Bushcraft Courses in North Wales
Bushcraft, Wilderness Skills and Survival courses
Bushcraft is about learning and developing skills that mean you can not only survive, but thrive in the natural environment. The mantra “knowledge weighs nothing” is central to what we practice, and the aims of the Original Outdoors Bushcraft courses are to help people develop and re-learn simple skills that were common knowledge to our ancestors, such as firelighting, building shelters and finding safe drinking water.
All of our courses are based on a structure teaching method – explain, demonstrate, practice, develop. Not everybody learns in the same way and our teaching practices reflect this.
Bushcraft is a term used to describe a way of living in the great outdoors using wilderness survival skills working in harmony with the natural environment and not in spite of it. It is commonly used to describe wilderness living skills in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The term was made popular by Mors Kochanski in the Northern Hemisphere and in the southern hemisphere by Les Hiddins (AKA The Bush Tucker Man). Here in the U.K. the term has become synonymous with the instructor, author and television presenter Ray Mears.
All of our courses include expert tuition from instructors with years of experience working and living in the outdoors. Many also have Mountain Rescue, Search and Rescue and military backgrounds. There are a range of courses available, but if you would like something specific then we can arrange a bespoke course for you, your friends or colleagues.
Bushcraft Basics
1-day Entry level taster course held in North Wales
This course is perfect for people who want to try some Bushcraft skills, find out what it is all about and to enjoy a day in the woods! It does not require huge levels of fitness, previous experience or lots of expensive kit. By the end of the day you will have learnt to light a fire without matches or lighter, build a simple shelter and how to find safe water.
The Woodlander Course
2- day Bushcraft skills course including an overnight stay in a woodland shelter
The Woodlander Course is for those who have grasped the basic core skills and want to take those skills beyond theory and putting them into practice. Participants will receive tuition in firelighting, shelter building, cordage, foraging, navigation and camp craft and sleep in shelters constructed during the course.
Participants will also receive a Frost Mora bushcraft knife and a Light My Fire firesteel as part of the course fee.
The Wilderness Living Course
A 5-day intensive bushcraft and wilderness skills course in North Wales
You can spend a lifetime learning, practicing and developing bushcraft and wilderness travel skills – but you will learn faster in the right environment with the right instructors. This course is slightly different to our other courses in that you must have some previous bushcraft experience in order to attend.
Participants will learn a wide variety of skills, and have the opportunity to put all of those skills into practice. Advanced skills such as trapping, tracking and long-term shelter building will be covered.
A Bushcraft Journey
A bushcraft journey across a woodland and mountain landscape, with a wild camp
We have been asked for this event several times over the years – a way for our customers to put the skills they have learnt into practice, but in a structured way with an instructor on hand.
The course is aimed at graduates of our Woodlander course or other bushcraft courses, but would be suitable for somebody comfortable with camping away from campsites already.
Instructor Bushcraft CPD Course
Continual Professional Development bushcraft course aimed at outdoor instructors
This course is something a little different – it is aimed at current or aspiring outdoor instructors from all fields. It is not a qualification, but it is designed to give participants an understanding of the core skills and ethics of bushcraft and wilderness skills, and of the teaching methodology we have found to work.
The course is led by bushcraft instructors from a variety of backgrounds.
Bespoke Bushcraft Training and Skills Events
Tailor-made bushcraft courses, activities and events
As well as our popular dedicated bushcraft courses, we also offer our expertise for custom events. These can either be at our site near Ruthin in North Wales or at a suitable venue chosen by you. It could be something as simple as a one-day party or experience course, a hen or stag weekend or a full private instructional course.