Beginner courses

The Cumbria Branch typically runs four informal weekend training courses for beginners each year that teach the basic principles and techniques of drystone walling.
These courses are typically led by two instructors (including the Branch training officer, or professionally accredited Branch members), assistants, and can accommodate up to 12 learners.

What to expect

Our courses are aimed at the complete novice level.
A general level of fitness is required due to handling and moving large foundation stones and regularly bending up and down to retrieve the walling stone from the floor.

We start at about 9.00am on the Saturday at Crooklands (near J36 of the M6) and include some basic theory for an hour. Then we move outside where we dismantle an existing training wall, before rebuilding it again until about 4.00pm.

The location for Sunday is in between Orton and Tebay. We usually start at 9.30am and finish at about 4:00pm (finishing times can be variable), rebuilding a ‘real’ section of a collapsed stock proof wall during the day to apply the knowledge learned during Saturday.

Equipment

The only equipment required is a stout pair of boots (compulsory), tough but thin gloves and appropriate clothing for our variable weather.

Cost (TBC Dec 2025)

The weekend training course costs £TBC paid via the booking site below.

(Link coming Dec 2025)

The cost for the weekend includes an invitation to join branch members at a members’ practice meeting.

Further information

To book a place on our courses please use the course booking site below (This will be available from Dec 2025)

2026 dates

21&22nd March Beginners’ Weekend 1
DSWA Crooklands Training Site (Saturday) and on a field wall near Orton (Sunday)
Co-ordinator: Paul Cliffin

9&10th May Beginners’ Weekend 2
DSWA Crooklands Training Site (Saturday) and on a field wall near Orton (Sunday)
Co-ordinator: Paul Cliffin

12&13th September Beginners’ Weekend 3
DSWA Crooklands Training Site (Saturday) and on a field wall near Orton (Sunday)
Co-ordinator: Paul Cliffin

17&18th October Beginners’ Weekend 4
DSWA Crooklands Training Site (Saturday) and on a field wall near Orton (Sunday)
Co-ordinator: Paul Cliffin

Confirmed bookings only occur once the application forms and payment have been made.

If you are still interested in our beginners courses and they are showing as full please contact Paul.cliffin@btinternet.com so he may add your name to the waiting list, to replace any potential cancellations