The Whittler

Knife Skills & Wood Carving Course

LOCATION

Aberfeldy

PLACES

2025 DATES

PRICE

£99

BOOK

HERE

Carving a wooden spoon with a bushcraft knife

Using a bushcraft knife to split a stick

Hand carving the back of a wooden camp spoon

Our secluded woodland camp is the perfect location to sit by the fire learn the key skills of knife use and wood carving. Always a favourite bushcraft skill, whittling spoons, camp gadgets and useful items from the forest around you is such a rewarding skill.

We'll start by looking at the many types of knives and specialist tools that are available and reduce this down to the essentials. From there we'll take a detailed look at safe knife techniques, teaching you all the fundamental skills of good knife work.

You will learn about the native woods around us and their different uses and carving properties; antibacterial woods, smooth grained woods, woods for beginners, rot-resistant woods, figured grains.

We'll spend the bulk of the day focussed on carving projects that will enable you to practice the skills of the wood carver as you lose track of time and surround yourself with wood chips!

Carving Course Syllabus Includes:

Knife selection and considerations
Specialist tools; pick knives, spoon knives, crooked knives
Tool sharpening masterclass
Wood choice, tree ID, carving properties
Safe knife cutting techniques
Carving projects; spoons, butter knives, camp gadgets
Embellishments; chip carving and kolrosing
Sanding, finishing and treating your finished projects.
** Included in the course fee is a fixed blade knife to keep**

Man pointing out the uniqie shape of a crooked bushcraft knife

Wood Carving Course Details

LOCATION

Aberfeldy

PLACES

2025 DATES

PRICE

£99

BOOK

HERE

This course is run from a spectacular ancient oak wood nestled by the banks of the River Tay close to Aberfeldy in Highland Perthshire, Scotland. The site is quiet and secluded with great camping spots and opportunities to swim in the river. The wood is full of wildlife and we are truly privileged to be able to run our courses from this special site.

Full joining instructions will be sent out in advance of the course.

This site is easily accessible from the A9 and we are only 1.5hrs from both Edinburgh and Glasgow. We are well served by train too, with a station at Dunkeld. We offer a complimentary train pick up service from Dunkeld station for up to 4 clients per course on a first come-first serve basis. There is also a bus service from Dunkeld train station which stops right at the meeting point in Grandtully village.

Travel and arrival - Detailed joining instructions will be sent out to you well in advance of the course commencing. This will include where to meet, parking arrangements and options for public transport.
Food and Drink - Tea, coffee, water and biscuits will be provided but PLEASE BRING A PACKED LUNCH WITH YOU.
Weather/conditions. We feel very at home in the outdoors and we will set up a camp that will provide adequate food and shelter to keep you comfortable in all weather. We are in Scotland however and so weather can be changeable and unpredictable! Please make sure you bring suitable clothing as per the kit list and contact us if you are at all unsure about what to bring. Courses will not be cancelled due to bad weather.
Age requirements - 16 - 18 must be accompanied by an adult, otherwise 18+.
Fitness/ability - There will be a walk of around 1.5km from the parking site to base camp and back to your car again in the evening so you should be fit enough to be able to do this. During the day we will not stray too far from base camp.
Payment - Payment in full before the workshop See our full Terms and Conditions.
Insurance - We have comprehensive liability insurance and risk assessments, but we recommend that you have a basic level of insurance which covers yourself and your possessions for adventurous activity - no outdoor activity is free from all risk.
First Aid/Medical - Your course leader will be trained to First Response Emergency Care level 4 (Ambulance ECA) and will carry a comprehensive first aid kit with the group at all times. Please bring with you plenty of any required personal medication.
Toilets - There is no toilet in the wood and since it is a day workshop we will not be setting one up. We will have toilet paper and a spade for anyone who really needs during the day.

What happens if I'm late for a course? Please keep us informed on your journey if you are going to be late. We can drive out to meet you at the meeting point later in the evening and bring you into camp.

Where do I park and is it safe? We have a private parking site close to the base camp. Cars are safe and away from built up areas. Full joining instruction will be sent out well in advance of the course.

Do you allow dogs? I'm afraid not. In our experience dogs are very hard to manage around our kitchen and food so unfortunately we have a no dog policy.

Is there phone signal and charging available? On some courses we will have a large powerbank which may be available for charging phones, but you should assume that you will need to bring your own powerbanks for keeping a phone charged. There is good signal at most of our locations.

Do most people come on their own? Yes they do, and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere and like-minded people. We also have many people that choose to come with a friend or family member who also wants to have an awesome time.

Do I need prior experience? Not at all. Some courses are aimed at a more advanced level but this is made clear in the course description. Most courses cater for all abilities including absolute beginners.

Are there any hazards or risks I should be aware of? There's no such thing as completely risk-free outdoor activities. Your course leader has 20 years of experience of bushcraft and running these types of courses so rest assured the risks have been carefully assessed and mitigated as best as is possible. You are in good hands and a full safety brief will be given for all activities. There are ticks present in the woods (like almost all UK woodlands which have a deer population) but you will receive a brief and the risks from Lyme disease are minimal.

Are there midges? Midges are present at our sites but the Aberfeldy area is blessed with a low midge population!! They can be a mild nuisance on still, muggy overcast days from mid-may to late august but are generally not bad and reserved for evenings and mornings.

Can you give advice on accommodation and the local area? Yes of course! We are fortunate to be based in Highland Perthshire, famed for its beauty, history and plethora of outdoor activities to enjoy. We are only happy to advice on other things to do while in the area.

What is your cancellation policy? Full terms and conditions are available here but basically;

You'll get a 100% refund if we cancel the course (almost never for weather, sometimes if there are not enough bookings but 8 weeks in advance of the course)
If you have to cancel then we will always try to refill the course place, and if we can we will refund you in full.
Full course fee is due 8 weeks before course
- If you cancel 4 - 8 weeks before the course you are liable for 50% of the course fee.
- If you cancel less than 4 weeks before the course then you are liable for 100% of the course fee
- This is due to the fact that courses involve a large amount of planning and expense in advance.
- Sometimes we can transfer you to another course if there is availability.