FUR TANNING SCOTLAND

Hands‑On Fur Tanning: From Raw Hide to Finished Fur

Before the advent of modern tanning agents, humans were turning raw skin into usable leather products using fundamental techniques and materials. Come learn to produce incredibly soft, strong, and durable leather from raw animal skin using humankind’s earliest tanning technologies!

Come learn to produce incredibly soft, strong, and durable leather from raw animal skin using humankind’s earliest tanning technologies! We will utilize materials readily available in the surrounding environment as we walk through the steps of this transformation.

 You will learn the progression of this process from raw skin to warm, beautiful, and biodegradable finished fur!

This intensive course will focus on tanning furs over 2 (very) full days! We will tan furs with a variety of fat-tanning methods that use lecithin and oil* as the dressing agent. 

Whilst not for the squeamish, the incredible end product is worth the work!

The class will cover:

• Rehydrating dried fur

• Removing the meat and fat from the inner skin surface (flesh side)

• Applying the tanning agents

• Softening of the skin

The final day will consist of smoking the furs to increase their washability. Theory for skinning and preserving furs will also be covered.

In addition to enthusiastic instruction, I provide comfortable, easy-to-use tools and detailed handouts on the tanning process, along with ethnographic anecdotes and a list of helpful literature for those who wish to deepen their knowledge of tanning!

Please join me for a course sure to contain plenty of memorable moments, lots of practical information, and, provided you put in the work **, one that will see you heading home with your own uniquely beautiful, traditionally tanned fur!

* The use of brains or egg yolks as an alternative dressing agent will be covered.

** Please be aware that a reasonable amount of fitness is required for this course. I will provide instruction on good technique and timing with the skins, but you will need to be on your feet and active for 6 to 8 hours per day.

Please discuss any serious injuries with me before attending the course!

Additional Information:

Duration: 2 days (Saturday 9:00 am - Sunday 4:00 pm)

Max number of participants: 12

Prerequisites: None - This workshop is suitable for ages 18+.

Food: This course is self-catered. Please come prepared to cook for yourselves. I am many things; a good cook is not one of them!

Location: East Lothian, Scotland - Blinkbonny Wood. Blinkbonny sits on the edge of the Lammermuir Hills - 100 acres of stunning mixed canopy forest. You can find more info here and also download directions: Woodland Ways

Transportation:

• Airport Pick-up:  We can arrange airport pick-up for an extra fee - please contact Woodland Ways directly

• Public Transport: Public transport to the area is easily accessible, with international flights into Edinburgh and Edinburgh Waverley Train Station.

  
  

Host: Woodland Ways - contact them directly for all questions related to accommodations, transport, food, and logistics.

Venue: Blinkbonny Wood sits on the edge of the Lammermuir Hills - 100 acres of stunning mixed canopy forest with a patchwork of birch, hazel and Scots pine, gorse and heather. From the woodland boundaries, there are stunning views of the hills in one direction, and from the other direction you can see the coast and idyllic rolling farmlands.

Located just 20 miles from Edinburgh and 5 miles from Haddington, Blinkbonny Wood is a great spot to see roe deer, badgers, and various owls. Both hills and moors are easily accessible. 

There is plenty of room for tents, tarps, or hammocks where one can relax and enjoy nature. There is a communal fire for cooking and socializing.

Accommodation not included: Bring your own camping gear.

Included: All course materials, coffee/tea, food, and accommodation in bell tents.

Not included: Off-site Accommodation.

Instructor: Theresa Emmerich Kamper 

Cancellation Policy:

We put a lot of effort into these courses and travel time, so please read our cancellation terms carefully before booking.

If you change your mind within 21 days (3 weeks) of signing up, you’ll get a full refund. After that grace period, if you cancel more than 8 weeks before the course, you’ll get 75% back. If it’s less than 8 weeks before the start date, we can’t offer a refund.

(If you booked last-minute and have an issue, reach out and we’ll chat about it case-by-case!)

Explore More Courses:

From single‑day introductions to immersive three‑ and four‑day experiences — learn hide tanning, coyote fur preparation, fish‑skin tanning and use, and full animal processing. Each course builds practical skill and deeper understanding of traditional craft.

A bit about me:

I'm an avid practitioner of traditional living skills and various forms of primitive technology. My interest came in part from growing up in the USA's Rocky Mountains, where backpacking, hunting, and fishing are deeply rooted in the culture. This passion led me to the academic field of Experimental Archaeology, where I earned a PhD from the University of Exeter in the UK.

My work has been featured in both documentaries and popular TV shows, including Alone Season 8 and Surviving the Stone Age. I've been tanning skins using traditional methods for over 30 years. Learning to tan was a natural offshoot of my desire to use as much of an animal as possible, and it had the added bonus of producing a beautiful end product.

In my instruction, I share a wide range of information—from the intricate details of skin morphology to helpful tips for dealing with the numerous, frustrating problems often encountered when you're first learning to tan!