Discovery Walks

Skills & Training Courses

Foraging

Find Your AdventureDiscover Foraging at Taynish

Discover Foraging at Taynish

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Duration:
Half Day
Intended Level:
Half Day
Walk Grade:
Half Day
Group Size:
2-8
In Stock:
Available Places:
8
- DATE SOLD OUT -
Please choose another date or call us to check late availability.
Date:
Start Time:
Summary
Located at Taynish National Nature Reserve in beautiful Knapdale, with special permission from Nature Scotland, this experience offers an introduction to the principles of foraging and to the wide array of wild edible foods that surround us throughout the year in this very special landscape. Includes a foragers' wild picnic lunch which allows you to experience a wide range of wild flavours and ingredients.
Suitability
The walk is mainly on forestry tracks and paths although we do leave the paths to look at different plants. The ground can be wet, muddy and boggy with some steep, uneven sections through the woodland. A reasonable level of fitness is required for a half day on foot. Suitable for age 10+ with an accompanying adult. Dogs by arrangement only please (we love dogs on our walks but they quickly bore on a course!).
Highlights
  • Visit the ancient Atlantic oak woodlands of Taynish National Nature Reserve
  • Learn about the plants that thrive here and in similar habitats
  • Discover the principles of foraging including the law and sustainable harvesting
  • Learn the basics to safely identify common edible and non-edible species
  • Take home a few wild food recipe tips and learn about other wild plant uses
  • Experience the flavours of wild ingredients in a wild foragers' picnic
Booking Terms

Booking essential. For late availability please contact us on 07899765240. This experience requires a minimum of 2 people.

Choose your preferred date:

Price:
£ 45.00 GBP

Walk Grades

Grade 1 - Easy

Relaxed walks on mainly flat or graded paths and tracks within easy access of a road/parking with little or no steep ground. These walks are designed to take in a specific tourist site or experience - perhaps to visit a ruined Scottish castle, wildlife centre or ancient carved stones - and are suitable for a wide range of abilities, typically never more than 3 miles or 2 hours of walking.

Grade 2 - Leisurely

Leisurely walking on paths and tracks with occasional steep or uneven sections or steps. Designed to offer an immersive and relaxing experience connecting with nature and the outdoors these walks help promote wellbeing and may include walks around lochs, along beaches, through woodland and glens, to visit a specific historic or geological site, to learn about foraging for wild plants or to reach viewpoint. These are suitable for a wide range of abilities and are typically 3 to 6 miles with up to 5 hours of walking and 300m of ascent and descent.

Grade 3 - Moderate

Expect a full day of walking using a mixture of paths, tracks and over mixed terrain. There are likely to be some steep or uneven sections or steps. These walks are suited to those used to being active and may include easier hill summits, coastal walks, sections of long distance trails such as the Kintyre Way, visiting sites off the beaten track and sunset walks. Walks are typically 6 to 8 miles with 4 to 6 hours of walking and no more than 600m of ascent and descent.

Grade 4 - Hard

An active day of walking using a mixture of paths, tracks and over mixed terrain which is likely to have steep rough sections. These walks are suited to those used to being active and may include hill summits, coastal sections with a lot of ascent and descent, remoter areas, longer sections of trails such as the Kintyre Way, visiting sites off the beaten track, trig point hunters and Wainwright baggers. Walks are typically 7 to 12 miles with 5 to 8 hours of walking and up to 800m of ascent and descent.

Grade 5 - Challenging

A full day of walking over varied ground, which may incorporate a mixture of tracks and paths but is likely to include rugged steep pathless terrain, requiring advanced skills, good fitness and stamina. Walks at this level are usually either long distance, which may or may not incorporate good paths, or in remote and mountainous areas. Typical walks include the easier Munros and Corbetts, the higher Lakeland and Welsh fells, challenges such as the Yorkshire Three Peaks and long distance backpacks such as the Coast to Coast or Pennine Way. Distances vary but are typically 10-25 miles with ascents of up to 1600m. A full days walking may take anything from 6 to12 hours.

Grade 6 - Severe

A full day of walking over varied ground, which may incorporate a mixture of tracks and paths, rugged steep and rough pathless terrain, exposed ridges and non-technical scrambles requiring advanced skills, good fitness and stamina. Walks at this level are usually either long distance, which may or may not incorporate good paths, or in remote and mountainous areas. Typical walks include the harder or more remote Munros and Corbetts, routes such as Striding Edge in the Lake District, high level or remote long distance backpacks or ultra long distance events. Distances vary but are often over 15 miles with ascents often exceeding 1000m. An example is the Patterdale Round which takes in 17 Wainwrights, is 30 miles and has over 3000m of ascent. A full days walking may take anything from 8 to16 or more hours.

More Information:

Heather's Highlight

Wild produce has been part of my life since early childhood and discovering a tasty morsel or trying a new recipe with wild ingredients is always a guilty pleasure.

Detailed Description

The course is held at Taynish National Nature Reserve amongst ancient woodland that provides a home for a wonderful array of plants and wildlife.

The area’s woodlands (many of which are protected) are rich with mosses, fungi, lichens, trees and wildflowers making this an ideal place in which to learn. We will walk at a slow pace exploring this wild space and some of the species that grow here.

Learn the main principles of foraging including correct identification, harvesting, leaving no trace, the law and how the landscape supports different species.

Discover some common edible and non-edible species and how to safely identify them.

Explore the history of foraging and different uses of ingredients.

Discover tips for wild food recipes and some of the lovely produce that can be made with wild ingredients.

What's Included:
All guided walks include the following:
  • Your friendly qualified guide for the duration of your walk
  • Group Safety Equipment
  • Emergency First Aid Kit
  • Walk joining information
  • Kit List
  • Friendly advice
Specific to this walk:
Guided foraging walk with a wild food tasting picnic. A chance to learn more about the fascinating wild edible plants that live in these precious woodland habitats. Kit list. A handy guide to the principles of foraging.
Itinerary
  1. Guided foraging walk from Taynish Reserve car park starting at 10.30 am
  2. We explore woodland areas within the Taynish National Nature Reserve over a period of 2-3 hours
  3. En route we discover the principles of foraging and how to safely identify edible and non-edible species as we explore this special area with kind permission from Nature Scotland
  4. We will have a foragers’ picnic lunch together where we will discuss wild recipe ideas and look at different uses of some more common wild edibles. Please bring your own water/drink for during the walk (a warm drink in a flask is good on cold days) and preferred snack. We will also have tasty surprises in store…
  5. The opportunity to visit the old mill nearby
Additional Information:
Make this a private booking

All our activities can be booked for private groups as bespoke experiences.

Prices and terms & conditions for bespoke experiences apply.

Women only option

All our activities can be booked for women only groups either as bespoke experiences or where advertised.

Packed Lunch Required

We will be out and about during lunch time, so we recommend bringing a packed lunch, and some snacks / a drink etc.

Additional information:

Taynish Reserve car park is in North Knapdale, 13 miles from Lochgilphead.

To reach the car park from Lochgilphead head north from the A83 roundabout following the A816 for 2 miles. Turn left onto the B841 towards Crinan, follow the road by the canal for 3 miles then bear left onto the Tayvallich road (B8025). Continue for 6.5 miles, through Tayvallich, then turn left onto the minor road as you leave the village to the south (just after the Public Toilets which are on your right, the school will be to your left). Continue past Lochan Taynish and you will reach the car park 150m ahead on your right.

From the north it is easily approached via the B8025 which veers right off the A816 just south of Kilmartin and follows a direct line to Bellanoch where it crosses the canal. Turn right, then after ⅓ mile take the Tayvallich turn left onto the continuation of the B8025. Continue as above.

Public Toilets can be found at the south end of Tayvallich Village. There are no toilets at the reserve. Public Transport: Buses 425 and 426 only go as far as Tayvallich Village, it is then a 1.5 mile walk to the car park.


Please plenty to drink, your preferred snack and attire suited to a half day's walk come rain or shine (we will send you our kit list). You will be sent an Emergency Contact/ Health form which needs to be completed prior to your adventure. We also sell Heathery Heights Multiwraps (great as a face covering) and bespoke refillable steel water bottles, in our bid to reduce plastic waste.

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