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The Backwoods Bowyer
Spend three unforgettable days in The Witherslack Valley- Lake District, learning to craft your very own bow. This is an experience rooted in natural materials, inspired by ancient techniques and encouraged by untamed design –meaning we encourage you to experiment and innovate along the way.
This workshop honours both heritage and innovation, with every step drawing you closer to the materials, the craft, and the natural world. Most of our materials are sustainably sourced and local, making each finished arrow and bow a true reflection of the Lake District landscape - no two the same, each one as unique as a fingerprint.
The bow will be shaped from locally sourced wood- either a single piece or a hand-laminated stave blank, depending on what is available at the time.
We predominantly use Ash for our bows, a wood known for its strength, flexibility, and reliability in traditional bow making. Occasionally, if we're fortunate enough to come across the right piece of Yew wood- we may offer this as a separate, limited workshop experience.
Guided by skilled makers, you’ll carve, tiller, and tune your bow by hand, craft your own arrows from our traditionally coppiced woodland, custom make a bowstring from natural cordage or modern Dacron, and work with both stone age glue and modern fastening techniques giving you the freedom to choose your path.
Course Content
- Learning how to choose and prepare the right wood
-use simple hand tools to hand carve your bow from a roughly split stave or laminated blank
- Achieve an understanding of tillering a bow and how the wood reacts
- Learn the Flemmish Twist Bowstring!
-To make the right length string for your bow
- Preparing feathers and fletching arrow shafts
- Adding nocks and arrow-heads
- learning how to use local materials to make arrows from scratch
-learn how to finish the bow to prolong its use with after care
-If the conditions are right we will have a chance to try out our new handcrafted
things of beauty.
Is this the workshop for me?
This is a great introduction to many traditional methods used to create bows, arrows and cordage.
Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned maker, this is a rare chance to slow down, connect with the land, and walk away with your arrows and bow and bowstring that tells a story-
yours.
All tools and materials provided.
No experience needed.
