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    Calliam Johnson

    Calliam Johnson

    Friendly | Conscientious | Easy-going

    Mini Bio

    I’ve been working in the outdoors for 10 years. My first foray into the mountains of Ireland was with my father when I was just three years old – and I’ve been an avid hiker ever since!

    I’ve hiked and climbed all over Ireland and Scotland as well as climbed many soaring peaks across Europe and the Andes of South America. I’ve trekked in the breath-taking cloud forests of Peru, the sublime Bolivian Amazon and the lush jungles of Cambodia before being drawn back to the beauty and allure of Ireland.

    I love the rich culture of songs and storytelling in Ireland and there’s nowhere I prefer to be rather than in the glittering emerald hills of Ireland, gazing out over the swirling waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

    Favourite Place to Play

    Mountains, sea or wherever the two meet.

    Not a lot of People Know This

    So few people know it, that  I don’t know even it myself! ;) 

    What Fellow Travellers Say About Calliam

    Calliam made our trip. He shared his knowledge of history, nature, and culture in a way that even the kids listened and learned all along the way. Calliam’s patience and flexibility kept the trip interesting and adventurous. He broke up the longer drives with stops at beaches and historical sites that are some of the highlights my family is still talking about. Thank you!

    Julia Gutierrez
    Private Hiking the Causeway Coastal Route and Donegal
    Reviewed on 14/08/2023

    organized, patient answering questions, lots of insights on local nature and history, fun to be around

    Gervais Tougas
    Hiking & Island Hopping - Ireland's West Coast
    Reviewed on 30/06/2023

    Our tour guide, Calliam, was the best ever. During the daily hikes he provided historic commentary on the places we visited including how people lived and survived! He also described the terrain on which we hiked and how it was formed! Calliam gets an A+ from my wife and me!

    George Gregory
    Hiking & Island Hopping - Ireland's West Coast
    Reviewed on 27/06/2023

    Our guide, Calliam, was a dream - attentive, kind, entertaining (great stories, history and cultural gems), and skillful. For me, he struck precisely the right balance of sharing info about Ireland and our surroundings with quiet, more contemplative stretches. This was true on the hikes as much as on the drives to the different locations. But I have to say, most special of all was how he dealt with me, the slowest and least experienced of our group. Obviously, the Irish terrain combined with the weather is uniquely challenging. I never, ever felt that he saw my slowness as a burdensome impediment. Then, when we were in areas where I was more physically challenged, he did the most remarkable job of keeping an eye on me, keeping me safe, and at the same time being helpful without an ounce of condescension or being patronizing. I loved his stories and his insights as much as his expert hiking guidance. And he is just simply a lovely human being. I can't say enough about how much I appreciated him!

    Karen Walsh
    Deluxe Hiking - Ireland Coast to Coast
    Reviewed on 31/05/2023

    Calliam was an amazing guide!

    Patricia Walsh
    Deluxe Hiking - Ireland Coast to Coast
    Reviewed on 19/05/2023

    Guide did a great job and had to deal with bad weather every day unfortunately. He also had to make adjustments based on two members of the group not being in satisfactory physical condition to hike at an acceptable pace.

    Charles Townson
    Deluxe Hiking - Ireland Coast to Coast
    Reviewed on 15/05/2023

    Calliam was really great, very knowledgable with lots of stories about Irish history and culture. He was also very attentive to the safety of the whole group.

    Tracy Leach
    Hiking - Connemara's Atlantic Edge
    Reviewed on 09/10/2022

    he truly made our trip special. great hike guide but so much more with all his knowledge of irish history , fauna , wildlife , folklore etc

    Richard Gold
    Hiking - Connemara's Atlantic Edge
    Reviewed on 03/10/2022

    Callium was wonderful. He knew where to go and how to adjust for the weather and our needs. He took great care of us -- even as a couple of us got sick. He talked history, geology, politics, mythology, geography and religion. So well versed and a delight to converse with. He was patient and great fun as well. We couldn't have had a better guide. He was an integral part of the trip's success. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

    Barbara Bourgault
    Hiking - Connemara's Atlantic Edge
    Reviewed on 03/10/2022

    See earlier comments about Calliam. Great job! And really enjoyed the music played in the van.

    Michael Bednarek
    Hiking - The Causeway Coastal Route & Donegal
    Reviewed on 23/09/2022

    Calliam was great. And we had Gabhan with us for four days. Gabhan has a very upbeat personality which added a lot. Calliam is quieter but knows his stuff and told great stories.

    Rowena Alston
    Hiking - The Causeway Coastal Route & Donegal
    Reviewed on 19/09/2022

    Our guides were very knowledgeable and happily responded to our many questions. They were also very good at juggling activities depending on the capabilities of the group.

    Glenn Irwin
    Hiking - The Causeway Coastal Route & Donegal
    Reviewed on 16/09/2022

    Calliam, he was wonderful!! He could read our group really well, and made decisions accordingly. He has a real knowledge of the history of Ireland, and a lot of fun folklore stories. I appreciated his encouragement, as some of the hikes were very challenging. Great guide and he is cute too!!!

    Margaret Gugerty
    Hiking - The Causeway Coastal Route & Donegal
    Reviewed on 07/09/2022

    Calliam was very knowledgeable and entertaining about Irish history and legends.
    He was a safe and cautious driver.

    Tom Gugerty
    Hiking - The Causeway Coastal Route & Donegal
    Reviewed on 06/09/2022

    Our guide was unfamiliar with the trip. There were a few hiccups with ordering lunches and the traills all worked out eventually.

    Liz Ward
    Hiking & Island Hopping - Ireland's West Coast
    Reviewed on 21/08/2022

    Our guide, Calliam, is what made this such an outstanding experience. He was informative about the hikes, provided history of what we were seeing in nature, was extremely patient with each of us, and shared Irish tales and stories. There was a lot of encouragement and laughter from him. He provided so much more than I expected. Thank you Calliam!

    Elizabeth Snee
    Hiking - The Wicklow Way
    Reviewed on 17/10/2021

    Callium was a great guide with infinite patience and quiet, good humour. We all really enjoyed hiking with our fearless leader and enjoyed his stories and folklore and the fun little detours on our routes. See my other notes in the overall comments.

    Lizette Sutherland
    Hiking - The Wicklow Way
    Reviewed on 12/10/2021

    The best

    Carolyn Cunniff-Corcoran
    Hiking - The Wicklow Way
    Reviewed on 11/10/2021

    Calliam is a wonderful storyteller who gave us detailed anecdotes about Ireland’s history and culture. He knows the geology and plants. He is very chill when things don’t work out as expected.

    Sydney B. Bennion
    Hiking - The Causeway Coastal Route & Donegal
    Reviewed on 20/09/2021

    Both Calliam Johnson, and Paul Quinn were excellent. Karen and I had never hiked withs guides. We were both pleased with their professionalism.
    Just Excellent

    Douglas Todd
    Hiking & Island Hopping - Cork & Kerry
    Reviewed on 19/09/2021

    Loved Calliam, highly recommend.

    Nancy Cassity
    Hiking & Island Hopping - Cork & Kerry
    Reviewed on 15/09/2021

    Calliam was excellent. A great story teller (and singer of comic songs, as it turned out!), attentive and sensitive to our various foibles (who likes to stride, who’s slow — that would be me, who had other issues to watch out for along the way). His knowledge of flora and fauna, his enjoyment of history, and his obvious pride in showing us his home all made for delightful and thoughtful leadership. His easygoing style belies a professionalism and ability to make a wide variety of personalities comfortable and feel at home.

    Susan Stanton
    Hiking & Island Hopping - Cork & Kerry
    Reviewed on 13/09/2021

    Calliam was young and enthusiastic and to me typically Irish.
    He knew lots about different things - the history, the geography, the plants and animals. We did a bit of foraging which I found fascinating. I also enjoyed the Irish music that he played in the van.
    His recommendations for evening meals were good and he also recommended a really good local Irish gin which I now wish I'd bought a bottle of the An Dulan gin.
    He was helpful with recommendations and suggestions of other Wilderness Ireland tours that he thought I would like.

    Gill Davis
    Hiking - The Causeway Coastal Route & Donegal
    Reviewed on 15/10/2019

    Calliam was efficient, a careful driver, alert to circumstances, a nimble guideo on the trails, and an intriguiging teller of tales.

    Matthew Brennan
    Hiking - The Causeway Coastal Route & Donegal
    Reviewed on 14/09/2019

    Having previously commented on Callium our guide can only reiterate he was first class.

    Richard Smith
    Hiking - Connemara's Atlantic Edge
    Reviewed on 25/07/2019

    Our guide Calliam led the week very well. A nice and understated style.

    Allen Shaw
    Hiking - Connemara's Atlantic Edge
    Reviewed on 24/07/2019

    The guide was experienced and he knows a lot about the history and the nature. He was careful and I felt save

    Annina Spescha
    Hiking - Connemara's Atlantic Edge
    Reviewed on 22/07/2019

    Our guide was from the area in which we were hiking, so his knowledge of the routes, flora and fauna was quite comprehensive. Callum is also quite the historian, providing detailed information on Irish culture and history.

    Rosalind O'Donoghue
    Hiking - Connemara's Atlantic Edge
    Reviewed on 22/07/2019

    Calliam was the perfect guide, very knowledgeable about plants, the countryside and the walks. He always kept a good pace to suit all members of the group. He was alway ready to answer any questions and even took us to a lovely beach for a swim/paddle. Also picked great routes up and down for our walks.

    Fiona Bardsley
    Hiking - Connemara's Atlantic Edge
    Reviewed on 22/07/2019

    Our guide, Calliam, is very experienced and game for anything. He was knowledgeable and we always felt like we were in the very best hands. He was a pleasure to hang out with too - which was great!

    Susan Sheffield
    Hiking & Island Hopping - Cork & Kerry
    Reviewed on 01/07/2019

    Calliam describes himself on your website as primarily interested in the outdoors. So I made sure I did my homework on the cultural and historical aspects of the holiday in advance. However, Calliam had a wealthy store of knowledge on the history and politics as well as the lichens and teaching us how to eat nettles and loved telling us or else he is very good actor. It was difficult for him to manage the first two days with a trainee in tow and the Easter crowds and a completely new trip to Rathlin Island. It was all fine, we saw everything me being delighted at seeing puffins, very good scone at the Manor house (where there were NO queues which Calliam logged for next time). I was pleased to see the East lighthouse as I was reading the Watch House, a novel about Marconi and Rathlin Island. The rest of the trip was easier I think and the walks more straightforward. Calliam was receptive to suggestions and enjoyed learning about new options, eg the famine village were and stopping at the Burt church a great success. Calliam never gave the slightest hint that he would rather be elsewhere than taking us round. He was very professional, kind, thoughtful, courteous and showed initiative, compromise and leadership in decision making.

    Marion Hanbury Brown
    Hiking - The Causeway Coastal Route & Donegal
    Reviewed on 06/05/2019

    Our guide was really good and gave much information. I do hope he will now share the pictures he took.

    Myriam Martinet-Philippe
    Hiking - The Causeway Coastal Route & Donegal
    Reviewed on 01/09/2018

    Calliam was the best guide! Not just doing the practical things like organising the trip but explaining everything about the country, its history, culture, language, nature and people. Every day teaching us something new and finding a fresh angle on things. Simply the best!

    Dave Owen
    Hiking - The Causeway Coastal Route & Donegal
    Reviewed on 29/08/2018

    Calliam was amazing at his job! We had a lovely time with him. It was great to learn more about Ireland as a country and his stories are amazing. I highly recommend Calliam as anyone’s guide. You would be truly lucky to have him.

    Erin Marshall
    Hiking - The Causeway Coastal Route & Donegal
    Reviewed on 29/08/2018

    One of our group members described his appreciation of Calliam on our last night. I think he did it so well that it's hard to think of a way that says it better. Calliam's expertise, his energy, his kindness--all integral to a successful trip.

    Linda Hill
    Hiking - The Causeway Coastal Route & Donegal
    Reviewed on 29/08/2018

    Book a trip with Calliam

    Trip / DepartureAvailabilityStatusPriceBook
    Deluxe Hiking – Ireland Coast to Coast
    4th May - 10th May 2024
    5 place(s) leftGuaranteed 2,640Book Now
    Deluxe Hiking – The Kerry Mountains
    18th May - 24th May 2024
    6 place(s) leftGuaranteed 2,680Book Now
    Deluxe Hiking – Highlights of Ireland
    22nd Jun - 2nd Jul 2024
    6 place(s) leftGuaranteed 4,510Book Now
    Deluxe Hiking – The Kerry Mountains
    17th Aug - 23rd Aug 2024
    7 place(s) leftAvailable 2,680Book Now
    Deluxe Hiking – The Kerry Mountains
    31st Aug - 6th Sep 2024
    5 place(s) leftGuaranteed 2,680Book Now

    Make Trip Private

    Sometimes it's nice to get family and friends together and travel privately for some quality time. This means you benefit from all the features of the group departure, including hand-picked accommodation and expert local guides and we'll take care of it all. Then you can make your choice of departures dates and we'll get back to you to finalise the details.

    We work together with our team of guides to decide which departures they lead each year. As part of that, guides provide available dates that they are free to be booked. This means that any of the dates you see in the first field of the form below, could be perfect for your private departure or customised tour.

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