Peter Faulkner has been making coracles for the past 25 years. He talks to Richard Vobes, the Bald Explorer, about how he first got started and a little about the history of this ancient craft.
Based in Leintwardine in north Herefordshire, Peter paddles his coracles on the River Teme which is close to his old school house workshop. Over the years he hasn’t restricted himself to just this river, but has explored other larger water courses.
It is fascinating to learn just how he builds a coracle and from what raw materials. He sources all of these materials locally including the cow hides. These go on to make the skin of the coracle.
It is difficult to say when the coracle was first used in this country or any other, but we can be pretty certain that early man was paddling this kind of craft on the waterways of Britain as well as around the world.
As you know, the Bald Explorer is a series of videos that seek to discover the British way of life, crafts and history, recording it in HD video for viewers to enjoy across the world.
You can find out more about Peter Faulkner, the Coracle Man, at his website: http://www.coraclesandcurrachs.com/