Terms & Conditions
Guided Walking Holidays
Contract: By making a booking with us, you are entering into a contract with Hidden Hebrides Ltd.
Booking: To reserve a place we will require a deposit of £200 per person. This deposit is non-refundable unless we are unable to run the holiday, in which case all client payments are refunded. The remainder of the costs must be paid in full at least 8 weeks before the start of the holiday. If the booking is made less than 8 weeks before the start of the holiday, payment must be made in full at the time of booking.
We can accept payments by cheque, bank transfer or credit / debit card. Please note that payments from outside the UK by credit or debit card will incur a 3% surcharge to cover the additional fees imposed by card companies.
Financial Protection: Hidden Hebrides Ltd is a company committed to customer satisfaction and consumer financial protection. We are therefore pleased to announce that, at no extra cost to you, and in accordance with ''The Package Travel, Package Tours Regulations 2018'' all passengers booking with Hidden Hebrides Ltd are fully insured for the initial deposit, and subsequently the balance of monies paid as detailed in your booking confirmation form. The policy will also include repatriation if required, arising from the cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Hidden Hebrides Ltd. This insurance has been arranged by Towergate Chapman Stevens through Zurich Insurance PLC.
Claims: In the unlikely event of Insolvency, you must Inform Towergate Chapman Stevens immediately on +44 (0) 1932 334140 or by email at [email protected] . Please ensure you retain the booking confirmation form as evidence of cover and value.
Policy exclusions: This policy will not cover any monies paid for Travel Insurance or any claim relating to Air Flights. Please ensure the Company you have booked with has the appropriate CAA / ATOL Bonds in place.
Holiday Itinerary: Please be aware that the itineraries on our website and brochures should be used as a guide to your holiday and are not final. The weather in the Scottish islands can be unpredictable, so we reserve the right to amend itineraries if the weather is likely to make certain routes dangerous or unpleasant. Similarly, walk days may be switched around to make best use of the predicted weather for the week.
Alterations: We will accept alterations to your holiday up to 28 days before the start date. After this, any alterations will be regarded as a cancellation and rebooking. All changes will incur a £50 administration fee. If you make repeated requests for changes, each change will incur this fee.
Travel to and from the islands: All holidays start and end in Inverness, Aberdeen, Oban or Glasgow, unless otherwise stated on our website.
Delays: Weather in the Scottish islands can be unpredictable, and there may occasionally be disruptions to flights and ferry services to the islands.
In the event of our not being able to reach our island destination (e.g. if weather conditions prevent ferries from sailing) we will arrange alternative accommodation for you. Please be aware that, especially in high season, accommodation in the Scottish Highlands can be in very short supply and you must therefore be willing to accept whatever alternative accommodation we can find for you. We will do our best to find good quality B&Bs, but we may need clients of the same sex to share twin rooms in these circumstances. If we cannot find sufficient B&B accommodation it may be necessary to use hostels instead.
Please note that in these circumstances we will not be able to provide refunds if the alternative accommodation is not of the same type or quality as that originally planned, as we will still need to pay the island B&Bs for the nights that we have booked and not used.
If strong winds or other factors mean that our scheduled departure sailing may be cancelled, we may need to leave the islands a day early. In this case we will again find you alternative accommodation on the mainland, as outlined above.
Hidden Hebrides will not be responsible for any additional costs (e.g. accommodation and meals) incurred as a result of any travel delays you may encounter in reaching the start point of the holiday, though we will do our best to provide advice and assistance in the unfortunate event of this happening. Equally, we are unlikely to be able to reschedule your holiday in the event of any delays in your travel. Please make sure that your travel insurance covers you against additional costs incurred through any such delays.
In addition, if ferries are cancelled due to the weather or mechanical breakdown and we are unable to return to the holiday start point at the scheduled time, Hidden Hebrides will not be liable for any additional accommodation or travel costs you may incur as a result of these delays.
Cancellations by You: If you wish to cancel you must notify us as soon as possible and confirm this in writing by recorded delivery, fax or email. Depending upon the date your cancellation is received the following amounts will be retained:
More than 56 days before start: Deposit only
28-56 days before start: 50%
Less than 28 days before the start: 100%
We strongly advise all clients to take out travel insurance prior to the start of their holiday.
Cancellations by Us: We reserve the right to cancel any holiday in our programme. The minimum number of bookings we require to run a holiday is just four people, so it is rare for us to have to cancel a trip. If we have to cancel a tour you will be given the option of a transferring your booking free of charge to a different holiday or a full refund. Please note that if we do have to cancel a holiday we will not be liable for any travel, accommodation or other costs you have incurred getting to and from the start point of the cancelled tour.
Force Majeure: Hidden Hebrides will not be liable for any loss, damage or expense resulting from force majeure or any unforeseen circumstance out with the control of the company. Hidden Hebrides will only be liable for loss or damage caused by the proven negligence or default of Hidden Hebrides, its suppliers, agents or employees, in performing their obligations under this agreement.
Medical Conditions: Please alert us to any medical conditions which may affect you during your holiday such as diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, vertigo or heart conditions. This information will be kept strictly confidential.
Fitness: Our holidays are not intended to be endurance tests, but a certain level of fitness is required. Most of our holidays involve walking at a very relaxed pace, and generally we cover between 6 – 10 miles each day depending on the tour. Occasional days may be a little shorter or longer than this. (See the Grading Information page on our website for information on how grade each tour). Ground conditions on the Scottish islands tend to be rough and often wet – you need to be comfortable walking off paths on this sort of terrain. Please ensure that you are fit enough to undertake the itineraries outlined in the programme for your selected holiday. As a guide, if you have any experience at all of walking in upland areas of Britain or Europe, you should be fine on our holidays.
If we find you do not have the necessary fitness for the holiday you have booked, you may not be allowed to come on some of the hikes if, in the opinion of our guide, these would be too challenging for you. In these circumstances you will need to make your own arrangements for that day - though we will, of course, suggest alternative activities that you may like to do.
Equipment: It is essential that you bring the appropriate equipment with you on your walking holiday. Weather in the Scottish islands is famous for its unpredictability - it is not uncommon to experience strong sunshine, ferocious gales and heavy showers all in the same week. Your equipment needs to be up to this. Failure to bring the appropriate equipment may endanger both yourself and the rest of the group.
It is your responsibility to bring appropriate walking equipment for your holiday. A list of recommended kit for the holidays is available on the Hidden Hebrides website. Failure to provide suitable equipment may result in you being unable to participate in some or all of the walks. If this happens, Hidden Hebrides will not be liable, and no compensation will be paid.
Client Behaviour & Responsibility: To ensure the safety and well being of the group, it is essential that clients abide by the decisions of the group leader at all times. If, in our opinion, your fitness levels or behaviour is such that you endanger the group or prevent the rest of the party from enjoying their holiday, you may be requested to leave the holiday. If this happens, you will not be eligible for any refund.
By making a booking with us, you are accepting that you understand the hazards involved in a walking holiday in wild, and sometimes remote terrain, and that you join us at your own risk. Hidden Hebrides cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, damage or injury that occurs, unless this is due to our negligence.
Please note that any activities you undertake during your holiday that are not under the supervision of a group leader (e.g. evening or early morning walks, swims, etc.) are entirely at your own risk.
Insurance: To take part in one of our holidays you must be covered by adequate insurance for the duration of the itinerary and for the activities undertaken. The insurance must include cover for cancellation and curtailment, medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation), personal accident, injury and death. In the event of emergency medical rescue and/or repatriation from a trip by whatever means, the responsibility of such costs will be borne by the client. It is therefore essential that adequate cover is in place.
Liability: Hidden Hebrides will accept liability for the negligence of its employees causing direct physical injury to passengers only to the extent that it is obliged under Scottish law. We cannot be held responsible for any mishap to yourself or your property, and in particular for the consequences of ferry cancellations, vehicle accidents, strikes, sickness, Government or police intervention or other such happenings amounting to force majeure.
Hidden Hebrides shall not be liable for any damages caused by the total or partial failure to carry out the holiday if such failure is: attributable to anyone other than the Hidden Hebrides leaders; unforeseeable or unavoidable and attributed to a third party unconnected to Hidden Hebrides; a result of unusual or unforeseeable circumstances, reasonably beyond the control of Hidden Hebrides; a result of an event which Hidden Hebrides or any of its agents, even with all due care, could not foresee. Where Hidden Hebrides is found to be liable for damages in respect of its failure to carry out the holiday, the maximum amount of such damages, compensation and loss of enjoyment will normally be limited to two times the cost of the trip. Where the damage relates to damage caused by the provision of road, rail, river or sea transport, or hotel accommodation, any compensation payable will be limited by the Athens Convention 1974 (sea) and the Paris Convention 1962 (hotel accommodation).
Any independent arrangements you make which are not part of the trip are entirely at your own risk. We shall not be liable for any consequential loss or costs e.g. missed transport connections incurred by you as a result of cancellations or delays experienced on the holiday.
Complaints: We will always strive to make your holiday as enjoyable as possible. In the unlikely event of any complaint please bring it to the attention of the group leader as soon as possible and they will try to resolve the situation. If this cannot be resolved, please contact us in writing within 7 days of the end of the holiday.
Guided Day Tours.
Contract. By making a booking with us, you are entering into a contract with Hidden Hebrides Ltd.
Booking. If you would like to book one of our guided day walks please contact us using the Contact Form, or ring us on the number at the bottom of the page. We will then get in touch with you to discuss your requirements, and arrange the details for the walk. If you are unsure of where you would like to go please feel free to get in touch with us to discuss the many options available to you. We will do our best to arrange a memorable day's walking that is specially tailored to your interests.
To reserve our guiding services we will require payment in full at the time of booking.
We can accept payments by cheque or by PayPal.
Cancellations by You. All guided day tours can be cancelled at any time up to 28 days in advance without charge. No refunds will be made for cancellations after this time.
Cancellations by Us. We will do our best to undertake all walks booked with us. However, we reserve the right to cancel the walk at any time for reasons outwith our control. If this occurs, a full refund will be made.
Bad Weather. Weather in the Hebrides can be unpredictable, but it is rarely dangerous. As long as you have the correct clothing, it is possible to enjoy a great day's walking whatever the weather. Strong winds, for example, offer the opportunity for spectacular coastal walks on the west side of the island, with awe inspiring waves crashing against rocky coastlines.
We will therefore only cancel a walk due to bad weather if the conditions (usually either severe gale force winds, torrential rain or unseasonal snow) make driving conditions impossible. If we are willing to lead the walk, and you decide that you no longer wish to go out due to inclement weather, we will treat this as a cancellation and no refund will be payable. In this instance, we will consider re-arranging the walk at no cost, but cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so, especially at busy times.
Medical Conditions. Please alert us to any medical conditions which may affect you on your walk, such as diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, vertigo or heart conditions. This information will be kept strictly confidential.
Equipment. Please ensure that you bring appropriate equipment along on your walk. At a minimum you will need waterproof jacket and trousers, boots or wellies, and a small daysack. Please also bring a packed lunch and juice / water.
Contract: By making a booking with us, you are entering into a contract with Hidden Hebrides Ltd.
Booking: To reserve a place we will require a deposit of £200 per person. This deposit is non-refundable unless we are unable to run the holiday, in which case all client payments are refunded. The remainder of the costs must be paid in full at least 8 weeks before the start of the holiday. If the booking is made less than 8 weeks before the start of the holiday, payment must be made in full at the time of booking.
We can accept payments by cheque, bank transfer or credit / debit card. Please note that payments from outside the UK by credit or debit card will incur a 3% surcharge to cover the additional fees imposed by card companies.
Financial Protection: Hidden Hebrides Ltd is a company committed to customer satisfaction and consumer financial protection. We are therefore pleased to announce that, at no extra cost to you, and in accordance with ''The Package Travel, Package Tours Regulations 2018'' all passengers booking with Hidden Hebrides Ltd are fully insured for the initial deposit, and subsequently the balance of monies paid as detailed in your booking confirmation form. The policy will also include repatriation if required, arising from the cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Hidden Hebrides Ltd. This insurance has been arranged by Towergate Chapman Stevens through Zurich Insurance PLC.
Claims: In the unlikely event of Insolvency, you must Inform Towergate Chapman Stevens immediately on +44 (0) 1932 334140 or by email at [email protected] . Please ensure you retain the booking confirmation form as evidence of cover and value.
Policy exclusions: This policy will not cover any monies paid for Travel Insurance or any claim relating to Air Flights. Please ensure the Company you have booked with has the appropriate CAA / ATOL Bonds in place.
Holiday Itinerary: Please be aware that the itineraries on our website and brochures should be used as a guide to your holiday and are not final. The weather in the Scottish islands can be unpredictable, so we reserve the right to amend itineraries if the weather is likely to make certain routes dangerous or unpleasant. Similarly, walk days may be switched around to make best use of the predicted weather for the week.
Alterations: We will accept alterations to your holiday up to 28 days before the start date. After this, any alterations will be regarded as a cancellation and rebooking. All changes will incur a £50 administration fee. If you make repeated requests for changes, each change will incur this fee.
Travel to and from the islands: All holidays start and end in Inverness, Aberdeen, Oban or Glasgow, unless otherwise stated on our website.
Delays: Weather in the Scottish islands can be unpredictable, and there may occasionally be disruptions to flights and ferry services to the islands.
In the event of our not being able to reach our island destination (e.g. if weather conditions prevent ferries from sailing) we will arrange alternative accommodation for you. Please be aware that, especially in high season, accommodation in the Scottish Highlands can be in very short supply and you must therefore be willing to accept whatever alternative accommodation we can find for you. We will do our best to find good quality B&Bs, but we may need clients of the same sex to share twin rooms in these circumstances. If we cannot find sufficient B&B accommodation it may be necessary to use hostels instead.
Please note that in these circumstances we will not be able to provide refunds if the alternative accommodation is not of the same type or quality as that originally planned, as we will still need to pay the island B&Bs for the nights that we have booked and not used.
If strong winds or other factors mean that our scheduled departure sailing may be cancelled, we may need to leave the islands a day early. In this case we will again find you alternative accommodation on the mainland, as outlined above.
Hidden Hebrides will not be responsible for any additional costs (e.g. accommodation and meals) incurred as a result of any travel delays you may encounter in reaching the start point of the holiday, though we will do our best to provide advice and assistance in the unfortunate event of this happening. Equally, we are unlikely to be able to reschedule your holiday in the event of any delays in your travel. Please make sure that your travel insurance covers you against additional costs incurred through any such delays.
In addition, if ferries are cancelled due to the weather or mechanical breakdown and we are unable to return to the holiday start point at the scheduled time, Hidden Hebrides will not be liable for any additional accommodation or travel costs you may incur as a result of these delays.
Cancellations by You: If you wish to cancel you must notify us as soon as possible and confirm this in writing by recorded delivery, fax or email. Depending upon the date your cancellation is received the following amounts will be retained:
More than 56 days before start: Deposit only
28-56 days before start: 50%
Less than 28 days before the start: 100%
We strongly advise all clients to take out travel insurance prior to the start of their holiday.
Cancellations by Us: We reserve the right to cancel any holiday in our programme. The minimum number of bookings we require to run a holiday is just four people, so it is rare for us to have to cancel a trip. If we have to cancel a tour you will be given the option of a transferring your booking free of charge to a different holiday or a full refund. Please note that if we do have to cancel a holiday we will not be liable for any travel, accommodation or other costs you have incurred getting to and from the start point of the cancelled tour.
Force Majeure: Hidden Hebrides will not be liable for any loss, damage or expense resulting from force majeure or any unforeseen circumstance out with the control of the company. Hidden Hebrides will only be liable for loss or damage caused by the proven negligence or default of Hidden Hebrides, its suppliers, agents or employees, in performing their obligations under this agreement.
Medical Conditions: Please alert us to any medical conditions which may affect you during your holiday such as diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, vertigo or heart conditions. This information will be kept strictly confidential.
Fitness: Our holidays are not intended to be endurance tests, but a certain level of fitness is required. Most of our holidays involve walking at a very relaxed pace, and generally we cover between 6 – 10 miles each day depending on the tour. Occasional days may be a little shorter or longer than this. (See the Grading Information page on our website for information on how grade each tour). Ground conditions on the Scottish islands tend to be rough and often wet – you need to be comfortable walking off paths on this sort of terrain. Please ensure that you are fit enough to undertake the itineraries outlined in the programme for your selected holiday. As a guide, if you have any experience at all of walking in upland areas of Britain or Europe, you should be fine on our holidays.
If we find you do not have the necessary fitness for the holiday you have booked, you may not be allowed to come on some of the hikes if, in the opinion of our guide, these would be too challenging for you. In these circumstances you will need to make your own arrangements for that day - though we will, of course, suggest alternative activities that you may like to do.
Equipment: It is essential that you bring the appropriate equipment with you on your walking holiday. Weather in the Scottish islands is famous for its unpredictability - it is not uncommon to experience strong sunshine, ferocious gales and heavy showers all in the same week. Your equipment needs to be up to this. Failure to bring the appropriate equipment may endanger both yourself and the rest of the group.
It is your responsibility to bring appropriate walking equipment for your holiday. A list of recommended kit for the holidays is available on the Hidden Hebrides website. Failure to provide suitable equipment may result in you being unable to participate in some or all of the walks. If this happens, Hidden Hebrides will not be liable, and no compensation will be paid.
Client Behaviour & Responsibility: To ensure the safety and well being of the group, it is essential that clients abide by the decisions of the group leader at all times. If, in our opinion, your fitness levels or behaviour is such that you endanger the group or prevent the rest of the party from enjoying their holiday, you may be requested to leave the holiday. If this happens, you will not be eligible for any refund.
By making a booking with us, you are accepting that you understand the hazards involved in a walking holiday in wild, and sometimes remote terrain, and that you join us at your own risk. Hidden Hebrides cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, damage or injury that occurs, unless this is due to our negligence.
Please note that any activities you undertake during your holiday that are not under the supervision of a group leader (e.g. evening or early morning walks, swims, etc.) are entirely at your own risk.
Insurance: To take part in one of our holidays you must be covered by adequate insurance for the duration of the itinerary and for the activities undertaken. The insurance must include cover for cancellation and curtailment, medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation), personal accident, injury and death. In the event of emergency medical rescue and/or repatriation from a trip by whatever means, the responsibility of such costs will be borne by the client. It is therefore essential that adequate cover is in place.
Liability: Hidden Hebrides will accept liability for the negligence of its employees causing direct physical injury to passengers only to the extent that it is obliged under Scottish law. We cannot be held responsible for any mishap to yourself or your property, and in particular for the consequences of ferry cancellations, vehicle accidents, strikes, sickness, Government or police intervention or other such happenings amounting to force majeure.
Hidden Hebrides shall not be liable for any damages caused by the total or partial failure to carry out the holiday if such failure is: attributable to anyone other than the Hidden Hebrides leaders; unforeseeable or unavoidable and attributed to a third party unconnected to Hidden Hebrides; a result of unusual or unforeseeable circumstances, reasonably beyond the control of Hidden Hebrides; a result of an event which Hidden Hebrides or any of its agents, even with all due care, could not foresee. Where Hidden Hebrides is found to be liable for damages in respect of its failure to carry out the holiday, the maximum amount of such damages, compensation and loss of enjoyment will normally be limited to two times the cost of the trip. Where the damage relates to damage caused by the provision of road, rail, river or sea transport, or hotel accommodation, any compensation payable will be limited by the Athens Convention 1974 (sea) and the Paris Convention 1962 (hotel accommodation).
Any independent arrangements you make which are not part of the trip are entirely at your own risk. We shall not be liable for any consequential loss or costs e.g. missed transport connections incurred by you as a result of cancellations or delays experienced on the holiday.
Complaints: We will always strive to make your holiday as enjoyable as possible. In the unlikely event of any complaint please bring it to the attention of the group leader as soon as possible and they will try to resolve the situation. If this cannot be resolved, please contact us in writing within 7 days of the end of the holiday.
Guided Day Tours.
Contract. By making a booking with us, you are entering into a contract with Hidden Hebrides Ltd.
Booking. If you would like to book one of our guided day walks please contact us using the Contact Form, or ring us on the number at the bottom of the page. We will then get in touch with you to discuss your requirements, and arrange the details for the walk. If you are unsure of where you would like to go please feel free to get in touch with us to discuss the many options available to you. We will do our best to arrange a memorable day's walking that is specially tailored to your interests.
To reserve our guiding services we will require payment in full at the time of booking.
We can accept payments by cheque or by PayPal.
Cancellations by You. All guided day tours can be cancelled at any time up to 28 days in advance without charge. No refunds will be made for cancellations after this time.
Cancellations by Us. We will do our best to undertake all walks booked with us. However, we reserve the right to cancel the walk at any time for reasons outwith our control. If this occurs, a full refund will be made.
Bad Weather. Weather in the Hebrides can be unpredictable, but it is rarely dangerous. As long as you have the correct clothing, it is possible to enjoy a great day's walking whatever the weather. Strong winds, for example, offer the opportunity for spectacular coastal walks on the west side of the island, with awe inspiring waves crashing against rocky coastlines.
We will therefore only cancel a walk due to bad weather if the conditions (usually either severe gale force winds, torrential rain or unseasonal snow) make driving conditions impossible. If we are willing to lead the walk, and you decide that you no longer wish to go out due to inclement weather, we will treat this as a cancellation and no refund will be payable. In this instance, we will consider re-arranging the walk at no cost, but cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so, especially at busy times.
Medical Conditions. Please alert us to any medical conditions which may affect you on your walk, such as diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, vertigo or heart conditions. This information will be kept strictly confidential.
Equipment. Please ensure that you bring appropriate equipment along on your walk. At a minimum you will need waterproof jacket and trousers, boots or wellies, and a small daysack. Please also bring a packed lunch and juice / water.