Our Activities, Typical Destinations and Format
Arrive, settle into base-camp, familarise with the local resources, exploring paths and open-access land.
Some foraging, fieldcraft and way-finding, maybe a campfire.
Companionship, conversation and contemplation.
Based in an off-grid woodland spot, at the northern tip of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, a brief walk from parking.
Our fire-circle and bushcraft skills area provides all we need for an outdoor-learning retreat.
Further afield, we choose simple farm-based camping facilities.
Bring your own outdoor gear and lunch, and enjoy stepping away from modern technology.
For overnight camps, also bring some camping equipment.
Talk to us if you need guidance about kit or to rent items.
→ Find more below about our course content, locations and structure.
→ See dates of our Upcoming Outings with scheduled activities and locations.
→ Check our essential Kit List and more inspiring activities along the way.
Outdoor Skills Covered...
Our scheduled, monthly sessions tend to follow a theme, to cover a selection of topics as practical activities.
Bespoke sessions can be arranged to provide focused learning on specific topics, or for broader introductory coverage throughout a planned day or weekend.
| (bark, leaves, shape, habitat, edibility, toxicity and folklore) | |
| (edibility and toxicity of green leaves around us) | |
| (different sources of ignition, tinder, and progression to a usable fire) | |
| (variation, handling, law, and maintenance) | |
| (siting, structure, and cover) | |
| (obtaining water, cleaning) | |
| (sourcing and making) | |
| (compass, maps and natural indicators) | |
| (greenwood carving and fixings for simple tools and structures, etc) | |
| (stews, breads and grills) |
Who's it for...
We offer courses for adults interested to spend more time outdoors, to learn more about ways to live amongst the natural environment.
The practical skills learned may be used for ongoing hobbies, actual wilderness survival, or for teaching and inspiring others.
There are also unquantifiable personal lessons learned during our courses, such as awareness using all senses and in self-control and patience.
Our courses therefore are valuable for individuals or groups with outdoor mindset, as team-building activities, executive leadership development, and for woodland mindfulness.
We can tailor courses to suit any need.
Themed Courses...
We focus courses around specific skills, but also allow flexibility to follow participants' interest.
Courses are tailored to run for half days, full days, or two days with camping, see our scheduled events.
Bespoke events can be arranged for organised groups, please contact us to discuss.
| SHORT COURSES (typically half day / 1 day): | |
| Fire + Forage | We'll teach you which plants you can eat, and which you should avoid, start a fire using primitive techniques, then prepare and enjoy a group meal. |
| Shelter + Sourcing | Learn to identify the trees around you and their differing properties and benefits, make a shelter, find and clean water, and survive! |
| Navigation Excursion | We lead you on a guided hike in semi-remote UK wilds; we re-introduce you to non-electronic navigation techniques, and give you a chance to put it to the test. Plant ID, water sourcing and other outdoor survival skills along the way. |
| Woodland Crafting | A variety of "levelling up" for your camp using natural organic resources. Make some cord from natural fibres, once you've learnt how to source and prepare the fibre; make wooden hand tools, usable for further woodcrafts or for food preparation; weaving in large or small scale, to create items and structures valuable for woodland life. |
| Fireside Session | Simply enjoy some down-time in the woodland with fireside snacks. Contribute to building the group campfire, prepare some dough or cook marshmallows on freshly harvested skewers. Discussion and demos of simple crafts + skills. |
| Bushcraft Introduction | Covering the basics for outdoor survival in a day, this introduction course gives you the basics of tree identification for resources, firelighting for cooking, bladed tool handling, natural shelters, preparing natural cordage. |
| Guided Hike | Let us guide you on a day or half-day hike, with interesting features on the way, plus some tree and plant ID. Most locations will include some ascents, with route options, and typically 5-10km. |
| LONGER COURSES (typically 2 day): | |
| Bushcraft Immersion | A practical introduction to all the above bushcraft topics, plus navigation and deeper coverage, with opportunity for all to develop personal skill. Typically held over 2 days, to be able to cover all topics adequately, with an off-grid camp and fireside meal. |
| Hillside Hike + Camp | A casual hillside or woodland walk (around 5-10km) with a blend of navigation, tree/plant ID and general conversation, followed by a some woodland crafting, fireside group-cook and off-grid camp. |
Example Activity Structure...
All timing and activities are flexible. We want you to enjoy and unwind, thinking of this as an off-grid retreat rather than a challenge.
Specific details for arrival, required kit and focus of the activities will vary (as advertised on our upcoming events page) and will be sent to you in advance.
Example full weekend (hillside hike + camp outing)overnight usually a farm-based camp with simple facilities.ARRIVAL
DAY 1 ACTIVITY - Local Hike and Skills
DAY 2 ACTIVITY - Refresh and Enjoy the Wild
|
Example day activity (woodland bushcraft)typically includes a simple campfire meal or snack.ARRIVAL
MORNING
AFTERNOON
|
Base Locations...
May Hill Woodlands
(nr Gloucester)
varied woodland, rich in quality tree-life and wildlife, accessible from the local village and nearby long-distance footpaths (Gloucesteshire Way, Wysis Way). we are lucky to have our bushcraft base here, from which we hold our fireside group-cook and dedicated outdoor skills sessions. the site has nearby parking within a short walk, and off-grid facilities, making it also good for overnight "wild" woodland camps.
Black Mountains
(nr Abergavenny)
a diverse set of valleys and ridges, with some areas of dense forest, sprawling moorland and hidden farms. this is an area shaped by ice-age glaciers and provides some deep twisting valleys, hiding a quieter set of paths and spaces for truely "getting away from it all". the remote tranquility of this area makes it particularly special, as well as the variety of woodland and moorland foraged treats - strawberries, bilberries, woody sorrel and hazelnuts.
Cotswold Vale
(North Gloucestershire to Herefordshire)
we like this as an alternative to the typical UK national parks, also being our home territory - there is a diversity of rocky edges, bubbling streams, distant views, woodland and farm-estates to enjoy. Ancient woodlands, plantations and coppices provide rich material for foraging, tree ID, shelter building and natural crafts like cord-making and greenwood carving, and there's a surprising amount of geocaches!
Further Afield:
Brecon Beacons
a range of peaks forming interlocking horseshoe ridges and with lower forests and waterways - great for small or long hikes. renowned for being rainy. plentiful wild food. stunning skylines.
Dartmoor
truely a region to escape into (or from, during the annual Prison Break challenge!). you can stay on well trodden paths or explore whichever direction you choose and will always find something of interest, whether it's a tor, leat or old quarry. wide moorland with areas of forest, occasional sea views and rockclimbs. on top of that, we love a good wide-game or "letterboxing" treasure hunt here too! a true outdoor playground.
Snowdonia
in a landscape that truely reflects the legends of the home of dragons, you will find tranquil sunny streams and harsh, clouded rock edges. the views are spectacular whether heading down a hidden valley or climbing one of the peaks around Yr Wyddfa. we can show you how the landscape was altered by industrial works and rediscover ancient pathways.