Paddlesport & First Aid Courses

Based in Nethy Bridge, I have some availability to run First Aid and Paddlesport courses from December to April.
The rest of the year I'm busy working at Glenmore Lodge .

Paddling

Jenny and George standing in front of the remains Øksfjordjøkelen glacier

I love going paddling.

Existing completely in the moment as I try to paddle my silly little boat through a complex environment. I love the places that paddling takes me and the wilfully eccentric people it attracts.

In the nebulous world of British Canoeing Awarding Body qualifications, I believe I can run the following:

CRAFT / AWARD	SAFETY	LEADER	COACH
GENERIC	Paddlesport Safety and Rescue	Paddlesport Leader Paddlesport Touring Leader	Paddlesport Instructor Core Coach Training
WW KAYAK	White Water Safety Advanced White Water Safety	White Water Leader Advanced White Water Leader	White Water Coach (Moderate Water) White Water Coach (Advanced Water)
OPEN CANOE	White Water Safety Advanced White Water Safety	Open Water Canoe Leader White Water Canoe Leader	White Water Canoe Coach (Moderate Water)
SEA KAYAK	Weather Module Surf & Swell Module Navigation Module Open Crossings Module	Sea Kayak Leader	Sea Kayak Coach (Moderate Water) Sea Kayak Coach (Advanced Water)

I don't normally run open training courses (if you need these take a look at BCAB Training courses at Glenmore Lodge), however if there are a group of you, or you're an individual looking for an assessment between December and April then email me.

A red canoe descending Hey Diddle Diddle rapid on the River Garry

An orange sea kayak surfing a wave at the Grey Dogs tidal race

First Aid

Hobbling back from Easdale Tarn with a broken ankle

I run courses through the REC scheme. I can run REC advanced first aid and also First Aid and Work courses, but most for most folks working or playing in the outdoors, a 2 day REC Outdoor First Aid course is an appropriate qualification. I don't advertise open courses, but if you have a group of up to 12 people, and you're looking for a course between December and April, then it'll cost you around £850 total to hire me to run a 2 day course at your venue (perhaps slightly more if you're at the other end of the country or if I need to pay for ferries).

Adventures

It's 30 years since I first paddled in the Alps. In the time since then I've had some excellent adventures on and off the water. From the Antarctic to Nordkapp and the Faroe Islands; from the North and South America to New Zealand and Nepal. Here are a few of them:

Some thoughts about dealing with fear in paddlesport.

Some idle thoughts about coaching paddling

Nethy Bridge to Berwick-upon-Tweed by Canoe in March 2024. 17 days, 750km, a bit of a sufferfest. My article and Liam's video.

Sea kayaking to the top of Europe in September 2023.

There and back again. An 11 day, 440km Highland Canoe Circuit in March 2022.

Two weeks sea kayaking in Shetland during summer 2015. Another not-quite-circumnavigation!

Spey in a day. One a series of daft challenges to raise money for Nepal earthquake relief.

The Humla Karnali. A remote 10 day white water kayaking expedition in the North West of Nepal.

Sea kayaking inside the Arctic Circle. One day of a 4 week trip around the Lofoten islands in July 2014.

Ups and downs (but mostly ups) on the Treig and Ossian. A "character building" canoe trip in the Highlands in April 2014.

Sea kayaking around Orkney. A fortnight sea kayaking around Orkney and the Pentland Firth in 2013.

Source to sea on the Orchy. Loch Tulla to Loch Etive by open boat, including the middle Orchy.

A whitewater kayak trip to the remote Thule Beri river in March 2012.

Rothera diaries from way back in my Antarctic days; 2001.

Download Nepal 09 write up (1.6MB)

2011 western isles circumnavigation (well almost)

Rannoch crossing, open bloating

As to the future, here's looking forwards to a return to the Futaleufu and a solo St Kilda mission whenever time, fitness and weather allow.