Drystone Walling Courses

Chelmorton in the Derbyshire Dales and within the Peak District National Park boasts some of the oldest drystone walls in England and we are delighted to give you the opportunity to learn the ancient art of drystone walling at its most basic level in some of the most beautiful countryside in Derbyshire.

Over the course of the day you will be guided by experienced, friendly instructors who will explain the process. You will do part of the construction of a length of wall and most importantly you will get the confidence to tackle your own small project or go onto develop your skills further. We have national coverage as far as visitors are concerned and we like to welcome people from far afield. Many of our course members have arrived as a result of a birthday present or Christmas present and as a result of a voucher gift.

You will be involved in the construction of a wall from start to finish and will experience walling in the Peak District National Park and will be part of the conservation of an area of outstanding beauty. In short,you will have a genuine taste of the Derbyshire Countryside .

Our courses are unique and provide firm knowledge with a countryside experience in the purest sense.
The courses make great presents and we provide vouchers for that unusual present.
Accommodation can be organised and camping is available on site within walking distance of an excellent hostelry.
Prices: £70 per person with lunch and refreshments provided.

The 2025 dates are, as follows:

Saturday 6th September (FULL)

Saturday 4th October

On 15th August 2024, our July 2024 course featured on the BBC Radio 4 Farming Today programme and again on Radio 4’s You and Yours programme on Monday 2nd September 2024 . What a privilege!

If there is a group of at least 6 people, we will make every effort to arrange a course date to suit, outside of the scheduled ones.

Tools and refreshments are provided. You will need to bring along strong shoes or boots, waterproofs and a pair of strong gloves.

For more information please feel free to contact us at walling@fivewells.co.uk.

: Drystone walling course September 2017- Building a curved wall.

: Drystone walling course September 2017- Building a curved wall.

: Drystone walling course September 2017.

: Drystone walling course September 2017- Curved wall.

: Drystone walling course September 2017- Curved wall.

: Drystone walling course September 2017- Completed section of curved wall.

: Drystone walling course October 2017. Laying the foundation.

: Drystone walling course October 2017.

: Drystone walling course October 2017.

: Drystone walling course October 2017. Building a sheep creep into the wall.

: Drystone walling course October 2017. Laying the foundation.

: Drystone walling course October 2017. Laying the foundation.

: Drystone walling course October 2017. Building a sheep creep into the wall.

: Drystone walling course October 2017. Building a sheep creep into the wall.

: Drystone walling course October 2017. Building a sheep creep into the wall.

: Drystone walling course October 2017. Building a sheep creep into the wall.

: Drystone walling course October 2017. Building a sheep creep into the wall.

: Drystone walling course October 2017. Building a sheep creep into the wall.

: Drystone walling course October 2017. Building a sheep creep into the wall.

: Drystone walling course October 2017. Building a sheep creep into the wall.

: Drystone walling course October 2017. Completed sheep creep in the drystone wall.

: Drystone walling course October 2017. Completed Section of wall with sheep creep.

: Drystone walling course October 2017. Completed Section of wall with sheep creep.

: Completed section of wall from the Drystone walling course July 2018, as part of the Chelmorton Festival.

: Completed section of wall at Five Wells Farm, by the wonderful September 2018 course.

: Drystone walling course at Five Wells Farm- September 2018.

: Drystone walling course October 2018- half way there!

: Drystone walling course October 2018- Completed section of wall at Five Wells Farm.

: Laying the foundations- Drystone walling course October 2018- Five Wells Farm.

: Drystone walling course October 2018- Five Wells Farm.

: Drystone Walling course at Five Wells Farm- Half way up their section of wall- June 2019.

: Drystone Walling course- June 2019- completed section of wall at Five Wells Farm.

: Completed section of wall- Chelmorton, July 2019.

: Busy building up the section of wall- Chelmorton, July 2019.

: Working away on their section of wall down in Chelmorton, July 2019.

: Drystone walling course, as part of the Chelmorton village festival, July 2019.

: Laying the foundations for the new section of wall- Five Wells Farm- September 2019.

: Busy building the new section of wall up at Five Wells Farm- September 2019.

: Busy building the new section of wall up at Five Wells Farm- September 2019.

: The completed section of Drystone wall up at Five Wells Farm- September 2019.

: Drystone walling course- Chelmorton- Busy working on their section of wall. October 2019.

: Completed section of wall- Chelmorton- October 2019.

: Admiring their work so far- Five Wells Farm- September 2020.

: September 2020’s walling course- busy laying the foundations of the wall.

: Drystone walling course- Five Wells Farm- September 2020

: Completed section of wall- Chelmorton- October 2020.

: Drystone Walling Course- Chelmorton- October 2020.

: Laying the foundation of the wall- Chelmorton- October 2020.

: Drystone Walling Course- Chelmorton- October 2020.

: Busy laying the foundation of the wall at Caxterway Farm, Chelmorton.

: Completed section of wall on the June 2021 course.

: The wall is getting there! June 2021 course- Chelmorton.

: The completed section of wall for the July 2021 course- a very hot & sunny day up to Five Wells Farm!

: Laying the foundations.

: October 2021 course, Chelmorton.

: Building the section of wall- October 2021.

: Busy working on their section of wall.

: The October groups section of wall coming along nicely.

: Completed section of wall- October 2021.

: Busy building the foundations of their section wall.

: Completed section of wall- Chelmorton. October 2021 course.

: Busy working on the foundations of the wall.

: Making good progress on their section of wall.

: Their section of wall is coming along nicely.

: The completed section of wall on the June course, 2022.

: The completed section of wall on the July 2022 course.

: Laying down the foundations in the sunshine.

: Digging & ridding out the foundations for the wall.

: The September walling course group busy building their section of wall in the sunshine.

: Working away on the section of wall at Five Wells Farm- September 2022.

: Completed section of wall at Five Wells Farm.

: The September walling course group with their completed section of wall.

: The October group getting stuck in on building their wall.

: Making good progress on the start of their section of wall.

: The October 2022 group with their completed section of wall.

: The October group, ridding out their section of wall & grading their stones as they go, ready for the foundation to be laid.

: Making headway with their section of wall, on a bright October afternoon.

: The October group, ridding out their section of wall, ready for the foundation to be laid.

: Ready to get laying the stones for the foundation of the wall.

: The June 2023 Drystone walling course, making good progress in the sunshine.

: The June course, busy working on their section of wall- June 2023 Five Wells Farm.

: The June 2023 course with their completed section of wall.

: First things first, taking down the old section of wall, ready to rid out and prepare the foundation of the wall.

: The July course, getting to work on ridding out and starting on the foundation of their section of wall.

: The July course have made excellent progress on their section of wall.

: Completed section of wall from the July 2023 course.

: This course was held on Tuesday 18 July 2023, as part of the Chelmorton Festival.

: The September course’s section of wall coming along nicely, up at Five Wells Farm.

: The September course working hard on their section of wall, in the sunshine.

: The September 2023 course making good progress in the sunshine.

: Ridding out and preparing the ground for the foundations of their section of wall.

: The completed section of wall from the September Drystone walling course, at Five Wells Farm.

: Starting the day’s course by dismantling the old, original section of drystone wall- ready to rid out and start again.

: Busy ridding out their section of wall, before they can begin laying the new foundations.

: The October 2023 course, ridding out their section of wall, at the beginning of the day.

: The October 2023 course, making a great start to their section of wall.

: Excellent progress being made in the October sunshine!

: The October 2023 course, doing a great job with their section of wall. It’s coming along very nicely.

: The October 2023 course, with their completed section of Drystone wall.

: Busy working on the foundations of the wall.

: Making good progress.

: July’s group, getting stuck in now they’ve got the hang of it.

: Building the very foundations of the wall.

: Members of the July course, getting to work on their section of wall.

: July’s walling course members, stood with their completed section of wall.

: Busy ridding out their section of wall- September 2024.

: The September 2024 course busy ridding out and preparing their section of wall.

: The foundations have been laid by the September 2024 course.

: The September course, busy making headway with their section of wall.

: The September 2024 walling course, with their completed section of wall.

: The October 2024 course, digging and ridding out, ready for the walls foundations.

: The October 2024 course, getting stuck into their section of wall.

: The October course’s section of wall coming along nicely.

: The October 2024 drystone walling course, up at Five Wells Farm.

: The completed section of wall- October 2024 walling course.

: The first job of the day- ridding out the old section of wall to rebuild.

: The group are busy ridding out to lay the foundations of the wall.

: Foundations laid and they’re making a great start to their section of wall.

: The May course doing a great job in the sunshine.

: The May 2025 course with their completed section of wall.

: The very start of the day for the June 2025 course- digging and ridding out to begin building the foundations of their section of wall.

: The June 2025 building their wall foundations.

: The June 2025 course, busy working on their section of wall.

: The June 2025 course with their completed section of wall.