FREQUENTLY asked questions

We’ll email you a kit list for your course after booking. For most day courses, suitable outdoor clothing, waterproofs and footwear with good grip are the main essentials. Overnight courses also require personal camping equipment, as listed in your booking information.

Don’t let uncertainty about kit put you off. Before buying something you’re unsure about, get in touch with the Howl team. We can help you work out what you need and discuss whether we have suitable equipment available to lend.

Absolutely. Many people come on their own, and you’ll be very welcome. Our courses are a great way to meet like-minded people, learn new skills and enjoy time outdoors in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

Whether you’re coaxing a fire into life, making something with your hands or putting the kettle on, there’s plenty to talk about and get involved with. You can join in at your own pace, with room for conversation and quieter moments alike.

If you’re wondering where to begin, explore our bushcraft courses in Yorkshire. There are options for a few hours outdoors, a full day of learning or a weekend beneath the trees.

Most of our woodland bushcraft courses take place in private woodland on the Harewood Estate, near Leeds and Harrogate in Yorkshire.

Our Harewood woodland venue page explains the setting, facilities and arrival arrangements. Exact meeting-point directions are sent with your booking information.

Some navigation courses, specialist activities and trips take place elsewhere. Always check the location on your chosen course page before booking accommodation or arranging travel.

Minimum ages vary by course, so please check the individual listing.

The Primary Bushcraft Course welcomes participants aged 12 and over, while the Woodland Weekend welcomes those aged 14 and over. On both courses, anyone under 18 must attend with a participating adult.

Dedicated youth programmes have their own age ranges and supervision arrangements.

There’s no blanket upper age limit for our woodland courses. If you’re unsure whether an activity will suit you or a young person, speak to us before booking.

Yes. Our Harewood venue has a composting toilet and a plumbed-in sink. It’s a simple woodland setup, with somewhere to sit and wash your hands.

You can read more about the facilities on our Harewood venue page.

If toilet access or a particular facility will affect your ability to attend comfortably, please contact us before booking so we can explain the arrangements. Facilities at other course and expedition locations vary.

Many of our courses welcome complete beginners. Bring your curiosity and a willingness to have a go; we’ll help you build the skills from there.

Our Primary Bushcraft Course is a good starting point for a day of practical learning. If you’d like to include a night in the woods, the Woodland Weekend also welcomes beginners.

Other courses and expeditions may require previous experience. Check the entry requirements on the individual page, or ask us to help you choose the right next step.

A bit of Yorkshire rain is part of woodland life. Our courses normally go ahead in wet weather, and at our Harewood basecamp we have overhead shelter, a fire and hot drinks to help keep everyone comfortable.

Learning to manage damp conditions can be useful, but safety comes first. If we judge the conditions unsafe, we may need to adapt, postpone or cancel the activity. We’ll explain any changes and what they mean for your booking.

Bring the clothing recommended in your kit list and see our booking terms and conditions for cancellation arrangements.

Please contact us as soon as you know you can’t attend, including your name, booking reference, course and date.

Refunds, transfers and cancellation charges depend on the terms applicable to your booking and how much notice you give. Read our terms and conditions for the details.

We know plans sometimes change. Giving us early notice helps us explain your options and work out what is possible.

For courses at Harewood, we use a private car park at Harewood Yard, with 24-hour security on site. Follow your booking directions to the Weardley entrance rather than the visitor entrance for Harewood House.

From the meeting point, we walk into the woodland together. You’ll need to carry your personal equipment, so pack it into something comfortable to carry.

Security cannot guarantee the safety of vehicles or belongings. Keep valuables with you and avoid leaving anything valuable on display.

See our venue and arrival information, and contact us before booking if walking distance or carrying equipment is a concern.

We provide the tools needed for our woodland courses, so you don’t need to buy your own beforehand.

If you already have tools you enjoy using, you’re welcome to bring them for the instructor to check. Suitability depends on the tool, its condition and the activity. If we ask you to use the equipment provided, please respect that decision.

Keep tools safely sheathed or packed away until the instructor invites you to use them. If you’re unsure whether a particular tool is appropriate, ask us before bringing it.

Deposit and instalment options are available for selected longer courses and expeditions. Check your chosen course or trip page for the payment arrangements and balance deadlines.

For other courses, payment in full is normally required at booking. If spreading the cost would help you take part, get in touch before booking and we’ll discuss what may be possible.

We know an experience can sit on the wish list for a long time. You’re welcome to have a straightforward conversation with us about making it happen.

Ticks can occur in woodland and long grass, so it’s sensible to take precautions. Cover exposed skin where practical, use a suitable insect repellent and check your skin and clothing regularly, including after you get home. We don't often see ticks at the Harewood woodland, so we wouldn't let it worry us.

Let your instructor know if you find an attached tick during the course. It should be removed promptly and correctly using fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool.

If you develop a spreading circular or oval rash, or flu-like symptoms after a possible tick exposure, seek an urgent GP appointment or advice from NHS 111 and mention your time outdoors.

Read the NHS guidance on tick bites and Lyme disease for prevention, removal and symptoms.

Absolutely. A day learning in the woods makes a lovely gift for someone who enjoys getting outdoors, making things or trying something new.

We offer gift vouchers, and selected courses also have a course-specific gift option. Check the purchase details for what’s included, how to redeem it and the expiry date.

Explore our bushcraft courses and woodland workshops for ideas. If you’d like help choosing, tell us a little about the person you’re buying for and we’ll point you towards a suitable experience.

Pet dogs can’t attend our woodland courses. We work around fires and tools, share the estate with other users including horse riders, and want to minimise disturbance to wildlife.

If you use an assistance dog, please contact us before booking so we can discuss access, the activities and any arrangements needed.

Food arrangements depend on the course. The Primary Bushcraft Course includes lunch, and the Woodland Weekend is fully catered. Check your chosen listing for exactly what’s included.

We can accommodate a range of dietary requirements, including vegetarian and vegan meals. Tell us in advance, and discuss allergies or complex requirements before booking so we can confirm what we can provide.

Some courses include preparing fish or game for cooking. If you’d prefer not to take part in that element, let us know and we can discuss an alternative activity. Specialist food and hunting courses have their own content, explained on their pages.

For many of our woodland courses, a general level of fitness is enough. Activities can involve walking on uneven ground, carrying your equipment, collecting firewood and using hand tools. The demands vary between a short workshop, an overnight course and a journey-based programme.

You don’t need to arrive feeling like an athlete. If you have a mobility requirement, health consideration or concern about a particular activity, please speak to us before booking.

Our Harewood venue page describes the setting. We can talk you through the terrain and your chosen course so you can make an informed decision.

For our standard Harewood woodland courses, your instructor will meet you at the meeting point in your booking information and lead the group into the woods.

Bring your rucksack and the personal items you’ll need for the session. Once at camp, we’ll introduce everyone, explain the facilities and safety arrangements, and talk through what’s planned before beginning the first activity.

There’s time to ask questions and settle in. Nobody expects you to arrive knowing the routine.

Check our venue and directions page before travelling, alongside your course-specific booking instructions.

Yes. Women regularly join our courses and expeditions independently, and creating a welcoming, respectful atmosphere matters to us.

You’ll find a teaching approach that encourages questions, gives people room to learn and values what everyone brings to the group. Coming on your own is a perfectly ordinary way to join Howl, whether you’re joining a day course, an overnight experience or our Wild Roots course.

The Primary Bushcraft Course includes reviews from women who have attended. You’re also very welcome to speak with us before booking about group arrangements, sleeping setups or anything that would help you feel prepared.

The main differences are how long you spend in the woods and how you put the skills into practice.

Our Primary Bushcraft Course is a one-day introduction to essential skills, ideal for building a foundation without staying overnight.

The Woodland Weekend gives you two days and one night to establish camp, cook outdoors and spend more time practising with your instructor.

The Itinerant Bushcraft Course focuses on journeying skills: travelling, making camp and applying bushcraft as you move through the landscape.

You don’t have to complete all three in order. Choose the experience that interests you, check its entry requirements and ask us if you’d like help deciding.

Bushcraft brings together the practical skills and understanding that help you feel more at home outdoors.

Depending on the course, you might learn to light a fire with natural materials, pitch a tarp, use a knife and saw safely, prepare food over a campfire, recognise useful trees or make something from woodland materials.

We want you to understand why a technique works, practise it yourself and know when you might use it again. That could mean a more comfortable family camping trip, a better setup for a walking holiday or the confidence to plan a longer adventure.

Explore our bushcraft courses and specialist workshops to see what each programme covers.

Yes. Our Woodland Weekend welcomes beginners, including people taking their first steps into woodland camping.

You’ll learn to establish a tarp camp and spend the night in the woods as part of an instructed course. We’ll send a kit list beforehand so you can prepare suitable sleeping equipment and clothing.

If the sleeping arrangements are the bit you’re unsure about, tell us. We can explain what to expect and help you prepare before you arrive. There’s something rather lovely about waking beneath the trees, especially when you’ve helped create the camp around you.

You can travel to Harewood village by public transport, then continue on foot to our meeting point at Harewood Yard.

Our venue information describes an approximately one-mile walk from the Muddy Boots Café to the meeting point. There is a further woodland walk from the meeting point to basecamp, so allow time for both and consider the equipment you’ll be carrying.

Check current transport timetables against your course’s start and finish times. Follow the directions in your booking pack, and see our Harewood venue and arrival information before setting off.

If you’re uncertain about the route or timing, contact us before booking your travel.

Yes. We welcome enquiries for private groups, workplace team days and celebrations with friends.

Depending on what you have in mind, we can discuss practical bushcraft, firelighting, outdoor cooking or a relaxed woodland experience built around learning something together. A shared task and a kettle over the fire can make a welcome change from the usual meeting room.

Tell us your approximate group size, preferred dates and what you’d like people to get from the day. Include any access or dietary requirements so we can discuss a suitable programme.

Contact Howl about a private group experience.

Little and often is a good place to start. Practise a knot until your hands remember it, put up your tarp in different configurations or revisit the trees you learnt to recognise as the seasons change.

Our Knots and Tarps online series helps you revisit practical ropework and shelter setups between trips. You can also explore the Howl bushcraft blog for further ideas and explanations.

Choose somewhere suitable, get permission where needed and follow the safety guidance from your course, particularly when using tools or fire.

When you’re ready to build on what you’ve learnt, browse our bushcraft courses for your next step.