Bushcraft Activities

Bushcrafting Events in Gower

• 1 day introduction to bush craft course
• Practical Woodsman course
• Wilderness Gourmet Course
• Castaway Adventure

1 day introduction to bush craft course
The 1 day introduction to Bushcraft course is the perfect first step on your journey into the world of Bushcraft. It has been designed to provide an introduction to the Tools, techniques and skills of Bushcraft. It is also a great course for those who would like to learn new skills but don’t yet feel ready to spend a night out in the open. The course starts at 9.30am and runs until 5pm. During this time you will learn how to safely use a Knife, Saw and Axe. How to light a fire without Matches, How to construct an emergency shelter, how to cook over a fire, how to identify plants for food and medicine, and many other skills.

A very enjoyable course that is available for anyone over the age of 8yrs. No previous Bushcraft experience required, although a moderate level of fitness will be required.

Subjects covered during this course may vary depending on seasonal changes however if there is a particular subject that you would like to know more about please feel free to ask your instructor. We are here to help.

We also offer a range of specialised 1 day courses such as the Fungi Forage, Fire lighting, Primitive and Modern Traps and Tracking techniques, Traditional Crafts such as Charcoal making and Wood Turning. Please contact us for group bookings on any of these courses.

Course includes.

Introduction to the tools and equipment of Bushcraft, including the safe handling of Axes, Knives, and Saws.

• The survival mind, learning how to think like a survivor.
• Fire lighting using Friction and other methods.
• Shelter building.
• Wild food forage and preparing wild foods.
• Wilderness cooking.
• Traps and Tracking.
• Signalling and Navigation.

The course costs Adults £80 concessions £60

2 day Practical Woodsman day course
The Practical Woodsman Course is designed for those with little or no previous Bushcraft experience.
The course will begin with an introduction to the safe use of Bushcraft Tools such as the Knife, Saw and Axe. We will then progress through a range of skills based on their priority to Wilderness Survival. The basic skills of Shelter Construction, Fire lighting, finding and preparing Food and Water, Natural Cordage, Wilderness Cooking, Coastal Foraging and many other skills are crammed into this extremely worthwhile course. This is an ideal prerequisite course for any of our expeditions.

Although course content will vary according to seasonal changes the practical woodsman course will cover/.

1. Friction Fire-lighting
2. The importance of shelter
3. Primitive and Modern Traps and tracking techniques
4. Wilderness Cooking
5. Identifying edible plants
6. Natural Cordage
7. The Tools of Bushcraft
8. and many other skills.

Price Adults £180 concessions £160. This price includes all food.

Wilderness Gourmet Course
This is a fantastic day out for all the family. We will be preparing a meal in the great outdoors, using a mixture of seasonably available wild foods as well as foods we will bring with us. All food will be cooked over wood fires and we will show you how to make the best use of the materials and ingredients available. An experienced Chef will be on hand to give advice and assistance with culinary matters.

The course costs Adults £80 concessions £60

Castaway Adventure
Have you ever wondered how you would manage if you were trapped in the wilderness? Would you know how to light a Fire without matches? Or find Food and Water if you were miles from the nearest supermarket?

Dryad is proud to offer the Gower Castaway Experience. This course has been designed as an exciting introduction to the world of Bushcraft. bushcraft is the art of making yourself comfortable in a wilderness environment using a combination of traditional skills and modern survival equipment.

Dryad has joined forces with Gower coast adventures, who will take you on an exhilarating high speed tour of the South Gower coast in their 315 horsepower Jet Boat called “Sea Serpent“. You will then be abandoned at a remote location and with the help of Dryad Bushcraft’s experienced instructors you will learn how to light a fire, build a shelter, Identify edible plants and much much more.

This course is the perfect way to experience the Gower peninsular, Britain’s first designated area of outstanding natural beauty.

2 day course - Adults £190 concessions £170

Maximum 12 participants per course.
Prior booking essential.

Customised courses also available.

Family Bushcraft camp
The enjoyment of learning how to live comfortably in a wilderness environment is something that the whole family can now enjoy. During 2005 we had a massive number of enquiries from families with young children. At the time we didn’t have any courses specifically designed for families, but from now on we will be offering several Wilderness weekend camps every year.

Safety is of course a priority for us, so we have developed a range of activities that can be enjoyed by everyone. Dad can learn how to use an Axe while the kids build a hoop shelter, and Mum can take a well earned break. The course will be based at Parc-le-Breos valley in the centre of Gower. This fantastic location is perfect for a whole range of activities from wilderness Bushcraft and nature walks, to chilling out on the Beach. The campsite is surrounded by deciduous woodland and is only 20 minutes walk from the Sea.

The weekend will include Nature Walks and Coastal Foraging, Shelter Building, Fire lighting and wilderness Cookery, Tracking,, willow craft and many other activities.

Accommodation is Camping and you are welcome to bring your own tents.

The course costs £180 for adults and £90 for under 16’s.

Prehistoric Gower experience
The enjoyment of learning how to live comfortably in a wilderness environment is something that the whole family can now enjoy. During 2005 we had a massive number of enquiries from families with young children. At the time we didn’t have any courses specifically designed for families, but for 2006 we will be offering several Wilderness weekend camps.

Safety is of course a priority for us, so we have developed a range of activities that can be enjoyed by everyone. Dad can learn how to use an Axe while the kids build a hoop shelter, and Mum can take a well earned break. The course will be based at Parc-le-Breos valley in the centre of Gower. This fantastic location is perfect for a whole range of activities from wilderness Bushcraft and nature walks, to chilling out on the Beach. The campsite is surrounded by deciduous woodland and is only 20 minutes walk from the Sea.
The weekend will include Nature Walks and Coastal Foraging, Shelter Building, Fire lighting and wilderness Cookery, Tracking,, willow craft and many other activities.

Accommodation is Camping and you are welcome to bring your own tents.

The course costs £150 for adults and £60 for under 16’s.

Expeditions
Monday 25thth September - Tuesday 3rd October. / Spirit of the Voyageur Canoe Expedition.

Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada

Friday 1st December - Friday 8th December / Winter Woodsman Bushmaster Course. Slovakia.

Maximum group size 10.

Please phone for prices and Course Details.

1 week Bushmaster Course
This course is only for those who already have some experience of Bushcraft. A reasonable level of physical fitness is required for this course as there will be some walking involved.

Spend 7 days learning how to make yourself comfortable in the Great outdoors. We will be building a variety of different shelters and navigating between several locations during this course. We will also be incorporating coastal foraging and traditional woodland crafts into this course.

Typically this course will cover Fire Lighting, Shelter Building, Navigation, Cooking using a variety of methods, Identifying wild Plants and Fungi, Basket making, Wood Carving, Making Stone Tools, Building Traps, Hunting Tools and Techniques, Using and maintaining a Knife Axe and Saw safely, Tracking, camouflage and concealment. Later in the year we will also be running a course dedicated to the production of Buckskin and other products from Deer Hide.

Course costs £480 for Adults and £300 for children and Concessions. Please phone for availability. Maximum Group size 12.

We will be using several locations for this course.

Course include

• Advanced shelter building (Various types)
• Making Stone tools
• Fire lighting
• Primitive cordage
• Traps, Tracking and Fishing

We will also be covering a wide range of other skills.