The Journeyman Course

  1 of 11

  I would like to start by saying thank you to all the staff involved in running the course. As always they were great! Not to say too much about the course due to Woodlore wanting to keep the contents of the course a secret for future clients and to help keep the excitement and wonder behind the course. But what I will say is this: in my time of doing outdoors courses in a whole range of different activities, the Journeyman course is possibly the most rewarding course I have undertaken to date. Its a great chance to practice some of those bushcraft skills for real, as well as learn new ones within the week. Without a doubt a five star course if you really want to test your skills for real. Thanks, Tom, Dave, Steve & Claudia  

  Garry Reed

  2 of 11

  One week after completing this course I have worked out what I want to say! It's a brilliant course, you learn about your bushcraft skills as much as you learn new stuff. Although there is new stuff in there, and important stuff too, especially this week. You have to be on point with the core bushcraft skills you already have, and personally I'd suggest doing a course after the Fundamental and before The Journeyman will be of great benefit. Doing this right after your basic Fundamental would, in my opinion, put extra pressures on you, as I'd suggest you won't have built up the skill set to enable you to have confidence to tackle some of the tasks. But you know your own you, but be advised. That said if you get into a good group, which I did, then you will still struggle but it will not be as bad. The week is as much mental challenges as physical ones and your head needs to be in top gear too! The instructors are excellent at passing on information and messing with your head the entire time you're there. Claudia really knows her stuff and is a really good source of knowledge. Expect to be cold, wet and hungry at most stages of the week. If you're unlucky with the weather it will be all week! Oh and the Woodlore tradition of your clothes and you and your kit smelling of wood smoke for a week afterwards is nicely upheld too! I met some really good people and had some great laughs, or were they hysterical sobs? :) All in all, do it! It's an adventure you'll always remember and the lessons learned will stand you in good stead in the world outside the woods too. Many thanks to everyone who shared it with me, but especially to Tom, Dave, Steve, Claudia, Kai and Norman for the best week I've ever spent clothed! P.S. Top tips. Only bring what's on the kit list and don't bother bringing an axe, you'll only be carrying extra weight in your bag on the way to Dunkeld!  

  S Tomlinson

  3 of 11

  This is an amazing course! I highly recommend it to everyone who’s done the Fundamental Bushcraft course. Yes it’s hard, but if you have the perseverance and drive to keep going - you will succeed. It was an interesting experience watching how oneself and others coped with the challenges and how we reacted to each other in any given circumstance. I wasn’t going to do the Journeyman at all but was eventually and reluctantly persuaded - thanks for encouraging me to do this one guys. I’m glad I did it. Would I do it again? Yes I would, but there’s no need. Forget the scare stories you may or may not have heard - just do it. I think everyone in the whole country should do it! Just study and practice as far as you can what we’ve all been taught by Woodlore, and as long as you take initiative and stay positive, you’ll be fine.  

  Barry Johnston

  4 of 11

  Having just completed the Journeyman Course this October 2017 I will write my review whilst it is still fresh in my memory and whilst not giving too much away for anyone wanting to think about doing the course. Think long and hard as this is not a jolly and not for the feint hearted. It stretched me beyond where I thought it would. Ray M gave us a pep talk on the first full day and started with, “You know absolutely nothing and this will be the start of your journey.” I sort of got what he was saying but fully understood what he was saying by the end of the week. You have to be 100% on top of your game in every aspect because when you start the week you may start at 100% but that will very quickly disappear and you might be operating at 60% by the end of the week. That’s if you're at 100%. Not one of us was 100% at the top of our game. Everyone found it hard. There were times where you felt good and times in the week where even the little things were hard. You find out a lot about yourself and others. Patience is a virtue. Got on really well with the guys and one girl. We all had strengths to offer and where you might find some aspect hard, others were on hand to help. The main thing I learnt was one can have all kit and go into the woods and all you’ll be doing is playing at things Bushcraft but this Journeyman is the real deal. You have to be on top of your game. Would I do it again? No, because I would know what was coming. Has the course made me more determined to get up to that 100% in my own skill level, then yes. Absolutely. Loved the water challenge and the group work. Loved learning more on foraging from Nev, who was fantastic by the way, and learning by outcome. Low point for me was lack of sleep. I just did not sleep well. I was worried about the long drive back when we finished the course on the Saturday and found I had to take it slow on the way back. I would have taken the train there and back knowing what I know now. Maybe something to think about. Miss the group as it was without doubt the best group I have been with out of the other courses I have been on. Great bunch. Looking forward to getting out in my woods and putting into practice and extending what I have learnt. Instructors where very professional and incredibly knowledgeable. Well run and thank you guys. Still can’t believe I paid to go on it, but I did it and feel immensely proud that I finished it and completed all tasks. Go for it but know it will be tough and test you in every way possible and in other ways you never thought about. Have fun.  

  Andy T

  5 of 11

  Utterly surreal. Only afterwards, as the dust settles, do all the light bulbs really start to go on. I shall be digesting this for a long time, no doubt grinning as I do so, knowing what we are capable of and understanding what really matters in a survival situation, because we have been taken there. Sure, getting your jab stings a little, but the inoculation - just like the experience itself - will stay with you forever.  

  Steve, Kent

  6 of 11

  The furthest I have ever been out of my comfort zone - which means it was the most memorable experience I've had. Well worth doing. An experience to remember.  

  Lucy Rogers

  7 of 11

  Having attended several bushcraft courses over the years both with Woodlore and others, I decided I was looking for an experience beyond the standard learning but still with plenty of opportunity to absorb new skills. I had no doubt, having attended Woodlore courses previously, that experiencing the Woodlore Journeyman was a journey I wished to absorb and what an incredible journey it turned out to be. There is much anticipation as the week begins but I soon found myself flowing with the pace and thoroughly enjoying being back in the stunning Perthshire woods under the guidance of a fantastic team of instructors. The approach of the Journeyman and learning shifts so as to recognise and utilize your existing skill set, the learning continues but what you learn now becomes lessons from the mistakes you make just as in a true wilderness situation, but with the support of the brilliant Woodlore team at the perfect distance. As the week unfolds the journey is clearly one you take within yourself as well as your growing confidence in your physical skill set and your important role within your team. Moral is what you make it and with a good attitude the experience grows richer, your team binds and great friends are made. Instructor Keith commented at the beginning of the week saying the more you put in, the more you will get out, whilst true of all walks of life the experience I took away from having put the effort in became one of the richest experiences I have known, and one I know I shall reflect upon for a long time. Finding out about yourself and what you are capable of in adversity, learning to grow with your skill set , connecting with nature and making great like-minded friends and the added confidence to venture further into wilderness travel with the right mindset are just some of the things I took away from the Woodlore Journeyman this autumn. Thank you hugely to Dan, Keith, Rob, Claudia and Peter and all of the guys on the Journey with me that week for a most amazing and memorable time.  

  Alan Linee

  8 of 11

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

  Zena Hewett

  9 of 11

  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.  

  Martin James Pope

  10 of 11

  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!!!!  

  Marcus Richard Hackney