Our Team
Our team is the heart of Thistle Trekking. From walking guides and trek managers to our office staff, everyone plays a part in creating unforgettable walking holidays, and they’re all genuinely lovely people to spend time with in the hills.
Our guides and trek managers are qualified UK Mountain Leaders with a deep knowledge of Scotland’s geology, nature, environment, and history, and they love sharing this along the trail. With expert on-the-ground support, from driving the support vehicle to handling daily logistics and knowing the best places to eat and relax each evening, they ensure every trek runs smoothly, safely, and enjoyably. Meet some of the friendly faces behind your next adventure below.
David Battle
David feels most at home exploring the Scottish Highlands with a tent in his pack. He loves scrambling, planning new adventures, cycling, and embracing the mountains—whatever the weather!
Helen Battle
Helen is David's mum, making Thistle Trekking a family business. She provides admin support and exceptional organisation skills, and she loves the hills as much as the rest of us.
Scarlet Trevett
Thistle Trekking was founded by Scarlet Trevett. After the 2019 season she handed the reins to David and moved on to ventures new in Scotland’s north-west.
Harry Ellis
Harry has spent over 25 years exploring the UK’s mountains and beyond. A keen climber, cyclist, and ski mountaineer, he loves sharing his passion for adventure and the beauty of the hills.
Ed Terry
Ed is passionate about the natural world and likes nothing more than sharing this with young people and adults alike. He has been a guide and an instructor for over 10 years across the varied landscapes of the UK.
Ian Howells
Ian has guided worldwide, from Borneo’s jungles to South America’s mountains, but long-distance footpaths remain his true passion. He loves rugby and cricket, food with chillies in it, a good detective novel and a pub with a log fire!
Ian Savage
Ian has over 30 years of experience in outdoor education and team development. He has adventured worldwide but believes Scotland’s mountains and seas are unbeatable for exploration and discovery.
Cecilia Mariani
Cecilia is an International Mountain Leader and has hiked and guided many treks from the Dolomites to Patagonia. Passionate about long-distance walking, she returns to Scotland each spring to get her fix of the Highlands.
Alex Latham
Alex loves a long-distance ‘thru-hike’ with the Cape Wrath Trail, the South West Coastal Path and New Zealand’s Te Araroa all under his boots. Also a bushcraft instructor and foraging guide, he can spice up any trail food on demand!
Simon Stokes
Simon is a Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor and passionate hillwalker. He has climbed and trekked all over the world, from the Himalayas, to Borneo and the Alps. His home is the Peak District but often travels to the Scottish Highlands and the Lake District.
Will Hall
Growing up int’ Yorkshire Dales, Will is most at home in the hills, whether running, hiking, or leading others on new adventures. Now based in Edinburgh, he is passionate about inclusion and supporting young people to overcome barriers.
John King
John loves sharing his knowledge of Scotland’s hills, geology, and history. Already on his fifth round of the Munros it is fair to say there aren’t many who know our mountains and glens as well as John.
Mark Warner
Mark has been living and working in the Scottish Highlands for the last 10 years. He works throughout the seasons and loves a long-distance trek, his most recent being Corsica’s GR20.
James Coomber
James lives and breathes the outdoors, whether it be work or play. Based on the west coast of Scotland he feels lucky to have access to some of the most varied and exciting mountainous terrain the UK has to offer.
Dean Russell
Dean, a climber, mountaineer, and trail runner, recently moved from environmental work to outdoor guiding. He has tackled 6000m peaks, the UTMB, and loves exploring the Lakes, Pembrokeshire, and Scotland of course.
Chris Marden
Chris brings to his guiding vast experience of walking, mountaineering and skiing across the globe, a PhD in Patagonian glaciation, and almost 30 years of work in Renewable Energy and Environmental Management.
Aidan Robinson
Aidan has been leading groups in the outdoors since 2013 and has loved every minute of it! He enjoys climbing, long distant running, skiing and mountaineering. Having explored the Alps and Morocco he still says his best days have been in the Scottish mountains.
David Buckett
David, based in Fort William, has spent over 10 years guiding, climbing, and trekking worldwide. When not climbing on ‘The Ben’ or guiding on Scotland’s rocky ridges, he enjoys road cycling and hillwalking with his dog.
Graham Smyth
G seizes every opportunity to get out into the fresh Scottish air, whether that be walking, camping, scrambling, or climbing. A qualified Mountain Leader, G is keen to share his enthusiasm for the outdoors with whomever will join him!
Alex Battery
Alex has been exploring the UK’s mountains for over a decade, and delights in leading mountain adventures and loves providing people with a journey to remember. He’s a keen rock climber and aspires to lead Himalayan expeditions.
Kat Bennett
As well as guiding on the UK’s trails Kat has been on expeditions in Morocco, Kyrgyzstan and Siberia, climbed in the Alps, and spent time working as a raft and river guide in the American Southeast.
Ellie Ullyat
Ellie has lived and worked in the Lake District most of her life, with a background in technical theatre. She is a keen long-distance trail walker with numerous self-supported UK routes under her belt.
Peter Cuthill
Pete’s passion for climbing and trekking has taken him to the French and Italian alps and North Africa. He has topped Mont Blanc and marvelled at the sunset in the Atlas Mountains, but the hills of Scotland are still his first love.
Maya Prashad
Maya is a qualified Mountain Leader and Physiotherapist who loves a long-distance trail. With self-supported WHW, Hebridean Way, Great Glen Way, and East Highland Way treks under her boots, she knows Scotland’s trails very well!