Best Bushcraft Courses in South West England

The South West has a character all its own for bushcraft. Dartmoor's open moorland — one of the few places in England with a legal right to wild camp — ancient Devon oakwoods, and Cornwall's rugged coastal landscape create learning environments you won't find anywhere else in the country.

Dartmoor

Dartmoor is the crown jewel of South West bushcraft. Open moorland, granite tors, ancient oakwood valleys, and — crucially — the right to wild camp on the open moor (restored by the Dartmoor right to camp legislation). It's bleak, beautiful, and the weather will absolutely test you.

Dartmoor Bushcraft & Survival

Running courses across Dartmoor and South Devon woodlands. Strong emphasis on practical skills adapted to the moor's unique environment.

What they offer:

• Day bushcraft courses
• Weekend survival weekends on the moor
• Wild camping and navigation courses
• Foraging walks
• Youth and family sessions

Typical prices: £90–£140 for day courses, £200–£300 for weekends

Best for: Anyone wanting to learn bushcraft in one of England's wildest landscapes.

Wildway Bushcraft

Based in Devon, running courses in both woodland and moorland settings. Known for thoughtful, nature-connected instruction that goes beyond pure survival skills.

What they offer:

• Weekend bushcraft fundamentals
• 5-day woodland living courses
• Specialist courses: tracking, wild food, tool-making
• Women-only courses
• Family bushcraft

Typical prices: £160–£250 for weekends, £400–£600 for week-long courses

Best for: Those wanting a holistic approach that combines skills with nature connection and awareness.

Bear Grylls Survival Academy

Running courses on Dartmoor among other UK locations. Higher production value, celebrity brand, but solid skills instruction from qualified instructors.

What they offer:

• 24-hour survival courses
• Island survival experiences
• Family adventure days

Typical prices: £200–£400 depending on course type

Best for: Gift experiences and those who want a recognisable brand. The instruction is sound, even if the branding is flashier than most bushcraft schools.

Devon Beyond Dartmoor

Devon's river valleys and ancient oakwoods provide sheltered woodland environments — a contrast to the exposed moor. Several providers operate in private woodlands, offering intimate, low-key instruction.

Devon Bushcraft

Small, personal operation in East Devon woodland. Excellent instructor-to-student ratios and a relaxed, thorough teaching style.

What they offer:

• Day courses covering fire, shelter, and foraging
• Weekend woodland camps
• One-to-one private tuition
• School and youth group sessions

Typical prices: £80–£120 for day courses, £180–£250 for weekends

Best for: Beginners wanting a personal, unhurried introduction.

Cornwall

Cornwall adds a coastal dimension to bushcraft. Rocky shores, Atlantic weather, and sheltered river valleys create a unique learning environment. Coastal foraging — seaweed, shellfish, coastal plants — is a particular strength.

Cornwall Bushcraft

Offering courses that combine traditional woodland bushcraft with coastal survival skills. The coastal element makes these courses distinctly different from inland providers.

What they offer:

• Day bushcraft courses in woodland
• Coastal survival and foraging days
• Weekend combined woodland/coastal courses
• Wild camping experiences

Typical prices: £90–£140 for day courses, £200–£300 for weekends

Best for: Those interested in coastal survival skills alongside traditional bushcraft.

The Dartmoor Advantage

Dartmoor deserves special mention because of wild camping rights. After your course, you can legally camp on the open moor (above the enclosed farmland boundary) and practise your skills for real. This is genuinely rare in England.

Rules for Dartmoor wild camping:

• Camp on the open moorland only (not enclosed farmland)
• Small tents, one or two nights maximum
• Leave no trace whatsoever
• No fires on the open moor (fire risk and damage to peat)
• Camp out of sight of roads and houses where possible

What South West Courses Cover

Day Course (Typical)

• Fire-starting: ferro rod, natural tinder, fire management
• Shelter: lean-to or tarp setup
• Knife skills: safe use, basic carving
• Foraging: seasonal plants and trees
• Water purification overview
• Campfire cooking

Weekend Course (Typical)

• Everything from the day course in more depth
• Overnight camp — either in a shelter you've built or under tarp
• Navigation with map and compass
• Extended foraging with wild food preparation
• Knots and cordage
• Tool maintenance
• Moorland vs woodland skills (Dartmoor courses)

What to Bring

• Waterproofs — the South West gets serious rainfall, especially Dartmoor
• Warm layers — moorland is exposed and windy even in summer
• Sturdy boots — Dartmoor's terrain is rough
• Gaiters — useful for boggy ground on the moor
• Sun protection — when the sun does come out, moorland offers no shade
• Sleeping bag and mat for overnight courses
• Water bottle, mug, bowl, spoon

Choosing Your Course

New to bushcraft? A day course in Devon woodland is a gentle, accessible introduction. Add a weekend if you want the overnight experience.

Want the full experience? A weekend on Dartmoor combines moorland exposure with woodland shelter — the variety builds versatile skills.

Interested in coastal skills? Cornwall's coastal bushcraft courses add a dimension you won't find inland.

Looking for a gift? Several providers offer gift vouchers, and a bushcraft day makes a brilliant present for the outdoorsy person who's hard to buy for.

Kit Worth Having

A ferro rod and a decent tarp let you keep practising Dartmoor bushcraft long after the course finishes.

The South West is one of the best regions in England for learning bushcraft. Dartmoor alone justifies the trip — wild, challenging, and with camping rights that let you keep practising long after your course ends.