preview for Coastal Foraging in Carmarthenshire, Wales

During a staycation in Carmarthenshire, Wales, Country Living went coastal foraging to learn about local wildlife, sustainable seafood collection and how to cook a waste-free lunch on the beach.

Carmarthenshire, Wales, is home to both long, stretching beaches and high, textured mountains, from Carmarthen Bay in the south to the Western Brecon Beacons and Cambrian Mountains in the north.

On a recent trip to Carmarthenshire, we took advantage of those wide, shallow beaches and went coastal foraging along the south coast. Lead by Craig Evans of Coastal Foraging with Craig Evans, and his Golden Retriever Llew (which means 'lion' in Welsh), we got up early to reach Carmarthen Bay whilst the tide was at its furthest point out, at around 9am.

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Country Living
Llew staring lovingly at our foraged mussels

The general rule is: the lower the tide, the more there is to forage. It wasn't an extreme low tide that day, but Craig ensured us we would still be able to collect some large mussels. Lobster, crabs and razor clams also thrive in Carmarthen Bay if you are lucky enough to find them during the right tide.

We walked as far out into the bay as possible to find the biggest mussels. The ones further out are exposed to the sun for less time, meaning they have had more time to feed on the nutrients in the water and grow larger. They really were some of the largest we've ever seen. Our foraging experience continues below the rules and regulations...




Is coastal foraging sustainable?

"Coastal foraging can only ever be sustainable if not too many people forage in the same area," says Craig. "I only take my customers to areas that have abundant species to forage and are clean and not polluted.

"Carmarthen Bay is a fertile shallow bay and mussels grow extremely well here. There is vast areas of prime mussels growing and people have foraged here for centuries, if not millennia, without having an effect on stocks, birds and other wildlife that depend on them for food."

Craig also highlights the positives aspects of coastal foraging, including:

  • It helps to educate people about nature, wildlife and habitats.
  • It's good for physical and mental health.
  • A coastal forager can be the eyes and ears of environmental coastal issues, regularly surveying the area, drawing attention to any pollution or over harvesting and reporting any dead or injured sea creatures.

Coastal foraging is sustainable, providing the strict rules and regulations are followed at all times. Here they are...

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Mussel beds, Carmarthen Bay


6 things to know before coastal foraging

1. Take advice from the local tourist board

We arranged our trip through Discover Carmarthenshire who were able to recommend experts, hidden gems and lunch recommendations. It's important to take advice from locals and is often the best way to have the most authentic experience.

2. Check the tide

It's important to check the tidal forecast before going out on any beach. The UK is home to one of the biggest tidal ranges in the world and there are many variants that determine how high or low it will be – so be prepared. Read the BBC Tide Tables here.

2. Always go foraging with an expert

Not only will your expert guide know the nature of the tide, they will most importantly know what is and is not safe to eat. This is of the upmost importance as some species are poisonous to humans. Do some research into foraging guides in your desired area.

3. Never take more than you need

To help coastal wildlife thrive, never remove more than you need. The Wildlife and Countryside Act states that it is legal for people to forage food for personal consumption only. This means you can only remove a reasonable amount – enough for you and your family for one meal.

READ ACT IN FULL

4. Only take fully developed animals

It is vital that you adhere strictly to official size limits. This means that all foraged animals must have achieved adulthood and have had the opportunity to reproduce.

5. Respect nature and your surroundings

Be careful not to destroy any habitats whilst foraging.

6. Be respectful of private land

To forage on private land, you must get the land owner's permission.

7. Do not forage abroad without seeking local advice

We can not assume that was is safe to eat and legal to collect in the UK is the same in every country. Check local guidelines before foraging on holiday.




Back to our story...

After collecting our mussels, we moved on to Pendine Sands to collect some edible seaweed and snails. Famous as the location for many land speed world record attempts, the seven mile stretch of beach is also home to an array of caves and rock pools providing habitats for many marine wildlife species.

Craig reminded us that there aren't any poisonous seaweed varieties in the UK, but some are more pleasant to eat than others. Common favourites are laver, dulse, kelps, gut weed, sea lettuce and Irish moss. Craig's personal favourite is pepper dulse, which is best eaten raw and has hints of garlic, mild chilli and truffle.

On the way to our lunch location (a small, undiscovered beach further around the coast), we stopped to forage some wild garlic and leeks to add as greenery and seasoning to our mussels.

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Country Living

Cooking time...

An expert in al fresco cooking, Craig had everything we needed to make lunch. He brought with him:

  • Swedish candle – a cylinder of wood used for outdoor cooking like a natural, zero-waste, disposable BBQ
  • Pan
  • Knife
  • Chopping board
  • Clean water
  • Butter and coconut oil
  • Metal spoon
  • Metal bowls

First of all, we washed our foraged mussels while the Swedish candle got up to temperature. Next, we heated some butter and coconut oil before incrementally adding the garlic and leeks, mussels, a dash of water and some extra garlic flowers. Then the lid went on and we waited for the mussels to cook.

Whether it was the fresh sea air, the satisfaction of having foraged for the ingredients ourselves, or the fact that the mussels were as fresh as they could possibly be, they were absolutely delicious – and nothing beats cooking and eating outdoors.

This method of sourcing and cooking food is not suitable for everyone, but there is certainly plus points:

✅ Zero food waste

✅ Zero packaging waste

✅ Zero single-use plastic

✅ Organic

✅ Free

✅ Sustainable

Where we stayed...

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

We stayed at the Glangwili Mansion in Carmarthenshire, a characterful B&B in the countryside with all the peace and quiet you could ask for. Owned and run by a welcoming and helpful local couple, the B&B is a 15 minute drive from Carmarthen town, making it a perfect location to take advantage of the area's many activities.

Rooms at Glangwili Mansion in Carmarthenshire are available from £115 based on two sharing a double room on a B&B basis. BOOK NOW

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Country Living
Glangwili Mansion

Where we ate...

As well as enjoying our foraged lunch on the beach, we also enjoyed a meal at Mansion House Llansteffan. Positioned on the top of a hill, the grounds look out over the Towy Estuary – the most beautiful view that reminds us just how stunning Wales can be. BOOK NOW

A great breakfast or lunch option is The Warren in Carmarthen town centre. The family-run, dog-friendly cafe is all about sustainability and prides itself on locally-sourced, seasonal and organic produce. You can expect warming soups, hearty sandwiches and a wide selection of vegan goodies. MORE INFO

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