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 a professionally accredited Branch members), four assistants, and 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 varies, but has recently been Troutbeck Bridge, the Holker Hall Estate near Cartmel, and a farm between Orton and Tebay). We usually start at 9.30am and finish at about 4:00pm (finishing times can be quite variable), rebuilding a ‘real’ section of a collapsed 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

The weekend training course costs £100; an initial deposit on booking of £50, followed by the remainder [x] weeks prior to the course date.

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

Further information

For further information and to book a place, contact the course coordinator, Paul Cliffin, using the form below.

2024 dates

9-10 March Beginners’ Weekend 1
DSWA Crooklands Training Site (Saturday) and on a field wall near Orton (Sunday)
Co-ordinator: Paul Cliffin

11-12 May Beginners’ Weekend 2
DSWA Crooklands Training Site (Saturday) and on a field wall near Orton (Sunday)
Co-ordinator: Paul Cliffin

21-22 September Beginners’ Weekend 3
DSWA Crooklands Training Site (Saturday) and on a field wall near Orton (Sunday)
Co-ordinator: Paul Cliffin

12-13 October Beginners’ Weekend 4
DSWA Crooklands Training Site (Saturday) and on a field wall near Orton (Sunday)
Co-ordinator: Paul Cliffin

Availability

All 2024 courses are provisionally fully booked. Confirmed bookings only occur once the application forms and payment have been received and it is not unusual for at least one person to drop out of any course. If you are still interested in our beginners courses, please let me know so that I may add your name to the waiting list, to replace any potential drop-outs. “