Out and about on the river Beauly with our friend Tobias Leask from Adventure Highland.
NB all clothing worn is Campbell’s
Did you grow up in the Highlands?
Yes, I did my primary schooling on the shores of Loch Duich on the west coast. My young life was spent exploring the rugged forests and mountains in the area and this was where I began my love affair with the great outdoors. My Dad was a keen mountaineer and thought nothing about bagging a few Munro’s as a Sunday walk as the roast slow cooked in the Rayburn back home.
From the West coast my parents made the move to the Shetland Isles, not to the mainland but to the most northern island of Unst.
My Mum became one of Britain’s most northern teachers and my Dad set up his Art studio and set about work carving local soap stone and drift wood, creating beautiful landscapes from peat charcoal and building his loom.
I vividly remember the click and clatter of my Dad working with local wools and natural colourings to creat some of the most beautiful woven tapestries I’ve seen to this day.
Where does your interest in knitwear come from?
My first memories of Knitwear are not great! Jaggedy arsed jumpers forced on me under great dispute and hours spent itching and scratching away at school. It was only when a little older, listening to my Dad teaching me about the natural benefit and durability of fine wool did I begin to forgive my first itchy encounter. He would talk about hard men going to the roughest seas to fish for weeks on end with only the warmth of their fairisle gansey to protect them from the bitter cold. And the explorers travelling to the Arctic in crippling temperatures relying on wool for warmth. Later my Mum started knitting and created the most stunning matching baby clothes for our twin boys. She still knits and lives on Unst to this day and has supplied all 7 grandchildren with beautiful garments made from the finest Shetland wool.
Wool is intertwined in Shetland culture and many highly skilled islanders make their livings creating woollen garments to sell to the buzzing tourism market that has fallen in love with this special place.
What got you into wanting to have your own outdoors company?
I’ve always been drawn to the outdoors and especially the Scottish Highlands. High, rugged, stormy mystical landscapes that pull you towards them.
I spent most of my life in a very different environment having restaurants and bars for most of it. The fast paced long hours and stressful environment always had me dreaming of getting away to the hills for a little peace.
It was a cruel twist of fate that eventually gave me the push I needed to move industry. We lost one of our twin boys and our remaining son was diagnosed with severe disabilities. Working long hours and being away from home was no longer an option so I looked out the window at the river one morning and saw a group going canoeing.
From that day I set about getting qualified and launched Adventure Highland in 2016.
Now my days are spent guiding groups and families on Lochs and rivers, mountain days, scenery tours and guided Sleddog rides in the winter.
Where did you learn to canoe?
I’ve been canoeing for most of my life, on holiday to start with or school outings and later as a way to access more remote locations for getting into the hills. My qualifications were done at Glenmore lodge in Aviemore which is the centre for excellence for UK outdoor training.
I am also very lucky to have so many highly skilled friends to distract me from work so I can work on my personal skills.
Do you have any niche sporting passions?
For the last 24 years my wife and I have raced Sleddog teams. We have a kennel of working dogs (pets) who we have travelled all over the world to compete with.
I raced on the British team for many years at World and European Championships and competed at the highest level with the best in the World.
Amanda and I have always had a passion for dogs. It’s been a lifetimes work and we are lucky to have so many amazing memories.
Since Covid I have taken a break from racing but still enjoying making memories for guests from Eagle Brae who come out with the team on our home trails.
Wool is intertwined in Shetland culture and many highly skilled islanders make their livings creating woollen garments to sell to the buzzing tourism market that has fallen in love with this special place.
Is your business quite seasonal and based on tourism?
Yes, we are busy from April to October working with local estates and guests from all over the world.
We operate year round canoeing and manage to bring in enough business to tick over until the spring with the extra Sleddog work we have in the winter.
We are lucky that so many locals support us and enjoy showing them sights they may never experience even though they have lived here their whole lives.
What is your favourite river to canoe in the Highlands?
That’s easy. I live and work on the Rivers Glass and River Beauly and never grow tired of the stunning beauty on my doorstep.
For a little white water fun the River Findhorn is hard to beat but we are surrounded in the very best waterways this country has to offer so there is always something new to explore.
Where’s your ultimate destination to head canoeing?
One day I would love to paddle Canada’s Great Lakes and disappear for a while in all the countries beauty.
One day…….
