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Autumn Mushroom Foraging in the Lake District near Cockermouth
October 18 @ 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
£47
Wild Fungi & Plants in Ancient Woodland
- Date: Sunday 18 October 2026
- Time: 13:00 to 17:00 (4 hours)
- Location: near Cockermouth, in the western Lake District. We’ll send you the exact meeting point in advance. You’ll need to drive or get a lift, and there’s free street parking.
- Cost: £47 per person · £30 concessionary (3 places)
- Spaces: 20, including 3 concessionary places
- Walk: about 5km, with some steep sections
Overview
Have you ever wondered about the mushrooms you pass on a walk? Are they poisonous, or are they tasty? Autumn is the season every mushroom forager waits for, and this ancient woodland in the western Lake District is a wonderful place to start learning.
I’ll guide you through the woodland as the leaves start to carpet the floor, showing you how to safely identify wild fungi and plants, and how to use them. And there’s a warming wild mushroom soup, so you don’t just learn what’s out there, you get to taste it too. Expect plenty of wild foods you’ll never see in the shops, but that you’ll want in your diet.
What you’ll learn
- How to safely identify wild mushrooms and fungi, and the key features to check every time
- How to tell tasty edible fungi from poisonous look-alikes
- Edible autumn plants growing in and around the woodland
- How to use what you find in the kitchen
- How wild fungi and plants have traditionally been used, and the basics of preparing them at home
- How to forage responsibly, so there’s plenty left for wildlife and for next year
What’s included
- A guided 4-hour woodland foraging walk with Bex Northman, Member of the Association of Foragers
- A warming seasonal soup enhanced with wild mushrooms, made with Bex’s famously mouth-watering cooking
Practical details
- Terrain: about 5km through ancient woodland, with some steep sections. A reasonable level of fitness is needed, and we’ll go at a steady pace with plenty of stops.
- What to bring: comfortable, sturdy, waterproof boots; a waterproof jacket and warm layers; water and a snack.
- Weather: we don’t cancel for rain, so please dress for it.
- Facilities: there are no toilets at this location, but plenty of options for “wild wees”.
- Getting there: you’ll need to drive or get a lift, so please car share if you can. There’s free street parking. We’ll send you the exact meeting point, a map pin and parking details in advance.
- Dietary needs: please tell us about any allergies or dietary needs when you book.
- Realistic expectations: nature doesn’t work to a script, so we can’t promise exactly what we’ll find. What we can promise is that there will be lots to learn.
Book your spot
Places are limited to 20 to keep the group small enough for everyone to see, ask questions and learn properly.
We also hold 3 concessionary places at £30 for anyone who needs them, no questions asked. Just choose the concessionary option when you book. Read how concessionary pricing works.
I’m Bex Northman, a Member of the Association of Foragers. I teach foraging and herbal remedy making across Cumbria, Northumberland and the Scottish Borders. More about me →
A note on safety. Never eat any wild mushroom, fungus or plant unless you’re completely certain of its identification. Some fungi are deadly, and many have poisonous look-alikes. Any uses discussed on the walk are shared for educational purposes only and reflect traditional use. Wild & Weeds does not provide medical advice, and Bex is not a medical herbalist. Consult a healthcare professional before using any wild plant or fungus if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a health condition.