As adventures go, this one is quite rare, as you can now have the chance to take on the traditional craft of coracle-making over the first weekend of April during this Year of Adventure in Wales.
Coracles are small, lightweight boats long associated with Wales (derived from the Welsh word cwrwgl), but other forms are found as far afield as Vietnam and Tibet. The coracle Making Course employs traditional techniques under the tuition of willow expert Mick Petts, and takes place on Richard Lewis’ farm with beautiful views over Abergavenny and the Usk Valley.
Richard said: “Under Mick’s experienced guidance, you will be working with willow grown on the farm, and using traditional techniques to create your own skin boat with canvas cover, waterproofed ready to launch. We’ve been running Coracle courses here for 12 years, and they’ve become really popular. We just ask you to have enthusiasm and a healthy appetite - you can also stay at our bunkhouse or campsite.”
The coracle structure is oval in shape and made of a framework of split ash or interwoven willow rods. The outer layer was originally an animal skin such as horse or bullock hide, with a thin layer of tar to make it fully waterproof – today replaced by calico or canvas waterproofed with bitumen or natural latex.
Each of the main fishing rivers of Wales have their own unique design of Coracle tailored to the river conditions where it was built and intended to be used. Participants on the course even get the chance to design their own. Coracles are intended to be carried on the back by one person, leading to the Welsh saying: Llwyth dyn ei gorwgl — the load of a man is his coracle.
The course takes place over three days from April 1 at Middle Ninfa Farm, Llanellen, just outside Abergavenny.