If you’re looking for a deeper connection with the natural world, it’s time to embark on a foraging expedition. The practice of gathering food from the earth is age-old (‘forage’ is a 14th-century term that means “fodder for animals”) and autumn is the perfect season to revel in nature’s bounty.
Better still, ditching the containers and wrappers comes with a multitude of health benefits. Contact with soil triggers the release of serotonin, aka the ‘happy hormone’, while freshly-picked food is higher in nutrients than its pre-packaged counterparts.
Some foraging experts even claim that the simple act of plucking a fruit, smelling it, and then eating it taps into our ancient hunter-gatherer history, triggering a “harvest high” – something everyone should experience at least once!
Whether you’re a first-time forager or a seasoned food-seeker, this incredible list of unique foraging-friendly properties is perfect for you. Here you can pick and pluck everything from mushrooms and berries to nuts, apples and pears… nature’s menu is almost never-ending.
You’ll also discover a myriad of autumnal foraging options, including guided on or off-site trips with bookable dates, or self-led gathering treks in the far-reaching meadows and woodland. In fact, ‘picking’ a favourite could prove something of a challenge!
Author: Nina Jervis-Green
Main image: Wildflower Wood at Beersheba Farm
Ripon, Yorkshire, England
Wild luxury glamping at its most naturally breathtaking, in cosy wooden cabins nestled on a friendly, family-run farm in the Yorkshire Dales.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: Up to 4 per cabin
We have LOADS of foraging right on site. We also work with a company called Wild Food UK who run amazing guided days of foraging here – places are currently available on 21st September and 2nd October.
Llanfyllin, Powys, Wales
Quirky, luxurious hot tub retreats, secluded on a historic farm in mid-Wales with friendly resident animals and spectacular Vyrnwy valley views from soothing gardens.
Bedrooms: 1 per unit
Sleeps: 2
We offer on-site, self-led foraging across 18 rural acres. You can collect mushrooms, apples, hazelnuts, elderberries, blackberries, sloe berries and rosehips as you re-connect with nature – bliss!
St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland
Luxury, dog-friendly shepherd’s huts for couples and families, peacefully tucked away in the picture-perfect grounds of a historic St. Andrews hotel.
Our kitchen brigade takes daily foraging trips to our own garden and woodland, while if you go for a walk in September or October there is a wealth of wild food ready to be transformed into jams, soups, cordials, and liqueurs! Autumn is the best time when the hedgerows and trees are heavy with ripening fruits and nuts - not just old favourites like brambles and sloes, but vitamin C-packed rosehips and sweet chestnuts which are great for pestos and stuffings.
Armathwaite, Cumbria, England
A nostalgic Art Deco-styled replica railway carriage and a dog-friendly brake van, both peacefully secluded in a sheep-dotted Cumbrian field where life is slow, simple, and beautiful.
Two half-day guided foraging courses are available from our glamping site with Wild Food UK on 26th September and 17th October. Walking from our site with an expert guide, you will identify, collect, cook, and eat your foraged food.
Rothiemay, The Highlands, Scotland
A sumptuous collection of Scottish Highland hot tub retreats for couples and families on a sweeping, heritage-rich estate surrounded by 900 acres of peaceful nature in the Deveron Valley.
With an abundance of free-range wildlife including cute red squirrels and Highland Coos, we love foraging for mushrooms, pinecones, and wildflowers. Our Walled Garden is bursting with seasonal harvests and nearby attractions include autumnal pumpkin patches.
Blakeney, Gloucestershire, England
A soulful and sustainable mid-century haven with an al fresco soaking tub and lush foliage inside and out, peacefully secluded on a hillside in the Forest of Dean.
In our gardens, hazelnuts, quince, apples and pears can be found, along with medicinal herbs for those who know what to look for! Just a short wander away, the woodland and hedgerows are abundant with blackberries, elderberries, sloes, hips and chanterelle mushrooms after the rain has fallen.
Kilmartin, Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Exclusive rule of an authentic, sustainable, and exquisitely restored castle that dates all the way back to the 16th century, located within Scotland’s most concentrated collection of archaeological sites.
Bedrooms: 5
Sleeps: 10 exclusive
Heather, our resident foraging guide, brings the landscape to life on her guided walks. Your fascinating journey will end with a bespoke picnic celebrating the flavours of the land – from freshly foraged delights to inventive wild cocktails.
North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
A lovingly crafted, dog-friendly woodland retreat, deliciously secluded in a hidden corner of Scotland with a sandy beach just minutes away.
We have lots of wild goodies to forage for at the moment, with the cabin’s own private supply of blackberries in the garden. The woods and surrounding farm tracks have a plentiful supply of mushrooms, rosehips, elderberries, and yet more blackberries!
Skinnskatteberg, Västmanland, Sweden
Welcome to "Sweden's most primitive hotel" - Kolarbyn Eco Lodge, a peaceful gathering of charcoal huts surrounded by lush spruce forest.
Bedrooms:
Sleeps: 2-6 per hut
Guests at Kolarbyn Eco Lodge can forage for chanterelles – we call them Sweden’s “forest gold” – and blueberries growing right outside your charcoal hut. Fresh berries often end up on morning pancakes cooked over the open fire!
St Ives, Cornwall, England
Innovative glamping pods with stargazing roofs, secluded in a leafy hilltop hideaway with stunning views of St Ives Bay.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: 4 or 5 per pod
Escape to a beautiful coastal woodland and delight in the fruits of autumn foraging. Wander beneath the leafy canopy in search of wild berries, or join a local foraging walk to discover the edible treasures of the Cornish coast.
Doncaster, Nottinghamshire, England
Two stylish and romantic couples' cabins, each with their own private hot tub, soothingly secluded on a magical Nottinghamshire woodland site that features a wood-burning sauna and a barbecue cabin.
Bedrooms: 1 per cabin
Sleeps: 2 per cabin
We offer guided foraging tours with a bit of history thrown in – our guide Dylan is a keen forager, pagan and historian. On-site we have an assortment of apples as well as pears, plums, damsons, hazelnuts, walnuts, sloes, and of course hawthorn, while off-site you can pick wild garlic, berries, and sweet chestnuts.
Presteigne, Radnorshire, Wales
Welcome to Wild Meadow - a heavenly spot of orchards and meadows on the English-Welsh border, home to the eco-friendly Meadow Cottage and Shepherd's Hut.
Wild Meadow is a haven for foraging! Enjoy picking apples from the orchards, or raspberries, tayberries, and blackberries from the soft fruit area. There are also swathes of wildflowers left to go to seed which you can collect for your own wildflower meadow.
Stamford, Lincolnshire, England
A lovingly-restored 18th century watermill with five elegant cottages for 2-30 guests, dog-friendly and secluded right beside the River Glen with private patios, ample on-site leisure facilities, and grazing llamas close by
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: 2-30
We offer 28 acres of fields and woodland for the finest self-guided on-site foraging. Blackberries, elderberries, rosehips, walnuts, hazelnuts and much more – then scrump in the orchard for different varieties of apples.
Kilmeaden, County Waterford, Ireland
An eclectic collection of hand-crafted cabins with private hot tubs, bell tents and historic lodges, magically secluded in the vast, idyllic gardens of an 18th century estate in Ireland’s Ancient East.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: 4
Led by our knowledgeable guides, you can learn about hedgerow foraging and the diverse plant species that thrive within our vast, beautiful grounds.
Craswall, Herefordshire, England
Lovingly-crafted, adults-only havens with luxurious private facilities (including dreamy outdoor bathing!) secluded amongst rolling Herefordshire countryside.
Bedrooms: 1 per unit
Sleeps: 2
Dive into the hedgerows and gorge yourself on blackberries, or gather your own harvest and create all manner of autumn elixirs! Sloe berries, black elderberries, and hawthorn are all right here for the taking.
Ruston, North Yorkshire, England
A boutique, design-led retreat with a vintage equestrian theme, set on a private estate in the North York Moors National Park that welcomes dog and horse owners alike.
We have a range of foraging opportunities on our 20 acres of grass and woodland, with an abundance of elderflower berries, blackberries, gorse flowers, sloe berries and field mushrooms. We are regular producers of home-made elderflower cordial, specialist butters, and mouth-watering fruit crumbles!
Chathill, Northumberland, England
A laid-back and lovely Northumberland beach retreat, with a relaxing sun room and a dune-sheltered garden that boasts direct access to the beautiful Beadnell Bay.
Immerse yourself in Northumberland’s wild countryside, where hedgerows brim with blackberries and coastal paths are perfect for foraging adventures. Gather wild treats, breathe in the salty sea air, and return to the cottage for a cosy evening feast.
Elgin, Moray, Scotland
A sumptuous, "coorie"-infused eco-cabin powered by nature, secluded on a historic Moray estate and boasting magnificent views of Duffus Castle.
Here at Duffus Estate we have plenty of nature's autumnal bounty to keep foragers busy. A short 10-minute walk from the cabin brings you to the main hub of our estate which brims with elderberries, hawthorn berries, rosehips, rowan berries, brambles, damsons and more.
Gayton Thorpe, Norfolk, England
The Cattle Sheds is a stunning Green Tourism Gold-awarded architect-designed barn conversion, ideal for luxurious large group breaks in rural Norfolk.
We have fabulous mature hedgerows around our farm tracks and on green lanes, just a short walk away, all of which you are welcome to explore. Bursting with sloe berries, blackberries, crab apples, rose hips and elderberries, they are a forager’s dream!
Penrith, Cumbria, England
Take a pew in a divinely-restored, Grade II-listed 17th century church with expansive and soul-stirring rural views, peacefully secluded in a ‘hidden gem’ Lake District village close to Ullswater.
Our quiet country lanes are brimming with autumn treasures, so that even the shortest stroll can turn into a little foraging adventure. You’ll find blackberries ripe for crumbles, crab apples perfect for homemade jelly, and sloes ready to be steeped into gin.
Malton, North Yorkshire, England
A rustic and romantic retreat set within North Yorkshire farmland, ideal for first-time glampers and Wolds Way walkers.
We have three apple trees in our paddock which you are welcome to pick from, with herbs in the boxes outside the hut and even a few autumn raspberries. Outside of our gates just a few minutes’ walk away are hedgerows full of sloe berries, rosehips, brambles, apples and elderberries.
Walterstone, Herefordshire, England
A lovingly handcrafted, luxuriously off-grid treehouse with a dreamy copper bathtub for scenic bubble soaks, privately nestled among whispering trees on the edge of Herefordshire’s Golden Valley.
Guests are welcome to forage across our 18 acres, so take a basket and a wander! The season is rich with autumn’s bounty waiting to be picked, from apples, plums and pears to elderberries, sloes and blackberries.
Melrose, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Trace the footsteps of Sir Walter Scott in a grand group stay set across three luxurious floors, on an iconic Scottish Borders estate that breathes with history.
We invite guests to forage among hedgerows and orchards brimming with seasonal delights — blackberries, rosehips, crab apples, and sloe berries. Early in the season, rare heritage apples like Bloody Ploughman, White Melrose, and Stobo Castle offer a crisp, time-honoured taste of Scotland’s fruit-growing past.
Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, England
A former Cold War army trailer, lovingly transformed into a warm and welcoming shepherd's hut, complete with a wood-fired hot tub for off-grid comfort in rural Worcestershire.
We have apples, damsons, and blackberries to forage on site, while short walks offer hazelnuts, hips, and elderberries – a feast of nature.
Doune, Perthshire, Scotland
Five sumptuous, eco-friendly tree-treats with idyllic riverside views and a woodland sauna, magically nestled on the borders of the Trossachs National Park.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: 2 (+2) per treehouse
Our treehouses are situated among hundreds of acres of woods and river bank that can be explored within a short walk. Brambles, edible fungi, hazelnuts, chestnuts, elderberries, sloes, plums, crab apples, and blueberries are all readily findable right now.
Nr St Briavels, Gloucestershire, England
An ultra-luxurious, design-led and TV-featured treehouse-for-two, deliciously secluded amongst private woodland in the beautiful Wye Valley.
Our treehouse is secluded in an ancient woodland where many fungi grow (and those in the know can forage for them). There is an onsite orchard and wildflower meadow, where plums, apples, hazelnuts, sweet chestnuts, crab apples, and blackberries can be freely gathered. Our foraging expert Rob can also be booked to show you the edible plants and berries in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley area, with your foraged items cooked over fire.
Dittisham, Devon, England
An exquisite collection of luxury treehouses, a gleaming American airstream, and artisan shepherd's lodges, all with al fresco hot tubs and beautifully nestled in the scenic heart of Devonshire countryside.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: 1-5
Come and make the most of our abundant supply of apple and pears in our onsite orchard, along with rosehips, blackberries and sweet chestnuts around our 9-acre woodland site.
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