Bushmoot Vs Wilderness Gathering

[The_Taffinch]

Hi All,

The post title might suggest that I am being provocative, but actually I am just trying to weigh up the relative merits of each of these events as (before you suggest visiting both) I will only be able to attend one of them in 2015. I wonder if anyone who has had the good fortune to visit them both might provide a brief impression of the positives and differences of each of them?

I did manage to go to the Wilderness Gathering for a short time this year and enjoyed it immensely. There seemed be good number of traders there with a diverse range of tempting stuff for sale, plus there some excellent demos taking place. It had a good atmosphere and seemed to be well organised. I didn't camp overnight but I got the impression that there was limited woodland camping and that a lot of the field camping was a bit more festival than bushcraft if you know what I mean? My 2 1/2 year old had a whale of a time and is still going on about it so I may take him along to whichever of two events this year I attend. He will a bit older then and should be good for an overnight stay.

Cheers in advance,
Matt.

 

[Midnitehound]

They are two entirely different animals.

The WG is very commercial, you pay lots for classes, food, kit etc. I have been there three times (I only live 20mins away) and I must say I am no longer enthused about going back.

The Moot is something else entirely. It is community based not commercial. It is more of a holiday with socialising, sharing, working together. Skills, knowledge and resources are generally freely or very cheaply shared. Everyone mucks in to help each other like a big family sacrificing their time and effort to build together a two week relaxing haven from the World. If a choice has to be made between the WG and the Moot then the Moot wins by a massive margin IMHO.

 

[The_Taffinch]

Thanks Phil...that was the impression I got. I'm guessing that if someone had to 'dip in' just for a couple of nights, you would still recommend the Moot?

 

[crosslandkelly]

They are two entirely different animals.

The WG is very commercial, you pay lots for classes, food, kit etc. I have been there three times (I only live 20mins away) and I must say I am no longer enthused about going back.

The Moot is something else entirely. It is community based not commercial. It is more of a holiday with socialising, sharing, working together. Skills, knowledge and resources are generally freely or very cheaply shared. Everyone mucks in to help each other like a big family sacrificing their time and effort to build together a two week relaxing haven from the World. If a choice has to be made between the WG and the Moot then the Moot wins by a massive margin IMHO.

+ 1 to that.

 

[John Fenna]

They are two entirely different animals.

The WG is very commercial, you pay lots for classes, food, kit etc. I have been there three times (I only live 20mins away) and I must say I am no longer enthused about going back.

The Moot is something else entirely. It is community based not commercial. It is more of a holiday with socialising, sharing, working together. Skills, knowledge and resources are generally freely or very cheaply shared. Everyone mucks in to help each other like a big family sacrificing their time and effort to build together a two week relaxing haven from the World. If a choice has to be made between the WG and the Moot then the Moot wins by a massive margin IMHO.

He says it all!

 

[Countryman]

Chedder or Stilton?

I went to both this last year and both have their strengths.

Wilderness Gathering is more like a trade show with camping I agree.

Bushmoot is a weeks holiday with skills for parents and kids to learn.

Cracking bunch of people at both. Thoroughly enjoyed both.

May well stay at both next year! There aren't many other places you can do this stuff in such good company.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Roger]

They are two entirely different animals.

The WG is very commercial, you pay lots for classes, food, kit etc. I have been there three times (I only live 20mins away) and I must say I am no longer enthused about going back.

The Moot is something else entirely. It is community based not commercial. It is more of a holiday with socialising, sharing, working together. Skills, knowledge and resources are generally freely or very cheaply shared. Everyone mucks in to help each other like a big family sacrificing their time and effort to build together a two week relaxing haven from the World. If a choice has to be made between the WG and the Moot then the Moot wins by a massive margin IMHO.

Classes are free with a weekend ticket, only day visitors pay for classes.
Roger

 

[The_Taffinch]

Thanks guys...you have confirmed my impressions of the two events. My plan would be to stay over at the Moot for two or three nights, and maybe see if I can get away (financially and in terms of a day pass from SWMBO) with an afternoon at the Gathering. Hope to see some of you at one of these events!

+1 for the ideas of a Winter moot that is being considered by the way.

 

[Trojan]

I have not been to the bushmoot but have been to the WGx5. I am sure I would have a great time at the bushmoot but I know I always have a great time at the WG and look forward to next years. Great people and loads to do. You meet all sorts there from hardcore bushcrafters to Scouts! I would do both if you can.

 

[Swallow]

It is community based not commercial. It is more of a holiday with socialising, sharing, working together. Skills, knowledge and resources are generally freely or very cheaply shared. Everyone mucks in to help each other like a big family sacrificing their time and effort to build together a two week relaxing haven from the World.

Have you actually stayed overnight at the Wilderness Gathering?

.........because your tick list of Moot "differences" is surprisingly close to my list of reasons for going to the WG.

 

[FGYT]

as people say different which is good

Havent been to the Moot yet as its to close to the WG and i cant get a pass that long and its a long way for me to go just for a weekend (WG is 40mins away and Sarah has to take 2 days holiday from work so I can)

WG for day visitors is more a trade show but an interesting one focused well (not full of car dealers and Solar panel salesmen) .
it has grown massively in the last 5-6yrs from a handful of bushcraft schools with 1 table in 1 field

Weekend ticket is a different matter IMO stalls shut at 5pm and socialising begins I now a days camp-fire hop its difficult to balance seeing as many people as you can but spending enough time with each (first 2 years me and my mate only came out of the woods to get water spent the whole 3 days sat at our fire )

This year was the first Ive seen where they stopped people going in the woods because it was to crowded 2-3yrs back the bottom half of the Wood was empty this year I was surrounded just a feature of its popularity

if you can do both But for me them being so close makes that difficult

ATB

Duncan

 

[Forgeways]

So i have been to both and yes they are entirely different animals as described by many above.

The WG however would be a good choice if you were planning a big expedition and wanted to buy lots of the right gear but with plenty of advice and knowledge.

The Bushmoot is definately an out and out bushcraft family holiday and more, the camping location and environment are just superb and enable all forms of bushcraft right from very large woodland, rivers and dunes, down to beach and seaside. It is very community based and a place to really share knowledge, fun and life with all that attend. It was my first year last year and i found the whole experiance fantastic, made lots of new family friends for life, learnt masses of skills and tuned out of crazy life mode for a full two weeks. The family also love to go and when they have had too much green time for them, they can still go to the cinema etc just 10 minutes out of camp.

Two main joys are the freedom of knowledge sharing/quality of the free workshops, they are the real deal, the WG can tend to end up a bit talk and demonstration only orintated but the Moot is very hands on and the next great joy is the lack of commercialness to the whole event, but there is still heaps of quality stuff available to buy at either the briing and buy sale or the fab makers/traders day.

I will stop now, because my love for the Moot could go on awhile, but it would be great to see you there in 2015.

Best regards TT