The Story Behind Planet Paddler

Planet Paddler isn't some polished commercial concept—it is simply the culmination of 40 years of hard-earned experience on the water. It’s a journey that began in the military, expanded into world-first adventures across four continents, and has now been poured into the definitive modern Scottish guidebook:

Currents & Campsites: Discover the Scottish Waterways from a Paddler's Perspective.

An Evolution of Adventure

While my roots are deeply planted in paddlesport, adventure naturally evolves. Over recent years, my wife, Karen, and I have expanded the horizon of Planet Paddler to incorporate our passion for walking and hiking across both Lanzarote's volcanic landscapes and Scotland's stunning wilderness.

This shift marks a deeper evolution for the website: moving from simply documenting personal paddlesport milestones to sharing joint adventures that inspire and motivate others to step outside, explore the wild, and discover their own path—whether that’s on the water, on a forest trail, or high up in the hills.

The Expedition Route: A Lifetime on the Water

My paddling story didn't start with mild touring; it began in 1985 as a young infantry Soldier stationed at the Bridge of Don barracks in Aberdeen. It was there that I was first introduced to the true grit of the sport, getting my start by competing in the gruelling Arctic Canoe Race—the longest canoe race in the world at that time.

That early military discipline sparked a lifelong passion with whitewater and remote expeditions. Over the next four decades, I tracked lines through challenging waters all over the globe, leading and participating in adventures across Europe, Kenya, Guatemala, Japan, Georgia, and far beyond. Along the way, I was fortunate to have part of my white-water endeavours backed and sponsored by Big Dog Kayaks.

Some of the most defining moments of my paddling career include:

• Kenya: Executing a historic first descent of the Yala River as it cuts through the dense canopy of the Kakamega Forest.

• Guatemala: Navigating high-stakes whitewater to claim further first descents on remote, untested rivers.

• Scottish Race Organisation: Bringing that competitive edge back home, I turned to organizing extreme kayak racing on Scotland's most testing rivers, founding and running The Etive River Race (2008) and The Moriston River Race (2013).

• The Ben Marr UK Tour: In 2015, I organized and hosted a UK-wide tour with world-renowned expedition kayaker Ben Marr, showcasing the groundbreaking rivers and elite expeditions he tackled globally.

Currents & Campsites — The Cradle to Grave Timeline

Bringing this lifetime of global experience home to Scotland's waterways is what birthed Currents & Campsites. Here is how that journey finally became a premium 280-page book:

• The Academic Spark (2023): After spending two years completing a Master of Science degree in Health, Safety and Environment, I found myself completely hooked on the process of researching, studying, and writing a structured narrative. Following my graduation in 2023, I immediately turned that academic discipline toward documenting my adventures as I paddled around the shores, lochs, and rivers of Scotland.

• February 17, 2024 – Unleashing the Wild: The spark was officially lit. The very first manuscript document was opened under the working title Unleashing the Wild.

• February 2024 – The Publisher Crossroads: Having submitted a section of the book to an established outdoor publisher for review, they immediately recognized its value and offered me a formal publishing contract. However, in April 2025, after reviewing the completed manuscript, they ultimately turned it down.

• June 2025 – Birth of Currents & Campsites: I was gutted—but I knew the core of this book was high-quality, and I refused to let it stall. I began researching the world of independent publishing and chose to carve out my own path. I overhauled and re-focused the title to Currents & Campsites and officially decided to publish the book under my own imprint: Planet Paddler Press.

• The Editorial Crucible: To ensure the final self-published product met the absolute highest professional standards, I reached out to a trusted friend who has supported me through previous learning challenges, alongside an industry professional, to help refine the work:

  • Dave Young: My friend, who provided invaluable structural reviews, content feedback, and technical sanity checks.

  • Gina Rathbone: Professionally carried out the final copy edit, meticulously refining the text, structure, and readability without losing the authentic, adventurous voice of the stories.

• Summer 2026 – The Final Layout & Heritage Polish: The final months were spent formatting the 280 pages to a standard  6 X 9 inch layout. It was critical to me to print and manufacture the book locally in Scotland. Bell & Bain, legendary independent book printers and binders in Glasgow, were selected to deliver the final physical product.

• July 2026 – Launch Date: The last date in this timeline... coming soon.