July 5, 2025 @ 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
£70
Whether you’re new to bushcraft or a veteran of the outdoors, let our experienced instructor guide you through key skills that our stone age ancestors would have relied upon; using flint-knapping to craft stone tools, crafting stone tools, shaping wood to create useful items such as a fish hook and harnessing the power of fire to make your own wooden bowl. This special course is all set against the backdrop of the historically themed Park In The Past, site of the UK’s only full-size reconstructed Roman fort.
This one-day course is an immersion into the skills of our ancient past which is perfect for both beginners and those who already enjoy the outdoor lifestyle but want to take their knowledge of bushcraft further. You will gain a deepened connection to nature whilst experiencing how bushcraft skills have shaped us into where we are today. You will be introduced to a range of practical skills whilst connecting with your inner hunter-gatherer. These skills can then be taken for continued practise in your own time. For those of us who are already practised in “modern day” bushcraft skills, this course is a chance to experience a world without metal tools and familiar kit. Wherever you are on your journey into bushcraft we aim to bring your confidence and skillset forward to the next level.
Your tutor for this special course is primitive skills expert Billy Souter;
“Students will gain knowledge and understanding regarding some of the fundamental skills that would have been regularly used by our ancestors. The procurement and working of flint allowed the creation of incredible tools and in many examples highly detailed art. You will learn basic knapping techniques which will be used to create either a functional flint tipped drill or an arrowhead. Before the proper understanding of clay as a material burn bowls were essential for boiling water, cooking food, containers and making boats. Another craft students will focus on is primitive fish hook making. Gain insight into various material selection and methods for creating hooks that would be suitable for both active and passive fishing. “
- Discover how our ancestors used natural materials for a range of tasks.
- Get to grips with flint-knapping.
- Craft a flint drill or arrowhead using your new skills.
- Use the ‘burning coal’ method to make your own wooden bowl.
- Craft a fishing hook made from hawthorn & spruce roots.
- Discover the many ways flint was crafted into essential tools for survival.
- Enjoy wild teas foraged from plants around you.
- Learn how to identify key tree & plant species that can aid us in bushcraft.
- See the natural world through the eyes of our ancestors.
- Improve your health & well-being by reconnecting with nature.
Your Tutor: Billy Souter
“My passion for Bushcraft came to life in my mid teens and quickly led me venturing down the path of primitive living skills.”
“Having found my passion and decided I wanted to expand my knowledge and pass these skills on to others. Since this time I have trained with various incredible teachers within this field and have used these skills in different environments including Scandinavia, Europe and North America.”
“In recent years I have developed and provided engaging Bushcraft sessions at an Outdoor Centre and Public workshop events for Children, SEN groups, Adults and training to forest school providers. I now also work as a Guest Instructor for established schools and individuals teaching Primitive Living Skills.”
You can view more of Billy’s excellent work via his facebook page.
Skills you will learn
Over the course of the programme you will learn a range of skills, including…
Your day will begin with arrival at our woodland basecamp set amongst trees and wildflowers. From here Billy will introduce you to how our ancestors viewed the landscape. Then it’s time to learn a key skill of our Stone Age ancestors; flint-knapping. You will select and shape your flint which will be a key component in crafting your own flint drill. Alternatively you can craft a flint pendant or edged tool. You will learn how to read the grain of the stone and practise pressure flaking to remove unwanted material, just as Otzi the Ice Man did over 5,000 years ago.
In the afternoon you will take a short foraging walk to identify and gather edible plants for wild teas, along with hawthorn from which to make a fish hook, as used by our ancestors.
We will then turn to crafting our very own wooden bowls to take home, selecting the right wood for the task and using hot coals to burn out the centre. You will be making a blowing straw from elder and you will discover how, when managed carefully, fire can be harnessed to shape wood into a variety of uses.
Billy will also be displaying a selection of his primitive skills crafts to inspire you including; natural containers, natural cordage, bone tools and stone edge tools.
Book now
This course costs £70 per person and is open to adult learners aged 16 years and over. You can read our Event Terms & Conditions here.
