Martin Gray

Beachcomber, Marine Specialist

Rooted in the luxuriant wildness of Scotland’s Orkney Islands, Martin’s home is familial, generational, and spiritual. His life as a conservationist and expedition guide has been deeply shaped by this place. A sharp jolt recently set him on a new course—and in his seventh decade, he returned to education. Birds, botany, marine mammals, and insects are his thing, supported by a deep passion for heritage, lore stories.

As an Orkney boy through and through, Martin grew up immersed in nature's best and richest—and has lived and breathed it every single day since. Guiding was a natural sidestep for him in the 1980s, and it’s been a source of pride ever since.

Recently, he returned to education to qualify as a substance misuse support worker—a new direction that brings him deep satisfaction. He’s rarely happier than when talking nature with fellow enthusiasts, though his four bairns insist he’s just as happy talking full stop. Martin takes pride in making nature accessible through simplicity and originality.

A passionate beachcomber of more than fifty years, he’s always ready to chat about his favourite finds. Modest by nature, he won’t trumpet his achievements too loudly—but he warmly invites everyone to meet him on board and see where the conversation goes.