UK Bushcraft and Wilderness Articles

5 Sloe Recipes

5 Sloe Recipes

Sloes are the fruit of the Blackthorn, so can be found amongst British hedgerows, woodland and scrubland. The amount of sloes found is very dependant on the weather in the spring and summer before they are ripe. If the weather…

Beech Tree

Beech Tree

The Beech is a genus of deciduous trees in the Fagaceae family. A common sight amongst established woodland, hedgerows and parkland, especially through the South East of England. Beech trees prefer a slightly damp environment with well drained soil, but…

Natural Tinder

Natural Tinder

In the world of bushcraft, fire is an essential element. It provides warmth, light, a means of cooking, and the ability to purify water. One of the key skills to master in bushcraft is the art of starting a fire…

Mistletoe 

Mistletoe 

Mistletoe features in Druid, Greek and Norse mythology in varied connotations but kissing under the mistletoe links back to the plant being a symbol of fertility. Hanging the plant in your doorway was said to bring a fertile and prosperous…

Silver Birch

Silver Birch

The distinctive Silver Birch (Betula pendula) is not only a beautiful sight amongst the woodland, heath and plantations, but it has some fantastic bushcraft uses too. Its distinctive white/silver bark that gives it its name, and makes it easy to…

Sleeping bag care

Sleeping Bag Care

So you’ve finally found your perfect sleeping bag. You’ve had some of your best night’s sleep in it. It’s been to great places, you’ve carried it, you’ve thrown it into your hammock without a second thought. But if you don’t…

Sergiu nista

Foraging In Summer

We are now well and truly into the summer months and the vegetation all around us seems to be thriving. Amongst the woodland, hedgerows and incredible plant life on your adventures, there are edible delights all around, which makes foraging…

Making it comfy in your tent

Making It Comfy

We’ve all met people who will adamantly say “No way, you won’t get me sleeping outdoors.” Or people who think you’re mad, not only because you sleep outside, but that you actually enjoy it then you should be making it…

cooking on slate

Steak on a Slate

Food cooked on the campfire always tastes great. But it’s good to experiment. It’s good to try different foods and different ways of cooking them too, but still on the fire of course.  So this week I’ve been cooking steak…

Bumble bee

5 Signs of Spring

5 Signs of Spring Winter isn’t all bad. But its sparseness can leave us craving the burst of life and colour that spring brings.  Though spring officially start in March, signs of spring start to emerge from January into February…

Hawthorn

Hawthorn

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna & Crataegus laevigata) From the Rosaceae family, the native Hawthorn can be found in hedgerows, woodland and scrubland across the United Kingdom. Growing to 15 metres at maturity this thorny hedgerow tree is easily identifiable. Hawthorn thrives…

Hypothermia

Hypothermia

Hypothermia Hypothermia is classed as a medical emergency and occurs when the body loses heat faster then it can produce heat. It is obviously best to stay warm and aim to prevent hypothermia but none of us are immune, and…

coastal foraging

Coastal Foraging 

Coastal Foraging  To forage is to search widely for food and sustenance, but our search shouldn’t just be limited to the green environments of woodland and meadows, and being as we live on an island it makes great sense to…

Bushcraft axe

Basic Axe Care

Basic Axe Care The axe is an essential bit of kit, whether you’re heading out to the woods for the day or off on expedition. Having an axe with you is the difference between being able stay warm and cook…

Family bushcraft course

Family Bushcraft

Introducing Your Family To Bushcraft Daily family life can be hectic. Rushing to work, school runs, clubs, pressures from bosses and meeting family needs can leave you all stressed and frazzled. Fitting in quality family time, away from screens and…

Signs of spring

Signs of Spring

Signs of Spring We are all looking forward to spring more than ever before. Having had another lockdown, but this time through the darkest bleakest part of the year, the thought of longer warmer days and nature bursting into life…

Bushcraft coffee

Bushcraft Coffee

Bushcraft Coffee If there is one thing that makes campfire bushcraft coffee taste even better, it’s drinking it in the woods. Coffee made over the campfire just tastes so much better. Here at Wildway we have perfected the art of…

Discover the benefits of being outside on our family bushcraft course

Comfort Zone

10 Reasons To Step Out Of Our Comfort Zone Our comfort zone is cosy and safe, right? It gives us a sense of familiarity, safety and security. This is an adaptation to help keep us safe, but it’s also starting…

Christmas tree

Norway Spruce

Norway Spruce (Picea abies) The festive Norway Spruce, as the name may indicate, is a non-native species here in the UK. Introduced from Scandinavia in the 1800’s, this distinctive evergreen was originally bought over for forestry. Grown for its use…

The Mighty Oak

The Oak

The English Oak The English Oak (Qurcus Robus) is a common sight across the UK and has a strong link with our heritage. This large, long living tree is found mainly in the northern hemisphere. There are approximately 600 different…

Adventure

Expedition Snacks

Our Favourite Expedition Snacks Whether you are on a canoe expedition, on bike or on foot, if you are exerting yourself for longer periods, particularly if in extreme weather conditions, then your body will require extra nutritional support to keep…

autumn in the UK woods

Foraging in the UK

Foraging in the UKAn Introduction and Tips on Getting Started Foraging – a steep learning curve It is with good reason that those starting their bushcraft journey often find foraging one of the hardest skills to get to grips with….

Navigating at night in the UK

Navigating at Night

Navigating at Night Walking at night is a wonderful experience, particularly if there’s a full moon. The landscape takes on a very different context and what was once familiar becomes unknown again. To fully enjoy walking at night though you…

Fire lighting damp conditions

Making Charcoal

Making Charcoal Charcoal has a huge variety of uses, from purifying drinking water, building a fire, a dye, making your own ink and has even been used as medicine. You can also use it to dehydrate something in order to…

Osprey canoe the river spey

River Spey Wildlife

One of my favourite canoe journeys is the river Spey in Scotland. Wildway runs this canoe expedition every May Travelling from Loch Insh to Spey Bay on the East Coast, this five-day journey will provide ample opportunity to encounter some of…

friction fire course

Inspired Teacher

Inspired Teacher I didn’t believe Jon when he said I’d be lighting fires within an hour of learning the basics. John is an inspiration and his passion for Bushcraft is infectious! I’d highly recommend his courses to anyone wanting to…

bushcraft knife

A Big Thank you

A big thank you Just wanted to say huge thank you to John and the team for an excellent weekend in a stunning location. All the staff were very knowledgeable and above all passionate about all things bushcraft and survival….

shelter building on a weekend bushcraft course

Great Weekend

Great Weekend What an amazing weekend courtesy of John, Tom and Tim Wildway Bushcraft! So many new skills and experiences to take away, along with meeting some wonderful people. For those who are considering going on the course, I can’t…

Animal tracking

Animal tracking

Animal tracking is a fascinating way to study wildlife and a great bushcraft and survival skill. It can be done out on in your local woods or even on the pavement. Along with other signs, tracking can give a better…

Snow shelter

Winter bushcraft

Here at Wildway Bushcraft we are always keen to encourage everyone to go out and enjoy the great outdoors, whatever the time of year. But with winter on its way, you may think that it’s time to pack away your…

Autumn Foraging

We all have the capacity to feed ourselves from our natural environment – we’ve just lost track of how. Fallen leaves and bare hedgerows can suggest there’s nothing good to eat in the autumn landscape, but actually the autumn world…

Sharpen your bushcraft knife

UK Knife Law

It is important to know and understand the current laws on buying and carrying knives in the UK before venturing out anywhere with a knife, whatever its size. The information below is taken from www.gov.uk/find-out-if-i-can-buy-or-carry-a-knife: Knives: the laws on buying and…

Bushcraft fire

Bushcraft Vs Survival

What’s the difference? Many places offer bushcraft and survival skills courses. Is there a difference between these two and if so, why does it matter? The answer is quite simple. There is a pretty big difference. And it does matter. Survival Skills…

Natural Cordage

Natural Cordage

Natural cordage is both vital to survival skills and a satisfying and rewarding process in itself. For those wanting to develop their wilderness skills, the process of making natural cord is an essential step to the further construction of fishing…

Natural Cordage

DD Tarp Review

I often get asked about what kit I use when running bushcraft courses for Wildway, so here is a little review on the 3×3 DD Tarp. The guys at Wildway Bushcraft have been using the DD 3×3 Tarp for a…

Cooking over a fire

Foraging

Who doesn’t want to believe they could survive in the wild? Whether it’s a long term trip in the wilderness or just getting lost in the woods overnight, we’d like to think we have the skills to make a tough…

Feather Sticks

Feather Sticks

In the bushcraft world, fire is one of the main things people want to master. This is easier when its nice and dry and sunny but much more difficult when it is chucking it down with rain. There is a…