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• Reviewed on 29/07/2010

Inspiring: You can achieve anything with the right people around you. Thank you Purnima

Reviewed by attendee Purnima Gore on 29/07/2010

• Reviewed on 18/02/2010

To Ray, Jane, Paul and James, Following last week''s arctic trip I wanted to thank you for your sincere kindness, warmth and shared knowledge. I truly had a wonderful experience and upon reflection realise just how much I learnt about myself, the arctic and survival. I wanted especially to thank Jane, who always listened and showed interest in others and always made the effort to fully engage with others, which I will always remember. It is this kindness which brings out the best in people and makes such a course. I hope to be able to attend another course in the future. Once again thank you for making the week so memorable.

Reviewed by attendee Chevon on 18/02/2010

• Reviewed on 15/03/2010

Dear Woodlore Team.... I would like to express my thanks to you all for an amazing course in the Arctic. It was yet another professional, well organised, intense yet hugely enjoyable experience. Thanks to all of you behind the scenes in helping with last minute equipment needs and to Paul, Dan, Ray and Lars for their willingness to share their knowledge and experience. To be able to learn how to cope to some degree in such harsh conditions under the watchful eye of such experts is invaluable. Fortunately Britt-Marie's round the clock efforts kept our energy levels up throughout and she gave a great insight into such a different way of life. I feel truly privileged to have met such a great bunch of people. It was great to meet and survive with such a diverse yet similarly motivated group of coursemates. Plenty of great memories that will stay with me. Once again a great Woodlore course. I look forward to seeing you in the future. Kind Regards, Stuart Wittke

Reviewed by attendee Stuart Leslie Wittke on 15/03/2010

• Reviewed on 26/02/2010

As per always, amazing landscapes, meticulous planning and teaching staff that are the best in their field. Thanks again for making dreams a reality.

Reviewed by attendee Purnima on 26/02/2010

• Reviewed on 10/03/2011

An absolutely amazing experience, and a privilege to work with Ray and Lars and the rest of the team involved. Fantastic organisation and execution even when faced with consistent extreme cold spells ... otherwise known as "Cosy" by Lars Falt who is the only man ever to use the word Cosy and -48C in the same breath ... and keep a straight face ! Seriously though, if you are reading this and considering booking the course, then you should do it because it will be everything you dreamed and lots that you could never have imagined in your wildest dreams. There is however, one very big complaint which I feel it is only fair to voice ... I wish it lasted a month not a week ! I am already thinking of ways to earn brownie points with SWMBO (she who must be obeyed) so I can return to the Arctic next winter and use the skills I have learned to ski treck even further out into the wilderness. Thanks guys for a great time.

Reviewed by attendee Jamie Webb on 10/03/2011

• Reviewed on 25/02/2011

It was with some intrepidation that I decided to book on the "arctic experience". I have been on a number of Woodlore “challenges” as l like to call them and have learnt a lot about the causal use of the words “delicious”, "short walk" and "slight chance of drizzle". However when my wife, a self confessed camping phobic with a morbid fear of cold, said that she would like to come along I was speechless. All camping trips I have done with the children have started with dropping her at the nearest airport to take the first flight out to Spain. My wife read the usual all too brief description of the trip on the Woodlore website and decided to call them. The staff were helpful as usual and I must apologise for the intense cross examination that they all underwent as Jane tried to extract as much information as possible to give an indication of the level of suffering she was about to embark upon. So it was with extreme high risk to our marriage that we boarded the flight to Kiruna 3 days before valentine''s day. The day we arrived the legendary Lars introduced himself and used the word "cosy" in the same sentence as -42 degree Celsius. Another adjective to add to the Woodlore thesaurus. However despite all my worst fears and many sleepless nights prior to the trip, my wife loved every minute of the adventure and it has brought us much closer together ( not just because of the cold). I haven’t seen her smile so much in years. The organisation and preparation for each day was well planned. The food was delicious (a great bonus from my cooking on previous Woodlore trips). The other adventures were all super fun with many characters and surprises. Mr Mears managed to entertain and educate late into the evenings with his tales of far flung places and skills he had picked up along the way. The Woodlore staff, James and Dan were always to there to lend a hand between snowmobile starting exercises. Britt Maire and Lars managed to supply between them enough knowledge, skill and passion to fill two notebooks and my soul with renewed vigour for the outdoors. Three days into my return I am still on a high and even the day to day grind of work in the UK has not dampened my spirit. The unexpected bonus is that I have switch off the heating in the house and my wife hasn’t notice yet. I hope to save enough to pay for the next adventure, somehow I don''t think I will be getting away on my own again for a while, the wife has seen through the looking glass and she’s coming too. Does anyone want 3 children for a week!

Reviewed by attendee Hamish Morton on 25/02/2011

• Reviewed on 07/05/2013

Great camp! I learned many nice things. I thank the professional ways of teaching of Tom and Nick. Siegurd from Holland.

Reviewed by attendee Siegurd Van Leusen on 07/05/2013

• Reviewed on 04/01/2010

First of all I feel that I should mention the fact that this is a "real" Camp Craft course in every sense of the word and will meet the approval of those truly interested in this subject. The course is certainly diverse ranging from felling mature sweet chestnut (with an axe) - no chainsaws present - superb!, to carving intricate utensils with a knife. I could not help but notice how each part of the course was expertly explained in a relaxed manner, then physically instructing all present without putting anybody under undue pressure. There were four instructors in total each giving their own expertise at given times, many years of knowledge must have been present. Anyway, well done Woodlore, an excellent course all round in which I would have no hesitation in recommending to others.

Reviewed by attendee Richard Fletcher on 04/01/2010

• Reviewed on 03/08/2010

Many thanks for a brilliant week, I learnt a hell of a lot and I hope to use the skills I learnt for many years to come.

Reviewed by attendee Sam Gravestock on 03/08/2010

• Reviewed on 02/08/2010

I'll start with a big thanks to Ian, Steve, Tom and all at Woodlore for such a fantastic course. Also thanks to all the other guys on the course who helped and supported each other and I had some good laughs with. I'd only done the Introduction course before and this had been a great couple of days. I'd chosen to do the Camp Craft next as this was were my interests pulled me. The first night under the tarp was a welcome return, but I was nervous of a full week out of my comfort zone. It was a relaxed but full programme and the skills taught, then practiced are ones that will stay with me forever. However mid way through, it all just seemed to fall into place for me. Not the skills they still had to be learned. But I relaxed, my senses seemed to change and my times in the woods just become so rewarding. I was disappointed that it had to end. The long drive home made me aware that it was a fantastic week from start to finish, and if you let yourself be immersed in the outdoors and the subject, you may never want to leave. I now need several days to re-acclimatise to the busy world with its noise, convenience and so many unnecessary things. I just look forward to a Fundamental and a Woodsense Course in the not too distant future, not that I'm planning ahead already :) Thanks again to all involved Martin Dryden Sheffield

Reviewed by attendee Martin Dryden on 02/08/2010

• Reviewed on 26/07/2010

Outstanding course...again! Monday morning and I just want to be back out in the woods coppicing another tree and carving something from it! I have already scrounged some freshly felled birch from a tree surgeon to improve on one of my projects. Grateful thanks to the instructors:Ian (axeman-extraordinaire), Steve (all-knowing-knot-man), and Tom (top-duck-carver!)for yet more superb Woodlore course delivery and inspiration. Although I probably found the tree felling harder going than some of the boys it was still a fantastic experience, one that I would love the chance to repeat as I feel that my skills and accuracy improved alot during the course of the week. Really looking forward to my next course now - it can't come soon enough. Thank you Woodlore, and keep up the excellent work.

Reviewed by attendee Zena Hewett on 26/07/2010

• Reviewed on 24/07/2010

I would like to say a massive Thanks to Ian, Tom and Steve and to Woodlore for another BRILLIANT Course. Taught with passion, experience and expertise.... WELL DONE. This course was another step in my journey of Bushcraft, I have been indoors for less than an hour and I am looking at what course to book for next year. Thank you once more for a thoroughly enjoyable week. Marcus Hackney

Reviewed by attendee Marcus Hackney on 24/07/2010

• Reviewed on 09/09/2011

Firstly a big thanks to Tom, Adrian and Brian for another great course. This one was much more relaxed than previous courses but still long days nevertheless, with the never ending oiling of the axe handle around the camp fire - something I can't seem to replicate at home with my linseed oil mix in a paint kettle over my honey stove in the back garden! Every skill was presented with the same care and knowledge that makes the Woodlore instructors such good teachers. There are only so many hours in a day and the knowledge of these guys would fill weeks in the forest. The rain did not dampen anyone's spirits and if anything gave a greater insight into the life of an outdoorsman. Here's to next season and some great times around the camp fire with Woodlore.

Reviewed by attendee Richard Mark Ashton on 09/09/2011

• Reviewed on 18/07/2011

well what an awesome course, as all the courses I have been have been. Finding out how the use of the small forest axe and buck saw work together was a joy, the team Steve, Ady, Nick and Jeremy were great, never over complicating things and making sure we grasped what they were putting over. I just wished it went on for a day or two longer, but i will be able to travel out in to the woods now with even more confidence......and a note to the team I managed to get the shave horse home, took longer than expected.

Reviewed by attendee Peter Tampsett on 18/07/2011

• Reviewed on 03/05/2011

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ian, Tom, Steve and Nick for a great week during the Camp Craft course (10th – 16th may 2011). When I think back at the week and all the things I have learned the list seems endless. Some of the skills I have already used at home and shared with my friends and family. This shows me how relevant the skills are that have been taught during the course and that the old knowledge has retained its value over the years. The week was very inspiring and made me long for a next trip to the woods. I will do my best to pass on as much of the skills I have learned to keep bushcraft alive. It was definitely worth the effort of flying over from Holland to the UK. I have learnt a lot and I’m very glad to have done the course. Thank you guys for a great week, best of luck and I hope to see you again in the future. Kindest regards, John van Zanen, The Netherlands.

Reviewed by attendee Johan Edward Van Zanen on 03/05/2011

• Reviewed on 16/11/2012

I understand that this is one of the more ‘laid-back’ courses that Woodlore run so I can’t believe how much we learnt during the week long course; it must be down to the fabulous teachers – thank you Tom, Sarah and Keith. As one always seems to discover on a Woodlore course – there is a basic set of practical skills to learn but you only truly appreciate them because they come with a wealth of additional knowledge gained through experience and so generously shared. As always the air of enthusiasm from staff and students alike was contagious and I added enormously to my meagre set of Bushcraft skills. Thank you Woodlore, my camp will now be a more comfortable one thanks to you.

Reviewed by attendee Becky Brewster on 16/11/2012

• Reviewed on 02/07/2010

What a week! I cannot remember when I had such a good time with such good company. I know Hilary will never forget it, nor will I. She is already talking about doing the Ardeche course next year. Blue and Yak you are two great guys thank you so much for looking after us and providing us with memories that will stay with us forever. James and Di thank you also for all your help and support it really was a great experience and you will definitely be seeing both of us again. I hope we keep in touch and look forward to seeing you all again soon. Regards, Mike and Hilary.

Reviewed by attendee Michael Hand on 02/07/2010

• Reviewed on 17/06/2010

Dear All, A thank you to all for making it a truly memorable week not without excitement, a great team of people and great venues. Thank you to the guys of Woodlore and LT Adventure (Sounds like an award speech now) for a fantastic week and the awesome plan B. Just a personal thank you to Di and James, it was a bit tricky with the weather and the change of venue, however at all times it was evident you were only concerned with our safety and enjoyment of the week. Kind regards Jason

Reviewed by attendee Jason Fudge on 17/06/2010

• Reviewed on 17/06/2010

I wanted to thank you all for a wonderful trip, a massive thanks to Woodlore, Blue & Yak for the whole experience. I really enjoyed the group dynamic, and hope to meet you again on another course. All the very best, Mark

Reviewed by attendee Mark Poulsen on 17/06/2010

• Reviewed on 17/06/2010

Good morning my fellow adventurers. Firstly, I’d like to thank you all for making it such a great week. I thought we made a really good team. It was great to be with such a good bunch doing something that was well outside of my normal comfort zone & really feeling part of it & being able to contribute to it in some small way. Yak & Blue, I salute you. James & Di thanks for really adding to the experience & being so flexible about everything. I never thought I could spent the a whole week wet & sometimes cold, live on fairly basic rations, fall in a alpine river & have such a fantastic time doing it. I’d love to do another similar trip at sometime in the future. All the best Rich

Reviewed by attendee Richard Nott on 17/06/2010

• Reviewed on 17/06/2010

For Woodlore and LT adventure, a superb lesson in dealing with alternative planning and expertly delivered. Starting at the Ardeche gorge with some great wobbly canoeing on day 1, then the unpredictable torrential rain, flooded river, then bringing in plan B. However, the end result was a fantastic lake, camping in a secret location and having great fun in the process with fantastic company. Thanks to everyone for a great week. Keep in touch. Nick

Reviewed by attendee Nick Lyons on 17/06/2010

• Reviewed on 17/06/2010

Well it's one week on from our adventure! Despite the adverse weather conditions and change of plans the whole journey was great. Thank you again Blue and Yak for your excellent tuition, guidance and for plan B. Carlsberg is the best!!! Di and James very big thanks to you guys for your professional and attentive assistance in making this trip work. I have learnt a lot on this trip, not just about canoeing, it would be good if Woodlore arranged another trip that we got to together for another adventure as I reckon we made a good team. With kind respects to all, Laurence

Reviewed by attendee Laurence Elphick on 17/06/2010

• Reviewed on 09/05/2013

Sharing his years of experience and anecdotes from his travels, Ray imparted some fascinating knowledge and taught us some great skills that we cannot wait to practice and develop. This was certainly a class from the master that we will never forget!

Reviewed by attendee Lorraine Hagan on 09/05/2013

• Reviewed on 07/05/2013

Well the day couldn''t have been better. The sun shone on the hottest day of the year and it was enthralling. To watch, hear and learn from someone so skilled and also interested in what we were doing was truly amazing. Ray was honest about the quality of our carving which was how it should be and he was as approachable as the man in the street. His left and right hand men were great too. They were full of quality advice. If youre one of the lucky ones to be on the next course you''ll have a great day and if you''ve never carved before don''t worry, most of us there on the 5th May were beginners too. Thanks Woodlore team.

Reviewed by attendee Andy McElhone on 07/05/2013

• Reviewed on 16/08/2010

Dear Woodlore I wanted to write and thank you all for the great time Leah and I had on the Family Bushcraft Course (25-27th July) We had been looking forward to it for over a year and it was worth the wait. One of the things that made it so good was the friendliness, helpfulness, patience and professionalism of the instructors. They were all very individual but came together to represent Woodlore in the best way. I think the content and pace of the course was just right for the age range and kept them interested but not over loaded. I also learnt a tremendous amount by doing hands on what you can't really absorb from reading. The setting for the course was ideal (other than being a long drive from Leeds!) and allowed us to explore the woodland but not be "punished" for leaving things in the car. I would recommend the course to anyone with a young family and look forward to myself and Leah being able to participate in future courses and also Leah's sister Isobel, when she is old enough.

Reviewed by attendee David Marson on 16/08/2010

• Reviewed on 09/05/2012

Would love to thank the team for a great few days. Ryan and myself left the course with better knowledge and a greater understanding of the outdoors, really shown and explained well. Highly recommend the course to other families and we particularly enjoyed sleeping in the leaf shelter (apologizes for sleeping in and thanks Ross for waking us up). Such a good experience all round and enjoyed meeting other families (good company). Again, thanks to everyone and can''t wait till Ryan is a little older to go on the Junior course.

Reviewed by attendee Paul Mcinerney on 09/05/2012

• Reviewed on 08/05/2012

Hi Folks, I just want to say a huge thankyou to the team; Nick, Ross, Callum, Suzie, who looked after us on the family bushcraft course this weekend. We had a fantastic time on the course, learned loads, made some great memories and will be back when we can as well as giving it a go on our own too. Many many thanks to four great people who are indeed generous with their great skills. Andrea, Tony, Amber and Scarlett.

Reviewed by attendee Andrea Andrews on 08/05/2012

• Reviewed on 17/07/2012

Regardless of their previous knowledge and experience, everyone will take something away from this course. In my case it was wet feet, muddy socks and the memory of some personal guidance on my bow drill technique from Ray himself! The instructor was Dan, with excellent support from Keith and Steve; advice or support was always there when needed, and in the weather conditions we were working in (heavy rain most of the time and muddy with it), we often asked for that advice. The structure of the course assumed no prior knowledge and so the key factors in building and sustaining a fire were covered, moving onto tinders, kindling and the preparation of both, finishing with how to get that all important initial spark/ember. Virtually every method you can think of is covered here; if you are a bow drill demon or a hand drill king (like Dan), then you will have plenty of opportunity to practice and develop your skill. Making a friction method work from materials you have prepared in the field is a rewarding experience that you will never forget. There is an element of group work involved, as without giving away any details, some techniques benefit from teamwork. As is the way with these kind of activities, a shared interest amongst all of the group meant that everybody got on and literally "mucked in". A great course, well structured and delivered and a great bunch of people taking part.

Reviewed by attendee Tim Pike on 17/07/2012

• Reviewed on 25/08/2012

A wonderful course, in a beautiful setting, with a charismatic and capable course leader. Will Lord took us through many thousands of years of primitive technologies, with enthusiasm and patience, and took the time to work with everyone individually to ensure they received the skills they wanted. I'm considering booking again for next year!

Reviewed by attendee Toby Stevens on 25/08/2012

• Reviewed on 15/08/2012

The weekend introduces you to working with Flint, gives an understanding of its material complexity and an insight into the skill of working it. And when the instructor said there were a few surprises he isn't joking. The surprises were related to the core topic and I won't spoil them by giving it away here but each was interesting, informative and enjoyable. You leave feeling there is so much more to be explored given more time, flint, tools and fingers but this is a great introduction into stone based technologies. The course gave me enough to think about if I wanted to take it further. The instructor (Will Lord) is a font of knowledge and experience and from him I left with an insight into how clever and resourceful our ancestors were. A big thank you to the rest of the team there during the course who couldn't have been more helpful, engaging or approachable. Andrew

Reviewed by attendee Andrew Minhinnick on 15/08/2012

• Reviewed on 19/05/2013

Three strikes and you are out! Ever wondered how your ancient ancestors coped with daily tasks like hunting their prey and then cutting up their food? Well, this is the course for you! To the un-initiated, what appear to be just lumps of rock are in fact a surprise package of axes, knives, scrapers and arrow heads etc. This is the essence of what you will learn on this course. The course starts with a history lesson and free chat discussion about our stone-age past so that you get the feel for the reasons of what is going to happen. Then you start to get to knock rocks together. Sounds are all important from that point onwards. Banging rocks sound just like that, and you end up with dust as it is not being done in the right way. Strike rocks together correctly, and then you are knapping them. There is a very distinct sound produced that is satisfying to the ear as it means progress is being made. The result of the correct knapping technique is the production of what can only be termed as life-saving artefacts. Our guru course leader Will Lord said, “Three strikes and you are out”! Then he confiscated our course instructor’s knife and swapped it for a freshly made flint knife made from 3 strikes against a flint node. It was amazing to watch and inspired us to learn. Expect hard work but also expect to have rewarding fun. For me, this was a weekend where I very happily swapped silicon chips for silicate chips!

Reviewed by attendee Bruce Glithero on 19/05/2013

• Reviewed on 18/05/2013

Many thanks to Brian, Kevin and Mark for their great teaching and support during the course! A really fantastic week in a very friendly atmosphere. Thanks also to all the other participants! The course enabled me to start developing new rewarding skills, and to think differently, leading to a feeling of self-empowerment. When I came back home in the week after the course, I collected wood, made my own tools to make fire, collected tinder, started bow-drilling, and after a few trials I finally got fire... inside my house (it was raining); the burnt smell led to a young voice asking "What are you doing, mum?" I pretended that we had no matches left to light a fire in the stove :)

Reviewed by attendee Anonymous on 18/05/2013

• Reviewed on 07/05/2013

Great camp, great instructors, great people! As a Bushcraft instructor I had a good time and I have learned new things and new approaches to Bushcraft techniques. Thank you Tom, Jeremy and Darren!

Reviewed by attendee Siegurd Van Leusen on 07/05/2013

• Reviewed on 21/04/2013

I thoroughly enjoyed this week long course, there was so much to learn, practically every moment was spent practicing what we had learned! I would like to thank Tom, Jeremy and Darren for their patience and support, while making sure our group were happy and in high spirits. I have am looking forward to the next course I do with Woodlore.

Reviewed by attendee Cassandra Florence Root on 21/04/2013

• Reviewed on 22/03/2010

I thoroughly enjoyed the Fundamental course. Looking back, I have learnt so much. The course subtitle ''The Initiation'' is not something to be glossed over. It''s NOT bootcamp - but you definitely need to be physically and pschologically prepared to immerse yourself in all that the Fundamental course covers. It is a challenging week. What can I say about Dan, Adrian, Ben and Sarah - well they certainly work extremely hard to ensure that we leave at the end of the week armed with adequate knowledge and skills to enable us to start to camp in the wild.

Reviewed by attendee Deb Hume on 22/03/2010

• Reviewed on 28/09/2010

I''ve just finished the Fundamental course and wanted to drop a line of thanks to the office. It was a really fantastic course, well structured and packed with information. It was hard work but really exhilarating, I was genuinely sad to leave the wood on Saturday and have to return to the city, I felt like I''d like to have stayed out there for another few weeks. Please will you pass my thanks on to all 4 instructors. Ian, Nick, Emma and James who were all ace. They seem to have limitless patience for silly questions and demonstrating techniques even after the 5th, 6th,7th time etc. of asking. I''m definitley keen to do another course!

Reviewed by attendee Julian Higgs on 28/09/2010

• Reviewed on 25/06/2010

Hi, Last week I attended the Fundamental Bushcraft course and I had such a great time I felt I should contact you to pass on my thanks. The course content and delivery were superb and I came away feeling that I had learnt a huge amount. As a group we got on really well and fine weather all week made sure we all had a smile on our face! Finally, please pass on my thanks to Dan and his assistants. Dan is a superb Instructor, and incredibly knowledgeable. His teaching style is very much in keeping with the surroundings of the forest and I feel very privileged to have spent a week in the woods with him and his team. Wayne did a superb job of making sure we were well fed and watered and along with Nick and Emma, they all provided much needed advice and support. Thank you once again for a wonderful week - you'll be seeing me in the woods again soon! Regards Mat Sibley

Reviewed by attendee Mathew Sibley on 25/06/2010

• Reviewed on 25/06/2010

The instructors, Dan, Emma, Wayne and Nick, are so patient with everyone, and the way they get things across is second to none!!  Not one person failed to understand their demonstrations or explanations. Dan seems to be able to deliver his skill and knowledge from what he obviously loves doing in a way that captivates your attention. The food was always good and of a high standard, certainly better than we eat at home most of the time. Nick, Emma and Wayne were excellent at making sure things in the background ran to plan and never short of offering help whenever anybody asked for it. It has certainly been the best week I have ever spent away, and if I ever get the chance to come on another course, then Woodlore is certainly the way forward for me.  I shall certainly be recommending  it if people ask me. Thanks again for such a wonderful week, these guys are a credit to Woodlore. Paul Titterrell

Reviewed by attendee Paul Titterrell on 25/06/2010

• Reviewed on 22/06/2010

Dear Woodlore, I have just completed your Fundamental Bushcraft course and would like to say a big thank you for such a fantastic experience. Dan, Emma, Nick, Wayne you have shown knowledge and professionalism of the highest standard with levels of patience and humility second to none. The bushcraft seed has definitely been sown within me and I intend to nurture it whenever I can. I will never forget my week on the course and I hope our paths will cross again. Many thanks and all the best. Evan

Reviewed by attendee Evan Gilden on 22/06/2010

• Reviewed on 07/09/2011

Thanks to Keith, Tom and Sarah for all the coaching and their professionalism during last week’s well thought and laid out course, covering a wide range of essential skills required in the woods and being well fed at the same time. It has certainly boosted my confidence of surviving in the woods and opened my eyes to our dependence on nature to provide all that we need to live in the woods. I look forward to using the skills I’ve learnt and take it further with other courses with Woodlore over the coming years.

Reviewed by attendee Albert Joseph on 07/09/2011

• Reviewed on 04/09/2011

Just got back from the Fundamental Bushcraft Course. What a week! An utterly engaging, in depth and full on course that teaches a variety of essential skills. The instructors, Tom, Sarah and Keith were superb and their expertise were worth double the course fees. Firelighting, trapping, shelter, kit care the skills list goes on and despite covering a huge number of skills, I was pleasantly surprised with the amount I remembered and was able to perform on the final assessment. Looking forward to honing my skills and practicing what I have learnt and am already looking to 2012 as to what course I will take next. A thrilling and worthwhile experience and the start of what I expect to be a long a fulfilling journey in bushcraft.

Reviewed by attendee John Brown on 04/09/2011

• Reviewed on 04/09/2011

Dear Keith ,Tom ,Sarah, Thankyou for your patients,time and knowledge,i have much admiration for you all.I was up before 5am every morning lighting the fire as i do at home ,giving me time to reflect on things,the differece was the surroundings ,building a fire in them surroundings was wonderfull. Thankyou all. P.S my Mrs loved her spoon.

Reviewed by attendee Craig Turner on 04/09/2011

• Reviewed on 08/08/2011

Fancy a walk in the park? With this course you’ll get just that…. And then some! Is it really only a week since I was in the woods? (24th-30th July 2011.) It seems like months ago now, although the scars will take longer to heal. Thanks to Dan, Steve and Mark for a sensory assault that never let up. And of course to Ray for a demonstration of the fire drill that made it look ridiculously easy. (It took me 3.5 hours to get my first ember so I know it isn’t something you pick up straight away.) It was surreal to see Ray walk into camp on two consecutive days and just slip into the group, not announcing himself as a superior being but as a fellow Woodlorean who was willing to sit and chat around the fire and impart his vast knowledge to us all, if asked. If you’ve read Ray’s Outdoor Survival book then this course is basically that, minus the basket weaving and the passing of the four seasons. What sets this course apart from any other experience is that not only do you get perfect demonstrations of how to achieve the skills needed to live comfortably outdoors; together with the realisation of how much practice you will need to put in to make these skills second nature; but you start to appreciate Nature itself and work in partnership to achieve your goal, using what Nature provides for you and your own self determination to succeed. You don’t have to just make do outdoors, it can be as comfortable as your knowledge allows. The perfect weather we had meant at no point were we sat around twiddling our thumbs. Apparently you learn more in bad weather; and I can see the reasoning of this; but a week of rain and it may have broken me. I may have had the occasion to sit and replace the plasters on my fingers and knuckles and nurse my wounds but even this seemed quite natural and not a moment felt wasted! I’ve just finished my first home made bow-drill set and will be giving this a go out in the back garden tonight. A cigarette lighter may be quicker but so much less rewarding. This is one week that won’t fade from my mind and will only grow as time passes. Roll-on Camp Craft at the end of August!

Reviewed by attendee Richard Mark Ashton on 08/08/2011

• Reviewed on 17/06/2011

I found the Fundamental Bushcraft course an amazing experience on many levels. Very big thanks to an impressive group of instructors Dan, Rob and Ross, not just for their depth and range of knowledge and their excellent grasp of practical skills, but also for their even-handed, humble, committed and rigorous approach to teaching us those skills. They were exacting without being over-bearing or intolerant, just as the course itself is challenging but not punishing. Without losing respect or control, they truly served the subject and the participants, not themselves. This is something you don't find on many other courses, and it's what makes the Woodlore course one I would strongly recommend to Bushcraft enthusiasts wanting to hone their skills. I found the range of skills we covered very useful. The level of detail entered into, and the quality of attentiveness in doing so, sets participants at a distinct advantage in taking those skills back into their own lives to develop them further. Thank you again for a life-changing week. I am really excited about taking another course with Woodlore. All the best, Zoë

Reviewed by attendee Zoe Bicat on 17/06/2011

• Reviewed on 14/06/2011

Hi folks, Having recently completed the Fundamental Bushcraft Course (29th May - 4th June), I wanted to pass on some feedback (my mental capacity to put something constructive on the feedback sheet was somewhat lacking, after a very challenging week). Before going on the course I had some very high expectations, as I'd presumed Ray would not put his name / reputation to anything that did not meet the high standards I perceived he would have. I have to say that the quality of the instruction and support that I received, and witnessed, from Keith, Rob and Mark where of an even higher standard than I had imagined. These chaps really are a credit to Woodlore and I genuinely feel privileged to have spent time in their company. I felt the course was extremely well structured - you could see the transition from a 'green horn' to a 'bush crafter' happening throughout the week (almost on an hourly basis, as the instructors encouraged us to take on more and more responsibility and gave us the skills to undertake the new tasks). It was a challenging course and the pace of learning was quick, but importantly not too quick as it ensured we learnt the skills and had time to practice them - also importantly, there was no slack time where you felt you were waiting for the next skill to be demonstrated. One of the unexpected outcomes was the emotional journey I went on too - something I hadn't considered, in fact had probably actively dismissed. It wasn't until after the course when i had time to pull all the threads together that I realised quite how far I had come as an individual - something I haven't felt for many years. It was superb to meet Ray at the end of our course, and the chat he gave us really helped to bring some of the strands of learning together and to help me understand more about what the whole Woodlore ethos is. I have come away from the course re-invigorated and ready for the next challenge. I look forward to being able to practice my skills and even pass on some knowledge to family and friends; and I look forward to joining you again for another course in the future. I would really appreciate if you could pass on my thanks for Keith, Rob and Mark (particularly to let them know that I am now on the waiting list for a heart op and hope to have that sorted before the end of the year; so I WILL be aiming to join one of the Journeyman courses next year and that should really help focus me during my recovery period). Thanks and best wishes, Marc

Reviewed by attendee Marc Langeskov on 14/06/2011

• Reviewed on 07/06/2011

This course was life changing for me. I learnt the value of food, warmth and shelter and how much we take for granted. I can't describe the joy of lighting a fire with a bow drill and how the walks in the woods are transformed by the knowledge of what all the trees are and what you can make out of them. The biggest joy of all has been sharing what I have learnt with my two boys and seeing their enthusiasm for learning about trees and making leaf shelters! The tutors Keith, Rob and Mark were all patient, kind and very very knowledgable. Thanks so much guys. See you on the Journeyman! I'm a bushcraft addict now!

Reviewed by attendee Dave Brons on 07/06/2011

• Reviewed on 03/05/2011

I can't remember having had so much fun in one week! I don't normally do reviews and suchlike, but this was special. The weather was fine, Brian, Dan and Wayne were the gentlest and most good-humoured of teacher-guides and I was fortunate to be with a great bunch of people. Thanks to all (including my fellow students) who helped to make this such a great week.

Reviewed by attendee Martin James Pope on 03/05/2011

• Reviewed on 29/04/2011

Well what can one say. I''ve had a week to lick my wounds and recover from a week of outdoor life being taught by a team full of knowledge and confidence. Dan, Calum and Susan know their stuff and I was very impressed by their mature and professional approach. I''ve had some outdoor knowledge but this course was a real eye opener. Pay the extra for the Woodlore courses and I guarantee you will be taught the correct way. Not once did i question any of the direction or instruction given by the team. Don''t under estimate the power of the bow drill!!

Reviewed by attendee Miles Finch on 29/04/2011

• Reviewed on 12/09/2012

I would just like to pass on my comments following the Fundamental Bushcraft Course I attended last week. Simply put, I had one of the most enjoyable weeks I can remember in a long time and I am absolutely hooked! I thought the week had a perfect blend of content set at a good level for the learner and I never had a moment (however frustrating, Mr.Bowdrill!) where I wished we were doing something else. I was also fortunate to be with a great group of people which added to the experience but what made my week was the amazing Tom, Sarah and Ross - I can not praise them highly enough! I was just humbled by their level of knowledge and passion for the outdoors and their eagerness to teach us with an endless patience! They were inspirational people to be with and a credit to Woodlore. I know I will be joining you for many more courses in the future, my only regret is that I have not started down this wonderful Bushcraft path sooner!! Thank you again to all at Woodlore, you’re doing something special!

Reviewed by attendee Barry Walsh on 12/09/2012

• Reviewed on 09/09/2012

If you''re thinking of doing this course stop thinking, go ahead and book it. I''ve just completed the Fundamental Bushcraft course (2nd to 8th September). The instructors (Sarah, Tom and Ross) are incredibly knowledgeable and excellent teachers. The course is demanding but by the end of it you will feel confident about going into the wild (field) and living in comfort. Although my hands ache from endless failed attempts at making feather sticks I''m buzzing with enthusiasm for bushcraft and I''ll definitely be doing either the Traditional Living Skills or Camp Craft course next year. Many thanks Tom, Ross and Sarah for your patience but above all for passing on such great knowledge. I now know how to identify 20 different trees and plants!

Reviewed by attendee Mark Pearce on 09/09/2012

• Reviewed on 20/06/2012

Having just completed the Fundamental bushcraft course (10-17 June) I can honestly say it was great fun. It was a hard course with loads to take in and do but Nick, Wayne and Callum, the instructors, were brilliant. They made everyone feel confident and paced the course at the right speed. Even the awful weather at the beginning of the week did not dampen anyone''s spirit, this was helped by the other group members who helped each other along the way. I would definitely recommend this course to anyone wondering what it would be like to live outdoors and learn something about the countryside. My thanks again to Nick,Wayne and Callum for never letting me give up even when things did not go right. I learnt an awful lot more than I thought I would.

Reviewed by attendee Michael Smith on 20/06/2012

• Reviewed on 20/06/2012

Wow!! What an amazing week (27/05-02/07). Much better than I''ve expected and more. I''ve learned so much in these few days and I''ll remeber them the rest of my life. Just like to say thanks to Nick, Ross and Callum for a great and inspiring time in the woods. I also like to thank the group of guys who where on the course (Big smile). It inspired me so much that I''m already making plans for the next trip. De groeten uit Nederland.

Reviewed by attendee Ron van Spengen on 20/06/2012

• Reviewed on 13/06/2012

Just got back from the Fundamental Bushcraft course on May 27- June 2. I knew the course would be good but I had no idea just how much they can teach you in such a short time! It is very fast paced and there is never a dull moment. I was very surprised and pleased at how much freedom they gave you starting from day one. Even simple things like being able to have a brew practically whenever you want and not having to ask, these are things I have not experienced on trips with other organizations. I will never forget the group of guys I was with, they were the best I could have asked for! A big thank you to Nick, Ross and Callum! It was amazing seeing that someone as young as Callum can have so much knowledge and be willing to teach it and re-teach it to someone like me. I hope to see you on another course later in life. My advice is if your thinking of going on this course, go! It was worth every penny I spent, and I came from America. Thank you again Nick, Callum, Ross and the whole Woodlore team! I hope to see you again.

Reviewed by attendee Benjamin Toole on 13/06/2012

• Reviewed on 04/07/2011

Another excellent course by Woodlore. New skills learnt and a real insight into how our ancestors foraged and honed their skills. Dan Hume was our course leader and I have to personally say a massive well done and thanks to him, his teaching manner was so natural and he was a fountain of knowledge, pure brilliance springs to mind. Steve and Sue (Wilderness Chef) were excellent assistants giving us guidance when needed. What next ? Tracking or Journeyman....?? Thanks to Woodlore and Ray for putting a great course together. See you soon. Marcus

Reviewed by attendee Marcus Hackney on 04/07/2011

• Reviewed on 09/07/2012

Thanks for an excellent course. I certainly appreciated my slug free bed, fridge with food and running hot water when I returned. We packed a lot in over the week and all the skills were fun and interesting to learn. Thanks to Dan, Keith and Sarah for taking the time to teach us.

Reviewed by attendee Purnima Gore on 09/07/2012

• Reviewed on 20/05/2013

Still cant believe how much can be crammed into 48 hours. Thanks to Woodlores Nick, Kevin, Callum and Mark plus 18 brilliant people keen to learn, all of whom have made a very special weekend. I cannot recommend this course enough. Thankyou.

Reviewed by attendee Gareth Flower on 20/05/2013

• Reviewed on 04/04/2013

Really enjoyed the Introduction to Bushcraft course. The instructors were patient, professional as well as friendly and courteous. The wealth of knowledge they possess and willingness to share this is inspiring. I would recommend this course to anybody.

Reviewed by attendee Paul Orr on 04/04/2013

• Reviewed on 27/07/2010

My husband and I attended the Introduction to Bushcraft course over the Bank Holiday weekend in May 2010. What an amazing experience! We've learned so much and had such a great time - it felt like much more than two days. The instructors, Ian, Emma, Tom and Callum, were brilliant: knowledgeable, approachable, and extremely patient - nothing was too much trouble for them and no question was ever treated as silly. The pace of the course was perfect - learn a little, practice a little - it was exactly the right balance of instruction and activity and also time to reflect on what we'd learned. There was a wide range of experience and skill level between the people on the course, but all the instructors coped superbly with the challenges that brings. The 'Introduction' course did exactly what it said on the tin - it was an excellent taster of many different aspects of bushcraft and has has left us keen to go on and learn more. I frequently find myself "tree spotting" and have even got a little "fire kit" of my own, including home made char cloth! The course has definitely inspired us - and brought home how much we had forgotten, how much we have taken for granted and how much we still have to learn. Sincere thanks to everyone involved - from the initial booking to breaking camp, the whole experience was well organised, well executed and an absolute pleasure that we will remember for a very long time. We hope to be back with you on other courses in the not too distant future! Kind regards Paula and Dan Martin

Reviewed by attendee Paula Martin on 27/07/2010

• Reviewed on 30/06/2010

I was a little worried this course may have been a little basic, but everything the instructors went through was very detailed and helped me improve my knowledge. Highly Recommended.

Reviewed by attendee Mike on 30/06/2010

• Reviewed on 10/06/2010

I just wanted to say what a fantastic weekend I have just spent on the Introduction to Bushcraft course. I completely forgot about the world outside of the woodland, I have to say it was a great way to de-stress! Ian, Tom, Emma & Callum made it such a great experience & I have learnt so much from them, I cant wait to put my skills into practice & also to come and take part on the Fundamental Bushcraft course. I just want to learn more! I never felt like I was being lectured at by your team, more that they were sharing their knowledge in something they were all obviously passionate about. It made the experience relaxed & fun. If you could pass on how much I enjoyed the weekend to Ian, Tom, Emma & Callum & how much I appreciated all their efforts & thank them very much that would be great. And I will be back soon!! Regards Janna

Reviewed by attendee Janna Naris on 10/06/2010

• Reviewed on 04/06/2010

My wife and I have just returned from the course. What a great couple of days! The course objectives of teaching us some basic skills and whetting our appetites for more were definitely achieved. The course instructors - Dan, Tom, Emma and Callum - were knowledgeable, calm and patient. We both learnt a great deal and did things that we've never done before. Sleeping in a leaf shelter that we had built ourselves (with help from others in our team) was one particularly memorable first! Another was sitting by a stream, cooking our lunch on a fire we had made ourselves (and leaving without a trace!), after a brilliantly instructive walk led by Dan. Thanks again - see you in 2011!

Reviewed by attendee Paul William Gale on 04/06/2010

• Reviewed on 01/06/2010

Hi Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed last weekend on the Introduction to Bushcraft course. We all had a great time, and learnt a lot. I'd thoroughly recomment the course to all my friends. Thanks to all the instructors, they were terrific! Regards Martin

Reviewed by attendee Martin Clarke on 01/06/2010

• Reviewed on 04/05/2010

Just a quick note to thank you all for a really great course (Introduction to Bushcraft) earlier this week. I really enjoyed the course with you, both in terms of course content, participants and course material delivery. The quality of the teaching was first class. It was a total holiday experience in terms of short holiday, an opportunity to acquire new skills learning and an opportunity to make new friendships - all in a beautiful location. I particularly admire you guys for the great respect you show to the environment you work in and for the non-egotistical team spirit you all displayed throughout the course - well done its a rare experience these days ! I look forward to a chance to spend more time learning with you on a longer course in the future.

Reviewed by attendee Philip O''Riada on 04/05/2010

• Reviewed on 14/04/2010

This is an excellent no nonsense introduction to Bushcraft. You will be immersed straight away into developing your outdoor skills. The course is broken down well into the major vignettes of Bushcraft - Shelters/Navigation/Fire Making & Management/Cooking/Trees & Plants Uses/ Camp Housekeeping. Giving a good taster of skills that would be developed further on the Fundamentals course. The course instructors are exceptionally professional, amiable and as expected extremely knowledgeable in their subject matter but still open to new knowledge and methods. My parting comment to James Bath summed my experience up succinctly "Inspirational".

Reviewed by attendee Craig Peacock on 14/04/2010

• Reviewed on 03/06/2011

I attended the Introduction to Bushcraft this week and I am writing to say that even at the grand old age of 65 I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and have learnt many new skills. I was most impressed by the inspired team leadership, headed by Nick, whose enthusiasm was passed onto his team of Callum, Susie and Ian. I felt most welcome and Nick and his team to be very knowledgeable. Nick especially was so patient with us and took us through each and every task in a thoroughly professional way. I was most amused to realise that living in Ticehurst I was just over 2 kilometres from the course site and had regularly walked the area in the past. I was not tempted to nip home as I wanted to absorb everything I could. I shall now start saving the pennies for the Fundamentals course.

Reviewed by attendee Albert Kemp on 03/06/2011

• Reviewed on 19/05/2011

I attended the Introductory Bushcraft Course 03 - 05 May 2011. Thank you all for a fantastic experience over the all too short 3 days. Dan and Kevin were brilliant, paitient, meticulous, inspirational instructors and they were great fun too. It was reassurring to have the staff team including Mark and Ross ever present; their discrete support and hearty encouragement made me feel much more brave and open to possibilities than I naturally might have been. I was so impressed with how effortlessly (seemingly) I was taught so much at pace in such a short time; while still feeling like the whole event was my own experience. I was concerned about how I would cope on the introductory course but now focused on getting myself on the fundamental bushcraft asap! Thanks once again for a truely inspiring and empowering experience. Shelley Mathias

Reviewed by attendee Shelley Mathias on 19/05/2011

• Reviewed on 03/05/2011

Fantastic Royal wedding weekend weather camping in the most idyllic bluebell wood in Sussex made for an excellent Introduction to Bushcraft. We were five women with a group of fifteen men plus the four male instructors. I mention these numbers because I want to encourage other/more women to take this course. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the pace/content/facilities etc were all "pitch perfect". I think we all got what we hoped for out of the course;learning about shelter, fire making,trees and plants and not leaving a trace of our visit to enable others to enjoy nature in an unspoilt state. Nick, Dan, Ross and Mark were all helpful, cheerful and enthusiastic and their patience and diligence was much appreciated. The food was very good and the salmon and jersey royals were a welcome treat. We came back to London energised and feeling as if we had been away for ages. I have gone back to my Bushcraft book to look at the knots we were taught and feel very proud to think our team made those shelters, hung those tarps & used those methods to light fires to name a few examples of what we achieved. It is indeed an introduction and it certainly left us wanting to learn more. Thank you Woodlore and thank you to all the blokes who made the experience such a success.

Reviewed by attendee Susan Bright on 03/05/2011

• Reviewed on 28/04/2011

If you want to open your eyes to plants and trees, learn to light fires, build a shelter, cook outdoors, sleep under a tarp and then leave no trace that you were ever there then this is the course for you. Excellent knowledgable staff and a good pace of teaching. My only regrets were my own for not asking enough questions. I'll do that on the Fundamental course I've booked myself on already! There is so much to learn and having done nothing like this before I was amazed how natural it was to sit next to a fire I had lit, boiling water for the morning brew, sawing wood and feeling my senses come alive. For those who were on the course with me a big thanks. Everyone chipped in and this gave me a wonderful start to my journey into Bushcraft.

Reviewed by attendee Richard Ashton on 28/04/2011

• Reviewed on 24/04/2012

If only all courses were this good!

Reviewed by attendee Frank Taylor on 24/04/2012

• Reviewed on 11/04/2012

I have just attended the Introduction to Bushcraft course and I have to say that it exceeded my expectations - which were high to begin with. The variety of skills taught, the simple beauty of the small deciduous woodland, the sense of community with kindred spirits were all welcome elements of the course. But what for me was an essential ingredient was the way in which our experienced instructor and assistants set us group challenges allowing us to be resourceful, determined, creative and effective team players. A hugely enjoyable and very fulfilling weekend, I feel that this is a springboard for attuning myself to the seasonal rhythms of the woods and all they have to offer.

Reviewed by attendee Tim Beckerley on 11/04/2012

• Reviewed on 10/04/2012

I have just completed the course on the Easter weekend and I can not praise the course enough. All the content was relative and completed at a pace so everyone could learn. The instructors created a friendly atmosphere and nothing was too much trouble for them. The food was excellent and I would recommend doing the course.

Reviewed by attendee Brian Collier on 10/04/2012

• Reviewed on 22/08/2010

This is my second course with Woodlore and they just get better. Thanks to the instructors (Emma, Tom and James) for their time and patience. They made it a fantastic experience. They are all really friendly, fun and helpful, and they all know what they''re talking about. In this course we learnt advanced medical skills, advanced fire lighting, navigation and map work, basic carving,and working as a team. An awsome week. Please put on more courses for teenagers because more people are realising just how fun the outdoors is. Thanks again and see you soon.

Reviewed by attendee Piers-Rex Murray on 22/08/2010

• Reviewed on 07/09/2011

Dear Woodlore Team, After a safe trip back to Germany, we woud like to thank you all for an exhilarating week on the Junior Expedition skills course! Most of all, we would like to thank Dan, Sarah, Kevin and Steve for sharing their incredible knowledge with us during one of the funnest weeks of our lives! Also special thanks to Jamie for having travelled to the course for what must''ve been the most helpfull and most interesting First Aid course we''ve ever been on. Although the weather wasn''t always great, we both enjoyed spending the week in the outdoors, surounded by incredible people. We now feel much more confident about our bushcraft skills and are both hoping to apply them on our own expeditions in the near future. We are both looking forward to sharing yet another week with your staff in the future, but until then we wish you all our best regards, Lucien and Marcel Torlot

Reviewed by attendee Lucien and Marcel on 07/09/2011

• Reviewed on 15/08/2010

I really enjoyed this course and now not only can I navigate well, but I can also easily carve a spoon. Much recommended.

Reviewed by attendee George Marchbank on 15/08/2010

• Reviewed on 03/08/2010

Dear Woodlore Team, safely back in Munich, we would like to thank you for an excellent, interesting, fun-packed and well organised week. Special thanks to Sarah, Emma, Tom and Nick for sharing their incredible skills and knowledge with us and for being the best fun instructors we''ve ever come across. We hope we will be able to put our bushcraft skills to use soon, and are hoping to see you all next year for the expedition skills course. We are very much looking forward to seeing Sarah''s photos. Thank you all very much. Best wishes Lucien and Marcel Torlot

Reviewed by attendee Lucien Torlot on 03/08/2010

• Reviewed on 17/02/2010

I am writing regarding Nordic Skiing 2010. This was my third Woodlore course. I thought Nordic Skiing 2010 was simply fantastic. The venue is perfect, the accommodation comfortable and the food very good. The equipment was also very good. By far the best aspect of the course, however, is the tuition provided by Brian and Glyn. Their vast experience in Nordic skiing and other winter sports makes the week''s experience quite extraordinary. I have had a week''s Nordic ski tuition in Norway before but found this a much more valuable experience, mostly because of Brian and Glyn. The training is carefully planned so as to avoid strains and sprains and the terrain is chosen with the beginner in mind. Most members of the group were complete novices and we were all skiing confidently by the end of the week. I found the skiing and other activities such as biathlon and shelter making, both interesting and exhilarating but never intimidating. I would recommend this course to anyone who wishes to try Nordic skiing.

Reviewed by attendee Alasdair Mckechnie on 17/02/2010

• Reviewed on 01/03/2011

Overall, the course was very well run and the tuition provided by Brian and Glynn was excellent. Due to the venues used for instruction we had a steady, and noticable progression each day always within the group capability. Accommodation was ideal for this kind of course and food was basic, good quality and plentiful (most important on a course like this!). The years of experience of the instructors clearly showed with their ability to teach and coach a group of varying abilities and learning styles, and also with their stories from previous lives in the military! The training days were never overly taxing so and each day the group finished tired but happy and well motivated! There was also plenty of time to relax in the evening with interesting presentations from Brian and Glynn. The expedition was a great finish to a very enjoyable course and let us use all the skills we had developed over the previous 4 days. The route was amongst spectacular scenery and was well chosen to be demanding but certainly not overwhelming after such a good preparation. I found the kit list a bit over-the-top with a few unecessary items that would be more applicable to an arctic survival course, or a ski course with a lot of sleeping out in the snow. Maybe we were lucky with the weather but I certainly would not want to ski in the 3-4 layers of clothes recommended on the list. I would highly recommend this course, especially to previous non-skiers (like me).

Reviewed by attendee Michael Taylor on 01/03/2011

• Reviewed on 14/11/2011

Just dropping you a line to let you know how impressed I was with the Nordic Skiing course. Enjoyed my week with Brian Desmond immensely. The structure of the course was excellent. I was part of a mixed ability group and Brian managed to get us all up to standard for the expedition into the mountains at the end of the week. The training we received was well thought out and enabled us to all improve at our own pace in an enjoyable manner. The hints and tips on skiing and survival in the snow were well received and helped me to feel safe and well looked after. Last but not least, accommodation was great throughout. Brian and Glynn (the expedition guide) are great guys to be around; knowledgeable, professional and good fun. Thanks for a wonderful experience.

Reviewed by attendee Erica Smith on 14/11/2011

• Reviewed on 14/11/2011

I would just like to give Woodlore some feedback about the Nordic Skiing course I attended last week in Norway. It was a fantastic course and I really enjoyed it. Having never skied before I was very impressed by my progress by end of the course, all due to the excellent tuition by Brian Desmond and Glyn Sheppard. The mini biathlon style race run by Brian was a great addition, the shooting added extra variety to the course as it's not something I have done before. The big highlight was the overnight expedition to the mountain hut; stunning scenery and a good challenge skiing-wise for us. It did help that we were so lucky and had perfect weather nearly all week. I look forward to doing the HOT (Heroes of Telemark) tour in the future.

Reviewed by attendee Eleanor Chapman on 14/11/2011

• Reviewed on 14/11/2011

I’ve just returned from a Nordic Skiing course led by Brian Desmond and Glyn Sheppard, two instructors with a wealth of skiing and mountaincraft experience. The instruction was excellent and I now have the skills and confidence to develop my cross country skiing on my own. The format of several days instruction followed by an expedition to spend a night in a mountain hut was ideal, giving us all a taste of the various elements of Nordic Skiing. Brian's knowledge of the area and contacts enabled us to experience aspects of local culture not normally available to visitors. The accommodation was comfortable and the food good, keeping us warm and fuelled as the temperature dropped to minus 15 degrees C. The close involvement of Brian and Glyn in the story of the Real Heroes of Telemark was an added bonus to a terrific week. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this course to anyone wanting to start or develop skills in Nordic Skiing.

Reviewed by attendee Chris Peet on 14/11/2011

• Reviewed on 24/03/2013

Having recently returned form this course can you pass on my thanks to Glyn and Brian for an exceptionally well run and organised expedition. Their excellent knowledge and experiences of to the story adds greater insight into the lengths the the saboteurs went to. Truly inspirational, not only do you learn about the raid, I also found that I learnt about myself, and working with others, thanks to Glyns training, support and patience. Value for money is very good as the days are filled with interesting training seasons and lectures in the evenings, culminating in a trip of a lifetime. My only comment would be on the kit list recomendations, it is recomended to travel light,then recommends a 65-75 litre rucksack. this could be reduced to a more realistic pack size of 50-60 litres, as food and spares are in the polk/sledge. A note would help on wearing your insultaion clothing in the sleeping bag to reduce doubling up on kit. There are also laundry facilities during the first week at the centre. Once again thanks to the team, Glyn and Brian and to the fellow members of the expedition in making this a truly memorable experience.

Reviewed by attendee Julian Dormady on 24/03/2013

• Reviewed on 02/07/2010

This fantastic expedition does exactly what it says on the tin. It retraces the footsteps of some remarkable WW2 heroes and stays as close as possible to the exact route they took - right down to sleeping in the same beds! However, what makes this expedition extra special is the people who lead the course; Brian Desmond and Glyn Sheppard. Both former British Military men with a wealth of knowledge about the saboteurs, the operations of Grouse, Freshman and Gunnerside and an exellent knowledge of Norweigan customs and history. Brian''s vast cross-country skiing and biathlon experience assisted in bringing the group up to the base level of skiing ability required for the expedition. Glyn''s mountaineering and navigational ability was invaluable up on the vidda and his sense of humour and laid back but professional approach added to the overall enjoyment of the expedition. Although I am well travelled, this expedition goes down in my books as one of this best things I have ever done. Highly recommended - Big thanks to all.

Reviewed by attendee Dave Hall on 02/07/2010

• Reviewed on 01/04/2010

I have just returned from what was a truly exhilarating experience, namely, the Heroes of Telemark skiing expedition. From start to finish the training and the expedition itself were superbly well organised and carried out with military precision. Both Brian, the course leader, and Glynn, the expedition guide, were superb in every respect. At age 61, even with many years of normal Alpine skiing holiday experience, I did not expect this undertaking to be physically easy - and I was so right! For the first two days of training I had pains where I never thought I had muscles and there were indeed times when will power - and a little help from my team mates - picked me up and kept me going. The raw beauty of the Hardanger Vidda landscape was breathtaking and knowing that one was following the skisteps of true Norwegian heroes was quite a spiritual experience. The conviviality of the Norwegian dog sleigh team - Olav and Isaach - who shadowed us from a distance, greatly added to the enjoyment and authenticity of the trip. Perhaps I was particularly fortunate in finding myself part of a team that gelled together so well. On the other hand, I would expect that anyone who undertakes this trip would share a true sense of adventure and a deep appreciation of its historical context. Thank you for the opportunity to relive such a remarkable piece of Nordic history.

Reviewed by attendee James R Kehoe on 01/04/2010

• Reviewed on 31/03/2010

The course was excellant. Brian and Glyn are legends! The build up was just right with all the team hitting the right fitness levels for journey across the Vidda. The landscape will stay with me as will the passion of the said legends for their commitment and attention to detail. Awesome!!

Reviewed by attendee Bob Hoskins on 31/03/2010

• Reviewed on 23/03/2012

I have just completed the HOT Expedition and as I am sure you have seen from the blog we had a great time. The end to end process was brilliant. Your team in the UK were always able to help in preparation and promotion of our blogging and charity fundraising efforts. Your team in Norway are professional, passionate and fun to work with. Brian and Glyn provide a safe, enjoyable, progressive learning environment and are adept at bringing the saboteurs' story to life. The unique combination of skills, environment, military and local history, team work, personal journey, hard work, fun and the beauty of Norway, in particular the Hardanger Vidda is what makes this expedition amazing - the course director and guide as well as support from the local Norwegians made this come alive for us. In particular I would like to express admiration for Brian's depth of knowledge of the saboteurs' story - I wish I could interview him and learn how to write it all down. I would also like to mention Glyn's training style. We never felt like we were being taught but we all learn't a lot. Glyn also prepared us, helped us form in to a team that would succeed in the task and lead us on the expedition. All with good humor. If you are reading this and are undecided if you should do this - then do it, an amazing allround experience. Thanks Alex

Reviewed by attendee Alexander Laurie on 23/03/2012

• Reviewed on 23/03/2012

We have just returned from the Heroes of Telemark course and I just wanted to share our feedback with Woodlore. This is the second course we have done with Woodlore having done the Arctic Survival course in 2008. Once again it competely exceeded our expectations. It was one of the most special and emotional trips we have ever done. To follow in the footsteps of the saboteurs was fascinating and humbling. Crossing the Hardanger Vidda was spectacular and to re-enact the final assault on the hydroelectric power plant at Vemork was a perfect end to an awesome adventure. Brian Desmond and Glyn Sheppard delivered the course to an exceptionally high standard. With their indepth knowledge and years of experience we felt very honoured to be with them. Thank you Woodlore once again for an amazing adventure. Kind Regards Rosie and Andy Deamer

Reviewed by attendee Rosanna Deamer on 23/03/2012

• Reviewed on 03/10/2012

Apprehension is a word that I would use to describe my feeling before and during the course, only becaue of the guarded secrets that are held within the Journeyman fraternity. What amazing week, I learnt a lot about myself during this week, the standard of instruction was second to none as you would expect. Anyone who is thinking I''ll wait to do this course. DON''T think about it just book it you wont regret it.....I thoroughly recommend this course its a cracker. Thank you to Dan, Brian, Keith and Claudia for all your efforts, digs, laughs and tuition; you are superb!!!!

Reviewed by attendee Marcus Richard Hackney on 03/10/2012

• Reviewed on 16/08/2010

It has given me an appreciation of how hard hunter-gatherer lifestyles really are. It showed me that we all have the ability to do things that are really hard, all we need is the determination and resolve to strive (and survive). I would highly recommend this course, although it is not for the faint hearted. The combination of skilled, motivated staff aided by renowned experts allows them to deliver an experience second to none.

Reviewed by attendee Graham Blackall on 16/08/2010

• Reviewed on 17/10/2012

Thank you for a fantastic, challenging, rewarding experience - I loved every moment. The Journeyman...it's good for the Journeywoman too!

Reviewed by attendee Zena Hewett on 17/10/2012

• Reviewed on 15/10/2012

Very simply, the best course I've ever done. Thanks to Brian, Keith, Tom and Claudia. Also to the other course participants. An superb experience. If you think you might like it, you will.

Reviewed by attendee Martin James Pope on 15/10/2012

• Reviewed on 21/02/2013

If anyone is wondering whether this course is worth all the expense, I can tell you categorically that YES IT IS! This was my first trip away as a singleton so I was a little nervous, but Ray (and Ruth) and the team were amazing. I was inspired, amazed, bedazzled and in awe at the sights, sounds and smells of Namibia. The abundant wildlife we saw was truly incredible. I spoke with other visitors at Erindi who didnt see half of what our group saw, and for this I credit the expert tracking skills of Ray, the Erindi guides (Rheinhardt and JP) and the San Bushmen we were privy to be with. Our jeep was nick named the fun bus which says it all really as we had a great laugh as well as learning so much about the area and how to track animals in the wild. My fellow course companions were also excellent company. The accommodation too was superb and the Oryx steaks on the menu sublime! I also really valued the time we spent with Natasha Britz who taught us about the Global Leopard Project and the practical help we were able to give working out the parentage of a leopard cub using our tracking skills! There isnt a week that has passed since where I havent reminisced about this wonderful experience. I cant recommend Ray and the team enough. Also, special thanks to the lovely Dan Hume who helped me build a bird snare when I had all but given up!

Reviewed by attendee Alison Walsh on 21/02/2013

• Reviewed on 29/10/2012

Namibia was an absolute feast for the eyes (the wildlife and the rock art were truly exceptional), the nose (a kill really needs to be experienced first hand and at a distance of less than 25 yards) and of course the mind. Courses at Woodlore invariably teach many skills an enable you to experience environments that are generally out of reach for the mainstream tourist. The tracking course without doubt ticked all the boxes both from a skills and experience perspective. The classroom work in relation to the more lethal animals (and reptiles) that may be encountered and what to do should this occur was memorable and upon seeking a black mamba on our first game drive and being charged by a black rhino I thoroughly appreciated the approach the Woodlore team took with regard to preparation and bush awareness. This is a wild place not a zoo, but as we gained confidence and experience in our groups it was plain to see that everyone was absolutely absorbed in the tracking (with 360 degree awareness of course) and dreading the day it all had to come to an end. This was my third expedition with Woodlore and whilst all different all are highly recommended. No doubt Ill continue to indulge myself next year. A real highlight for 2012, thank you all and especially Ray, Ruth, Dan, Reinhardt, GP and our San Bushmen trackers (whose names I dare not attempt to spell).

Reviewed by attendee Dean White on 29/10/2012

• Reviewed on 09/05/2013

I had high expectations for this course and yet it still managed to surpass every one of them. The forest proved to be a stunning treasure trove of wonders to be explored and discovered. Accompanied by Ray''s experience and incredible story telling it was a truly unforgettable experience that we will remember and treasure forever.

Reviewed by attendee Lorraine Hagan on 09/05/2013

• Reviewed on 09/07/2010

I found the WEM1 very enjoyable, run by a very knowledgable group of instructors in an interesting and well thought out manner. I'm currently trying to get the deposit together to book onto next years WEM2.

Reviewed by attendee Brian Whitehead on 09/07/2010

• Reviewed on 15/06/2010

Dear all at Woodlore, What a fantastic course WEM1 was. Jamie and Fran were fantastic trainers supported by a great Woodlore team (Paul, Emma and Adrian). Thank you so much for organising it. Kind regards, Roger Abrahams

Reviewed by attendee Roger Abrahams on 15/06/2010

• Reviewed on 14/06/2010

Just a quick note to let you know how much we enjoyed our WEM1. This was the first Woodlore course that we have attended and we were honoured to be part of the first WEM1 group. The teaching was excellent; a lot of information to process, but everything was taught in such a fun way and with such enthusiasm that it was never boring. And the various scenarios really made this stand out as a First Aid course. Compliments to all the instructors for their acting skills! (is this part of their job description?) We had a wonderful weekend and made lots of new friends. We're hoping to do some other Woodlore courses in the near future, but are already looking forward to a refresher course next year! (or maybe even WEM2?)

Reviewed by attendee Cynthia and Chris on 14/06/2010

• Reviewed on 14/06/2011

What did you do this weekend? Really? Me? Well, I did 2 days of scenario based first aid learning outdoors with a professional outfit second to none. If there is only one course you want to do, then make sure it is this. There is no substitute for learning these skills, especially when you are wet, cold and would rather be next to the fire. Thanks to Jamie, James, Fran and of course Kevin (see him on stage at a place near you soon no doubt!) for a superb weekend. As soon as I am able I will be signing up for the Level 2 course as this knowledge and the way in which it is taught will certainly stay with me for the rest of my life. I can't stress enough how important the knowledge you will receive and the environment you will learn these skills in are. So what are you going to do next weekend now?

Reviewed by attendee Richard Mark Ashton on 14/06/2011

• Reviewed on 21/04/2010

Please can you pass on my thanks to Paul, James, Jeremy and Tom for a fab week! It was great fun and I learned a huge amount! This is my third course with Woodlore and it never ceases to amaze me how the instructors manage to use differentiated teaching, to pass on so much, in such a short space of time and keep you laughing! This time, our group ranged from complete novices who (allegedly) could not navigate their way out of a wet paper bag (me) to pilots who knew a thing or two about navigation! It is quite a shock when you flick back through the notebook at the end of the week and see just how far you have come and realize that things that you found hard on day one, seem like a walk in the park by the end of the week! I am really looking forward to putting the new found knowledge and skills into practice! I will keep my trusty notebook and compass close to hand, a marker pen so I can mark the route on my map, protected in its waterproof case, of course. If I forget where I have been (it must be my age!) I am confident that I now know how to work out where I am and how to get to where I want to be! I am really quite excited about navigating and biking in the New Forest in the Summer as well as exploring closer and further away from home. Fortunately my other half loves maps, so we already have a good selection of maps and places to choose from and plenty of scope to decide where to explore next . We have several compasses, not to mention the brand new "baby" Silva that has joined the family. It will be interesting to compare map and compass with the Sat Map gadget, at least the former won''t ever run out of batteries at a crucial moment! It is very hard being back at work - I would much rather be back walking in the woods! When I came back from Woodsense I noticed all the wildlife - now I have a new hobby of contour spotting! They get everywhere! See you next year - unless I have to book on another course before learning how to wield an axe!

Reviewed by attendee Alexis Crossland on 21/04/2010

• Reviewed on 09/06/2011

Wow what a fantastic week! I was a little nervous about camping out in the woods rustic style for a whole week (I haven’t slept under canvas for more than the odd night for about 20 years) but with help from the Woodlore Team I settled to it very quickly. I thought a week seemed like a long time to learn how to navigate using a map and compass given that there are courses and tutorials out there that deal with the topic in much less time. However, even on the first day we started learning about so much more than just these ‘tools’ and it became apparent that Woodlore were going to do their usual thorough job. And they did! Having the night excursions at the beginning of the week seemed an odd way to start out but as the week progressed and we built up skills and experience the value of these earlier exercises became apparent, they would not have had the same impact done any other way. It was fantastic to suddenly find that half way through the week the skills that we had been slowly assimilating were suddenly coming together. I started the week with only the most basic understanding of my compass but left knowing that with it and a map I can confidently go anywhere. Thank you Woodlore, the sense of freedom this experience has given me is something I cannot describe.

Reviewed by attendee Becky on 09/06/2011

• Reviewed on 20/09/2012

Having completed the "standard" tracking course in July I only had 2 months tracking practise before jumping head first in what I can only describe as a succession of masterclasses in tracking. Ray explained how tracking should be done, what state of mind you should adopt, advising as to what works and what doesn't. The level of Ray's tracking knowledge is incomprehensible to anyone without tracking experience. However, as you start to glimpse the vastness of the subject (above and beyond the boundaries covered in the standard tracking course), you can rest assured that there aren't many teachers who can match Ray's experience and that you are learning from an expert in his field who can also teach (a rare occurence indeed). Yes, the course is challenging and frustrating at times (losing the trail is part and parcel of the course, but the art is in finding it again). We were taught to track as a team, using a control team, silent signalling, radio comms, GPS, maps and to understand the bigger picture of the trail. I'd like to thank Ray, Dan and Keith for what was an exceptional week (ninja squirrels aside) and, once again, an excellent course.

Reviewed by attendee Jerome Villani on 20/09/2012

• Reviewed on 11/03/2013

An amazing course that covers not only survival skills of making accomodation and heating it, fishing, trapping, skidooing, skiing horizontally, knife skills, woodcrafting, photography but also great saunas, fabulous food all week, heated cabins for the more cautious!! Well just wonderful!! Go do it!

Reviewed by attendee H W Smith on 11/03/2013

• Reviewed on 11/03/2013

What a fantastic course! I went in February 2013 and loved it. The team ensure you are safe and well fed, without letting you loose the adventure of being in this unforgiving, pristine environment. Having been to Namibia with Woodlore, this offers a more varied, skills based, course (Namibia was based around tracking and wildlife). This trip is a far cry from your average Arctic tour, and covers a large range of skills, with the very best instructors out there. It is a privilege to go to this area in the first place; but with Lars Falt, Dan Hume, Keith Whitehead and Ray Mears as your instructors. I dont like to gush, but really, if you''re thinking of going, do, you will be very happy you did.

Reviewed by attendee Paul Cobham on 11/03/2013

• Reviewed on 16/08/2010

I'd like to say I thought the 1st aid course was fantastic, really first class, you guys put so much effort into it, many thanks to you all. In the woods, at night, having blood (ok, fake blood!) spraying in my face from a wound... this is no ordinary First Aid course. The scenarios made it feel very real, one didn't know what was going to happen next! I am a film maker where First Aid in the field is paramount, and of course, in general life too. In short I found this full on course highly informative, exciting, and hugely rewarding, and quite frankly due to the huge effort by the Woodlore and the Fusion Medical teams, excellent value for money. In fact, as a result of a student doing this course and ending up saving a real life, it is priceless! I cannot recommend this course highly enough.

Reviewed by attendee Simon Ogle on 16/08/2010

• Reviewed on 08/04/2012

This course is a must for anyone with an interest in real tracking techniques, a solid foundation on which to build. The course exceeded my expectations and throughout the week my confidence really grew. You will not come away an expert by any means and it would be totally unrealistic to have that expectation, however you''ll have the appropriate tools to carry on building. The staff were fantastic, many thanks again to Dan, Keith, Tom and Sarah who made the course throughly enjoyable and informative. There was also the unexpected pleasure of having Ray join us and help us with our Deer identification and final exercise, although with such a busy schedule I''m sure this is not always possible, but it really was the icing on the cake for me! Great course recommended!

Reviewed by attendee Simon Underwood on 08/04/2012

• Reviewed on 23/11/2009

I really enjoyed the time I spent on the Woodlore Woodsense course in 2008. The course was fantastically organised from start to finish and the staff were very friendly and helpful. During the week we learnt so much and by the end the whole group had quite a strong grasp of tracking. After the course, being out on a walk in the woods it was amazing how differently I looked, smelt and listened to what was around me. A thoroughly eye opening course full of fun and challenging times.

Reviewed by attendee Sarah on 23/11/2009

• Reviewed on 05/08/2010

Please could you pass on my thanks to the team for an excellent week on the Woodsense Course led by Dan, Bob and Keith. After attending the Fundamental Bushcraft Course last year I wanted to further my knowledge of the woodland environment and thought that the Woodsense course would be an excellent fit. The week was brilliant, providing an excellent opportunity to heighten my senses and tune into the wild, I am convinced that I have returned home with eyes open a little wider and I am definitely appreciating my local environment a little more than before. The opportunity to see lots of different wildlife was excellent and the tracking was thoroughly compelling, I cannot believe that within a few days we were able to track so well. I was so glad that Dan, our course leader, has such good tracking skills. During one of the evening tasks I lost my glasses deep in the undergrowth and after identifying the end of my track Dan was able to retrace my steps exactly and found my glasses. Thanks Dan. It was a real joy to share this course with a fantastic group, meeting people from all walks of life who share a common love of Bushcraft and the outdoors was a real privilege.

Reviewed by attendee Adam Nicholls on 05/08/2010

• Reviewed on 05/08/2010

I would like to say how much I enjoyed the Woodsense course last week. It has really opened my eyes to what is there to be appreciated in the wild. I'd like to thank Dan, Bob and Keith again for their hard work delivering the course and their patience was greatly appreciated. Thanks again Best wishes Iain

Reviewed by attendee Iain Page on 05/08/2010

• Reviewed on 10/06/2010

I''ve just completed this week''s Woodsense course, and would like to pass on my thanks to Dan, Bob, Jeremy and Darren for an amazing week. The pace and focus were very different from the Fundamental Bushcraft course, but very enjoyable indeed. The highlight for me was the final day''s ''manhunt'' - it was great to bring together the tracking skills we''d been taught over the previous days. Best regards, Toby

Reviewed by attendee Toby Stevens on 10/06/2010

• Reviewed on 25/08/2011

Another inspiring week's course, and I've learnt so much again. At the beginning of the week I found the intense concentration on the minutiae fascinating, although quite a strain and draining, but, oh the thrill when things were coming together...what a buzz! A new world has opened to me, and I can't wait to experiment further. A big thanks as ever to Dan, James, Keith and Tom for their valuable guidance, tuition and good humour.

Reviewed by attendee Zena Hewett on 25/08/2011