FAQ's
FREQUENTLY asked questions
If you have a question about us, chances are someone else may have asked us a similar thing. below are a series of answers to commonly asked questions, if you can't find what you're looking for please feel free to contact us via the link at the top right of the page.
What equipment do I need to bring?
A full kit list will be emailed to you when you book a course. In general you won't need anything that you don't have lying around the house, waterproof clothing and grippy footwear are the most important things. For overnight courses you'll also need some basic camping equipment too. Don't let a worry about gear stop you from taking part though, we're here to make nature as accessible as possible for you so if you need anything let us know and we'll do what we can to help you source what you need.
Do people come on their own?
Absolutely, I believe 80% of our clients come alone to the courses. Whilst we do have some pairs or small groups coming together for the most part it's independant individuals that come to the courses. What we do find is that there is often a lot that people have in common in choosing to come to one of our courses, whether it's for personal development or a reconnection with nature, most of our clients are likeminded and looking to get out of the city. We get a really even mix of genders overall too, just about 50/50 men and women averaged over the year.
Where are the courses held?
We currently have one main venue for our bushcraft courses. A vast Forestry Commission woodland in the north of Sheffield, with access to cliffs, heaths, a river, and mixed woodland.
Our navigation courses are held in the Peak District and our canoe trips take us all over Scotland.
What is the youngest/ can I bring a child to the course?
Due to the nature of our courses, only adults (16 years+) can attend our sessions; with the exception of our family courses which we set up specifically to give young people the chance to engage with nature at their level with the family. We have no upper age limit, provided you feel physically able to take part and have a positive mental attitude.
Are there toilets?
We use an expedition style toilet within the woods, essentially a covered trench which we stand over. We also have access to a self contained composting toilet at the carpark, which means you can go to the toilet in much the same way as you would at home. You'll also be welcome to go for a 'wild-wee' in some of the more sheltered areas in the wood.
Do i need any previous experience?
You don't need any prior experience at all to join our courses, our instruction is aimed at getting you where you want to be. If you've never camped out before we'll happily talk you through anything you like, and if you're an old hand looking for further development we'll challenge you in whichever field you're interested in. Our goal is to enhance your own personal learning journey, whether you're starting from scratch or have some experience already.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Our courses will go ahead in any weather, unless we deem it unsafe to be in the woods. We have a canopied basecamp to give guests a respite from the weather during the sessions, along with a fire and hot drinks. Difficult weather will make for a more challenging course, but the confidence you'll gain from having lit fire and camped out in those conditions will serve you well when you go forward on your own adventures. The UK is a fantastic place to hone your bushcraft skills as the volatile weather makes for excellent training conditions.
What do i do if i need to cancel my place?
To cancel a place please let us know as early as possible, depending on how much notice you give you maybe able to claim a partial refund. Please see our terms and conditions for details.
Is there somewhere to park my car, is it safe?
We have access to a gated, private car park for clients attending the course. It is set a short way off the main road into the woods. A public footpath runs along it. We cannot guarantee the safety of your car, and as such we advise you bring your valuables with you into the woods. Having said that we have never had any problems with cars being broken into. It is approx. 35 minute walk into the woods to the base camp, and you'll need to carry your equipment with you (you can make multiple trips).
CAN I BRING MY OWN KNIFE/SAW/AXE?
We provide all the tools for each course, so you won't need your own. However we understand if you have your own tools and would like to make use of them, and as such you are welcome to bring them along to the course. You will understand that if upon inspecting your tools the instructors asks you instead to use the ones provided, you'll need to respect that request. We do also sell tool which are suitable for our courses.
Can i book with a deposit?
Our more involved courses such as the weekend long ones and our expeditions allow you to book with just a deposit. Our other courses don't allow this by default, however we aim to be as accessible as possible to anyone wanting to come on a course and we'll do everything we can to make sure finances aren't a obstacle for you. Get in touch and we'll see what we can do for you.
I'm worried about ticks, should I be?
Ticks are an increasing concern to those going outdoors, and understandably so. Though we haven't yet had an incidence of tick bites on our courses it is always a possibility, we'll take you through what precautions you can take whilst outdoors during the sessions. The most important point would be to let us know if you have a been bitten, we can then advise you on the best course of action to take. If you have any concerns, please read the information in this link: HERE
Can i buy a place on a course as a gift?
Yes, absolutely you generous person you! We offer gift vouchers which can be redeemed against all our courses and products.
Can I bring my dog?
We can't allow dogs on the courses unfortunately, due mostly to the risk of fire and the impact a dog can have on our ability to track and spot wildlife. There are horse riders that also use the woods that we need to be concious of.
What will we be eating?
We cater for all diets, just let us know what you can/can't eat and we'll work with you to make sure you have something good to eat. Part of some of our courses involve wild food preparation, such as fish and rabbit. No animal will be killed during the courses, but you be taught how to prepare them for cooking over a fire. No part of any of our courses are compulsory though, if you don't want to take part in a particular activity we'll happily give you an alternative craft project to get stuck into.
Do i need to be physically fit?
During the activities you'll need to walk on uneven ground, sometimes covering a kilometre at a time. There is also a certain amount of exertion in carrying the kit you bring, along with firewood collection and sawing wood. The walk into our basecamp is 2.5km from the carpark. A general level of fitness is all thats required, if you have any concerns feel free to ask.
What should I expect when I arrive?
For our standard bushcraft courses : On Arrival you'll be greeted at the carpark by your instructor and guided on a 30-40 minute walk into the woods. You'll be invited to bring your rucksack and personal items with you, as we'll not be returning to the cars until the end of the course. Once at base camp we'll have a chat about the up coming sessions, and you'll be introduced to the location in which we'll be working. We then get stuck into the first workshop.
Do you have many solo women attending the courses and expeditions?
We’re very proud to say that yes, we have an excellent history of catering to a diverse client based. We are aware more and more that creating an environment in which people feel safe and welcome is hugely rewarding for out clients, and I’m happy to say this atmosphere is something we generate naturally at Howl. We are firm believers that there should be no barriers to an adventurous life, and that everyone should be welcome and respected in the outdoors.
If you check the testimonials on each course page you’ll see plenty from our female clients. If you have any concerns in this area before booking, do feel very welcome to contact us.