UKC

Can anyone recommend a guide they have used in the Ben Nevis area.

In reply to MattKelk:

this one is good

http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/899033/Product.html?source=9593

In reply to MattKelk:
Alan Halewood is a top bloke but not a guide, he's MIC. I'm biased he's a pal. He posts as AIH on here.
There are quite a few: Mike Pescod, Rob Jarvis, Nick Carter, Alan Kimber (guide), Richard Bentley, Danny Goodwin....off the cuff.

I assume you're not asking about a guideBOOK, because things are different then. The latest SMC is the most up to date.

In reply to French Erick:

By guide l mean person sorry not worded very well.

In reply to MattKelk:

I have been out on the Ben and Aonach Mor with Rob Jarvis:
http://www.highlandguides.com/

Great bloke. Highly recommended. To be honest, there are loads of great people and companies to choose from and I've yet to meet a British guide that you'd be disappointed with!

If nothing else, Rob's website is a good source of news/weather conditions and if he's fully booked, I'm sure he could recommend you somebody else anyway.

In reply to MattKelk:

A second recommendation for Al Halewood http://alanhalewood.blogspot.com/

The man knows his onions.

In reply to MattKelk: Probably my most memorable mountain day was with Alan Kimber on Tower Ridge a few winters ago. Top bloke. He runs West Coast Mountain Guides and has his own bunkhouse.

Paul

In reply to MattKelk:

Also recommend Mike & Donald @ Abacus

http://www.abacusmountaineering.com/aboutus.htm

Cheers
SK

In reply to DaveHK:

And he has 'reassuringly large thighs'
Which is what you want in a guide is it not?

In reply to MattKelk:
Ill second Abacus, did some stuff last year with them. Excellent day out

In reply to MattKelk: you could try the superb new British Mountain Guide website:
http://www.bmg.org.uk/index.php/eng
There's "find a guide" page which will let you contact all BMG members working on Ben Nevis

In reply to MattKelk: Dan goodwin (mountain plan) was excellent with us 3 last year, he asked on day 1 what WE wanted out of the weekend, he did just right with us.
cant recommend him enough.
k

A third recommendation for Al Halewood.

In reply to MattKelk:

Have climbed with Richard Bentley and Dave Hollinger who were working as Alan Kimbers guides on one of his CIC courses-both superb and also 1:1 with Graeme Ettle,UIAGM also brill.

In reply to MattKelk: Rob Jarvis, Highlandguides.com is good

In reply to MattKelk:
Alan Kimber gets my vote

In reply to MattKelk:

Knowing a few of the folk suggested, I'd say any of them would do a good job. As I'd expect of any MIC or BMG! But I'm curious (NB friendly curious, not stirring!) to know how many of those responding to the question have hired or taken instruction from more than one of them? (Because otherwise this simply becomes a list of 'this is who we had'!)

In reply to petestack:

PS So I'm emphatically not looking for 'A was better than B' answers! Just interested to know if folk are recommending from a single experience...

In reply to petestack:

I've been out with several guides and MIC's. Both on courses and as a private client. As someone said all in my experience will give you a great day out. All mine were. And I would rebook with all. Some you will click with more personally etc.

The best in my opinion have been Andy Cunningham and Dave Etherington.

Alan Kimber's set up you can't fault and I would start there.

One thing to bear in mind though, often when you book with established names, you may well go out with an associate or another member of their team, depending on diary commitments and your aspirations for the day.

In reply to petestack:
I suggested quite a few names and have never been with any of them... just seen them work when up in the hills.
As you did mention earlier, they are as you'd expect any MIC or BMG to be, professional, friendly and passionate about the hills.

Now, you remark is very relevant though!

Rob Jarvis highly recommended. Spent 3 days with him 2 years ago and got a lot out of it.

J.

In reply to MattKelk: Graeme Ettle, IFMGA Guide, Guides all over Scotland, lives in Aviemore, and works over west alot,graeme_ettle@hotmail.com. Regards Zf

i reccomend abacus mountaineering donald king is good

In reply to MattKelk:

I've climbed with Alan Halewood a few times now and will be again next month. Top bloke and really know his stuff - highly recommended.

This is a link to Alan's own website (not his blog) - http://www.climbwhenyoureready.com/ (If you look at the Winter Mountaineering link on his site - the bloke in the red and black Paramo astride a rock fin with a really CHEESY grin is me...lol).

Rich