I’m Mike, and my forge is in Slad, near Stroud in the Cotswolds, about an hour from Newport and an hour and a quarter from Cardiff. I used to have my forge in Bassaleg, near Newport, so I know the drive well. You spend the day at a real working forge making your own knife or hook from raw steel, and you take it home. No experience needed.
Since the Severn crossing tolls were scrapped in December 2018 (Fleet News), popping over from South Wales for the day is easy. A full day at a working forge is a proper change from the usual, and you go home with something you made yourself.
By car, it’s roughly 58 miles from Cardiff to Stroud, about 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 15 minutes (Route Calculator), and around an hour from Newport (Rome2Rio). The forge in Slad is a few minutes beyond Stroud, and there’s parking on site.
There’s no direct train, but you can get from Cardiff Central to Stroud with a change, usually at Gloucester or Swindon, in around 1 hour 40 minutes (TrainTickets.com). From Newport, change at Gloucester. Pick-up from Stroud station is possible, just let me know when you book. Times change, so check National Rail before you travel.
Before I moved to Slad, my forge was in Bassaleg, near Newport. It’s a little further for you now, but it’s a lovely drive, and the Slad valley is well worth the trip.
On a blacksmithing day your first project is a hook, which sounds humble but teaches you everything: drawing out, tapering, bending and twisting. On a knife making course you forge a knife from high carbon steel, then heat treat, temper and sharpen it. Whatever you make, it’s yours, you made it.
Days start at 10:30am. Blacksmithing days finish around 4:30pm and knife making days usually between 5pm and 6:30pm. Groups are small, a maximum of six for blacksmithing and four for knife making, so you get proper time at the anvil.
It also makes a brilliant gift. Vouchers are emailed instantly and valid for a year, and they pick their own date.
Dates often sell out in advance. See every upcoming knife making and blacksmithing day, and how many spaces are left, on the Course Calendar.
Both are full days at the forge near Stroud, about an hour from Newport and an hour and a quarter from Cardiff. Small groups (up to six for blacksmithing, four for knife making), all levels, and you take home what you make.
A full introduction to traditional blacksmithing. Learn the fundamentals, work with real tools, and leave with 1 or 2 pieces you forged yourself.
A knife making course (experience day) at my forge in Stroud. Come get hands-on with fire and steel, enjoy the day, and walk away with a hand-forged knife made by YOU.
Yes. My forge is near Stroud in the Cotswolds, about an hour and a quarter from Cardiff by car, running knife making and blacksmithing days for all levels.
About 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 15 minutes from Cardiff and about an hour from Newport by car. There’s parking on site.
Yes, with a change, usually at Gloucester or Swindon. It takes around 1 hour 40 minutes to Stroud. Pick-up from Stroud station is possible, just let me know when you book.
Yes, up to six people on a blacksmithing day and four on a knife making day. Good for couples, families with over-11s, and small groups.
Prices and booking are on the experience days page, and gift vouchers are valid for a year.
No. My forge used to be in Bassaleg, near Newport, but it’s now in Slad, near Stroud.
Small groups, all levels, and you take home what you made. Book your date, or send it as a gift.