Courses

[Dozza]

Hello all,

I am new and looking to get into all of this so considering going on a course. It think the weekend courses may be rather short - by the time you have camped and got sorted out it will be time to go home again - so I am looking for a 4-6 day course.

Based on price, duration and all I have found by Googling I have short-listed courses by:

www.wildwoodbushcraft
www.woodland-ways
www.woodsmoke

Anyone got any experience/recommendations to make? Woodland ways is the favourite at the moment based on price though looking at the map of where they are I don't see much woodland...

Thanks.

 

[DavidJT]

I have only attended courses with Woodlore (fantastic but not cheap), so can't comment on the above. But I've heard woodsmoke mentioned many times in a favorable way.
I'm sure someone on here will be able to give you another personal recommendation.
Hope you find something suitable.

 

[Shewie]

From your list I've only attended Woodsmokes' courses and can't recommend them highly enough. Definitely money well spent.

I think you might struggle to get on a week long course though if your only just starting out. The schools tend to require clients to attend a weekend course or have decent experience before allowing them on extended ones. I think it's more to do with getting the basics right and learning stuff like safe tool practises etc.

Saying that you might find something, send a few emails out and see what they say. i'd be honest about your exerience though as it would be a shame to not get the most of a course when you've paid £500+ for a week.

 

[jonajuna]

im on the 5 day trueways course later this month, less bushcraft more survival (although bushcraft is survival and vice versa). cheaper than all those above at £320

 

[Dozza]

Thanks for the input. It seems Woodsmoke has some sort of connection with this site as there is a forum for that listed at the bottom of the front page.

I did call the chap from Woodland Ways about having no experience and he said it should not be an issue and they can take allowance of that. They have a relatively small group size of 10 and instructor ratio of 1:3-4 which could help.

 

[DMadden]

I went on the Woodlander with woodsmoke last year and it was great! The instructors realy know their stuff! well worth the money i thought.
I doubt a lack of experience would be a problem for that course, because when i was there someone worked in IT and she said her self, that she knew nothing about the subject except from watching Mearsy on tv, and she managed perfectly fine.
I liked them so much i'm going back there this summer for the Native course.
Hope this helps, Dan

 

[TeeDee]

I hope the following helps , I was lucky enough to win a competiton prize last year from this forum to attend a course offered by Wilderness Survival Skill.

I posted a full review which can be found here;-

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45644&highlight=hunter+gatherer

I thought it was a good course and well run , as well as other who have been on courses with the same company.
One of the students with us had very little previous experience ( her own admission ) and she managed to cope extremely well so the learning curve was never intimidating.

I'm sure there a plenty of other schools that offer equally proficient courses , this just happens to be one i am aware of.

HTH

 

[Dozza]

Wow, that's some report! Very useful - thanks.