“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.
Christmas is officially creeping closer, the lights are twinkling, the mince pies are calling, and the gift list… well, it isn’t getting any shorter. But don’t worry, Woodlore has your back.
We love Winter camping and the challenges that can bring, Spring, on the other hand, is an open invitation to all, a call to step outside and embrace nature at its most vibrant! In this blog article, Ray and the Woodlore team want to bridge the gap to summer camping and help you get outside and enjoy the great outdoors for there is an electricity and anticipation in the air that is truly exciting to be part of!
“The question is not what we get out of nature, but what can we give back to nature.”
The Path of Grey Owl is a new film by Goh Iromoto, shot on location in Ontario, Canada. It follows Ray Mears through the wilderness of the Temagami region, as he explores the path of acclaimed author and conservationist Grey Owl (also known as Archibald Belaney). While reflecting on the landscape that shaped Grey Owl into the person that he was, Ray further delves into Grey Owl’s message about protecting our wilderness, and explains why this is still so relevant and important in our present day.
For more information on Grey Owl, please click here.
The following post was written by Woodlore’s Head of Operations, Dan Hume:
For most of my life I have been fascinated, amongst many other things, by fire, and from very early on in my childhood I set out on a path to learn the vast array of methods to conjure it. Needless to say, the journey ahead remains a long one, but I have had some great experiences along the way and I thought I might share my most recent with those that are interested. Continue reading →
The Ray Mears & Woodlore Bushcraft Blog 