As summer slips away and the wildflowers fade, the meadow at Erwain Escapes takes on a quieter beauty. Golden grasses swaying, seed heads catching the light, and crisp mornings hinting at autumn’s arrival. This is the season when Carmarthenshire begins to reveal some of its richest secrets.
Step off the cabin deck and wander around the meadow and you’ll find the hedgerows heavy with berries and sloes, mushrooms nudging through damp soil along the river bank and the first nuts dropping to the ground. A short drive opens up even more with woodland walks, river valleys and coastal paths, all offering seasonal treasures.
What You Might Find
- Blackberries, sloes: Deep purple, sharp and sweet, ideal for crumbles, syrups, or a sloe gin infusion to enjoy by the fire later in winter.
- Wild mushrooms: From field and parasols to chanterelles, Carmarthenshire’s glades, woods and riverbanks are full of surprises, but only ever forage what you can confidently identify.
- Nuts: Cob, Hazelnuts and chestnuts bring the taste of autumn home in the simplest way.
- Wild herbs: Nettles, sorrel, and yarrow add a forager’s flourish to everyday meals.
Part of the magic of foraging is its unpredictability. Some days you’ll return with baskets of finds, others with just a handful of berries, but always with a sharper sense of the season around you.
Back at the Cabin
The real treat of foraging comes when you bring your finds home. Berries stirred into your porridge at breakfast, that wonderful smell of mushrooms sizzling in butter or added to the barbecue for a simple autumn feast, and chestnuts roasting as the evening sets in.
And if the weather calls you indoors, the cabin stove is ready to turn even a modest handful into something comforting, best enjoyed with a glass of something local.
A well-thumbed foraging guide in the cabin offers inspiration too, whether you’re planning your next walk or simply recognising the wild treasures you’ve already spotted.
And afterwards? A gentle evening: wood-burner glowing, a board game on the table, the dark sky stretching wide outside the window.
A Note of Care
While autumn’s bounty is tempting, not every wild plant is safe to eat. If you’re new to foraging, a guided walk is the most rewarding way to learn. Local expert Craig Evans, one of Wales’ most renowned foragers, runs courses along the Carmarthenshire coast and beyond, ideal for both beginners and seasoned gatherers. Another wonderful option is the foraging courses at Glynhir Mansion, where 220 acres of grassland, woodland and riverside make a superb setting to discover the edible treasures of spring and autumn alike.
Slow Days, Wild Finds
Foraging is about so much more than just food; it’s about getting outside and truly noticing the world around you. It’s the gleam of a chestnut underfoot, the first mushroom cap breaking through moss, or a hedgerow heavy with berries. These small discoveries can stop you in your tracks, filling you with a quiet sense of wonder and a gentle reminder to slow down and breathe.
Autumn at Erwain Escapes is a season of simple pleasures and a slower pace: mist rising over the meadow and clinging to the hilltops in the morning, crisp walks beneath golden leaves, evenings tucked up by the fire. Add a little foraging to the mix, and the season feels all the richer.
Escape to Carmarthenshire’s quieter season, where crisp walks and cosy fireside evenings are waiting.
