Paul Kirtley is a professional bushcraft instructor, wilderness guide, writer and author. He has been teaching bushcraft and wilderness skills professionally since 2003.
Paul founded Frontier Bushcraft in 2010, through which he and his team provide high-quality bushcraft and wilderness skills training in the UK and internationally. His own teaching encompasses a broad range of subjects, including firecraft, cutting tools, tree and plant identification, natural navigation, campcraft, wilderness travel and expedition skills.
Over the years, Paul has taught and travelled extensively in wilderness environments, particularly in the northern forests of Europe and North America. He has also worked alongside and shared platforms with many highly respected figures in bushcraft, survival and outdoor education, including Ray Mears, Ray Goodwin MBE, Lars Fält, Juha Rankinen, Professor Gordon Hillman and David Scott-Donelan.
Paul is a regular speaker and demonstrator at bushcraft and outdoor events in the UK and overseas. He has been closely involved with the Global Bushcraft Symposium, including delivering keynote presentations at the 2019 symposium in Alberta, Canada, and the 2025 symposium in Sweden, as well as serving as co-chair of the 2022 symposium in the UK.
In addition to his field-based teaching, Paul has produced an extensive body of educational material through his articles, online courses, videos, podcasts and other resources. His long-form articles on bushcraft, wilderness skills and outdoor life can be found at paulkirtley.co.uk.
Paul’s first book, Wilderness Axe Skills and Campcraft, was published in 2021. It provides a detailed treatment of practical axe skills, from choosing and maintaining an axe through to efficient cutting techniques and their application in camp.
His second book, Core Bushcraft, brings together a much broader range of cornerstone bushcraft skills and knowledge in a highly illustrated practical reference.
Signed copies of both books are available directly from Paul through this website.
“I’ve spent quality time with Paul in the woods and paddling a wild river. His bush skills are exceptional, his outdoor knowledge is outstanding, his ability to educate and inspire others is beyond applaudable, his appreciation and love for nature is beyond measure, and he’s just simply a nice guy to hang out with around the campfire with a hot cup of tea or a wee dram of whisky.”
– Kevin Callan, best-selling outdoor writer, also known as “The Happy Camper”.
