Bushcraft Courses

Course Overviews

It is our firm belief that Wilderness has something of value to give to everyone. Hopefully this is reflected in our programme of bushcraft courses and educational Wilderness Bushcraft Survival courses that have evolved over the twenty five years we have been operating.

At Woodlore, bushcraft course development is a never-ending process as we endeavour to bring the subject to a wider range of students. The skills and knowledge gained through Ray Mears bushcraft is extended and enhanced by tapping into the wilderness survival skills developed by many indigenous peoples and other experts in the bushcraft survival course field, including Lars Fält, Brian Desmond and many others.

Please click a course type for a list of courses in that category:

2-day Our short bushcraft courses have been designed for those whose time is limited or the novice who wants a taste of what we offer on our longer bushcraft survival courses. Our aim is to show you how rewarding and enjoyable bushcraft can be. We invite you to join our campfire, taste some backcountry cooking and experience living outdoors in an expedition style camp in East Sussex. Instructors will lead you through the survival arts of making shelters and various methods of fire-making as well as opening your eyes to how many useful trees and plants there are all around us. Students attending these short bushcraft courses often surprise themselves with thier own achievements!

Expedition For those that like something a little more challenging, we offer expeditionary bushcraft courses taking you to wild places and the true wilderness in the Arctic or canoeing in the Ardeche. Arctic Survival courses are lead by Lars Falt, Sweden's foremost expert in bushcraft and an old friend of Ray Mears Bushcraft. Brian Desmond leads Nordic Skiing courses in Norway while The Heroes of Telemark Expedition retraces Ray Mears' TV series about the bravery of a small group of Norwegian saboteurs during WWII. Canoeing in the Ardeche is based at the Pont d'Arc campsite, a little rough around the edges but full of hospitable character. You'll get a robust introduction on how to expedition using the canoe, becoming an efficient and self- contained tandem canoeist.

Family Modern life, we are often told, conspires to pull the family apart. This 2-day bushcraft course offers you the chance to be a real family unit. Just as much fun as camping but with the added bonus of discovering nature and experiencing bushcraft together in a stimulating and safe environment. Making the campfire, animal tracking, bushcraft survival, campfire games and stories are just some of the highlights of this family bushcraft course conducted from an expedition style camp in East Sussex. It is a self-catering course, so you should bring enough food for the duration and a stove to cook it on.

Junior These bushcraft survival courses are aimed at adventurous youngsters not yet old enough to attend an adult course. Junior Fundamental courses for the 11-16 age group expose budding young Bushcrafters to the wonders of nature for a week without a parent or playstation in sight. Junior Expedition Skills courses designed for 14-17 year-olds take those skills and knowledge further, giving them the tools to be competent and confident in the great outdoors. The number of students on any junior bushcraft course will not exceed 16 and there is a high student: staff ratio of at least 4:1.

Week Our week-long bushcraft survival courses are for those who want comprehensive instruction in the cornerstones of wilderness bushcraft. On these bushcraft courses you will learn how to find food, water and shelter, how to light fires in all weathers and to use cutting tools proficiently. To enable you to make journeys in wild places we will teach you to navigate in the most difficult conditions and to look after yourself and your companions in case of accident or illness. As your knowledge of nature increases you can take your skills further, to track human and animal, even live from the land! These Ray Mears Bushcraft courses are conducted entirely in the outdoors from a friendly base camp. They are, however, sometimes tough and challenging. No whingers please!