Ayrshire, Craigengillan Estate Foraging Courses

Craigengillan is an award-winning, 3000 acre estate, encompassing new and ancient native woodland, pasture, wetlands, heaths and lochs. Set amidst the hills of the Southern Uplands of Scotland, 17 miles from Ayr and 50 miles from Glasgow, Craigengillan is surrounded by one of the most beautiful landscapes in Scotland, and one with a fascinating history. It was first established as an estate in 1580, when it encompassed over 30,000 acres and stretched as far as Carsphairn.

The ethos at Craigengillan is one which resonates with us at Wild Food UK; we hope for a more sustainable future, one in which people and nature can co-exist together. Craigengillan Estate is part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which promotes crafts and skills that help nature and that encourage people to be more connected with the wild environment. Creating and protecting the biodiversity for wildlife is the priority here and there is a rich variety of flowering plants, mosses, fungi, birds, dragonflies and butterflies. You might even see a red squirrel!

Our Foraging Courses begin with a short introduction to Wild Food UK, what to expect from your day and a brief summary of the general countryside codes, including our Foraging Code.

Heading off at a leisurely pace around the grounds, your instructor will teach you how to safely identify the different species of edible and poisonous plants and mushrooms that you discover. This exploration will take about 2.5hrs, during which we’ll take a break for a homemade refreshment, such as our warming Hogweed & Wild Garlic Soup or Elderflower Champagne!
After the walk we will end the day with a tasty wild food meal. This will include a selection of foraged homemade treats created by your instructor, and a dish made with what we have collected during the walk.

Our food is seasonal, so what you are served depends on what is growing at that time of year. In Spring we will be making use of the fresh wild greens and in Autumn, the array of tasty wild mushrooms that the area has to offer.

You will receive a comprehensive set of Wild Food UK ‘Course Notes’ a few days after your course. This email will contain links and articles relating to the plants and mushrooms we discovered or discussed during the day.

Nestled deep within the grounds of Craigengillan Estate sit two beautifully restored cottages and luxury self catering Glamping pods. If you would like to make this course into a weekend away in this beautiful part of the country, then you can find out more about their accommodation options here.

Craigengillan Estate
Dalmellington,
Ayrshire
Scotland
KA6 7PZ

We will meet in the Craigengillan Estate main courtyard.

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