
Greg is a great assistant guide - good social skills, participates with clients and very knowledgeable re: paddling and general outdoors.
Would definitely go on a trip with both of these guides.

This was the second holiday with mark as a guide he is excellent, young Luke was also very friendly and helpful, give them both a pay rise.

Both Mark and Luke were excellent and given that it was their first joint outing they worked very well as a team. The gentle offering of coaching was handled very well and the sharing of knowledge about the flora, fauna, geology, history etc of the area was also interesting and impressive.
Nothing seemed to be too much trouble and the views of all the group were taken into account when deciding where to go. This against the background of clear advice as to the options and their implications and in the knowledge that if necessary a sound steer would be given. The ability of the guides to assess the capability of the group and to offer to extend the length of a days paddling was also well judged.

Both Mark and Luke were first rate- Luke was very mature and knowledgable - I hope Wilderness continue to use him. I was particularly impressed by Mark's knowledge of flora and fauna - I guess I expected him to be a great paddle leader ( which he was) so that was a bonus and really made the trip for me

Managed to turn the extreme weather conditions into an enlightening educational experience!