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The HAGGiS Passion
Here at HAGGiS, our connection with not only the land, but the amazing people on it is everything.
The locals in Scotland have captured our hearts and the wildness of the rugged Highland and Islands has been imprinted on our personalities.
That is why it is our responsibility to nurture it.
6 Day Wild Skye Volunteer Adventure
Join us on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that provides the best mix between exploring and volunteering; all while making a difference on Scotland's magical landscapes and communities.
Between tree planting, path building and repair, you can expect stunning scenery, romantic castles, awe-inspiring waterfalls, legendary tales of our bloody history, whisky, and all-round guaranteed belly laughs.
Why Tormore Forest needs you
Tormore Forest is a community-owned forest on the beautiful Sleat peninsula of the Isle of Skye; with jaw-dropping views to the Scottish mainland and stunning wee isles. The forest contains the remains of historical settlements that have huge potential to be used by Skye's residents and visitors to the island - but the community needs more helping hands to make the forest more accessible.
By helping to create a new fascinating site of interest you support the development of an amazing local-driven project. Being a part of this will tremendously benefit both locals and visitors for years to come.
Tour Highlights
Eilean Donan Castle
Not only is this the most photographed castle in Scotland but it has also been a popular filming location. It has featured in movies such as: James Bond - The World is not Enough, Highlander and Made of Honour to name a few.
Whisky Distillery Tour
Experience the joys of Scotland's 'water of life'. Learn about how whisky is made with our golden barley and crystal clear water at Torabhaig Whisky Distillery and sample its fiery warmth yourself. Love it or hate it, whisky runs through our veins and is a must when visiting Scotland.
The Skye Inn Accommodation
Cosy up by the fire at our very own guest house accommodation in the quaint island village of Portree on the Isle of Skye. Share stories with fellow travellers and enjoy a dram or two. Only a short walk to the heart of the village where you'll find local shops, cafes, and of course pubs all around a beautiful harbour.
The Fairy Pools
The Fairy Pools are a series of wee waterfalls and turquoise pools, which have risen to internet fame thanks to their natural beauty and magical charme. Sitting against a backdrop of stunning Cuillin mountains, you will lose yourself in your imagination; it truly is a one of a kind, spellbounding sight.
Gaelic Tutoring Session
Speak like a local Scot! During an awesome tutoring session at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig you will not only learn about our founding language but also help to keep an endangered cultural heritage of Scotland alive.
Tree Planting
Who doesn't love a bit of digging in the mud? Plant a variety of trees including native oaks for wildlife to enjoy, as well as sycamore and other trees as a source of sustainably managed timber supply for the local community.
Invasive Plant Eradication
To give the native flora and fauna on the Isle of Skye the opportunity to flourish, you'll help to clear Tormore Forest from invasive species (e.g. non-native buddleia). Time to let all your built-up stress and anger out!
Path & Step Building
Tormore Forest is stunning, but it needs secure and accessible paths for the locals and visitors to appreciate and nurture it. Path and step building is one of the survival skills you didn't know you needed. Trust us - it's a ton of fun and incredibly satisfying!
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experiences are our very own, unique and conscious travel experiences that we are committed to including on our tours.
They are authentic, fun, and aim to have a positive environmental and social impact on Scotland for one generation and the next.
The Sleat Community Trust
To create our inspiring volunteer project we teamed up with our mates at the Sleat Community Trust - one of Scotland’s best recognised charities in supporting the economic, environmental, and social development on the stunning Isle of Skye.
"This has to be one of my favourite trips"
"Many major environmental impacts come from tourism groups, such as littering and erosion. The idea of doing a volunteering adventure is to help offset our environmental impacts - we want to leave tourist locations better than when we get there while exploring the country. We built paths, did some tree planting, removed weeds, learnt some Gaelic, had a laugh with locals and chased waterfalls!"
April Bright, October 2022
FAQ's
We are super excited about this trip and we pride ourselves in offering a way of travel with a balanced mix between supporting a recognised Scottish charity and sightseeing on the Isle of Skye.
We believe that it gives our passengers an easily accessed but genuine opportunity to explore the destination while being active outdoors, connecting with the island and its community, and make a positive impact for generations to come.
The tour price is substantially lower than our other Scottish trips and covers being guided by one of our awesome local guides, a 5-night stay at our super cosy B&B The Skye Inn, with a full range of freshly cooked breakfast options each morning, as well as a tutoring session at the Gaelic college Sabhal Mòr Ostaig – an experience that our passengers loved last year.
The tour is divided into two parts:
- The volunteering activities in Tormore Forest - free of charge: These take place during the morning hours each day and are, of course, free of charge. The project is coordinated by our mates the Sleat Community Trust, a local charity that supports the sustainable economic, environmental and social development in the Sleat Peninsula on the Isle of Skye.
- Exploring and sightseeing on Isle of Skye – reflected in tour price: After our morning of volunteering, we have time in the afternoon to experience the richness of Isle of Skye – nature, culture, local cuisine, and all-round island hospitality. The trip is fully guided by one of our legendary HAGGiS driver guides who has been trained by us to ensure a safe, comfortable, and inclusive journey throughout. The guided exploring and activities form an essential part of the service we offer and is reflected in the tour price.
Like for any of our trips in Scotland, there are basic costs involved in running a guided tour. Some of these include:
- Transport and fuel cost
- Vehicle maintenance
- Insurances
- Staff wages (driver guide, catering, housekeeping, reservations, operations, etc)
- Accommodation
- Heating and electricity
- Food
If you have any questions about the price and costs involved in this trip, feel free to reach out to us via email or give us a ring!
Your tour includes:
- Legendary HAGGiS Guide
- 6 days exploring Isle of Skye on a super comfy 16-seater mini bus
- 5 nights B&B accommodation at the cosy The Skye Inn*
- Full Scottish breakfast**
- Gaelic language workshop at the Gaelic school Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
*Single travellers will be allocated a twin room to share with another member of the group
** gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options available
The tour offers a good split between some physical work in the morning and time to explore the island in the afternoon; therefore, a reasonable degree of physical fitness is required. The morning activity on each day would include one of the following*:
- Step building on paths
- Boardwalk construction
- Bridge construction
- Brash & bracken clearing
- Path marking along the Carn Beag Track
- Tree planting in Tormore Forest
- Beach cleans
* Some activities might have two groups operating at the same time. All activities may be affected by the weather. Beach cleanings will also need to take into account the tidal state.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are conscious travel experiences offered on our tours. They are chosen with great care based on the positive environmental or social impact they have on Scotland's communities and those who experience them.
The 6 Day Wild Skye Volunteer Adventure includes two MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences:
The Sleat Communty Trust Volunteer Experience: We are partnering with the Sleat Community Trust to help transform Tormore Forest and make it more accessible to the local residents and future visitors. The Sleat Community Trust is a recognised Scottish charity supporting sustainable economic, environmental and social development in the Sleat Peninsula on the Isle of Skye.
Gaelic tutoring session at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig: Gaelic was spoken in most of Scotland until the 11th century, but a gradual decline in the language means that today, only 1.1% of the population is Gaelic speaking, making it an endangered language. The Gaelic tutoring session at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig offers us a way to support the revitalisation of the Gaelic language and culture.
Using our Make Travel Matter E-Assessment, travel experiences will be rated against a set of robust criteria, selected from the Global Indicator Framework for the Global Goals, in order to identify the ways in which they advance the 11 Global Goals that our sustainability strategy prioritises.
The tour departs on the following dates:
October 23rd 2023
March 18th 2024
Come and join us!
19 Union St,
Inverness*
IV1 1QA
*Across from the entrance to the Victorian Market
To make the most out of your time on the Isle of Skye and stay comfortable and safe during the volunteering activities, it is essential that you bring with you the following:
- Pair of wellies
- Wind and waterproof jacket
- Waterproof trousers
- Working gloves
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Warm clothing
It's always good to bring a change of waterproofs with you.
Predictably unpredictable. The Highlands wouldn’t be so green, and the lochs so magnificent, if it didn’t rain occasionally. Scotland has a worse reputation than it deserves in terms of weather, but you should come prepared for a bit of everything. Wet weather gear, sun cream, t-shirts and jumpers are all recommended.
The fact that this tour operates in March and October means that it's the perfect weather to be outdoors. Plus, there won't be any midges!
A range of cooked and fresh breakfast options are included in this tour and will be provided at your accommodation.
Lunch and dinner are not included in the tour, but you have the option of a discounted dinner that is freshly prepared for your group each day.
We make lunch stops at different places throughout the week that offer you a variety of meal options to buy.
Absolutely. All our tours are perfectly suitable to those of you travelling solo. You’ll be part of a small group, so it’s a great way to meet others and make new connections.
Rooms are on a twin share basis. Solo travellers will be allocated a twin room to share with another member of the group.
The minimum age to join all our tours is 18 years old. As long as you are physically fit to participate in the Volunteer Project, we don’t have a maximum age.
Our mini bus is a 16-seater, perfect for a small group tour.
You can book this tour here.
(Please note that we are running this tour in conjunction with our sister company Highland Explorers).
We are constantly assessing and following the government guidelines for any COVID-19 related restrictions. It is your responsibility to adhere to these requirements to ensure your arrival is not impacted and you can join your tour without issue.
You can check your country-specific visa requirements and travel restrictions on our Travel Requirements page.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips.
We are here to help throughout your whole travel experience and ensure you have the Scottish adventure of a lifetime. You can drop us an email to info@haggisadventures.com or by giving us a call +44 131 557 9393.