The quad bike trekking is run by Highland Venture Ltd which was established back in the year 2000 and was one of the first partner businesses to make a home at Rothiemurchus.

The quad treks have been developed over the past 20 years into one of the most popular experiences provided for visitors from across the world.

Offering more than simply a quad bike ride, the amazing Quad Squad team provide a unique way to experience the many facets of the Rothiemurchus estate from farming to forestry and the herds of Highland coos and deer.

This is a true local family business. It was founded by director Mike Norton who first arrived in Aviemore 34 years ago when he moved to the area to work as a ski instructor on Cairngorm. He moved up the ski instructor ladder and became a British Snowsports Association trainer teaching up and coming ski instructors both at Cairngorm and across the Alps.

As well as teaching skiing, Mike worked in the summer as an off road driving instructor. When the company first moved to Rothiemurchus, there were just two quad bikes and a Land Rover.

Since then the business has grown and developed to provide a very special quad trekking experience for hundreds of visitors every year.

Updating the quad bikes and maintaining the tracks are a vital part of the job and often trail repairs take up more time than the treks themselves.

Many aspects of the business are today looked after by Mike’s daughter, Emma, who is a former GB Alpine ski team racer and a highly qualified ski teacher and race coach.
Both she and Mike believe that their vast experience as ski instructors provide the basis for their business in making sure their quad trekking customers are safely looked after while at the same time enjoying a fun outdoor adventure.

The treks are run over a variety of forest and moorland tracks and trails around Rothiemurchus.

There’s the splendour of the ancient Caledonian pine forest, the heather moorland which always looks at its best in full purple bloom and there is always the chance to see red squirrels and other local wildlife along the way.

As well as Mike and Emma, other members of the quad trekking team include Emma’s sister, Sarah who along with her partner, Harry Moxon works for the company during the summer months on their return from working as a ski teachers in Zermatt.

The heritage of the quad bike as an agricultural utility vehicle used by shepherds, gamekeepers and the like is part of the quad trekking experience at Rothiemurchus.

These dependable workhorses provide an all year round mode of transport that allows the treks to operate throughout the year with quad bike snow trekking at the top of everyone’s winter must do list!