The Coastal Forager – Buy the Book

£28.00

A guide to the edible opportunities of North Atlantic coastlines; covering coastal plants, seaweed, shellfish and more, from professional foraging guide and wild-food chef Mark Williams.

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Description

A 272 page guide to the edible opportunities of North Atlantic coastlines; covering coastal plants, seaweed, shellfish and more, from professional foraging guide and wild-food chef Mark Williams.

If you’ve enjoyed the information on this website and fancy owning a beautifully illustrated and photographed even deeper dive coastal foraging, this is the book for you! Learn more about the author here.

Release date: 5th March 2026 (delivery date may be up to 2 weeks after this)

Pre order a signed copy direct from the author now – you can request personalised messages and alternative delivery addresses during checkout, by using the “Order notes” section.

Price is for UK deliveries only. If you would like to order a copy for delivery elsewhere in the world, please email mark@gallowaywildfoods.com with your order, and i’ll get back to you with a postage price.

 


To the knowing eye, our coasts are an incredible source of nutrition and flavours – from aromatic maritime herbs and succulent coastal vegetables to umami-rich seaweeds and gourmet shellfish. Join Mark on an intimate gastronomic and ecological journey through a dazzling range of coastal habitats, learning how to safely identify, considerately harvest and creatively cook coastal wild foods.

The coast is not just one habitat, but a complex tapestry of ecosystems, woven by the sea. Structured around these distinct habitats – salt marsh, shingle, cliffs, sandy beach and the intertidal zone – the book leads us on a detailed exploration of an incredible and diverse range of edible species, with fascinating insights into their ecological roles and ethnobotanical history. Featuring a mix of stunning illustrations from Sofia Iva and informative and evocative photographs, we learn how to safely, legally, considerately and deliciously connect with them. Through recipes, seasonal tips, preserving guides, and fascinating personal stories from Mark’s own wild and rugged coastal home in Scotland, you will discover the flavours, nourishing abundance and fascinating stories of our shorelines.

Some of the species covered in the book are: sea buckthorn, beach rose, sea sandwort, sea beet, wild thyme, marsh samphire, wrack, sea lettuce, kelp, limpets, cockles, oysters and mussels.

The geographical range of the book includes the temperate coasts of the North Atlantic bound by the eastern seaboard of North America from the Carolinas northwards through Canada, and the Atlantic and North Sea coasts of Europe from Scandinavia down to Northern Spain. There is considerable variation in species and their abundance across this vast area and, I have noted this in the text for each species and included localized common names.

 

The book is organised by different coastal habitats, with each section opening with an exploration of the character of the habitat.

 

Over 60 species are explored in detail, with full colour botanical illustrations showing key characteristics

 

In addition to the illustrations, luscious colour photographs help you tune into the growth habits of the featured species. Detailed text takes you through potential hazards/look-alikes, and efficient-but-sustainable harvesting strategies, based on Mark’s 35 years as a forager and guide.

Explore over 40 recipes and 100’s of eating/preservation suggestions

 

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