There aren’t many occasions when you would encourage your child to handle sharp knives, build fires or eat wild plants. But bushcraft courses not only get them outdoors and build confidence, but learning survival skills also helps to harness their rebellious instincts. We’ve tracked down the best courses for aspiring Ray Mears types.

TRUEWAYS SURVIVAL SCHOOL, NATIONWIDE
It is unlikely that you will ever have to survive in the wilds of Britain without food, warmth or shelter. Just in case, though, Trueways can teach you the skills you would need to do so. The company runs survival courses throughout the UK, covering everything from how to start a fire to how to build a shelter, set traps and collect water. You will also learn which plants are edible, so you can feast on leaves and berries, rather than witchetty grubs. Most people opt for a three-day course, which involves learning signalling and navigation. For anyone who doesn’t fancy spending the night snuggled up to a piece of moss, though, there are one-day lessons available.
Where Regular courses are held in several locations throughout the UK, including Surrey, North Yorkshire and the Scottish Borders.
Suitable for Age 7 plus, although under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost A one-day course costs £120, two days £160, three days £220, five days £320.
Contact 08700 493410, www.survival-school.org



NATURAL PATHWAYS, KENT
If you have ever had fantasies about living in a teepee and renaming yourself Running Wolf, there is little doubt that you will find Natural Pathways your “spiritual home”. The centre, just outside Canterbury, is dedicated to “providing you with an understanding of Mother Earth”, which means that there is a strong holistic element to the bushcraft skills taught here. The Spirit of the Earth course, spread over seven weekends in a year, aims to prepare you spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally for the wilds of Kent. If that sounds a little extreme, there are Family Wilderness Adventure days, with plenty of games and lessons in rudimentary survival skills.
Where Littlehall Pinetum, Kent.
Suitable for Adult courses are for age 17 upwards; family courses are suitable for age 6 upwards.
Cost Family Wilderness Adventure days costs £17 per person; £60 for a family of four. The Spirit of the Earth course costs £444.
Contact 01304 842045/842971, www.natural-pathways.co.uk



WOODLANDS SURVIVAL CRAFTS, DERBYSHIRE
The discovery of fire was so important to prehistoric man that for centuries it was worshipped like a god. The chances are that you will feel the same if you undertake a Friction Fire Lighting Course at Woodland Survival Crafts. The three-day programme involves heading out into Derbyshire’s Spring Wood, where you will learn both the “bow drill” and “hand drill” methods of starting fires. The centre also offers Family Bushcraft Weekends, with games, prizes and lessons in how to craft a pot-holder for cooking over a campfire. For the more advanced woodsman, there are five-day Woodland Survival Skills Courses, which are accredited with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.
Where Spring Wood, on the Derbyshire/ Leicestershire borders.
Suitable for Family Bushcraft Weekends cater for children aged 8 upwards. The Woodland Survival Skills Course is for age 14 plus.
Cost Family Bushcraft Weekends cost £95 for adults and £45 for children. The Woodland Survival Skills Course costs £365.
Contact 01283 730851, www.woodlandsurvivalcrafts.com



WOODLORE SCHOOL OF WILDERNESS BUSHCRAFT, SUSSEX
Woodlore is one of the oldest bushcraft centres in the UK and was established by Ray Mears in 1983. It offers family weekends, with activities such as making fire and tracking animals as part of the programme, as well as four-day courses for 11 to 16-year-olds, with plenty of instructors to ensure that it doesn’t turn all Lord of the Flies. If he is in the country, Mears will often drop in to the centre so you may get the chance to discuss survival skills with the master himself. For those who prefer more of a challenge, there are overseas trips to places such as the Arctic and the Ardèche.
Where East Sussex and Hampshire.
Suitable for Family courses are for age 5 and up, although under-17s must be accompanied by an adult. The two-day Introduction to Bushcraft course is for over-18s only.
Cost The four-day Junior Fundamental Bushcraft course costs £425. Family bushcraft weekends cost £195.
Contact 01580 819668, www.raymears.com



CAMBRIAN SURVIVAL, WALES
Held in the beautiful, rugged Cambrian mountains, this school offers a genuine wilderness survival experience for the intrepid explorer. Two and five-day courses cater to survival enthusiasts of all abilities. The Basic Course teaches fire-lighting, knife-sharpening, shelter- construction and primitive fishing methods. For serious back-to-nature types there are also master classes in trapping and hunting, and cooking whatever you’ve caught. The idea is that you learn realistic survival skills, so, for instance, you can expect to be taught imaginatively unlikely uses for condoms (as makeshift water carriers), alongside learning how to send distress signals (but not just because you’ve split your condom), as well as how to source medicinal plants.
Where Aberystwyth, Wales.
Suitable for Age 16 and up for adult courses; age 11 up for junior courses. All ages are welcome on the family course, although the school doesn’t recommend bringing children under 5.
Cost The two-day Basic Weekend Course costs £165. The Family Weekend course costs £130 per person.
Contact 01970 612969, www.cambriansurvival.co.uk







BACKWOODS SURVIVAL SCHOOL, SOUTH LANARKSHIRE
The aim at Backwoods is to teach you how to live and thrive in the natural environment. You won’t be smearing yourself in woad and invading England, though; modern-day Bravehearts can expect to learn how to build a shelter, light a fire and apply natural navigational skills in beautiful countryside. Three-day courses take place every weekend, and rudimentary cookery skills, how to cross a river and basic wilderness safety and hygiene are included. If you fancy extending your hunter-gatherer skills to the shoreline, there is an advanced Beachcomber course, which teaches beach-combing, crabbing and traditional fishing techniques, using bone and antler fish hooks.
Where Regular courses are held along the west coast of Scotland.
Suitable for Age 16-plus; children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost Weekend Backwoods courses cost £130 per person. You can also sign up for one-day courses, £45, in firecraft, trapping and snaring.
Contact 0141-641 2055, www.backwoodsurvival.co.uk

For more information on survival skills courses in the UK, visit www.bushcraftuk.com

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