Walking, Biking and Watersports Guide – Scottish Highlands

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We are looking for an Activity Guide to join our team for the Summer 2025 season on our cruising holidays with outdoor activities along the Great Glen in the Scottish Highlands, aboard our two converted Dutch barges, Fingal and Ros Crana.

Caledonian Discovery offers cruising holidays with outdoor activities along the Great Glen in the Scottish Highlands, aboard our two converted Dutch barges, Fingal and Ros Crana.

We are looking for an Activity Guide to join our team for the Summer 2025 season. The job is full-time and live-aboard during the working weeks.

This is an interesting life with a variety of people of all ages coming on the boats. We look for sociable crew who will enjoy the boat lifestyle, the inspirational surroundings and being part of a fun and enthusiastic team in a unique, wonderful environment. We enjoy a quality of life envied by many who come across us.

The Job

The guide on board the boat is responsible for delivering the many activities that we offer to our guests, and they work closely with the skipper to plan what activities to offer on each day of the cruise. This involves leading small groups of up to 12 guests on walks, cycles, and canoe sessions at various locations throughout the Great Glen, including sections of the Great Glen Way. On some of our cruises, we also offer sailing sessions, which are led by either one of the Guides or the Skipper on Ros Crana.

The nature of the work is hugely varied so you may be called on to do anything that’s needed to run the holidays! For all crew this includes driving the barge on open water, deck work, maintenance of vessel and equipment, cleaning, shopping, chatting with the guests, helping at mealtimes, etc.

The Season

All of our seasonal crew work on a general rotation of 4 weeks on followed by 2 weeks off or 3 weeks on followed by a week off. The exact rotation may vary and might include additional weeks off or shorter stints on the barge, subject to the requirements of crewing the barges, but each stint of 4 weeks will always be followed by at least 2 weeks off, and each stint of 3 weeks will be followed by at least 1 week off. This allows for plenty of time for the crew to recuperate and hopefully gives enough time for them to follow their other summer-time passions and interests.

During the working weeks aboard the barges, crew are required to live aboard with food and accommodation provided. With no live-in deductions there are no further outgoings necessary except for personal spending.

Working hours while on board are typical for a charter boat. The crew work from 11am on Saturday to about 2pm on Friday. This makes the working weeks quite full-on, but we think that the number of weeks off makes for a good work-life balance.

What you get

-          £795 - £845 per work week

-          Accommodation and food during working weeks

-          Plenty of time off to pursue your summer passions

-          Great work-life balance

-          A beautiful and unique working environment

Requirements

The successful applicant will have experience in leading small groups in an outdoor environment. This should include guiding walks, trail biking and leading open canoeing sessions on flat water. Also essential is a passion for the outdoors and the ability to chat to guests and enhance their experience of our fabulous surroundings.

Powerboating and sailing skills would be a distinct advantage. Applicants should have a good level of practical skill and the ability to carry out a wide variety of straightforward maintenance tasks. Paddlesport, RYA or Mountain Leader qualifications will be an advantage, as would a basic understanding of the history and nature of Scotland and/or the Highlands.

Training will be given in all aspects of the work as required and the new crew member should have a good aptitude for learning new skills including the deck work required to crew the barges. Caledonian Discovery is a recognised RYA training centre, and any powerboat training can lead towards RYA Powerboat level 2.

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