About
Ghillie
The word ‘Ghillie’ is Gaelic for man servant. The Ghillie is your personal assistant advising you on the best tackle to use on any given day, sharing his skills, honed over a number of years and putting his local knowledge to great use to help you make memories that will last a lifetime.
Mitchell Partridge
Born in 67, Mitchell Partridge has been fishing since the age of 10 and was well and truly hooked on the sport by the time he landed his first salmon, aged 12.
After serving in the RAF, Mitchell settled on the Isle of Skye where he founded Skye Ghillie in 2001. He lives in Carbost, not far from Talisker distillery and whether he’s at home, walking on the hills, or out on the water, his collie dog, Ghillie, is his constant companion – you may get to meet him too.
Mitchell has been lucky enough to have fished some of the best salmon rivers in Scotland, including the Dee, Tay and of course the mighty Spey. Locally on Skye he guides on 4 miles of the River Snizort as well as several other rivers and frequently fishes loch Leathan and Fada where the famous Old Man of Storr provides a stunning backdrop. He knows many of Skye’s rivers and lochs extensively and has many a ‘secret spot’.
Noticing how frequently his fishing clients would ask his advice and seek his local insight, requesting guiding to see wildlife, he soon developed the Wild Walks experience. It seemed only naturally that Mitch would put the skills he learnt in the military field to use, and bush craft became a part of these trips that guests most loved.
Developing his own interest in foraging Mitch has undertaken a specialist courses to further extend his knowledge – which as an avid book worm he constantly expands.
Combining his passion for bush craft, walking fishing and foraging with work has not diminished his enjoyment of these pursuits, he still loves nothing more than spending the day on a remote hill loch or river with his dog and his kettle; and when the foraging and fishing is good, building a fire and cooking the wild food right there on the bank.
Mitchell is a qualified first-aider, is a volunteer for the RSPB monitoring the white-tailed eagle population on Skye. He is also a trained marine medic with the British Divers Marine Mammal Rescue and is actively involved in the rescue of whales, dolphins and seals.