Hello, and thanks for making it this far, I’ve found it tricky to condense myself as a human and what I'm able to offer as a Mountain Guide into just a few paragraphs - but I hope through these few lines, and the rest of this website you will be able to get an idea. 

I am currently two thirds of the way through  the three year journey of becoming a fully qualified International Mountain Guide, certified under the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association (IFMGA) guidelines by the British Association of Mountain Guides. IFMGA is the highest level of certification possible to achieve as a mountaineering professional and enables qualified guides to work worldwide at any altitude and in any discipline of mountain travel. 

I have recently refocused my life on the mountains after 8 years working  in the environmental sector, and I hope to bring some of this purpose into my role as a Mountain Guide - connecting people with the natural world. 

I am currently hold Aspirant status allowing me to work in the Alps with a full guide as a mentor, and I am fully qualified to work in the UK summer and winter where I offer rock climbing and winter mountaineering guiding.

I was very fortunate to grow up on the west coast of Scotland in a family passionate about the outdoors and I have been going into the mountains as long as I can remember. I’m now into my fourth decade around the sun, and climbing and outdoor pursuits have taken me all over the UK, Europe, and further afield. In more recent years I have been making a conscious effort to reduce my environmental impact and focus on local adventures.

I spent my teens and early twenties winter climbing in Scotland, and I have been fortunate enough -  through the help of some great friends -  to climb routes up to grade IX with a few first ascents along the way. In the alps some personal highlights have included an early February ascent of the North Face of the Eiger under difficult conditions, soloing the North Face of Les Courtes in the middle of a December night, as well as hard, modern mixed routes.

I spent the latter half of my twenties in the South West of England where I focused my time rock climbing on the local sea cliffs, and along the way learned to slow down and appreciate the surprising places where wilderness can be found if you know where to look. I have been fortunate to climb many classic routes around the UK up to the occasional E6 (when tail winds allow!)

Outside of this my other great passions in life are photography and music - I play mandolin and tenor banjo in an amateur fashion in the Scottish and Irish folk traditions and I'm always up for playing some tunes. I have a page on this website for my photography which I integrate with my guiding where appropriate. If you are interested in working with me on a photography project please get in touch.

Hope to see you on the hill. 

Graham.