Some weekends do not need to be complicated.
No big expedition. No dramatic survival challenge. No camera crew. Just a van, a fire, a few useful bushcraft skills, good food, my wife, two good friends and a weekend outdoors at South West Survival.
That is exactly what this weekend was about.
We spent the weekend camping in the van, practising bushcraft skills, cooking over an open fire, drinking a few beers and enjoying the kind of simple outdoor living that most people need more of. It was not about pretending to be in a life-or-death situation. It was about using skills, switching off and getting back to the basics.
For me, that is where bushcraft is at its best.
South West Survival is more than just a training space. It is a place where outdoor skills are used properly.
This weekend was a good example of that. We were not trying to make everything look polished or overproduced. We were just out in the woods, using the camp, cooking on the fire and enjoying the setting.
There is a big difference between watching survival content online and actually spending time outdoors. You notice the small things when you are out there. How you set up your kit. Where the smoke goes. How the fire behaves. How long food takes to cook. How quickly the temperature changes when the sun drops.
Those are the details that build real outdoor confidence.
Bushcraft is not just about knowing how to light a fire or build a shelter. It is about becoming more comfortable outside. It is about slowing down, thinking clearly and making practical decisions with the kit and resources you have.
The van makes weekends like this simple.
You can arrive, set up quickly and have a solid base without overcomplicating the camp. For a short outdoor trip, van life works well because it gives you shelter, storage and flexibility while still keeping you close to the outdoors.
It is not wild survival, and it does not need to be. There is nothing wrong with comfort when the goal is to spend more time outside.
The mistake some people make is thinking outdoor living has to be extreme to have value. It does not.
A weekend in the van, parked up near the woods, cooking outside and spending time around the fire can do more for your head than another weekend sat indoors staring at screens.
The point is to get out, use your skills and build a stronger relationship with the outdoors.
Bushcraft gets ruined when people try to make it too clever.
At its core, bushcraft is practical. Fire. Shelter. Water. Food. Tools. Campcraft. Awareness. Routine.
You do not need to turn every weekend into a survival test. Sometimes the best way to improve is to use the basics repeatedly until they become second nature.
That might mean setting up a tarp properly. Managing a fire safely. Cooking over flame. Keeping your kit organised. Sharpening a knife. Making camp comfortable. Reading the weather. Understanding what works and what does not.
The more time you spend outside, the sharper those skills become.
This weekend was exactly that. A relaxed environment, but still full of useful practice. That is how most people should build outdoor competence — not by throwing themselves into chaos, but by spending regular time using real skills in real conditions.
Cooking over an open fire is one of the best parts of camp life.
There is something about fire cooking that changes the whole feel of a weekend. It slows everything down. You have to manage the heat, watch the food, move things around and pay attention. You are not just pressing a button and waiting for a machine to do the work.
Bacon and eggs cooked over a fire will always beat something rushed in a kitchen.
It is not just the food. It is the process. The smoke. The sound of the fire. The smell of the pan. People standing around talking while the food cooks. That is the bit people remember.
Campfire cooking brings people together because the fire naturally becomes the centre of the camp.
You do not need fancy meals to make it work. Good ingredients, a solid pan, decent fire control and patience are enough. That is one of the best lessons in outdoor cooking — keep it simple and do it well.
A lot of people talk about getting outdoors for the adventure. That is part of it. But the bigger value is often the connection.
Sitting around a fire with your wife and friends, eating food you have cooked outside and having a beer is hard to beat.
No noise. No rush. No overthinking. Just time outside with good people.
That kind of weekend matters because modern life is too cluttered. Most people are constantly busy, constantly distracted and constantly being pulled into screens. The outdoors cuts through that.
The fire gives people something to gather around. The food gives everyone a reason to stay there. The skills give the weekend purpose.
That is why I rate this kind of simple outdoor living so highly.
There is a time for serious survival training. There is a time for pressure, discomfort and testing yourself.
But bushcraft is not always about suffering.
Sometimes it is about living well outdoors. Cooking properly. Sleeping comfortably. Understanding your environment. Using tools well. Making camp work. Enjoying the process.
That is an important distinction.
If you only sell bushcraft as hardship, you put people off. The better message is this: bushcraft gives you more confidence, more independence and more enjoyment outdoors.
That is what I want people to understand through South West Survival.
You can learn proper skills and still enjoy yourself. You can take the outdoors seriously without making every trip miserable. You can respect the environment, use good fieldcraft and still have a laugh around the fire.
This weekend was not a survival challenge.
It was a reminder.
A reminder that outdoor skills are not just for television, expeditions or emergencies. They are for normal life too. They make weekends better. They make you more capable. They give you confidence. They help you switch off.
That is why I keep coming back to this stuff.
Whether it is bushcraft training, survival skills, fire lighting, outdoor cooking, navigation or just learning how to feel more comfortable outside, the value is the same.
You become harder to shake.
You become more useful.
You become less dependent on comfort.
And you start to realise that simple weekends outdoors are often the best ones.
I filmed the weekend for YouTube so you can see the camp, the fire cooking, the van setup and the relaxed side of life at South West Survival.
Watch the video: https://youtu.be/JtbqkLzuiz8
Van Life, Bushcraft & Campfire Cooking at South West Survival
If you enjoy bushcraft, survival skills, van life, campfire cooking and proper outdoor living, subscribe to the channel and follow along.
If you want to build real outdoor confidence, South West Survival runs practical bushcraft and survival training in Devon.
We cover skills such as fire lighting, shelter building, outdoor cooking, navigation, survival priorities, campcraft and practical field skills.
Whether you are a complete beginner, a family looking for an outdoor experience, a school, a group, or someone who wants to become more capable outside, South West Survival is built around practical, hands-on learning.
No nonsense. No fake survival drama. Just useful skills taught properly.
Find out more:
South West Survival
www.southwestsurvival.co.uk
Steven Kelly is a former British soldier, survival instructor and British survival TV personality. He is the founder of South West Survival and host of The Survival Debrief Podcast.
FAQ
What is a bushcraft weekend?
A bushcraft weekend is time spent outdoors practising practical skills such as fire lighting, shelter, campcraft, outdoor cooking, knife skills and basic survival awareness.
Can beginners learn bushcraft at South West Survival?
Yes. South West Survival teaches practical outdoor skills for beginners, families, schools, groups and people who want to become more confident outside.
Where is South West Survival based?
South West Survival is based in Devon, providing bushcraft and survival training in the South West.
