Train with purpose. Learn with depth. Master the art of bowmaking. Step into the woods and take your bowmaking to another level with our Level 4 qualification. This programme combines hands-on craftsmanship with in-depth theory, guiding you through every aspect of traditional bow design, construction, and performance. Explore the heritage of wooden bows, understand the science behind each draw, and leave with skills that endure a lifetime. Discover your path, deepen your knowledge, and step confidently into the world of the master bowyer.

About the Instructor

Phil Brooke is the chief Instructor at Woodcraft School in West Sussex, licensing and delivering a range of courses including the Applied Bushcraft Level 4, Bushcraft Advanced Award Level 3, Bushcraft Intermediate Award Level 2, and the Traditional Bowmaking Level 4. Phil brings decades of practical experience, combining craftsmanship with deep theoretical knowledge of traditional woodworking and bow design.

Course Content

• Selection of suitable felled timber for specific bow designs

• Processing and preparing timber from round wood

• Construction of a range of longbows of different designs using various timbers

• Repairs, design exploration, and techniques to improve efficiency

• Bows of varying draw weights, character bows, dealing with knots, twists, lumps, and bumps

• Arrow plates and horn nocks

• Arrow making and string making (non-assessed but covered in depth)

What It’s About

This course has been carefully planned to explore the variety and craftsmanship inherent in traditional bowmaking, tracing designs from Europe’s Mesolithic hunter-gatherers to medieval warbows, and into modern rediscoveries of materials and techniques. Students will make several longbows of different designs and specifications, culminating in a thorough understanding of the archery heritage across Northwest Europe.

Course Dates

To complete the qualification, students must attend a minimum of 5 workshops and 1 assessment over a 24-month period. Workshops include:

• Longbow Making Workshop

• Flatbow Making Workshop

• Traditional Arrow Making Workshop

• Medieval Arrow Forging Workshop (optional enrichment)

• Warbow Course

• Timber Conversion: Round Wood to Laminates & Self Bow Stave Production, Fault Finding & Fixing

• Assessment Weekend (annually, around the first weekend in March)

Booking Process

To book onto this programme please pay the deposit below. Please be aware modules frequently become fully booked so to avoid disapointment please let us know what you'd like us to book you onto upfront via an email. We can then book you on to those course's client list and invoice you closer to that specific workshop date in full, so you dont need to pay multiple deposits at once. You have 24 months to complete the course from the date of your first module.

Module dates here

Participants must be over 18 years of age.

Course Details

• Location: Near Hellingly, East Sussex

• Start Time: 8:30 am

• Completion Time: 4:00 pm

• Course Leader: Phil Brooke

• Course Size: Maximum 8 participants

• Cost: £2,205 (Deposit £100)

The programme is delivered in 3-day modules, totaling 18 full days in the field. Each module runs over 4 days, beginning with an arrival at 5:00 pm on the first day to set up your camp, followed by an informal evening talk introducing the module’s subjects. This is followed by full working days, concluding at 5:00 pm on the final day. Some project work is expected between sessions, and participants will require a basic set of hand tools for at-home work.

Certification: 

The programme is quality-assured by Woodcraft School and licensed through NCFE. Successful candidates receive a Certificate in Traditional Bowmaking Level 4, underscoring the programme’s depth, practical skill, and theoretical understanding.

Assessment

Assessment includes the production of bows of various designs and specifications, alongside a professional workbook detailing:

• Technical aspects of each bow

• Rationales for design choices

• Personal evaluations of each completed bow

Participants may also opt to complete the training element only, in which case a Certificate of Attendance is issued. Between sessions, students can typically produce 6–12 bows.

Camping & Facilities

• Woodland camping included at no extra cost

• Heated woodland workshop

• Kitchen facilities, showers, and toilets

• Optional local B&B/hotel accommodation

Catering: Four modules are catered; the last two are self-catered.

Reviews

Joe Garnett – Traditional Bowmaking Level 4 (2020)
"The Level 4 Traditional Bowmaking course is a fantastic insight into the world of the bowyer. Phil is excellent at passing on his depth and breadth of knowledge to help you produce a range of bows, to a quality you never thought possible. The hands-on nature, along with the emphasis on self-experimentation, gives you the confidence to practice what’s been taught between sessions. This course gives you everything you need to create bows that can be enjoyed for many years to come. Thank you, Phil!"

Jack Warren – Traditional Bowmaking Level 4 (2020)
"This course is perfect for anyone wanting to delve deeper than making a single bow. From felling timber to crafting multiple staves across several species, you’ll learn to make both functional and beautiful bows. You gain a deeper understanding of wood properties, experiment with efficiency, and master carpentry, tillering, fit, and finish. By the end, you’ll have the skills to continue making bows with confidence and insight. A challenging but deeply rewarding experience."

Stuart Barrett – Traditional Bowmaking Level 4 (2020)
"Having made a longbow on a Bushcraft Leadership course previously, I thought I was prepared. However, this Level 4 course is time-consuming and hard work. At times frustrating, the adage 'remove wood where the bow isn’t bending and leave it where it is' eventually makes sense. The satisfaction of making bows from start to finish, bending to full compass, is immense. Phil Brooke’s knowledge, craftsmanship, and personal interest in the subject are exceptional — and he won’t make the bows for you!"