Terms & Conditions

These Booking Conditions, together with our Privacy & Cookie Policy, your booking confirmation and any other written information brought to your attention before your booking was confirmed, form the basis of your contract with Experience Scotland's Wild Ltd, company number SC508178.

In these Terms & Conditions, "Scotland's Wild", "ESW", "we", "us" and "our" mean Experience Scotland's Wild Ltd. "You", "your", "traveller" and "client" include the Lead Booker and all people on whose behalf a booking is made, added or validly transferred.

1.1 Lead Booker

The Lead Booker is the first named person on the booking and the person who accepts these Terms & Conditions on behalf of all travellers included in that booking.

1.2 Private Tour

A Private Tour is a tour arranged exclusively for you and/or your group. The guide and relevant ESW touring vehicle are not shared with other Scotland's Wild customers booked on the same tour. Depending on the services included, a Private Tour may also qualify as a package or form part of a Linked Travel Arrangement under applicable law.

1.3 Scheduled Day Tour

A Scheduled Day Tour is a shared group tour operating on a published departure date and lasting less than 24 hours. You pay for the places booked by you rather than for exclusive use of the full vehicle.

1.4 Scheduled Multi-Day Tour

A Scheduled Multi-Day Tour is a shared group tour operating on a published departure date over more than one day. Depending on the combination of travel services included or arranged, it may also qualify as a package or be associated with a Linked Travel Arrangement.

1.5 Package

A "package" has the meaning given to it by applicable package travel legislation. Broadly, it involves a qualifying combination of at least two different types of travel service for the purpose of the same trip or holiday. Whether a booking is legally a package depends on the services included and the way in which they are combined and sold, rather than solely on the name we give the tour.

1.6 Linked Travel Arrangement

A "Linked Travel Arrangement" has the meaning given to it by applicable package travel legislation. Broadly, this can arise where at least two different types of travel service are purchased for the same trip under separate contracts and the legal conditions for a Linked Travel Arrangement are met.

1.7 Supplier

A Supplier is an independent third party providing a service connected with your trip, such as accommodation, an attraction, ferry, boat operator or other activity provider.

1.8 Departure

"Departure" means the scheduled start of the arrangements you have contracted with us, as shown on your booking confirmation.

By making a booking, the Lead Booker confirms on behalf of everyone included in the booking that:

1. they have read these Terms & Conditions, have authority to accept them on behalf of the group and agree to be bound by them;
2. they consent to the use of personal data in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy and are authorised to provide relevant information relating to other members of the group;
3. they are at least 18 years old;
4. everyone travelling meets any age or participation restrictions applying to the selected tour;
5. they accept the cancellation and no-show provisions contained in these terms;
6. they accept financial responsibility for the booking; and
7. they will ensure that relevant information contained in the booking confirmation and these terms is shared with everyone travelling.

A booking may be made through our website or by another method agreed with an authorised member of the Scotland's Wild team. Your booking becomes confirmed when the required payment has been received and we issue a booking confirmation, invoice or other written confirmation accepting the booking.

Prices are stated in pounds sterling unless we expressly confirm otherwise.

Current standard payment schedule

The payment terms displayed on the individual tour page and in your booking confirmation apply to your particular booking. If you book after the normal balance-due date, full payment may be required when the booking is made.

Where your booking is set up for automatic balance collection, you authorise us and our payment provider to collect the scheduled outstanding balance using the payment method attached to the booking. If payment cannot be collected, you remain responsible for ensuring that the balance is paid by the due date.

Certain arrangements, particularly accommodation, activities or other services supplied by third parties, may require a larger or earlier payment or a non-refundable amount. We will tell you about any material supplier-specific payment condition that applies before you commit to it.

If an outstanding balance is not received when due, we reserve the right to treat the booking as cancelled by you. The cancellation charges in Section 3 may then apply.

If you have not received a booking confirmation within 24 hours of making payment, please check your spam or junk folder and contact us at info@scotlandswild.com.

We reserve the right to return a payment and decline to confirm a booking where reasonably necessary, subject to applicable law.

A cancellation must be made in writing by the Lead Booker. Email cancellation requests to info@scotlandswild.com. Cancellation takes effect when the written request is received by us.

3.1 Private Tours

A reduction in the number of people travelling does not necessarily reduce the total Private Tour price. Current Private Day Tours, for example, are generally priced for the private vehicle rather than solely per passenger. Where third-party services are priced per person, room or group, a change in party size may alter the amount payable.

Certain arrangements may be non-refundable once confirmed. Supplier cancellation charges of up to 100% of the relevant service may therefore apply in addition to the cancellation charge above. Where this occurs, we will explain the affected cost and, where appropriate, provide supporting information.

3.2 Scheduled Day Tours

3.3 Scheduled Multi-Day Tours

3.4 Separately arranged accommodation or other supplier services

Accommodation and other third-party services may have their own cancellation terms. Where the service is contracted and paid directly between you and the supplier, you remain responsible for any amount due under that supplier's terms.

If we have reserved accommodation or another service for you which is payable directly to the supplier, a cancellation or failure to arrive for the tour does not automatically cancel your obligation to that supplier. Please contact the supplier and us promptly.

Where we are required to settle an amount with a supplier on your behalf because you have not paid an amount for which you remain responsible, you agree, where permitted, to reimburse that amount together with reasonable transfer costs and any administration charge previously disclosed to you. The existing ESW administration charge for the accommodation circumstances described above is £20.

On some Multi-Day Tours or Private Tours, we may help reserve accommodation, activities or other travel services that you pay directly to the relevant supplier.

Where you contract directly with that supplier, you are responsible for paying them and their own booking conditions may apply to that service.

Depending on how the services are selected, arranged and purchased, the arrangements may constitute a Linked Travel Arrangement under applicable legislation. This is determined by the legal criteria applying to the transaction and is not automatic merely because we assist with a reservation.

If you cancel your Scotland's Wild tour, we will make reasonable efforts to assist with cancelling supplier arrangements that we have organised for you, but we cannot guarantee that a supplier will waive its own cancellation charges.

If you wish to change any part of a confirmed booking, the Lead Booker should contact us in writing as soon as possible. We will do our best to help, but changes are subject to availability and cannot always be guaranteed.

You may be required to pay additional costs incurred by us or imposed by a supplier as a result of the requested change. A change is not confirmed until we have accepted it in writing and any applicable amount has been paid.

Where a requested change cannot be made and you decide not to continue with the original booking, this may be treated as a cancellation by you and the charges in Section 3 may apply.

5.1 Private Tour changes

We will endeavour to accommodate reasonable changes to a Private Tour. Changes to route, duration, distance, collection location, accommodation, attractions or other services may increase the price.

If the requested replacement arrangement cannot be accommodated and you no longer wish to take the original Private Tour, the cancellation conditions in Section 3.1 apply. Where only one element needs to be cancelled, we will seek, where reasonably possible, to limit the cancellation charge to the affected arrangements.

5.2 Changes or transfers involving a package

Where your booking constitutes a package, additional statutory rights and obligations apply.

Existing ESW booking conditions provide that a requested change may be subject to an administration fee of 10% of the total package cost, up to a maximum of £200 per person per change, plus supplier or other costs incurred in making the change. Any fee remains subject to applicable law.

If you or a member of your party is prevented from travelling and the booking is a qualifying package, a transfer to another eligible traveller may be possible subject to applicable law. You should normally give at least seven days' notice.

Existing ESW conditions provide for a £50 per-person transfer administration fee plus additional costs arising from the transfer. For package transfers, any charges are subject to the legal requirements applying to reasonable and actual transfer costs. The original traveller and replacement traveller may be jointly responsible for outstanding sums where the law provides.

Some arrangements cannot be amended or transferred after confirmation and could carry cancellation charges of up to 100% of the affected service.

5.3 Scheduled Day Tour changes

We will endeavour to accommodate date or booking changes requested outside the cancellation periods in Section 3.2, subject to availability. Supplier charges or fare differences may still apply. Requests made within the cancellation period may be subject to the relevant cancellation charge.

5.4 Scheduled Multi-Day Tour changes

We will endeavour to accommodate changes requested outside the cancellation period in Section 3.3, subject to availability. Supplier and accommodation charges may apply. Requests made within the cancellation period may be subject to the relevant cancellation charge.

5.5 Cutting your trip short

If you voluntarily end your trip early and there is no reasonable cause for complaint about the services provided, we cannot normally refund unused travel arrangements or accept responsibility for additional costs caused by your early departure.

Your travel insurance may provide curtailment cover depending on the circumstances and policy terms.

Minor operational changes

Scotland's weather, roads, ferries, attractions and remote locations mean that some flexibility is essential. We may alter routes, timings, itineraries, attractions, accommodation, services or transport where reasonably necessary because of circumstances such as adverse weather, road closures, accidents, supplier changes, attraction closures or ferry disruption.

Most changes will be minor. Where reasonably possible, we will provide an alternative of a similar nature, standard or value and will inform you when it is practical to do so.

Significant changes

If we are required to make a significant change to a material part of your confirmed arrangements and applicable law gives you a choice, we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and explain the options available.

Depending on the circumstances, these may include:

1. accepting the changed arrangements;
2. accepting an available alternative tour of equivalent or higher value;
3. accepting an available alternative of lower value and receiving an appropriate price reduction; or
4. cancelling and receiving the refund to which you are entitled.

If an alternative you choose is more expensive than your original arrangements, you may be required to pay the applicable difference, subject to your statutory rights.

Unless applicable law requires otherwise, we are not responsible for consequential expenses that you arrange independently, such as flights, visas, equipment or separate accommodation. Travel insurance should be arranged to protect against appropriate disruption risks.

Cancellation by Scotland's Wild

We may need to cancel a booking if we are prevented from providing the contracted arrangements by circumstances outside our control, if the required minimum number of travellers is not reached, or if you fail to make a payment when it is due.

Your refund and other rights will depend on the reason for cancellation, the type of booking and any statutory protections that apply.

Price changes for qualifying packages

Where your booking is a package and the law permits a post-booking price change, we reserve the right to alter the package price only for qualifying changes such as:

• the cost of passenger transport resulting from fuel or other power sources;
• taxes or fees imposed by third parties, including relevant tourist, landing, embarkation or disembarkation charges; or
• exchange rates relevant to the package.

Where this right is exercised for a package, you will also have the corresponding right to a price reduction where the same qualifying costs decrease, subject to permitted administrative expenses.

Any qualifying increase will be notified clearly with a justification and calculation no later than 20 days before the start of the package. If an increase exceeds 8% of the original package price, the additional statutory rights applying to a significant change will apply.

Our current minimum number for a Scheduled Day Tour or Scheduled Multi-Day Tour to operate is four travellers.

We reserve the right to cancel a scheduled group tour where the required minimum number has not been reached, subject to any notice periods or statutory conditions applying to the booking.

Where we cancel for this reason, we will normally offer you either an alternative available tour or the refund to which you are entitled.

We are not normally responsible for independently booked expenses such as flights, visas, equipment or separate accommodation, except where applicable law provides otherwise.

We take reasonable care to ensure that the information, itineraries and prices published on our website and in other materials are accurate. Occasionally an error, omission or change may occur.

We reserve the right to correct an obvious error or update information before a booking is confirmed. You should check the final price, inclusions, departure details and other material information for your chosen tour before completing your booking.

Once a booking has been confirmed, any later change to a qualifying package is subject to the applicable provisions of these terms and package travel law.

Our tours visit countryside, historic sites, islands and remote parts of Scotland and, in some cases, other parts of the United Kingdom. Outdoor travel carries normal risks including uneven, wet or slippery terrain, steps, slopes and changing weather.

You are responsible for selecting a tour appropriate to your fitness and abilities and for bringing suitable footwear, clothing and any personal equipment you reasonably require.

Active Sightseeing and itinerary flexibility

Many Scotland's Wild tours involve short walks and time outside the vehicle. Published itineraries describe the experience we intend to provide but do not guarantee that every route, stop, attraction or activity will be reached or operated exactly as described.

Weather, traffic, road conditions, ferries, attraction opening times and other operational circumstances may require your guide to adapt the day.

Fitness, health and safety

If, in the reasonable opinion of your guide or another authorised member of the Scotland's Wild team, your health, fitness, conduct or equipment creates a material safety concern or is likely to seriously affect other travellers, we may alter or terminate your participation.

The same principle may apply following an illness, accident or injury where we reasonably consider that continuing the planned activity would create an unacceptable risk.

Age restrictions

The Lead Booker is responsible for ensuring that every traveller meets the minimum age stated for the selected tour at the time of booking.

Most current Scheduled Group Tours have a minimum age of 12 years. The current Puffin Boat Trip & Castle Day Tour is an exception and accepts travellers aged 7+. Individual tours or external activities may have different restrictions, and the relevant tour page and booking confirmation govern your particular departure.

Where Adult and Youth ticket categories are offered, Adult tickets are currently for ages 18+ and Youth tickets are for ages 12–17, subject to the minimum age of the individual tour.

Private Tours do not have a blanket Scotland's Wild minimum age. However, specific activities, boats, attractions, accommodation providers or other suppliers may impose their own restrictions. Please tell us when children will be travelling on a Private Tour.

Any minor travelling with us must be accompanied by a responsible adult parent or guardian. That adult remains responsible for the minor's welfare and behaviour throughout the trip.

If a traveller arrives for a scheduled tour and does not meet the published minimum age, we may refuse participation. This will normally be treated as a cancellation by the customer and the applicable cancellation terms will apply.

Damage and loss caused by you

You are responsible for damage or loss caused deliberately or negligently by you or a member of your party. You may be required to reimburse us or the affected supplier for the reasonable cost of that damage or loss, together with applicable claims or costs arising from it.

It is a condition of our acceptance of your booking that you have appropriate travel insurance for your trip.

You are responsible for ensuring that your policy is appropriate for your personal circumstances and the arrangements you have booked. Cover should normally include relevant cancellation costs, medical expenses, pre-existing medical conditions where required, personal belongings and appropriate travel disruption or repatriation cover.

If you choose to travel without adequate insurance, neither we nor a supplier will be responsible for losses that appropriate insurance would otherwise have covered, except where liability cannot legally be excluded.

Some services connected with our tours are provided by independent suppliers, including accommodation providers, ferry operators, boat operators, attractions and activity providers.

Where applicable, their own terms and conditions may form part of your arrangements and may contain separate cancellation, participation, safety or liability provisions.

Relevant supplier terms can be requested from us or obtained directly from the supplier where available.

An excursion, attraction or activity that you independently choose and contract for separately from your Scotland's Wild booking is not normally part of your contract with us.

In those circumstances your contract is with the relevant operator and that operator is responsible for providing the service, subject to applicable law.

If you have a disability, medical condition, reduced mobility, dietary requirement or other request that may materially affect your ability to participate in the tour, please tell us before booking wherever possible.

Walking requirements vary significantly between tours. Some itineraries involve only short and relatively straightforward walking, while others require guests to be comfortable walking for around an hour at a time on rough, wet, uneven or occasionally steeper ground.

We will provide reasonable information to help you assess whether a tour is suitable, but individual capabilities and requirements vary and you remain responsible for deciding whether the tour is appropriate for you.

Where you make a special request, we will make reasonable efforts to assist or pass the request to a relevant supplier. Unless we specifically confirm a request in writing, it cannot be guaranteed.

Please tell us promptly if a relevant medical condition, disability or mobility requirement materially changes after your booking has been confirmed.

Unless your booking confirmation states otherwise, please arrive at the stated meeting point at least 15 minutes before the published departure time.

Scheduled group tours need to depart on time. If you arrive late, the guide may need to leave without you and we cannot guarantee that you will be able to join the group elsewhere.

Finding the correct meeting point and allowing sufficient time to reach it are the traveller's responsibility. Always check the latest departure information in your booking confirmation before travelling.

Some of our Scheduled Multi-Day Tours that begin in Glasgow finish in Edinburgh rather than returning to Glasgow.

This varies by itinerary. The start and finish locations shown on the individual tour page and your booking confirmation apply to your particular booking.

Please check this information carefully before booking onward transport or accommodation for the final day of your trip.

Vehicle luggage capacity is limited for safety, weight and practical reasons.

Unless your individual tour information states otherwise, the current maximum luggage allowance per traveller is:

• one main suitcase or travel bag;
• maximum weight: 15 kg / 33 lb;
• approximate maximum dimensions: 56 × 43 × 25 cm / 22 × 17 × 10 in; and
• one small handbag-sized personal bag.

You must be able to lift and carry your own luggage. On Multi-Day Tours, you may need to carry it between the touring vehicle and your accommodation.

We reserve the right to refuse luggage that materially exceeds the published allowance where carrying it would create a safety, capacity or legal-weight problem.

Luggage is carried at the traveller's own risk except where loss or damage is caused by circumstances for which we are legally liable. Please ensure your luggage is suitable for travel and appropriately protected from Scotland's weather.

We cannot normally store excess luggage for you. See our current luggage and storage information before travelling.

Except where these terms or applicable law provide otherwise, neither we nor a relevant supplier will be liable to pay compensation where contractual obligations are affected by circumstances beyond reasonable control whose consequences could not have been avoided even if reasonable measures had been taken.

Examples may include:

• warfare, terrorism or serious civil disturbance;
• significant public-health risks or serious disease outbreaks;
• floods, storms, severe weather, fire, earthquakes or other natural disasters;
• government or public-authority action;
• industrial disputes or strikes;
• major transport, ferry or infrastructure disruption;
• chemical, biological or nuclear incidents; and
• other comparable events outside reasonable control.

Where your booking is protected by package travel legislation, your statutory rights relating to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances remain unaffected.

We may issue promotional or discount codes from time to time. Each promotion is subject to its stated validity period, eligible tours, departure locations and other restrictions.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, promotional codes:

• have no cash value;
• cannot be combined with another offer;
• apply only to qualifying bookings made through the stated booking channel;
• remain subject to availability; and
• cannot be applied retrospectively after a booking has been completed.

Our existing standard promotional-code conditions exclude Private Tours unless a particular promotion expressly states otherwise.

Scotland's Wild does not arrange your flights unless this is expressly stated in a specific written agreement.

You are responsible for arranging sufficient time between your flights, trains, accommodation and the scheduled start of your tour.

If a delay to independently arranged transport causes you to miss your Scotland's Wild departure, the booking may be treated as a no-show and the applicable cancellation terms will apply.

If you believe you may be late, contact us as soon as possible. We will assist where practical but cannot delay a scheduled group departure where doing so would materially affect other customers or the itinerary.

Everyone travelling with Scotland's Wild is expected to behave in a reasonable manner and to respect fellow travellers, guides, suppliers, local communities and property.

If, in our reasonable opinion or that of a relevant supplier or person in authority, your behaviour causes or is likely to cause danger, serious disruption, distress, harassment, damage to property or a material delay or diversion, we may terminate your participation without prior notice.

If participation is terminated for these reasons, we will normally have no further responsibility for your travel, accommodation or other arrangements and no refund will be due for unused services, subject to applicable law.

You remain responsible for loss or damage caused by you or members of your party and for reasonable claims or costs resulting from your actions.

We and our suppliers reserve the right to refuse to carry or continue to carry a person where there is a reasonable safety, conduct, legal or operational reason to do so.

If you have a concern about another traveller during your trip, please raise it with your Scotland's Wild guide as soon as reasonably possible so that the situation can be assessed.

Where travel is refused because of the traveller's own conduct, failure to satisfy a published participation requirement or other circumstance for which the traveller is responsible, applicable cancellation charges may apply.

We accept responsibility for the performance of services to the extent required by the contract and applicable law, including any obligations that apply where we are the organiser of a package.

We are responsible for injury or loss caused by the negligence of our employees or by other circumstances for which the law makes us responsible.

Subject to applicable law, we will not be responsible for a loss caused by:

• the act or omission of the traveller;
• an unrelated third party where the event could not reasonably have been foreseen or avoided;
• unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances or force majeure;
• independently arranged services that do not form part of our contract with you; or
• risks inherent in an activity which have not arisen because of negligence or another legal breach for which we are responsible.

Visiting remote areas and walking outdoors involve normal inherent risks. You accept that some flexibility in routes, timings and activities may be necessary.

On a Private Tour, if we reasonably consider your health or fitness unsuitable for a planned element, we may, where practical, adapt the itinerary. A significant requested or necessary change may affect the cost. If no safe and reasonable arrangement can be agreed, we may need to cancel or terminate the affected activity or tour.

You are responsible for checking the passport, visa, immigration, entry and health requirements relevant to your own circumstances and nationality in sufficient time before travel.

Scotland's Wild can provide only general travel information and does not accept responsibility for deciding whether you satisfy the legal requirements for entering or remaining in the United Kingdom or any other country visited as part of your arrangements.

Relevant official sources may include the UK Government, your national government, passport authorities, embassies, consulates and appropriate medical professionals.

We are not responsible for a traveller's inability to participate because they have not complied with applicable passport, visa, immigration, entry or health requirements, except where applicable law provides otherwise.

These Booking Conditions and agreements to which they apply are governed by Scottish law.

Subject to any mandatory consumer right to bring proceedings in another jurisdiction, disputes arising from or connected with your contract or booking will be dealt with by the Scottish courts.

If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you may have rights to choose the law or courts of the part of the United Kingdom in which you live where applicable consumer law permits.

Consumer and package-travel protections can depend on the nature of the booking, where the contract is made, where the traveller is resident and the legislation applying to the transaction.

Qualifying UK package bookings are governed by the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, as amended and applicable from time to time.

EU consumer protections may apply in circumstances where relevant European legislation applies to a booking.

Customers resident outside the United Kingdom or European Union should not assume that every statutory protection available to a UK or EU resident automatically applies to them. Please contact us before booking if you require clarification about the contractual arrangements being offered.

The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Experience Scotland's Wild Limited, ABTOT membership number 5592.

In the event of our insolvency, eligible non-flight package bookings are protected in accordance with the terms and scope of our ABTOT protection.

ABTOT cover provides for a refund where an eligible customer has not yet travelled or repatriation where transportation was included in the protected package. Bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT where the applicable ABTOT conditions are met, including where the booking is purchased directly with Experience Scotland's Wild Limited.

In the unlikely event that you require assistance due to our financial failure, ABTOT's 24-hour helpline is 01702 811397. Please advise them that you are a customer of an ABTOT-protected travel company.