Course Description
Woodmaster Bushcraft Course
4 – day bushcraft and forest campcraft course held in North Wales
£395.00 per person
The Woodmaster Course is a more intensive bushcraft and wilderness skills course from Original Outdoors. It is a Level 2 EST Framework course in the Campcraft training stream.
This course delivers comprehensive training on the traditional bushcraft and wilderness skills of living in remote forested areas for extended periods.
The Woodmaster Course is suitable for those with some bushcraft and forest campcraft experience – if you are looking for an entry-level course then take a look at our L1 Woodcrafter Course.
The first two days of the Woodmaster Course are centred around developing more essential skills and the basics of living in an established camp. The second two days are focused on the skills for planning, siting, building and modifying a woodland camp in remote areas.
There are also sessions on supplementary skills, and techniques that allow participants to “know more and carry less”.
Please see below for full course content.
The course runs from 10:00am Day 1 to approximately 4:00pm Day 4.
Course Content
- Firelighting from basics to advanced techniques
- Building short term and long term shelters from natural materials
- Living in tents and bivvy bags and under tarps in all conditions
- Use of hammocks and ‘sleep systems’
- Equipment choice and care
- Rucksacks and carry systems
- Expedition skills and planning
- Cooking over an open fire
- Hot Smoking and preservation techniques
- Finding safe drinking water and managing resources
- Choosing and using a bushcraft knife, axe and saws safely (including sharpening)
- Use of cutting tools
- Forest campcraft and camp organisation
- Camp hygiene and sanitation
- Identification of useful plants
- Building traps, snares and hunting options
- Making tools, camp furniture and other items from natural materials
- Practical carving
- Basic tracking
- Making cordage from natural materials
- Knots and useful cordage techniques
- Emergency procedures
- How to plan a short overnight trip
Required Equipment
There is a basic required equipment list which includes waterproof clothing, good footwear and sleeping bags and mats. We will provide all specialist equipment – but students are welcome to bring their own equipment if they already have it, or want advice on choice and further use of that equipment.
Course Timings
The Woodmaster four-day bushcraft course normally runs from 10:00 a.m. on Day 1 to 4:00 p.m. Day 2. The course is paced to balance learning opportunities with personal development time, and in order to make the most of our time in the forest the working days can be quite long. However, breaks and rest periods are built into each day:
Day 1 – Start at 10:00am, finish at 8:00pm
Day 2 – Start at 7:30am, finish at 6:00pm
Day 3 – Start at 8:00am, finish at 8:00pm
Day 4 – Start at 8:00am, finish at 4:00pm
Food and Accommodation
The course is conducted entirely outdoors in an expedition-style camp. We have a covered teaching, cooking and social area with campfire and cooking equipment, plus basic but clean composting toilets.
Food is provided for some of the course and the instructor team will work with you to prepare and cook the meals over an open fire for that period. We also provide tea/coffee and other hot drinks for all participants. If you have any dietary requirements please let us know so we can accommodate them.
All participant equipment must be carried into or out of the forest either in a rucksack or similar.
Course Location
Full joining instructions and meeting points will be sent out by email after you book a place on the course.
FAQs
Can I bring a dog?
Unfortunately not on this course due to the extended time and the hazards of fire, knives and other objects.
How fit do I need to be?
We will be on our feet for most of the day but pausing often. If you have any questions about fitness then please get in touch.
