I was recently lucky enough to catch Ray between one adventure and another and took the chance to ask a few questions about something deceptively simple: the compass case. What followed was a wide-ranging conversation, moving from craftsmanship and materials to navigation, reliability, and the quiet confidence that comes from understanding the land.
Here at Woodlore, we’re busy preparing to welcome everyone who has chosen to join us on a course this year. From the woods to the classroom, there’s a quiet sense of anticipation as we get ready to share skills, stories, and time outdoors with you.
“As the heat of the day finally loosens its grip, I gaze out across the golden grasslands and the deep green trees that define Namibia’s wild heart.”
So begins John’s reflection after returning from the Woodlore Tracking Safari in Namibia with Ray Mears in November 2025 and in those first few words, you can already feel it. The stillness. The space. The scale.
“The setting sun melts into amber, crimson and burnt orange. Thunderheads gather — dark, towering, magnificent, releasing shimmering columns of rain into the distant plains. The “little rains” arrive like a quiet blessing after the long, unforgiving summer. The land seems to exhale, grateful for the cool relief after the long, unforgiving summer.”
In his remarkable new book, The Pine Marten: The Secret Life of Martes martes, published by Pelagic Publishing, wildlife author Dan Bagur shares the story of a five-year field study dedicated to one of Britain and Ireland’s most elusive mammals.
We spoke to Dan about obsession, fieldcraft, conservation, and what pine martens can teach us about reconnecting with the wild.
Whether you’re new to bushcraft or a seasoned hand, one thing that remains essential, is your clothing and equipment. A good bushcraft outfit earns its keep. Knives, tools, tarps, racksacks, clothing, and shelters all carry the marks of time spent outdoors, but if they’re properly cared for, they will be ready when the next season begins.
Now is the ideal time to repair, maintain, and reset your gear, rather than discovering problems once you’re already back in the woods. The Woodlore team has put together a practical guide to help you bring your clothing and equipment back into dependable working order. After all, learning bushcraft isn’t just about using your kit, but knowing how to care for and repair it too.
Some landscapes don’t ask for your attention, they claim it. The Finnish winter is one of them.
Step inside the Arctic Circle with Ray Mears and Woodlore, and you’ll find yourself in a world where the cold is honest, the forest is ancient, and the sky feels close enough to touch. This is Sami country: a place shaped by reindeer trails, deep snow, and the quiet determination of those who travel through it. The journey is tough, beautiful, and deeply grounding. Equal parts training and transformation.
The fire crackles low against the dusk, its warmth battling a cool wind drifting through the gaps in the shelter. Muscles ache, hands are calloused, and yet there’s a quiet confidence among the group. These are not just students of bushcraft anymore. They are Journeymen.
But here’s the surprising truth: the Woodlore Journeyman Coursewas never designed as an elite summit of bushcraft training. When it was first conceived, it was intended simply as the next step beyond the fundamentals. Yet over time, it has gained a reputation—a test of grit, a course people whisper about with hesitation.
Live from the land – don’t just dream about it!
“I’m not sure I’m ready,” many say.
And yet readiness is not the point. The only requirement is completing theWoodloreFundamental Course. Some students take a gap to consolidate their skills; others step straight into Journeyman. Either way, what they discover is that the course isn’t about being fully prepared—it’s about finding out how much more capable you are than you ever imagined.
This exciting canoeing expedition in southern France takes place in the dramatic Ardèche Gorge,a place of awe-inspiring natural beauty, largely untouched since prehistoric times.
Join Ray Mears, along with expert local instructors Blue and Caroline, from Adventure Ardèche to learn to navigate the river, read the water, experience the adrenaline of Whitewater canoeing and enjoy a final descent of the gorge.
The Ray Mears & Woodlore Bushcraft Blog 