South West Survival: Commando-Led Survival & Bushcraft Training in Devon.

Modern life is comfortable… until it isn’t.

A storm knocks the power out.Your car dies on a remote road.Your phone signal drops in the middle of a hike.Your head goes when stress piles up.

Most people hope those moments never come. At South West Survival, we train you for them.

We’re a Commando-led survival and bushcraft school in Devon, run by serving British Commando and TV survivalist Steven Kelly. We teach real-world survival skills – the kind that actually work in the woods, on the moors and in everyday life – using methods tested in jungle, desert, Arctic and mountain environments.

This isn’t Instagram bushcraft.It’s not “let’s rub two sticks together for a selfie”.

It’s practical, no-nonsense training designed to make you, your family or your team more capable, more confident and harder to break.

Who We Are

South West Survival is founded and led by Steven Kelly:

• Serving British Commando with over 23 years in 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery

• Experienced in jungle, desert, Arctic and mountain environments

• TV survivalist on Discovery’s Naked & Afraid and Naked & Afraid: Apocalypse

• Participant in Channel 4/E4’s Naked Alone & Racing to Get Home and Bear Grylls’ Wild Reckoning

• Instructor, expedition leader and host of The Survival Debrief Podcast

  
  

Steven takes the best of military fieldcraft, modern survival training and TV experience and turns it into courses that work for:

• Complete beginners

• Families and young people

• Veterans

• Outdoor enthusiasts

• Corporate teams and organisations

• 
  

You don’t need to be “tough” to train with us. You just need to be willing to get outside, learn and push yourself a little.

Why Survival & Bushcraft Training Still Matters

We live in a world of central heating, sat nav and next-day delivery. It’s easy to think survival skills are just a hobby.

Until something goes wrong.

Survival and bushcraft training with South West Survival is about more than lighting fires and building shelters. It’s about:

• Preparedness – knowing what to do when plans fall apart

• Resilience – staying calm and thinking clearly under pressure

• Self-reliance – trusting your own skills, not just technology

• Connection – with nature, with other people, and with yourself

• Mental health – getting out of your head and into the outdoors

• 
  

We regularly see people leave a course with:

• More confidence to take their family camping

• Less anxiety about “what if” scenarios

• A healthier respect for the weather and the environment

• A renewed sense of what they’re actually capable of

You don’t have to plan a jungle expedition to benefit. Survival mindset applies just as much to a bad week at work as it does to a storm on Dartmoor.

The South West Survival Approach: C.O.M.M.A.N.D.O. & SURVIVE-7

Plenty of schools can show you how to tie a knot or carve a feather stick. What makes South West Survival different is the mindset behind the skills.

Steven teaches using two simple frameworks:

The C.O.M.M.A.N.D.O. Survival Mindset

Developed from decades of Commando service and extreme TV challenges, this is the system we constantly refer back to on courses and expeditions:

• C – Calm the chaosControl your breathing and your state before you act.

• O – Observe your realitySee what’s really happening, not what panic tells you is happening.

• M – Map the missionDecide what success looks like right now before you move.

• M – Move with purposeTake deliberate actions that serve the mission, not mindless flapping.

• A – Adapt and improviseThe plan won’t survive contact – you will. Use what you’ve got.

• N – Nurture core needsProtect warmth, hydration, sleep and morale for yourself and your group.

• D – Discipline and drillsBuild routines and habits that hold when you’re cold, tired and stressed.

• O – Own the outcomeDebrief honestly, learn, and get better next time.

• 
  

Whether we’re teaching firelighting or leading an expedition, C.O.M.M.A.N.D.O. sits in the background of everything we do.

SURVIVE-7: A Simple Framework for Any Crisis

For families, schools and beginners, we also teach SURVIVE-7 – a seven-step process anyone can remember:

• S – Stop, breathe, settle

• U – Understand your situation

• R – Resources & risks

• V – Vital needs first

• I – Implement & improvise

• V – Vigilance & verification

• E – Exit & evolve

  
  

It works in the woods, on the moors – and in everyday life when something goes wrong.

These frameworks mean you don’t just leave with a head full of random tips. You leave with a way of thinking you can apply anywhere.

What We Teach at South West Survival

We offer a range of survival and bushcraft experiences in Devon and across the South West, from beginner-friendly days to more demanding multi-day expeditions.

1. Introduction to Survival & Bushcraft (Beginner Days)

Perfect if you’re curious about survival but don’t know where to start.

Typical skills covered:

• Safe knife and tool use

• Firelighting with modern and traditional methods

• Basic shelter building

• Finding and treating water

• Simple navigation and situational awareness

• Survival priorities for the UK environment

These days are relaxed, hands-on and suitable for most fitness levels. You’ll get plenty of time around the fire, ask questions and practise at your own pace.

2. Family & Kids’ Bushcraft Days

Designed for families and younger adventurers who want to get off screens and into the woods.

We focus on:

• Firelighting (safely)

• Simple shelters and den building

• Nature connection and wildlife awareness

• Cooking over the fire

• Teamwork, confidence and fun

These sessions are a great introduction to the outdoors and a brilliant way to spend time together doing something different.

3. Overnight & Multi-Day Survival Experiences

For those who want to go a bit deeper.

On our overnight and multi-day courses you can expect:

• More advanced shelter options

• Fire management in bad weather

• Camp hygiene and fieldcraft

• Night navigation and low-light work

• Rationing, foraging basics and food management

• Managing comfort, morale and mindset over time

We lean on Steven’s Commando background and TV experience to show you what really matters over 24–72 hours, and how small mistakes can build up if you don’t stay on top of them.

4. Corporate & Team-Building Events

The outdoors is a brutally honest leadership and team coach.

We offer bespoke survival and resilience days for:

• Corporate teams

• Blue-light services

• Sports teams and performance groups

These can include:

• Survival scenarios that require problem-solving under pressure

• Communication and leadership challenges in the field

• Sessions on mindset, decision-making and debriefing using C.O.M.M.A.N.D.O.

• Cold exposure and controlled discomfort (if appropriate)

• Time around the fire to talk through lessons and next steps

It’s not about breaking people. It’s about showing teams what they’re capable of when things aren’t comfortable, and giving them tools they can take back to the office or station.

5. Schools, Youth Groups & Forest School Support

South West Survival also works with:

• Schools

• Youth groups

• Alternative education providers

• Veteran and community organisations

We can support:

• Curriculum-linked outdoor learning

• Confidence-building days in nature

• Behaviour and resilience work for young people

• Staff training on outdoor safety and basic survival skills

Sessions are tailored to age, ability and objectives. The focus is always on safety, learning and building positive experiences outdoors.

6. Expeditions & Advanced Training

For those who want to take things further, we can provide:

• Advanced survival and navigation training on Dartmoor

• Expedition preparation and pre-deployment training

• Bespoke trips in the UK and overseas (subject to availability)

Here we combine:

• Steven’s military expedition experience

• TV survival lessons (what works and what doesn’t when the cameras are off)

• Robust planning and risk management

If you’re dreaming of a bigger adventure – or you’re responsible for planning one – we can help you prepare properly.

What a Day with South West Survival Feels Like

A typical day on a South West Survival course might look like this:

• Arrival & brew – Meet the team, grab a hot drink, quick safety brief.

• Foundations – We cover basic safety, knife use and the survival mindset for the day.

• Core skills blocks – Fire, shelter, water, navigation, depending on the course.

• Lunch over the fire – Simple, hearty food cooked outdoors.

• Scenario or challenge – Apply what you’ve learned in a simple, realistic scenario.

• Debrief around the fire – What went well, what you’d do differently, what you’ve learned.

• Pack down & next steps – How to keep the skills alive at home, plus options for your next course or expedition.

You won’t be shouted at, beasted or humiliated. This isn’t TV.

You will be encouraged, stretched and supported by instructors who want you to leave more confident than you arrived.

Why Train with a Commando-Led Survival School?

There are plenty of good bushcraft instructors in the UK. So why train with South West Survival?

• Proven field experience – Steven has spent years living and working in hostile environments as a Commando and on TV. The techniques we teach are built on what actually works when you’re cold, wet and tired – not just what looks good on YouTube.

• Mindset as well as skills – Anyone can show you how to light a fire on a sunny day. We focus on how you think when things aren’t going your way – and how to avoid common mistakes that spiral into real problems.

• Clear frameworks – C.O.M.M.A.N.D.O. and SURVIVE-7 give you simple structures to fall back on under pressure. You don’t just learn isolated tricks – you learn a way of approaching any crisis.

• Realistic, not reckless – We push people, but we take safety seriously. We’d rather you go home tired, muddy and proud of yourself than injured because someone wanted to play at being a TV host.

• Welcoming and down-to-earth – You don’t have to be ex-military, mega-fit or an experienced camper. We train normal people, and we remember what it feels like to be new.

• 
  

Who Our Courses Are For

South West Survival is for anyone who wants to be better prepared, more resilient and more connected to the outdoors, including:

• Complete beginners who’ve never lit a fire or slept in a shelter

• Families who want to give their kids real-life skills and memories

• Outdoor enthusiasts who want to tighten up their skills and mindset

• Veterans missing the camaraderie and challenge of the field

• Corporate teams who want more than another bland hotel conference

• Young people who need a positive challenge and time away from screens

If you’re not sure which course is right for you, we’re happy to advise.

How to Get Started

1. Browse our coursesTake a look at our current survival, bushcraft and expedition options.

2. Choose the level that suits you

   • New to all this? Start with an Intro or Family day.

   • Want more challenge? Look at overnight or multi-day options.

   • Bringing a group or team? Get in touch for bespoke packages.

3. Book your placeSecure your date, read the kit list and we’ll send you all the information you need.

4. Turn up ready to learnWe’ll handle the teaching, the safety and the structure. You bring an open mind, appropriate clothing and a willingness to get stuck in.

5. 
   

Final Thoughts: Don’t Be Scared, Be Prepared

You don’t have to disappear into the jungle naked to learn survival skills.

You can start in a woodland or on the moors of the South West with a mug of tea in your hand, a safe environment and instructors who actually care whether you understand what you’re doing.

At South West Survival we believe:

• Survival isn’t about being the toughest person in the room.

• It’s about thinking clearly, acting decisively and looking after yourself and others when things go wrong.

  
  

If you’d like to build those skills – for yourself, your family, your team or your organisation – we’d be honoured to train with you.

Don’t be scared. Be prepared.

Join us in the woods.

South West Survival