Meet some of our holiday experts

Our tour leaders are as passionate about walking and discovering the world as you are. Experienced in leading, usually, but not necessarily in the area of the holiday, each has their own individual style and particular talents. All are first-aid trained, holding walking qualifications commensurate with the holiday grade they lead and often have good foreign languages skills.

They’re supported by a back-office team who seek to ensure that you’ve got the best itinerary and all holiday arrangements are in place for you to enjoy.

What is unsurpassed is their wide travel knowledge and commitment to making your holiday as friendly and pleasurable as possible. We’d like to introduce you to some of them below.

Local Leaders and Guides

We also employ and train some local leaders as well as working with local area guides on many of our long-haul destinations.Native to the area, their friendly welcomes and special insights are hugely popular, adding real character and flavour - and keep our clients coming back for more!

Michael Hatch

Worked as a leader and tour manager for 20 years, mostly in Europe. Now home from the hills, his idea of heaven is an alpine pasture in early July, sunrise at 10,000ft or a Greek beachside taverna. He’s also at home in European cities from Seville to Istanbul. Responsible for our hutting holidays he also looks after the shore adventures on cruise itineraries. Based in the Leader’s Department he deals with leader training and enjoys finding the perfect holiday for new clients.

David Kay

Spent 5 years leading pretty much all over the world, stilll travels as much as possible, now more often with his wife and daughter. Recent trips include Russia, Peru, Ecuador, Central America and Mexico. Dave is contracts manager for Latin America, Nepal, Italy and Eastern Europe. He is also pretty well acquainted with our North American, Australia and New Zealand programmes.

John Knott

John has been a compulsive traveller and walks leader since high school. Having completed the Three Peaks challenge of ascending Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon within 24 hours he's also clearly got an adventurous streak. These days he leads mainly in Greece and Turkey with the odd trip to other destinations which have attracted his attention.

Wendy Smith

Wendy Smith has been charming our clients and office staff for over 20 years. Her relaxed and cheerful disposition belie the fastidious attention to detail and excellent people skills which Wendy brings to every tour. Her particular travelling passion is the Hispanic World, most especially the Alpujarras in Andalucia. But Wendy can also be found in the Canary Islands and Latin America, and more recently in Sicily where she is learning Italian to match her fluent Spanish.

Karen Groenewald

Karen Groenewald leads mainly in Italy and in South Africa where for many years she was based and met her husband Fred - also a tour leader with Ramblers Worldwide. A prolific explorer of (usually) wonderful places, Karen is one of our most travelled and experienced tour leaders. Fluent in several languages and a commited traveller, Karen’s specialities are wild flowers, birds and mammals; her husband Fred seems to know something about everything.

Keith and Teresa Milton

Teresa and Keith are experienced leaders with over 10 years leading around the globe for Ramblers Worldwide.Together their expertise, enthusiasm and knowledge of the natural world bring added interest to all their tours. You will often find them leading in New Zealand – they have led both the Grand Tour and South Island Adventure and each year they lead one of the Canyonlands holidays. Keith is also a keen birder and you may find him in Trinidad and Tobago or Extremadura in the winter months.

Julian Wilkes

Weekend walking became more important than a corporate career in management for Julian, so he quit and qualified as a full time tour leader for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. He believes that it's the best way to discover and observe the world and meet like minded people.

Misty

If you’re taking a human away on holiday you know what makes them happy, and let’s face it, if they’re happy, you’re happy. But enough about them…what about us? I’ve found some walks with excellent puddles and cow-pats you wouldn’t believe. Lakes, rivers, mountains… we’ve got the lot. I’ve spotted rabbits and squirrels in the gardens, and the local canines are full of good advice on where to go. If there is anything you need to know about our Paws on Tour holidays please feel free to contact me.

Clive Scott

Clive has been leading for Ramblers Worldwide since 1992, with over 210 tours on five continents. His regular destinations nowadays are Dubrovnik, France, Germany, Tuscany, and the Channel Islands. He often surveys new destinations, is always delighted to discuss and brief other leaders on tours he has led, and is an avid proofchecker of our brochures, website and documentation.