Bushcraft Weekend

An opportunity to learn the skills required to setup a wild camp while leaving as little impact on the environment as possible. We only work with a small group to reduce the impact on our woodland and to give better contact time with the people on it.

Course Description

Our aim with this course to deliver a selection of skills which will enable you to find a suitable location to set up a wild camp, enjoy your time in nature then leave with as little trace as possible. We need to look after the natural environment around us while reaping the benefits of being there.

Subjects Covered:

  • Natural surroundings: and interpreting them, the differences between woodlands, how they grow and respond to different weather conditions.

  • Tarp Shelter building: we will discuss safe siting of a shelter, using the woodland and available resources to best effect. A selection of knots which can be useful for setting up your tarp along with some really helpful tarp ‘hacks’.

  • Bushcraft tools: we will discuss the legal position of carrying tools such as saws, axes and knives then start to work with them to create a safe resourced base camp area. We will use them to process fire wood and create useful items for round camp.

  • Fire: we will look at how our ancestors made fire using the simplest of ‘tools’. Then we will move to a more modern version before looking at a selection of suitable tinder's/kindling and creating an appropriate sized campfire. Good management of a campfire for cooking is paramount and starts way before the fire is lit. From safe siting to sufficiently prepared fuel for what is to be cook, careful consideration is required.

  • Food: massively important to fuel all the activity around camp. As a group we will prepare the evening meal. This is normally a stew of some sort making sure we are catering for all dietary requirements along with some fresh baked bread all cooked over the campfire. Breakfast is again on the campfire and typically consists or a full English with either meat or veggie options again with fresh baked bread. We will be keeping the kettle going the whole time to ensure we stay hydrated.

  • Cordage: explore how our ancestors used natural materials to make cordage then get hands on making a length which you may find useful later in the day!

  • Natural navigation: we will look at how we can use the sun, moon, stars, landscape and nature to aid with direction finding.

  • Camp gadgets: looking at simple, no tool, methods of suspending pots over your fire.

  • Friction firelight: finally we will round of the day with a demonstration then hands on use of the fire bow (bow drill) to create an ember then fire.

Whats Included?

Saturday evening meal, Sunday breakfast, hot drinks through out & all tools for the course are supplied. You are welcome to bring your own sleeping kit but if you prefer a selection of tarps / hammocks or hike tents are available to rent for a nominal fee.

Suitable for:

This course is aimed at adults and accompanied mid / late teens.

Course Details

Location: Peak District

Course Length: Two Days, One Night

Start/End: 10:00-15:30

Max Course Size: 6

Price: £145

Course Dates

Click on the date to book your space:

  • I bought the bushcraft weekend for my partners 30th birthday and we had an amazing time.

    I bought the bushcraft weekend for my partners 30th birthday and we had an amazing time.

    Peter is so knowledgeable and we learnt so much! I agree with other reviews saying that the information was given in a really easy way to understand, and there were only 4 of us on the course and so Peter had time to help us all individually with things like the knots and setting up shelters, and helping when we got stuck on anything.

    As we did the course this month (Aug 2026), we did not cook over open fire, which was absolutely the correct choice and I would have felt uncomfortable had we done so, but we did learn to start fires in a very controlled way with no risk of spreading. The food we prepared was amazing, and we hope to recreate some of the meals we had, especially involving nettles!

    We would love to come back and do another course with him - couldn't recommend enough!

    Laura

  • Fantastic experience.

    Fantastic experience. I did the weekend bushcraft skills course.

    Peter was a great teacher and showed us a wide range of skills, including shelter construction, toolmaking, tool use, navigation (day and night), knots, fire making and more.

    It was a very small group so there was lots of time to ask questions, and an enjoyable evening chilling at camp in the evening. Highly recommended!

    Chris

  • We booked on this course as a Christmas present, after watching the programme 'alone'.

    We were impressed with Peter's knowledge and experience and delivery of the course. He was friendly and informative and patient with his methods of teaching, his passion for bushcraft is clear and topped the course off in a lovely rural setting!

    We learned lots of new skills which will be definitely be useful with our camping trips in the future, from tying different knots, methods of cordage, making camp, knife skills, making fires, learning about useful natural materials for surviving, prepping and cooking food and the importance of respecting the natural environment.

    We are thankful for the time and effort from Peter this weekend and will definitely be booking on another course in the future, don't think about booking this course, just book it you won't regret it!

    Its been a wholesome weekend embracing nature and enjoying being away from the TV and technology !

    Thanks again

    Jade & Rod

  • What a truly truly awesome experience.

    What a truly truly awesome experience, we knew we'd always wanted to do this so at the ripe old ages of 58 & 68 (so you're never to old) I trolled through loads of different sites for course contents and compared prices (let's be honest) and RedOakBushcrafts stood out for me.

    Peters enthusiasm and non stop insight and training was perfect, the topics and practical skills that we covered left me with so much more confidence, understanding and respect for nature.

    I thoroughly recommend this time in nature with Peter and RedOakBushcrafts.

    Paula, Weekend Course

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Person relaxing in a forest, with legs stretched out and shoes visible, while a kettle is hanging over a campfire surrounded by trees and rocks.