about

Founded in 2003 in Glen Torridon by Jim Sutherland, nineonesix-guiding has provided adventures for thousands of satisfied clients, as individuals or as groups. nineonesix-guiding has grown to become a close team of experienced and qualified outdoor professionals.

"Our aim at nineonesix-guiding is to share exciting and beautiful places by leading you on mountain walks, scrambles, climbs and bike rides in stunning locations across Scotland and beyond"

Jim Sutherland

Jim is often described as the most friendly man in Scotland and never short of a story to tell. After a chance meeting with a competitor on the Highland Trail 550, three years ago, Jim rides a bike almost every day on the trails, tracks and back roads of the Cairngorm National Park. His relaxed style on the hill will make for an unforgettable experience and he is as handy with a set of bagpipes as he is with a pair of ice tools.

Qualifications: Mountaineering Instructor Certificate & Mountain Bike Leader Award

Nathan White

Nathan is a very passionate outdoor activist whom you are just as likely to see with his eyes on stalks floating down a rapid in a kayak as suffering his way up a winter route. Climbing is his real passion though which has taken Nathan to some amazing places such as the Cassin ridge on Denali in Alaska and big walling in Yosemite. Yet he still believes his alpine apprenticeship is not over and is hoping it will take him to some even bigger and better routes.

Qualifications : MIC & Mountain Ski Leader

Laura Mcauley

Laura Mcauley enjoys being outdoors, whatever the activity and the more remote, the better. She has guided many, many times on remote expeditions across Scotland using various modes of transport. As a guide with an interest in environmental education, she will always be keen to share her wilderness knowledge with you while walking, biking, canoeing or climbing. Laura is also pretty good at making her mountain bike jump, climb and fly down the trails! She is also well qualified and experienced to help you fix your bike should it need some ‘tlc’.

Qualifications : Mountain Leader Award, Single Pitch Award & Mountain Bike Leader Award

Kirsty Chuchla

Kirsty Chuchla feels incredibly lucky to call the mountains of Scotland her ‘office’ and loves sharing them with others. She has hiked, climbed, paddled and biked in many different countries but enjoys nothing more than an adventure in her ‘office’. Her upbeat manner and trademark big smile contribute to any day in the hills, whatever the weather! Not only will she provide you with a safe and fun day out, it will also be packed full of interesting and informative facts bringing to life the landscape surrounding you.

Qualifications : International Mountain Leader, Winter Mountain Leader Award & Single Pitch Award

Richard Cockburn

A member of Torridon Mountain Rescue Team, Richard has guided in summer and winter across Scotland with the aim of making days in the outdoors interesting, educational and fun. Having compleated all of Scotland's Munros, Richard is now working his way through the Corbetts. In addition to mountaineering Richard is a keen skier and mountain biker and mountain trips have taken him to Canada, the USA, the Alps, the Pyrenees and Norway.

Qualifications : Winter Mountain Leader Award

Dunc Maclennan

Dunc Maclennan was born and raised in the Highlands. He was first introduced to the outdoors by his father, who used to take him fishing to hill lochs in Wester Ross. As time passed, Dunc found that there was more adventure to be had above the lochs than below them. From this moment, a lifetime’s passion for the outdoors began, taking Dunc to all the mountainous parts of Scotland as well as the Alps, trekking in the Himalaya and the cloud forests of Ecuador. He loves nothing more than sharing his passion and knowledge with others in his favourite Highland places. Dunc is the Training Officer for Torridon Mountain Rescue Team.

Qualifications : Winter Mountain Leader & Single Pitch Award

Ian Stewart

Ian Stewart spends every available day in the winter skiing and climbing all across Scotland, from the accessible northern corries of Cairngorm on his doorstep to remote mountains in the wild North West Highlands, where the feelings of self reliance and adventure add so much more to a day's climbing. Ian has climbed all over the UK, growing up on Yorkshire Grit but then moving to North Wales before leaving the crowds to come to Scotland. His climbing has also taken him across the world: ice climbing in Norway, sport climbing in Spain, France and Australia, alpine climbing and ski mountaineering in France and Switzerland.

Qualifications : MIC, Trail Cycle Leader & Emergency Medical Technician

Ian Sikora

Ian is a lifelong mountain biker, never happier than when planning the next trip into the hills. Non-riding time is spent developing his coaching skills with Scottish Cycling, where Ian is the Head Coach for the Regional MTB Group.

Growing up looking for singletrack trails around Yorkshire, bikes led him further afield looking for the ‘perfect trail’. Still not found it yet, but travelled plenty looking for it. Colorado, Utah and Whistler have all been checked out, but having moved to the Highlands more recently, Ian has a feeling the perfect trail may be nearer than you think. Just follow me…….

Qualifications : Mountain Bike Leader Award