Autumn turns forests golden and brings one of the loveliest activities to combine with motorhome travel: mushroom foraging. Waking up in a pine wood or a beech forest, heading out with a basket first thing, and coming back to your van to cook what you have gathered is a great autumn plan. But foraging demands respect, safety and knowledge of the rules. Here's the guide, with caution front and centre.
Where and when
Autumn (after the rains) is the prime season. Classic foraging areas: pine forests, mountain woodlands in the Pyrenees and the north, Mediterranean hills for saffron milk caps... Every forest and climate produces its own species. Getting out early and recent rainfall are the keys.
Non-negotiable: permits and rules
Mushroom picking is regulated in many areas: some woodlands require a foraging permit, with quotas per person and day, and protected areas where it is banned. Find out about and get the right permit before picking anything. [Note: check the foraging rules and permits for the area you're visiting.]
Safety: the golden rule
The most important rule of foraging: never eat a mushroom you are not 100% sure is edible. Some deadly species look like edible ones. If in any doubt, don't eat it, and check with experts or a mycological society. Every autumn there are serious poisonings from mix-ups; your safety comes first. Carry an identification guide and, better still, go out with someone experienced.
Responsible foraging
- Wicker basket (lets spores fall) and a knife; don't pull mushrooms up by the base.
- Only pick what you'll eat and respect the quotas.
- Don't damage the forest or the mushrooms you leave behind (they're part of the ecosystem).
- Store what you gather properly in the fridge (see storing food).
In short
Autumn foraging is a great plan by camper, with safety (never eat a doubtful mushroom), permits and respect for the forest front and centre. The step to take today: pick a foraging area, find out about permits and quotas, head out early with a basket and a guide, and never eat a mushroom you're not completely sure of; when in doubt, ask the experts. Combine it with autumn routes.