Ancient Crafts & Primitive Technology’s Course £325

Train with purpose. Learn with depth. Rediscover the ancient skills and resourcefulness of our ancestors, learning to make and create entirely from what the natural world provides. Step into the woods ready to explore and practise techniques that have stood the test of time, developing practical skills grounded in understanding and respect for the materials around you.

This highly practical and engaging course is designed to immerse you in the core crafts and survival techniques of our ancestors. You’ll learn to work with natural materials such as flint, bone, cordage, hide, feathers, and resins, discovering how to find, process, and use them to create high-quality, functional craft projects. No modern conveniences — everything is made using traditional methods and ingenuity around the campfire.

Course Content

• Making effective atlatls

• Bone work

• Primitive glues

• Hide glues

• Bindings and whippings

• Sustainable harvesting

• Suitable species selection

• Natural cordage

• Bark work

• Feather selection

• Resins

Duration

The course runs over 4 days. On the first day, you will arrive at 5:00pm to set up your camp, followed by an informal evening talk introducing the course subjects. Full working days follow, concluding at 4:00pm on the final day.

Catering

This course is non-catered. Upon booking, you will receive detailed PDFs with further course information and advice on recommended food and kit.

Dates & Times

April 2026 – Places Available
Thu 23rd (arrive 5pm) – Fri 24th – Sat 25th – Sun 26th (finishes 4pm)

Workshop places are updated daily.

Camping & Facilities

Woodland camping is included at no extra cost. Camping is optional for this workshop, but essential if you are enrolled on the Level 4 qualification.

Course Size

Maximum 10 participants.

Location

Near Waldron, East Sussex.

Details

The course is delivered outdoors from our comfortable expedition-style camp and from our old barn classroom. Appropriate warm outdoor clothing is required — spark-resistant fabrics such as wool and canvas, with waterproofs or a poncho, gloves, and a change of boots are recommended.

This is an adult course only.

Upon booking, you will receive in-depth joining instructions in the form of PDFs, including a recommended kit list, directions, course information, and a medical form. Please check your email inbox and spam folder after booking, as attachments are sometimes filtered.

Social Media

A picture paints a thousand words. See images from our workshops here: Instagram

Reviews

Mark Ellison

"I had an absolutely brilliant weekend on the Ancient Crafts & Primitive Technology course. From the moment we arrived and sat around the fire, it felt like stepping back in time. The depth of knowledge Phil brings to the subjects is incredible, but what really stood out was how clearly and practically everything was explained.

Working with bone, resins, cordage and primitive glues gave me a completely new appreciation for how resourceful our ancestors had to be. Nothing felt rushed. Every process was broken down so you understood not just how to do it, but why it works.

Making and using tools built entirely from natural materials was a real highlight for me. There’s something deeply satisfying about creating something functional from the landscape around you. The balance of learning, hands-on practice, and time around the campfire made it a memorable and inspiring experience.

I came away with new skills, a deeper respect for traditional craft, and a real desire to continue exploring these techniques. I would highly recommend this course to anyone interested in traditional skills, bushcraft, or simply understanding how people truly lived from the land."

We feel reviews help others make informed decisions on our courses and products. Please see more genuine reviews from our clients on the review page.

Fees

The cost of this course is £325 per person. We will invoice the remaining £225 4–6 weeks prior to the course start date. The deposit guarantees your place.

Contact

For any further questions, please contact us directly.