• 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.

The Woodmaster Course is run in a private 90-acre woodland in North Wales, just outside the town of Ruthin in Denbighshire and on the edge of Clocaenog Forest. A mixture of coniferous and deciduous tree cover – plus a limestone gorge, river and access to clearings and meadows ensure that course participants feel that they get the very most out of their time with Original Outdoors. Full joining instructions, including kit list, meeting points and other information will be sent once bookings have been confirmed.

Full joining instructions and meeting points will be sent out by email after you book a place on the course.

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.