A fun, informal and uplifting experience for all in the Peak District National Park. A uniquely superior course restoring a real dry stone wall in a stunning countryside setting.
Included is a delicious locally sourced lunch, hot tea and coffee, plus snacks, cake and fruit throughout the day, served in the barn. Vegetarian and vegan options available.
Pristine indoor toilet facilities with hot water in the main farmhouse and ample hard standing parking are within yards of the dry stone walls.
We are ideally located in the beautiful valley of Diggle, with picturesque walks in the hills and along canal sides, with its industrial heritage. Uppermill village (5 mins drive), has cafes, restaurants, wine bars, pubs, craft shops, boutiques, beauty and hair salons and a museum. We are located just 25 mins from Manchester by train and transport can be arranged.
Dry stone walling is a positive and relaxing experience that promotes mindfulness and boosts wellbeing in an inspirational, natural environment. So get out in the fresh air, be next to nature, and restore an important feature that defines the British landscape.
Delivered by highly qualified full time craftspeople and Dry Stone Walling Association accredited instructors, these events span over two days. They are open to all abilities and ages and involve the rebuilding of a dilapidated dry stone wall. Working at your own pace you will learn the basic principles of how to strip out, prepare and restore a traditional dry stone wall to its former glory, a truly exhilarating, tangible and rewarding experience.
Stand back at the end of the session, invigorated, and admire your work, a drystone wall that will last for hundreds of years! Join us afterwards in our traditional village pub, a few yards down the lane, for a celebratory drink.
Partners are welcome to observe and join us for lunch for a small charge.
Instructors are first aid trained and carry a first aid kit.
Courses are open to all age groups and abilities inclusively.
We have public liability insurance.
Under 18's must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 2 weeks before the course starts. Start dates may be amended on request.
On both days complimentary tea, coffee, locally sourced artisan lunch, fruit, cake and refreshments are included.
Ample hard standing parking, shelter in the barn, and pristine indoor toilets.
All tools and equipment will be provided.
Local accommodation details are on our website, visit Landmark Walling.
Sample Menu:
Saturday
Homemade hot carrot and parsnip soup with locally baked oven bottom muffin
Wallers Lunch - Locally farmed ham, vegetarian quiche, hand prepared farmhouse chutney, free-range egg and all the trimmings
Village bakery chocolate brownie/flapjack style cake
Sunday
Homemade hot leek and potato soup with locally baked oven bottom muffin
Wallers Lunch - Locally sourced pork pie, Crumbly Lancashire cheese, hand prepared farmhouse chutney, free-range egg and all the trimmings
Village bakery chocolate brownie/flapjack style cake
2 days (9:00am to 4:00pm)
This craft course provider has been awarded Gold status for receiving 10 or more 5 star ratings from previous students.
The Students' Choice award ensures that course providers get recognised for their efforts in the teaching and practice of UK craft.
They also allow tutors to gain valuable feedback on their courses and for new students to find the course that's right for them.
Great location, instruction and catering. We both really enjoyed this course and felt a real sense of satisfaction and achievement at the end. A wonderful weekend away shared with some lovely people and some new found skills to take home and build on (excuse the pun!). Thank you Carl and Sharon.
A very enjoyable weekend dry stone walling. Carl is a skilled tutor and he is very ably supported by Sharon in the background who made sure we were kept topped up with drinks and tasty food/snacks.
Fantastic opportunity to learn such a skilled craft. Carl is a great tutor. We really enjoyed what turned out to be quite a mindful experience - being totally absorbed in rebuilding a dry-stone wall over two days amongst wonderful scenery and with wonderful people meant that all of the stresses of work and family were not given a second thought!
The whole weekend is run very well - and Sharon's lovely home-made soups are welcome at lunchtime. In fact, all of the food, snacks and drinks are plentiful and tasty.
And we do recommend blowing the froth off a couple with Carl and Sharon at the end of the day at the nearby Diggle Hotel - to reflect upon your achievements and to continue the team-building vibe!
No hesitation in recommending this course! Go for it!
Well structured course , clear and supportive guidance and felt a real achievement at the end.
Really enjoyed it , Thankyou
Pretty well all original comments have been made in earlier reviews. I would echo all of them. The high quality of the whole experience, has obviously been maintained over a number of years and it was a wonderful birthday joy for me to be able to be part of it this weekend.
An outstanding weekend led by a fantastic team. Carl and Ray were very helpful and Sharon kept us all well fed and watered. Filled us with enthusiasm and can’t wait to get further experiences. Thank you
What a grand 2 days out! The team (Carl, Sharon & Ray) provided a brilliant introduction to drystone walling and a memorable experience. The knowledge and guidance provided by Carl & Ray has given me the confidence to go out and start repairing walls in my local area. I have already got a project lined up! The teaching methods and general approach made understanding the complexities of drystone walling easy to follow and put into practice. Great course and I would definitely recommend it!
Carl and Sharon were very accommodating in responding to our request for one waller and one spectator. Simon had a fabulous weekend of instruction and I enjoyed dipping in and out to alternately watch the progress and go for long walks in the beautiful countryside, pick up a few tips and enjoy Sharon's fabulous locally sourced lunch. A perfect arrangement for us. Simon gained a great deal of satisfaction from working with the rest of the team to dismantle a damaged section of wall and then to see the finished, rebuilt product on Sunday afternoon. It was a real sense of achievement and a big thanks to both Carl and Ray for their patient instruction.
An excellent introduction to dry stone walling. Carl is a patient and helpful instructor, who gives clear and helpful advice with humour and purpose, explaining in simple terms the rationale behind the advice. The lunch was very good and filling.
This was an excellent course. Carl patiently and professionally explained and demonstrated the various techniques of taking down a section of wall that was in disrepair, grading the stone, preparing the footings, selecting the stone and assembling a wall that will last a couple of hundred years. I found the whole experience fascinating. A 3D puzzle that was solved as a team. Sharon provided superb support making sure we were fed and watered. The food was excellent.
A truly great experience and highly rewarding. Met a really grand bunch of people and bonded really well over the two days in a beautiful setting. Carl and Sharon were went the extra yard to make us all feel welcome, and I cannot recommend the course highly enough.
The two day course exceeded expectations. Professional but fun and now have the confidence to tackle small walls and repairs myself. Attended with my husband and was a great couples experience. Carl and Sharon are perfect teachers and hosts.
Well what can I say but a bloody fantastic experience. From the minute the first email came through detailing everything and anything you needed to know, right up to being with a fabulous group in a setting of such beauty it takes your breath away. I can’t praise these guys enough for a really informative course. I had never done anything like this before but Carl and Daniel gave clear easy to follow instructions and made the 2 days a absolute joy. I would recommend this course, the setting, the care and attention to detail spot on.
A great course, just what I was looking for.
Learnt a lot, enjoyed the company, the food and the location. Also excellent teaching.
What an amazing opportunity! Great teachers, great views, great experience...and let's not forget the soup...
This was a fantastic 2 day course in Edale. With just a small group of eight people it was friendly and fun. In two days we achieved so much, deconstructing an existing piece of wall and rebuilding it from scratch. Carl was an excellent tutor letting everyone work at their own pace. It was wonderful to learn with such an expert craftsperson. We've built a wall which will stand for 200 years and it was a pleasure.
The wallers lunch was good too!
Although complete novices we successfully deconstructed a poor section of wall and rebuilt a "Stock Proof" beautiful section of wall to last the next 200 years. This illustrates what a "well oiled experience" Carl and Sharon's introduction to Dry Stone Walling is. A wonderful and educational week-end!
A thoroughly enjoyable two days spent in the very capable hands of Carl and Dan. Every aspect of the weekend was well planned and executed, with a beautiful dry stone wall to show for our efforts. Skills were generously shared and a great team spirit built up over regular mugs of hot tea and soup! Highly recommended.
I received the course as a surprise gift - and it turned out to be a really great surprise!
Carl and Daniel are extremely good teachers (and patient!) and are obviously very skilled at their craft. They took time to get to know everyone on the course and the result was everyone was made to feel part of the team - and the resulting banter was every bit as good as the refreshments.
Great weekend guys.
Thank you
An excellent course with lots of good fun and chat mixed with real hands-on experience. The lads are patient teachers and are great at instructing us "would be" novice wallers. The wild and unspoilt location is fantastic, but tea and lunch breaks are delivered with tablecloth / napkins and panache....yes even up the mountains!!!
Congratulation on the course, would love to return for another.
Do not hesitate to book this course. What an amazing 2 days of fun. I learned a lot from this and now feel confident to try my hand at building my own wall. Both Carl and Daniel are masters at the craft and brilliant teachers. The bonus that I was not expecting was the food! Locally sourced "walling" lunch and delicious home made soup. The presentation was beautiful and spotless.
Thanks again for a brilliant weekend - I am buzzing.