Bushcraft Courses
Join us at our stunning oak canopied private woodland set within the Harewood Estate of West Yorkshire. Our canopied basecamp and a wood fire ensure our clients keep dry and the kettle is always boiling so bring along your favourite brew.
All of our sessions are run with a maximum of 10 people, that way we can maintain a low presence in the forest in order to experience Nature up close. The small group sizes also ensure a high level of interaction with the instructor, we'll get plenty of one to one tuition through the workshops to develop your skills at your own pace.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, we're very open and there's no obligations.
Ancestral Skills Course - A weekend learning ancient crafts
Ancestral Skills Course - A weekend learning ancient crafts
During this weekend course with Billy Souter and Jamie Dakota students will spend their time in the woods exploring a range of primitive living skills. Gaining a basic understanding in a variety of topics including bone tool making, flint knapping, fibre craft, percussion fire lighting, primitive glues, net making, foraging, fishing equipment and traps.
We are excited to share this brand new course from Billy Souter, and we’re keen to show that the old ways are still as practical and enjoyable as they were thousands of years ago when they had their origins in the hands of our ancestors.
“Primitive Living Skills enable us to connect with those who came before and allow us a brief incite into how our ancestors lived and what it must have taken them to thrive in variable environments and create the tools they would have needed to get by. By using traditional methods, you encounter and experience problems that would have been common during a time when people lived off the land as part of nature. These skills are not only beneficial for those seeking to gain a more in-depth knowledge of bushcraft but also those who wish to slow down and become much more aware of their surroundings and what nature has to offer.” - Billy Souter
Understanding the potential and characteristics of bone will allow the students to create tools such as sewing needles and components for fishhooks. A simple range of tools will be used to create these items including flint blades, drills, pebbles, and abrasive stones. Students will gain understanding and experience knapping stone to create a variety of these tools including microlith blades and drill tips. These tools will be used by students throughout the course.
Students will work with a variety of natural fibres for specific purposes throughout the course. Sinew, plant, bast, root and hair fibres will be used, and their individual uses/preparation methods explored. Fibre will be a main focus when creating fishhooks, line and traps from various materials. The uses of thermoplastic glue using different materials depending on the desired application will be taught, having students make these glues they are used for a range of purposes including fixing projectile points to sealing bark containers.
One of the oldest methods of ignition used by our ancestors, Flint, and Iron Pyrite will be used by students to create an established fire. Students will learn how to create fire via percussion, using various natural tinder including fungi and charred material. Observational skills will be a key focus when it comes to walking through the landscape and knowing where you might find quality material for tinder bundles.
Students will learn how to make rectangular netting using the needle and gauge technique. Through guided practise, the steps towards making a net will be repeated and honed so that those attending leave with a solid base of knowledge regarding how to produce quality netting for a variety of purposes including trapping, fishing, containers and shelter.
WHAT’S COVERED:
Tool selection and safe use: we'll be providing all the tools and materials for the course. If you'd like to bring your own you're very welcome, but please respect our decision if we suggest you use our tools instead.
Material selection and processing
Applied fishing methods on a private water course and ponds, including crayfish trapping
Tree and Plant ID
Wild camping in the woods - with the opportunity to enjoy a night in a tribal group shelter made from the forest
Preparing and cooking meals outdoors, and the importance of maintaining a campfire
Including how to prepare fish for cooking over the fire. We endeavor to provide as ethically sourced meat as possible, sometimes this may mean we can’t provide game as we source it locally when available.
Natural cordage
Hook making
Net making
Crayfish trap making
Flint and bone tools
Primitive glues and thermoplastic resin
Sourcing Tinder, Creating Bundles & Flint/Pyrite Fire Lighting
DETAILS:
3pm Friday - 4.30pm Sunday
£300 per person
Please note the terms and conditions before you book
All the kit you make is taken home by each adult attending the course.
Small group size with a maximum of 8 guests to ensure we create a subtle atmosphere in the woods, and you get a very high interaction time with the instructor.
A full kit list is given out on booking, but you won't need much more than a sleeping bag and warm clothing.
This course is fully catered starting with a Lunch on the Friday, and finishing with lunch on Sunday. Please inform us of any dietary requirements, we're happy to cater to any needs.
Due the involved nature of this course, we don't feel its suitable to under 16 year olds (please ask if you have any questions)
Under 18's must be accompanied by a participating adult
Run in a beautiful private Woodland on the Harewood Estate near Harrogate. We'll send you exact directions with the booking pack.
Lead Instructor: Billy Souter Instructor: Jamie Dakota
REVIEWS
I just wanted to get in touch to say that I had an absolutely brilliant time on the primitive fishing course at the weekend. Billy really looked after us well and was so willing to share his knowledge and skill of all things primitive. His teaching style was a really nice mix of attentive and relaxed. I felt he was always there to ask for advice or to further explain and demonstrate things but he was also more than willing to allow us space to get immersed in our projects. In terms of course content and the amount Billy packed in, I would say it's definitely the best craft workshop I've done before and it was so satisfying to be fully immersed for a weekend and come away with items to be proud of. It has definitely given me a burst of enthusiasm and I really want to explore more skills now.
Ross 2023
