About Us

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Andy and Elanor McNamara, your Otter's Tail guides, have been working in the Outdoor education industry for over 20 years. Both are fully qualified to take you on an Otter's Tail Arran adventure, and look forward to meeting you.

Andy has built an impressive collection of qualifications, all with the aim of keeping you safe and happy while giving you an appropriate and enjoyable challenge. He can coach to a very high level in many outdoor sports. As well as being a 5* Advanced sea kayak leader and a Winter Mountain Leader he holds a host of other qualifications (see below). He has completed mountaineering and sea kayak expeditions in Europe, Africa, New Zealand and South America as well as at home on the west coast of Scotland.

Elanor is a SCA Paddlesports Leader and a Level 1 coach. She is also a Mountain Leader and holds various other qualifications. She has kayaked and mountaineered in South America and New Zealand and led horseback expeditions all over Scotland.

Our aim is to keep you safe and give you a truly inspirational experience. We want people visiting us to have an amazing time, create memories and want to come and visit us again. We have never lived in a place that is so well loved as Arran, and after your time with Otter's Tail we want you to love it as well.

Andy McNamara

• Scottish Mountain Leader Training Board qualifications:
  • Summer Mountain Leader
  • Winter Mountain Leader
  • Single Pitch Award Climbing

• Scottish Canoe Association qualifications:
  • 5 Star Open Canoe
  • Level 4 Canoe Coach
  • Level 3 Inland Kayak (River) Coach
  • Advanced Sea kayak Leader
  • Provider of FSRT courses, Sea Kayak Award, Canoe Award and White Water Award

• Royal Yachting Association qualifications:
  • Senior Dinghy Instructor
  • Senior Keelboat Instructor
  • Windsurf Instructor Level 1
  • Advanced Power Boat
  • Safety Boat
  • Day Skipper
  • Yacht Master (Shore based)
  • VHF Radio License

• SnowSport Scotland qualifications:
  • Ski Party Leader
  • Endorsed to work with students with learning difficulties

• Scottish Mountain Bike Leader Award qualifications:
  • Trail Cycle Leader
  • Mountain Bike Leader

• Scottish Orienteering Association:
  • IntrO course provider

• Grand National Archery Society: Archery Leader

• Duke of Edinburgh's Award:
  • Expedition Skills course provider
  • Gold Assessor
  • NNAS bronze and silver award provider

• Edinburgh University:
  • Postgraduate Diploma Outdoor Education

• First Aider

Elanor McNamara

• Scottish Mountain Leader Training Board qualifications:
  • Summer Mountain Leader
  • Single Pitch Award Climbing

• Scottish Canoe Association qualifications:
  • Paddlesports Leader
  • Level 1 Paddlesports Coach

• SnowSport Scotland qualifications:
  • Alpine Ski Leader
  • Artificial Slope Ski Instructor

• Scottish Mountain Bike Leader Award qualifications:
  • Trail Cycle Leader
  • Mountain Bike Leader training

• Royal Yachting Association qualifications:
  • Power Boat Level 2
  • Safety Boat
  • VHF Radio License

• Scottish Orienteering Association:
  • IntrO course provider

• British Equestrian Tourism:
  • Assistant Ride Leader

• Grand National Archery Society: Archery Leader

• Nottingham University:
  • BA Geography

• University of Strathclyde:
  • PGCE Geography

• First Aider