Malcolm O’Reilly is director and head guide of Arc Guiding.
Malcolm delivers most of the guided activities for Arc Guiding. He has had a passion for exploring the natural world for as long as he can remember: whether it’s on foot, bike, canoe, skis, he just thrives on getting out into wild places.
Another of his passions is teaching and leading. Malcolm is just as much about the nature and landscape, as the thrills and spills. ‘I wouldn’t say I’m an adrenaline junkie,’ he says, ‘but I discovered I really love helping people learn and have adventures in wild places’.
He holds an honours degree in Zoology and a wide variety of outdoor leadership qualifications. ‘Nature and adventure complement one another,’ Malcolm says. ‘When I’m coaching, I can’t resist showing people wildlife and when I’m wildlife guiding I love taking people on adventures!’
Malcolm OReilly has been guiding and instructing in the Scottish Highlands and abroad since 1998. ‘I’ve led privately and as a freelance instructor and guide for various wildlife and outdoor providers in the Cairngorms and elsewhere. Work has taken me throughout the Scottish Highlands and Islands and also as far afield as Greenland (and yes, that is as cool as it sounds)’.
Favourite adventure sport? ‘Anything fast’.
Favourite Scottish animal? ‘Otter’
Favourite place to visit? ‘Wherever there’s no cars or buildings’, Malcolm says. Second favourite is probably cakeshops’.
Scariest moment as a guide? ‘Being stranded at a remote camp in Greenland, with a medical emergency, prowling polar bear and hurricane-force winds at the same time’.
Funniest moment as a guide? Malcolm says: ‘I entirely accidentally gave an wholly innappropriate salute to a van full of German birdwatchers. I felt like I was in the middle of a Fawlty Towers episode and time kind of seemed to slow down. Thankfully, they all thought it was hilarious’.
Not a lot of people know that: ‘I’ve had to perform CPR on an octopus. I used to sing on stage. And I once had a red afro’.
And when he’s not guiding… ‘I’m a husband and dad, sci-fi connoisseur, chocolate junkie and occassional drinker of ‘usge bheatha.’
Qualifications and Insurance
This is in addition to nearly twenty years of relevant experience, ongoing CPD and membership of various National Governing Bodies. Details are listed below:
- Outdoor Emergency First Aid
- SMLTB Mountain Leader (Summer + Winter)
- SMLTB Rock Climbing Instructor award
- BASI Alpine L2 Ski Instructor
- Snowsport Scotland Mountain Snowsports Leader
- BCU Level 2 Coach (Canoe + Kayak)
- BCU Sea Kayak Leader
- SMBLA Mountainbike Leader
- British Cycling Activity Coach (Off Road)
- Wild Scotland Wilderness Guide Training Programme
- Leave No Trace
- Bsc (Hons) Animal Biology
- Snowsport Scotland Child Protection
- Insurance: Hiscox, £5 million Combined Public / Products Liability.