Kitty system

The kitty is a cash payment made on the morning of tour departure. It is a one off payment and will cover the following:

• Accommodation on the tour

• Breakfasts (help yourself continental style - cereals/breads/spreads/fruit etc)

• Evening meals (we cook together in a group coordinated by your driver-guide)

• Ferry crossings (applicable to 5 day, 7 day Hebridean, 7 day Orkney and 9 day tours)

• Boat trips (applicable to 4 day, 7 day Hebridean, 7 day Orkney and 9 day tours)

We do not schedule many stops that involve an entrance fee ? for those that we do the kitty will cover it as we believe these are the unmissable stops you would have wanted to pay for i.e Skara Brae, Iron age Village - however as we run flexible tours, the itinerary may change to include something that requires an entrance fee, if the group decides - these will be payable by the individual.

It is important to note that all the money paid in the kitty is spent on the group - none of it is retained by Wild in Scotland. If we overspend then you will not be asked to contribute more (in fact you will not even know that we have gone over the budget!). If there's any left over then it's up to the group what it gets spent on.

How can we do the kitty so cheap? As a company we get group discounts for many of the hostels that we stay at and this discount is passed on to you - we do not agree with kick backs of any kind, on principle. With regards to cooking together - this is always an economical (not to mention healthy) way to eat and saves a great deal - also any deals we may get with local pubs are passed on to you).

It is also worth noting that because we shop at local shops, buy seafood from local fishermen and choose independent places to eat and stay, we are supporting the local communities - these parts of our country are fragile and invaluable and require respect and help when we visit them - we believe the way we operate does this.

Kitty System