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 into 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)
Cover Price: £28.00
Pre order a signed copy at cover price direct from the author now, with free postage – I hugely appreciate direct orders, as I make more than my standard (tiny!) commission on books I sell directly. Its the best way to support my work and free content. You can request personalised messages during checkout, by using the “Order notes” section.
(Price is for UK deliveries only. If you would like to pre-order a copy direct from the author 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. If you purchase an overseas delivery without contacting me first, i’ll be in touch in late February with postage costs. If you change your mind I can refund less Paypal costs).
Alternatively you can pre-order the book (unsigned) from online retailers. Pre-ordering is extremely helpful as it affects how sellers order, distribute and promote the book.
Bookshop.org – Recommended – a great way to order online AND support real world local book shops.
Waterstones – Pre-ordering here will mean they distribute more copies to their real-world book shops.
Barnes and Noble (US) – For US readers – copies will be shipped directly from the US.
Amazon – Pre-ordering with the big beast still really helps with promotion and sales of the book.
“The book we have all been waiting for!”
– Liz Knight, author of ‘Forage’, ‘Buds and Blossoms’ and ‘Wild Drinks’.
“The Coastal Forager is a sumptuous celebration of the wild foods found in abundance on our shores. Mark’s deep knowledge and love of these plants and seaweeds is distilled into a beautiful, authoritative guide, illustrated with both detailed botanical illustrations and useful photographs of everything in situ. The text reflects his quiet mastery of the subject with humour and an obvious passion for foraging. And, I can assure you – having tasted them over the years – that each recipe is a gourmet’s delight.”
– Mo Wilde, author of ‘The Wilderness Cure’ and ‘Wild Food’
The book is broken down into coastal habitats, with deep ecological and ethnobotanical explorations of each niche
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 North Atlantic shorelines.
Detailed explorations of safe, legal, responsible and considerate foraging, with all a beginner needs to know and lots more
The book covers the European and North American coasts of the North Atlantic
Includes over 120 pages on 35 coastal plants and herbs, with detailed botanical illustrations, “at-a-glance” notes on distribution, similar species, season etc
Detailed text explores the ecological role, ethnobotanical history, sustainable harvesting strategies, recipes and eating/preservation suggestions of individual species, accompanied by detailed full-colour photography
Includes over 70 pages on seaweeds, including their food uses and medicinal properties and deep dives into 20 of the most rewarding species, with recipes, considerate harvesting strategies and ecological information
Includes 37 pages on the most accessible shellfish for foragers, with detailed information on safe harvesting, avoiding pollution, depuration, recipes and preservation