Happy Christmas 2016

Our regular posts of winter walking, mountaineering and climbing conditions on the Scottish mountains will resume after New Year on Jan 5th 2017.

December has been a mild affair after a very cold and snowy November, but we have been busy, walking, climbing, running and having adventures here on the west coast of Scotland.

There have been awesome days to go out hill running in Argyll. 

It has been dry enough to climb the rock and enjoy some scrambling. 

The bitter cold winds have returned up on the hills, which is a good sign. Our winter courses are booking up but we always have instructors available to teach or guide you. 

It is cold again at 1000m on Ben Cruachan 20th December. Winter is back. 

It has been a fantastic year working on such a variety of courses and adventures. Thank you to all who have booked with us.  

We hope you have a lovely Christmas and an adventurous New Year. All the best from Hebridean Pursuits and the team.

A long over due catch up of work adventures with Hebridean Pursuits.

The autumn season has turned to winter up here in Scotland. With fresh snow on the ground our thoughts turn to winter work and adventures.

We are looking forward to a very busy winter of bookings in the mountains and although spring and summer 2017 is a way off we are planing our residential courses out at Tavool House Outdoor Centre on Mull already.

The last few weeks again have been very varied. We have been  wrapping up the summer season, stock taking kit, closing the centre down and visiting our customers to review their experiences and courses this season. I am glad to say all are returning if funding can be secured. The Roses Project continues to offer disadvantaged young people a chance to experience outdoor education in a unique environment, we continue to develop our service and after 28 years we still want to learn and improve our delivery and course programs.

The last month has seen HPL support and assess a gold Duke of Edinburgh qualifier expedition in the Lake District, we hosted team training days for local companies, George Heriots School returned for their annual adventure weekend and we ran a BRAWA Coasteering Course, as well as getting out in the new snow or some hill walking.

We will be posting blog posts of winter conditions in the hills and climbing conditions on a regular basis. We hope you have a great winter season in the mountains or at sea and please take care.

Loretto School Adventure Activity Course at Tavool House on Mull.

We have had a great four days with the pupils from Loretto School. The school returned for their annual trip to Tavool House Outdoor Centre on Mull. Climbing, canyoning, coasteering and scrambling and walking all were achieved.   We were working for www.hebrideanpursuits.co.uk.  For school trips, outdoor education and learning residential experiences Hebridean offer a variety of packages to suit group and individual aims and outcomes. The venue is unique and the food second to non!

George Heriot's School. Annual Scrambling Weekend in Glencoe.

Well the weather has not been kind recently in Scotlandoutside but the resilience of young people on our courses and trips continues to impress us.

The pupils from George Heriot's spent two days in Glencoe with Hebridean Pursuits.

Day one was on the sheltered, but very, very wet Zig Zags and day two on a drying yet less windy Broad Buttress on Buachaille Etive Mor.

A very challenging fun two days was had by the pupils and teachers a like and of course we as instructors had a great two days work in the beautiful, if some what soggy Glencoe.

The next time the school return to the mountains with us it will be their winter walking skills course in January and then their guided winter mountaineering / climbing experiences in March.

It is fantastic that these young people get the opportunity to experience, learn and develop in the outdoors at levels suitable for their needs and aspirations.  If only those whom fund and make policy could understand the value of outdoor learning and education  as a major contributor to the health and well being of young people's futures. It encompasses so much and so powerfully.

 For information about the work Hebridean Pursuits does with school and youth work groups www.hebrideanpursuits.co.uk

LGBT Youth Scotland Pilot Outdoor Residential at Tavool House on Mull.

It was with excitement and pride that we at Hebridean Pursuits and the Roses Project opened Tavool House up for a fantastic group of young people form YGBT Youth Scotland.

The aim of the residential was to explore specific ways of delivering outdoor learning and activities to LGBT members and encourage their participation of adventure activities and of course simply get the young people out from their normal day to day lives.

What a week we had on Mull. It was totally inspiring to meet and discuss openly issues that these young people encounter everyday in their lives.

Just brilliant to be able to talk and ask questions about LGBT issues. We learnt so much and are in the process of changing our working methods and assumptions about how we use language and deliver courses to all young people.

We did all the really full on activities and some softer elements to highlight what we can offer at Tavool and else where. We hope to see LGBTYS return soon.

Thanks for being so wonderful and yourselves!