Hide Tanning –
TRANSFORMING DEERSKIN INTO buckskin

NEXT DATES SUMMER 2027

Join us for a lively 4 day camp to make buckskin from beautiful big red deer skins with an optional day of sewing your buckskin into a useful and beautiful item or clothing.

This course is designed to give you the skills to tan hides at home, so our set up is simple and easy to re-create.

Three people working outdoors near tents, wearing casual clothing, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

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More Info & Bookings

The process of making buckskin is a special one, you can expect to form a deep relationship with your deerskin over the 4 days you spend working with it and watching it transform.

These skins are large* and high quality and you will take away a gorgeous, flowing, buttery soft golden smoked hide. Using the age old method of brain tanning we will transform these skins into soft supple fabric that is suitable for clothing and bags.

Buckskin is an ancient fabric, made by the hands of indigenous people from all over the world, including the UK and western Europe.

Depending on the size of your finished skin, these hides will likely be big enough to make an item of clothing from.

We invite people to fully immerse in camp life - going with the rhythms of the day and the hides. We have a main fire and shelter which will be central to our time together.

There are flat places to camp amongst ancient trees. Bring a tent or tarp and enjoy sinking into nature. There is very little noise or light pollution.

What you will experience:

  • The tanning course will cover:

    • How to source, salt and store hides

    • Tanning infrastructure - the beam, softening equipment and tools

    • Scraping off hair and grain

    • Dressing skins (in this case with brains and oils)

    • Softening buckskin

    • Smoking, including how to set up your own smoker

  • It is scary cutting into your first buckskin and often people never do! So join us for a day of designing, pattern cutting and sewing your buckskin into something useable for your daily life.

    Make an item of clothing, for example a skirt or t-shirt, waistcoat or shorts. Bags are also great to make out of buckskin and we have lots of examples to get your inspiration flowing.

    The day will cover:

    • Pattern making for clothes or items

    • Sewing techniques

    • Making the best of your hide

    • Clothing making advice

    • Starting your own project

    You are unlikely to finish your idea in the day, however you will leave with your pieces cut, seams started and a clear

    • We start at 9am on the first day and finish at 4pm on the final day.

    • For people travelling a long distance you are welcome to arrive the night before to set up camp.

    • Bring your own camping equipment, tent or tarp and camp on flat spaces amongst ancient trees.

    • We invite you to leave screens behind where possible.

    • We serve a hearty dinner each day using local and organic ingredients, with wild/local meat and vegetarian options

    • Once your skin is finished there is the option to stay overnight and join us for the optional Sewing & Tailoring Day.

*You can also request a smaller skin, this will give you a smaller finished buckskin but will be less work.

Person holding a large piece of animal hide outdoors.
Group of three women outdoors examining a hide attached to a wooden pole, surrounded by greenery.

YOUR TeacherS

JESSIE WATSON BROWN AND JANE ROBERTSON

We have been teaching and tanning hides for 10 years.

COST

Buckskins tanning 4 days - £400
Sewing and tailoring day - £80

A non-refundable deposit of £150 will secure your place. Full payment will be required 6 weeks before.

Two women standing outdoors near a tree, with one holding a large hide. The scene is sunlit with green foliage in the background.

    • 1 hearty evening meal each day

    • Teas and coffees available all day

    • 1 Red Deer skin each

    • All materials and tools provided

    • Mini pop up hide tanning library

    • Main fire and shelter

    • Camping

    • Transport to and from the venue (though we can facilitate lift shares)

    • Lunch and snacks

    • Camping equipment

    • Before booking on, please note that this is 4 days of physical activity containing some repetitive movements such as scraping.

    • It can be long days so if you are unsure about the limits of your body then get in touch and we can talk about whether this will be suitable for you.

Book Your Place Here

  • "This course is a must. The setting is stunning....

    …the food is beautiful and the atmosphere is beyond warm and welcoming. It is incredible to watch the skill and passion these ladies devote to tanning - something I was delighted to absorb and hope very much to carry on. Would strongly recommend to anyone with any interest in tanning, or pretty much anyone!"

    – Participant, 2018

  • "In their ability to transmit a subtlety and depth of technique whilst all the while...

    …feeling like nothing more formal than friends at common work in the woods, Jessie and Jane possess a rare mastery of the teacher's art; enabling each their own discovery of the craft, never simply telling us what to do. However, more important even than the expert instruction, was the experience of camp life that was created and shared. This was not really a course, but rather a remedy for amnesia; a glimpse of who we were during the forgotten majority of our history, and who we could be again, if we are to do better by each other and by the earth."

    – Participant, 2016

  • "A highly recommended course. The course was delivered very professionally...

    …by two very knowledgeable and highly skilled tutors. The depth of their experience with tanning was evident by their ability to guide the whole group through all of the processes, from raw hides to a beautiful finished buckskin to take away. Their energetic and hands-on approach meant whatever concern or question you had was resolved quickly - it was an incredible learning process. Camping so close to the hide working area meant the whole experience was immersive and holistic. I can not praise the course enough."

    – Participant, 2017