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Meet Tim Willis
After years of adventuring across the globe — from dog sledding through the frozen wilds of northern Canada to trekking high into the Himalayas — Tim Willis is most at home exploring the stunning landscapes, historic cities and hidden corners of Scotland.
A skilled guide with a big-hearted approach, Tim instinctively knows how to make clients feel relaxed and taken care of. With decades of experience exploring the world and a deep affection for the beauty of the UK, he elevates every trip with his calm expertise, kindness, humour and warmth.
Travel has taken Tim to some extraordinary corners of the world, yet it’s particularly Scotland he keeps returning to, and it’s where he feels luckiest to live and work. “There is nowhere more beautiful, dramatic and captivating than my home,” he says. “My job is to help people connect with all the wonders we have here – and perhaps head home as ambassadors for this incredible country.”
Equally comfortable guiding luxury trips that include exclusive-use castles, private chefs and helicopter arrivals, as striking out to wild camp under a star-strewn sky, Tim is a highly qualified and adaptable guide – and once famously polished off 16 Weetabix in one sitting.
Tim’s love of Scotland is infectious, and his ability to make guests feel at ease, whether joining them on a private tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia or sharing a sunset paddle, is just one of the many reasons clients say their trip with him is one they’ll never forget.
Steady, sharp and always excellent company, Tim is someone you want on your team — or your trip. Read on as he reflects on his Scottish adventures, what it takes to be a great guide, and the joy of connecting people with the landscapes he loves.
In Conversation with Tim –
What’s the Secret Ingredient to a Perfect Trip?
If someone’s never travelled with a guide before, what would you say they can expect?
Expect to be able to relax and concentrate on enjoying the scenery, culture, history and the chance to get away from it all. The guide will look after all the admin and logistics.
Let the guide negotiate single track roads shared with highland cows and sheep; which cafes serve the best coffee; the best spots to go for a picnic lunch, and how to fit in your hike, bike ride or paddle and still get you back in time for your delicious dinner.
Is there a moment on a typical trip when you notice the group starting to relax into the rhythm of travel? What usually triggers it?
My role as a guide is to host the group, not unlike a week-long dinner party! My job is to put people at ease, keep the conversation relaxed and fun. There will come a point in the first couple of days when I can sit back and watch as the conversation flows, when everyone relaxes when they know I am on top of all the logistics, know the best places to visit and when to be there – and they can just concentrate on taking in the great views and being wowed by Scotland.
You’ve led countless trips through some spectacular places — what’s one moment from a recent trip that really stayed with you?
On my last trip, we went out for an evening paddle on sea kayaks from the village of Shieldaig, on the west coast of Scotland. We paddled past a couple of sea eagles and marvelled at the views towards the spectacular mountains of Torridon as the backdrop. You could feel any remaining stresses and worries of life back home, just drip off into the sea as we glided along.
Is there a place you always look forward to revisiting, not because it’s the most famous, but because it always sparks something special with the group?
Occasionally, our itinerary will take us to the fishing villages dotted along the East Neuk of Fife. These are the charming and charismatic wee villages that many have in their imagination when thinking of Scotland. It’s like going back in time, and for me, it’s where I spent many of my summers as a wee boy.
There is a wonderful little secret spot, on the West coast of Orkney, not far from Yesnaby, overlooking the waves pounding around a sea stack, where I often bring groups for lunch.
The views are so captivating, and you can really feel the raw power of the sea. Guests are often delighted when I also reveal a steaming flask of freshly brewed coffee and some local delicacies to enjoy.
Do you have a favourite local character you often look forward to guests meeting along the way?
This is an easy one, and I am spoilt for choice here. Either Ghillie Başan or Craig McDonald.
Ghillie is an exceptionally gifted cook, has written many cookery books, travelled extensively and is a wonderful host whenever I am lucky enough to bring guests out for one of her cookery workshops, out to her lovely house, set in the remote hills around Glenlivet. A day spent cooking with Ghillie is good for the soul – I love listening to her stories of adventures around the world and to how she came to source the ingredients that culminate in such delicious & imaginative meals. It’s always hard having to leave such a wonderful place.
Craig is a storyteller extraordinaire! It’s not just his remarkable knowledge of history that blows me away, but the way he can weave it all into a captivating tale and bring it all to life. I am instantly transported back to being a young child and hanging off every word of a master storyteller. And just like Ghillie, spending time with Craig with guests is a total joy.
The origin of the phrases ‘lighting the candle at both ends’, ‘tight fisted’ and “caught red handed’– but you’ll have to come out on a trip with me to learn where these phrases came from!
Do you have a favourite local food or drink to introduce guests to?
Spoilt for choice again! From a refreshing Harris gin and tonic after spending a day on the impossibly beautiful West Harris beaches; hand dived scallops from Orkney, strawberries from Highland Perthshire, ice cream from the famous Jannettas in St Andrews, a sample taste of haggis (its better not to know), neeps (turnip) & tatties (potatoes) after a long day on the hill, to the delectable chocolate fridge cake all washed down with a warming malt whisky next to the fire with Ghillie Başan in her whisky barn in the Glenlivet hills.
What’s a small, seemingly simple moment on a trip that often turns out to be unexpectedly meaningful for guests?
It sounds silly, but when I pour the water for everyone at dinner, perhaps it’s at that moment that my guests realise I am not there just to guide them from point A to point B each day, but to look after them the best I can, from the moment I meet you on day 1 to the moment we part as friends on the last day.
What It Feels Like to Be Guided by Tim
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Learn More About Tim
Join Wilderness Guide Tim Willis as he shares his passion for guiding and offers insight into how he prepares for a season of adventures with Wilderness Scotland.
Carefully Crafted, Seamless Adventure
Whether your clients join one of our scheduled departures or choose a personalised, entirely bespoke itinerary, travelling with Wilderness Group offers them more than just visits to remarkable places — it’s an opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the very essence of the UK and Ireland. Our guides, like Tim, act as hosts who carefully curate every detail, from insider knowledge of hidden gems to managing seamless logistics, allowing your clients to relax completely and enjoy every moment without concern.
Thoughtfully selected accommodations and personal touches help make each trip feel effortless and engaging. For those seeking a more exclusive experience, our private tours provide access to remote castles, secluded wilderness spots, and much more, crafted to create unforgettable memories. With everything taken care of by the guide and our dedicated team, your clients can relax fully, enjoy the journey, and return home ready to book all over again.
