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Writer's pictureSoo Hammond

The Best Coastal Foraging Holiday in Pembrokeshire Wales.

Updated: Mar 6, 2023

Looking for the perfect weekend getaway with your friends and family? Maybe you have something to celebrate a milestone birthday, or you just want to get together with old friends and have a fun time being with each other again.


If you love nature, food and adventure why not join us on our Find Your Wild Coastal Foraging adventure in Pembrokeshire Wales! We offer unforgettable luxury camping and glamping holidays that allow you to explore nature, forage for wild food, and create memories with the people you love.


Our all-inclusive packages include an expert guide, food for the weekend, and a choice of either camping or glamping accommodation -- plus our holidays are dog friendly too! Come experience Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay area with Top of the Woods' Find Your Wild Holidays today.


On a bright winter weekend in November Jon planned a surprise Pembrokeshire adventure for us, a coastal foraging course with the knowledgeable Craig Evans from Coastal Foraging.

Jon & Soo from Top of the Woods campsite on a coastal foraging experience

On a bright winter weekend in November Jon & I met up with Pembrokeshire's coastal foraging legend Craig Evans and his faithful Golden Retriever Llew (Welsh for Lion) from Welsh Coastal Foraging.


Together they are bringing coastal education and sustainability to the public with his Coastal Foraging Courses in an ethical and accessible way. He also shows the world how it's done through his own YouTube channel.


As foodies, (in Jon's case a lifelong obsession with all things food!) what could be better than heading out for a bit of beach foraging for the day. Craig expertise showed us what wonderful wild produce is available at different times of the year in different habitats. Plus, Jon, Dylan and I got to explore some new places in Pembrokeshire we hadn't been to yet - a complete win! win!

Top of the Woods Eco Luxury Glamping Campsite in Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay in Wales, UK - Wild Garlic
Digging up wild garlic in a Pembrokeshire woodland.

The day started with Craigs taking us to his secret Pembrokeshire locations to start our foraging adventure. We found wild garlic in the woods next to the beach. At this time of year, you need to know where to look for wild garlic as the plants have died back to bulbs, in readiness to pop up in spring. Wild garlic loves a shady and moist spot in the woods, and we needed a little to add to our beach feast for later.


After, gathering our wild garlic we headed off to Wisemans Bridge beach to start the coastal part of the forage. Where we met foraging guests that were joining us for the wild coastal foraging day.

Top of the Woods Eco Luxury Glamping Campsite in Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay in Wales, UK - Coastal Foraging Camping Holidays at Top of the Woods campsite in Wales
Wisemans Bridge Beach in Pembrokeshire.

Craig explained that summer is a great time to forage as there are many more plants to choose from, however even in winter you can still find tasty plants like sea radish, rock samphire and sea lettuce for your wild food table.

Top of the Woods Eco Luxury Glamping Campsite in Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay in Wales, UK - Coastal Foraging Holidays in Pembrokeshire at Top of the Woods campsite
Pembrokeshire sea radish.

Rock samphire growing along the beach edge is often found on many a fancy restaurant table!

Rock samphire growing wild

Craig is not just an expert in foraging, but he has a great knowledge of sustainable issues affecting the Pembrokeshire coastline and its local geology. He explained that the Pembrokeshire coast had once been part of the Caribbean coastline.


At low tide you could see the fossilised jungle floor and tree stumps from that period of history. Interesting stuff!! He even pointed out coal seams from the cliff face along Wisemans beach.

Top of the Woods Eco Luxury Glamping Campsite in Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay in Wales, UK - Coastal Foraging Holidays at Top of the Woods campsite in Wales
Wisemans Bridge cliff face, with seams of coal

Another great aspect is the Find Your Wild Coastal Foraging camping or glamping holiday is dog friendly too! Dylan the Top of the Woods campsite dog loved coming along for the day and he met his new bestie 'Llew', (which means lion in Welsh) Craig's handsome golden retriever.


Plus, all the glamping accommodation at Top of the Woods campsite in Pembrokeshire Wales is dog friendly!

Top of the Woods Eco Luxury Glamping Campsite in Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay in Wales, UK - Coastal Foraging Dog Friendly Holidays at Top of the Woods campsite in Wales
Dylan the Top of the Woods campsite dog and his new friend Llew

One of my favourite things I learned was how to forage for razor clams and they are super tasty too! First you find the little holes they create in the sand. Craig will show you what you need to look for exactly. They look like a figure of eight, then pour salt on the hole to bring them to the surface .......


...once they lunge out of the sand grab them firmly & pull them out slowly, another tasty addition to our beach feast later!

Top of the Woods Eco Luxury Glamping Campsite in Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay in Wales, UK - Coastal Foraging Holidays at Top of the Woods campsite in Wales
Foraging razor clams.

We foraged more delights, fresh mussels, limpets and cockles for our Pembrokeshire beach seafood lunch.

Top of the Woods Eco Luxury Glamping Campsite in Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay in Wales, UK - Coastal Foraging Holidays at Top of the Woods campsite in Wales
Freshly picked mussels

Prizing a limpet from its rock...

Top of the Woods Eco Luxury Glamping Campsite in Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay in Wales, UK - Coastal Foraging Holidays at Top of the Woods campsite in Pembrokeshire Wales
Limpets are tasy eaten raw rather than cooked, where they can be a bit chewy!

Jon digging up cockles on a Pembrokeshire Beach

Top of the Woods Eco Luxury Glamping Campsite in Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay in Wales, UK - Coastal Foraging Holidays at Top of the Woods campsite in Pembrokeshire Wales
Jon from Top of the Woods campsite in Pembrokeshire, foraging for cockles.

Now we have collected our Pembrokeshires natures bounty, its time to get the campfire lit, get warm and cook up our beach feast on the Swedish fire log!

Top of the Woods Eco Luxury Glamping Campsite in Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay in Wales, UK - Coastal Foraging Holidays at Top of the Woods campsite in Pembrokeshire Wales
Swedish campfire log and our foraged items

After being outside all day my hands had started to numb, so having the fire was warming the 'cockles of my heart', or in this case definitely the hands :-)

Top of the Woods Eco Luxury Glamping Campsite in Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay in Wales, UK - Coastal Foraging Holidays at Top of the Woods campsite in Pembrokeshire Wales
Swedish fire log to keep warm on the beach

Time to get the cook on! Good welsh butter, wild garlic, with cockles, limpets, mussels, razor clams, and two different types of snails. Time to eat!

Top of the Woods Eco Luxury Glamping Campsite in Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay in Wales, UK - Coastal Foraging Holidays at Top of the Woods campsite in Pembrokeshire Wales
Outdoor cooking on Pembrokeshire beach with our foraged items

Coastal foraging in Pembrokeshire, Wales is a great way to enjoy the beauty of the coast and learn about nature. With your knowledgeable tutor, you can explore foraging spots and uncover treasures sustainably! Our Find Your Wild coastal foraging camping or glamping weekends is perfect way to explore these sites.


These all-inclusive Find Your Wild Coastal Foraging holidays prices for glamping are between £275pp - £325pp (4 people sharing a glamping accommodation) or £225 if you are camping / or in a campervan.

  • Expert foraging guided experience.

  • 2 nights glamping accommodation or camping

  • Food for the weekend.

  • Add children for £30 per for the weekend.

  • Or make a long weekend for an extra £20pp (Friday – Monday)


Top tips for a great day of foraging

1. Go with an expert. You will learn so much more, be safe and forage legally.

2. Wrap up & bring layers or sun-cream & hats. Your experience will last approx. 5-6 hours.

3. Bring good shoes. You will be scrabbling over rocks.

4. Bring a bag for your foraged items. Be respectful with how much you take, don't take too much.







 

Top of the Woods Provides the Best Eco Luxury Glamping & Camping Holidays in Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay in Wales, UK. Sustainable Staycations. Beaches. Nature. Woodlands. Dog Friendly.


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