Welcome to Skylark Guiding! It’s a very small team of just me, Gaby.
I’m a calm, patient, and organised guide and facilitator who loves giving people the best day out in the outdoors and seeing others grow in confidence and gain new skills.
I’ve guided individuals and groups in the Cairngorms, Glencoe, Trossachs, the Isle of Arran and the Isle of Skye, as well as the hills and trails around Glasgow.
Find out more about guided hikes, trail runs, personalised trips, and skills courses.
My mission
I set up Skylark Guiding Ltd to provide opportunities for women to explore new places and gain the confidence, skills and knowledge to plan and go on their own adventures.
Although the outdoors should be for everyone, it’s not always perceived to be that way. At the heart of what I do is a desire to make hill walking and trail running more diverse, and to make those I work with feel they belong in the hills as much as anyone else.
By offering subsidised tickets, planning activities which are accessible by public transport, loaning kit where possible, and being always open to hearing what I can do to make a event accessible, I hope to reduce some of the barriers women face when getting outdoors. I am always open to suggestions about what else I could do, and feedback about how I can do better.
My approach
- Safety: for us to spend time outdoors we need to feel safe. As a mountain guide I keep people safe, but I also share skills and knowledge so that others can feel safe too.
- Fun: days out in the mountains with others are fun, whatever the conditions.
- Enjoying being outdoors: it’s never a race. I think the focus should be on appreciating our surroundings and the people we are with.
- Learning: whether that’s a skill, something about the environment, or something about ourselves and someone else.
- Outdoors for all: being in nature and “wild” places is scientifically proven to be good for us and we should all have access to this, regardless of our background, fitness, age, or body shape.
- Caring: being gentle with ourselves, with each others and with the environment.
My background
I am an active hill walker and hill runner with lots of experience of being in Scotland’s mountains in all conditions.
I love talking about food, books, TV, what’s going on in the world, and am interested in people and in learning new things.
I am open-minded, non-judgmental, curious and always grateful for opportunities to learn from others and share experiences. I am passionate about preserving our environment and believe that the more time we spend in nature the more we will do to care for it.
I have over 15 years’ experience working with women’s organisations, facilitating learning, confidence-building and personal development with women of different backgrounds.
My Qualifications
Summer Mountain Leader (2020)
Outdoor First Aid (last renewed in 2023)
British Athletics Leader in Running Fitness (2021)
National Navigation Award Scheme Tutor Award (2022)
Sports Leader UK Level 3 Certificate in Basic Expedition Leadership (2012)
