Backwoodsman
The Backwoodsman course teaches students the core skills of fire, food, shelter and water. You will learn to light fire with different techniques, including the bow drill, and using natural tinders. We will walk through woodland identifying trees and plants that have food, medicinal and other uses. You will build and sleep in your own shelter, discuss wilderness safety and hygiene, apply natural navigational skills and learn how to source and purify water. Other topics covered include woodland crafts, wild foods, backwoods cookery, trapping and snaring, improvised tools, river crossings, distress signals and much more.
Course duration: Fri – Sun Number of students: 5 – 10 Dates: Click Below Cost: £195
Backwoodsman Course Dates
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Highlander
You will begin your course with a short hike, navigating through the wonderful Scottish landscape, foraging along the way. When you reach the loch, you will be tasked with building a raft to transport you along with your kit across to the base camp.
Once there, you will learn the skills & crafts of the ancients in a unique environment. It will be an action-packed 5 days where you will learn a wide range of skills, including:
Fire Craft • Wild game butchery & primitive cooking skills • Foraging • Coiled containers & bark craft • Fishing techniques & net making • Natural shelter construction • Raft building • Fish skin tanning • and much more…
Course duration: Fri – Tue Number of students: 5 – 10 Dates: Click Below Cost: £600
Highlander Course Dates
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Coracle Building
Course duration: Fri – Tue Number of students: 5 – 10 Dates: Click Below Cost: £550
Coracle Building Course Dates
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Fire Craft
Learn the secrets of modern & ancient fire craft on this 2 day course. On this course we look in depth at the many ways of creating fire: solar, chemical, electrical, percussion and friction (bow & hand drill). You will learn about the fire triangle and many different types of tinder, fire lays, maintenance and cooking techniques. We also look at many varieties of wood and the properties necessary to create fire by friction. Other aspects of fire craft will be discussed, including the need for fire and the fantastic benefits of fire. This course is self catered, we will supply a tarp or bring your own.
Course duration: Sat – Sun Number of students: 5 – 10 Dates: Click Below Cost: £150
Fire Craft Course Dates
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Beachcomber
The Beachcomber course is aimed at students with an interest in extending their wilderness living skills to the shoreline. Learn how to harvest the abundant seaweeds and shellfish available on our coastlines. You will manufacture hooks, line and sinkers from natural materials and fish with them. Other fishing techniques including netting, spearing, and trapping will be demonstrated and there is a group exercise to construct a basha canoe. Alternative methods of sourcing shelter, fire and water (including distillation) will be covered. Due to limited places this course is only available to students who have completed the Backwoodsman.
Course duration: Fri – Sun Number of students: 5 – 10 Dates: Click Below Cost: £265
Beachcomber Course Dates
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Buckskin Hide Tanning
During this weekend course, students will prepare a hide from start to finish. Working with our native Roe deer, students will learn the ancient skills of brain tanning. You will practice the processes of wet scraping, tanning and smoking a hide and at the end of the course you will be left with a soft, supple buckskin to take home. Please be aware that this is a physically demanding process. We believe in the values of our ancestors, who celebrated their catch and wasted nothing. Starting with the beast, you will observe how to remove the skin and prepare the meat which will be cooked in a hangi. Additionally, over the weekend you will make venison jerky and learn about preparation and uses of the various animal by-products, eg sinew, antler, bone and hooves.
Course duration: Fri – Sun Number of students: 5 Dates: Click Below Cost: £295
Buckskin Hide Tanning Course Dates
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Native Paths
Native Paths is a 5 day advanced course for students who have completed the Backwoodsman course. There is a day’s basic skills refresher, followed by a day learning more advanced techniques. Students then leave camp to put their wilderness living skills to the test! Independently from other students and instructors, you will spend the next three days building your shelter, creating fire and procuring food and water. Further classes are held over the three days and instructors are always on hand for advice and assistance. This is a physically and mentally demanding course that will put you to the test – it is not for the armchair enthusiast!
Course duration: Fri – Wed Number of students: 5 – 10 Dates: Click Below Cost: £495
Native Paths Course Dates
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Veidemann
Veidemann – man of the wilderness. This 7 day advanced course in the remote, wild and beautiful Telemark region of Norway aims to take students back to a simpler time, when man worked in harmony with nature and the environment to meet his needs. As fish is the main source of protein in this locality, the course has an emphasis on primitive fishing techniques, many of which are not possible to practice in the UK. After building our own elk-skin coracle, we will make and use fishing nets, hooks, line and fish traps and employ gill nets, harpoons and weirs to catch the abundant local wild trout. Other subjects taught are natural shelter building, fire-craft, foraging and wild food cooking – including making elk jerky! We also cover craft work with flint, reindeer skin & antler, birch bark and natural cordages among other subjects. This is a physically demanding course that requires a good level of fitness. Costs include all transfers, food and materials within Norway. Students arrange their own travel and insurance to Oslo city (inexpensive flights are available though Ryanair)
Course duration: Mon – Mon Number of students: 5-10 Dates: Click Below Cost: £800
Veidemann Course Dates
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Other Courses and Day Classes
We cater for corporate and team-building events, private groups, family days and offer day classes on specific topics to individuals or groups. We also offer bespoke courses for Forest School leaders. Please contact us to discuss your particular requirements.
Fire Craft . Fungi Foray . Camp Craft . Plant Lore . Trapping & Snaring . Shelter Building
Game Preparation . Backwoods Cooking . Natural Cordage . Bark Craft . Navigation
Course duration: One Day Number of students: 5-50 Dates: Click Below Cost: Varies
Other Courses and Day Classes - Dates
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Notes on Courses
All food will be provided by Backwoods or gathered by participants, (unless self-catering). This will vary according to season.
Participants for all courses must be over 16 years of age, unless accompanied by a responsible adult.
No alcohol or illegal drugs are allowed on any of the courses, students found to be using them will be asked to leave the course.
Backwoods reserve the right to change location and content of the course at any time.
Safety procedures regarding the use of cutting tools and fire will be discussed and demonstrated before students participate.
All courses involve some degree of exertion, so a reasonable level of fitness is required.
All courses are run from an expedition style camp.
Kit list and RV instructions will be sent out once we have received your booking form and payment.
Backwoods Survival School operate on a full-time basis. We hold full Public Liability Insurance.
Please read our terms and conditions
Please Call 0141 641 2055 or email at [email protected] to find out more
