Bushcraft & Woodland Activities

Experience the ancient art of bushcraft at Winton Castle and learn how our ancestors survived more than 500 years ago.

In the Middle Ages, fire-making and knife skills were essential for survival. These bushcraft skills were needed for making fires to cook food and keep warm, not to mention whittling bowls, spoons and spatulas.

Bring your team or group to Winton to try their hand at these fascinating bushcraft skills. You’ll be thoroughly entertained by our bushcraft expert.

On a Winton bushcraft experience, you’ll learn:

The old ways of making fire using steel and stone to generate sparks.
About natural tinder and how to use sparks to ignite ignite it.
About kindling and how to combine all the elements to create an open fire.
Some knife skills. 500 years ago everyone had some form of knife and would have known how to use them safely.
The knife grips and the different strokes required to turn sticks into tools and practical items.
Some of the skills needed to make a medieval arrow for you to keep and take home as a souvenir.
How to use an open fire to straighten your arrow shaft and process natural glue to fix your arrow heads. Then create your own Mesolithic arrow!

Up to 8 to 10 visitors are supervised by each of our bushcraft instructors.