Over the past ten years, Adventure Hunter has grown from a one-man band into something far bigger than I ever expected. What started as a small business that took almost a year for me to believe in (let alone anyone else) has morphed into a team, with the best partner I could ask for. We now have a base on Derwentwater, and are a fully fledged and licensed outdoor activity provider with some fantastic school and local business partnerships that we’ve worked with for several years. In that time we’ve also built up a successful watercraft rental location and pop up cafe all of which attracts hundreds of visitors each year and we’re gearing up for our busiest season yet. I’m incredibly proud of that and I know Duane is too.
The Boathouse and Lodore Landings (May 2025)
In this time, we’ve also committed to our own personal and professional development with several training and assessment days and that doesn’t stop here. Over the last year I’ve felt a strong pull back toward something that first fired up my imagination when I started. Facilitating incredible experiences for people in wild places. Helping them build their own skills, judgement and independence, as well as challenging myself in a professional capacity… both mentally, physically.
The last few years have included four ice climbing trips to Norway, Scottish Canoe Expeditions, as well as climbing some of the UK’s most amazing mountain and sea cliffs and incredible Sea Stacks. This summer I’ll be returning to stunning objectives like the Old Man of Hoy with returning clients as well as running a multi day canoe expedition into Knoydart with Duane. Norway 2027 is also penciled in the diary and having these objectives to plan and train for is immensely motivating.
With Paul and Susan in Rjukan (Feb 2026)
This feels like a moment reflect and feel gratitude for how far we’ve come and the niche we’ve carved for ourselves. To fully realise and give thanks for immense support we’ve had from family, friends and colleagues. It’s fair to say there’s been a few wobbles along the way but that comes with the territory. I’m sure there will be more and its fair to say that they can also be defining moments.
We’ve been working on a new project over the winter which will include a new website and rebrand for the boathouse. We’re very excited to announce that ‘Derwent Activities‘ will be our new operational name for outdoor adventure activity provision and watercraft rentals from our base on the lakeshore so watch this space. Adventure Hunter will continue to run the high-quality and bespoke experiences it’s known for with lots of new itineraries and locations featuring in the years to come, both on land and on the water.
On a personal level, I intend to work towards the prerequisites to apply for the British Mountain Guides scheme. This is a long-term goal and a lifelong aspiration which I simply ‘wrote off’ years ago because it seemed unachievable… but surely thats the definition of a challenge? This is not a grand declaration and I may not get there but it is a commitment to myself to keep improving and working towards a goal.
The mountains reward patience, so that’s the approach.
Sal enjoying a stunning Buchaille Etive Mòr just before sunset (Jan 2026)
