Schools and young people
Forest School, enrichment days, SEN provision, home-education sessions and age-appropriate survival activities that build confidence, teamwork and curiosity.
Explore Forest SchoolSouth West Survival · Plymouth, Devon
Commando-led survival training in Devon
Practical survival, bushcraft and outdoor education led by Steven Kelly, a British TV survivalist who served for 23 years in 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery and founded South West Survival.
Hands-on training for schools, companies, families, private groups and people who want genuine outdoor capability—not staged survival theatre.
Real-world experienceMilitary fieldcraft, television survival and years of public instruction translated into safe, purposeful training.
23 years29 Commando Regiment RA
Devon basedPlymouth and the South West
All levelsBeginners, schools and teams
Field testedDiscovery, BBC and E4
The business behind the training
Real skills. Calm decisions. Lasting confidence.
South West Survival delivers survival training, bushcraft and outdoor education across Plymouth, Devon and the wider South West. Steven founded the company to turn hard-earned field experience into training that ordinary people can understand, practise and use.
Every programme has a clear outcome: stronger teamwork, better judgement, more confidence outdoors and the ability to stay useful when plans change. The pressure is controlled, the instruction is practical and the challenge always has a purpose.
Who we train
Outdoor training built around the group
Choose the route that matches your people and objectives. South West Survival can deliver one-off activity days, regular provision and tailored private programmes.
Corporate teams
Leadership, communication and decision-making under controlled pressure—delivered through practical field challenges instead of another meeting-room exercise.
View team experiencesPublic courses and families
Learn practical fire, shelter, navigation, campcraft and survival priorities in a welcoming environment designed for beginners and developing outdoors people.
Browse current coursesPrivate groups and events
Tailored survival days, birthday activities, navigation training and memorable outdoor experiences shaped around group size, ability and desired outcomes.
Plan a private day
Founder and lead instructor
Training led by lived experience
Steven Kelly, also known as Survival Ste, is a British TV survivalist who served for 23 years in 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery. He is also a survival instructor, podcast host and founder of South West Survival.
Across 23 years in 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, Steven trained and operated in jungle, desert, mountain and Arctic environments. His television record includes Discovery’s Naked and Afraid and Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse, E4’s Naked, Alone and Racing to Get Home and BBC One’s Bear Grylls: Wild Reckoning.
South West Survival is where that background becomes useful to schools, companies, families and the public. The goal is not to imitate the military or television—it is to develop capable people.
What people take away
More than lighting fires
The practical skills matter, but the deeper result is knowing how to think, communicate and act when comfort and certainty disappear.
Practical capabilityFire, shelter, water, navigation and campcraft taught through repetition and application.
Decision-makingPause, assess priorities and choose the next useful action instead of reacting blindly.
Team performanceClear roles, useful communication and leadership that changes with the situation.
Outdoor confidenceA realistic understanding of risk, ability and what good preparation looks like.
Ready for a bigger test?
Move from training into the expedition environment
Commando Expeditions takes the same focus on judgement, teamwork and practical capability into longer civilian challenges in South West England, Dartmoor and Arctic Sweden.
Common questions
Before you step outside
Clear answers before booking a South West Survival experience.
Do I need previous experience?
No. Sessions are adapted to the group, from complete beginners and families to experienced outdoor teams.
Where does the training take place?
South West Survival is based around Plymouth and Devon, using suitable outdoor locations selected for the activity and group.
Can schools and companies book private sessions?
Yes. School programmes, corporate team days and private group experiences can all be tailored to specific aims and ability levels.
What should I bring?
Requirements vary by activity and weather. A clear kit list and joining information are supplied before every booked session.
Build capability outdoors
Choose the right training for your people
Explore current South West Survival experiences or speak to the team about a school, corporate or private programme built around your group.