Paddlesport Touring Leader – Fort William

The Paddlesport Touring Leader is Paddle UK’s award for experienced paddlers who want to take groups on journeys across open inland water and slow-moving rivers. That means grade 1 water, with the occasional short grade 2 rapid or simple weir. You can lead from a canoe, a touring kayak, a sit-on-top or a SUP, in a single craft or a mixed fleet. It’s the natural step up for club paddlers, outdoor centre staff, and anyone who’s tired of waiting for someone else to organise the trip.

Fort William is a great place to train for it. Within half an hour we have big open lochs where the wind picks up quickly, sheltered bays, canal sections and moving water. Every day out gives us real conditions and real decisions, not a sanitised training pond.

What the course covers


We focus on what makes a leader worth following: planning a journey that suits the group in front of you, reading the weather and water, keeping a group together and positioning yourself well, and making good calls when the plan stops working. You’ll leave knowing where your gaps are and how to close them.

Training, assessment, or both


There’s no compulsory training. If you’re already operating at the standard, you can go straight to assessment, which runs over a single day. If you want to sharpen up first, our training day(s) are built around your experience, not a fixed script.

Before you book training

  • Personal paddling competence in force 4 and grade 1 moving water in your chosen craft

Before you book assessment

  1. Membership. You need full Paddle Scotland membership, or full membership of your home nation association. Full Paddle Scotland (or other home nation) membership

  2. Registration. Candidates must register with Paddle Scotland as a Paddlesport Touring Leader candidate.

  3. First aid. An in-date first aid certificate of at least two days, recognised by Paddle UK.

  4. Safeguarding. Safeguarding training recognised by Paddle UK.

TRaining dates:

14th - 15th December 2026

3rd - 4th March 2027

For assessment dates, get in touch and we can arrange it bespoke for you