Dave Hamilton
Dave Hamilton is an author, freelance writer, tutor, photographer, forager and explorer of historic sites and natural places. As a freelance nature writer, he has contributed to BBC Wildlife, BBC Countryfile, Walk Magazine and the Guardian. He has authored six books, including Amazon top ten best-seller, Wild Ruins and the comprehensive foraging guide, Where the Wild Things Grow. His books have been translated into five different languages selling over 75,000 copies worldwide. Dave has taught foraging to Ben Fogle and Mary Berry and led Guardian Masterclasses on the subject. In his spare time, he walks, cycles and occasionally performs as a stand-up comic. Photo credit: Justin Garrick, Instagram @beige_and_mundane
Recent articles by Dave Hamilton
10 deadliest mushrooms in the world
You definitely don't want to find these mushrooms on your dinner plate
How do birds eat berries that poison us?
Why are some plants and fungi safe for some animals yet toxic to others? We explain
Black truffle guide: what they are, where to find them and recipe ideas
What is a black truffle, can you find them in the UK, when are they in season and how can you use them? Find out all this and more with our guide to this prized fungus
Britain's best classic seaside attractions you don't want to miss
The UK coastline is famed for its classic seaside resorts, each with its own vintage attractions. Here's our top 10 – from boats and big wheels to trains and ice cream.
Roche Rock, Cornwall: what to see and do
Delve into the history and folklore of an astonishing ruined chapel in the ‘Cornish Alps’ on a walk to Roche Rock, Cornwall
Step into a world of Vikings, Normans and clan chieftains with these 10 must-visit coastal castles
Discover 10 of the UK's most dramatic coastal castles, from Conwy Castle in Wales and Dunluce in Northern Ireland, to Tintagel in England and Eilean Donan in Scotland.
Dunnottar Castle: history, facts and how to visit
Perched high on a rocky peninsula in North-East Scotland, with sheer cliffs rising up from the crashing North Sea on all its sides but one, Dunnottar is perhaps the most dramatically located castle in the entire British Isles.
Harlech Castle: history, facts and how to visit
Visit Harlech Castle for spectacular views from the sandstone walls and towers towards Snowdonia's mountains
Dunluce Castle: history, Game of Thrones and how to visit
Find out all about Dunluce Castle – including things to do at the site, ticket prices and the history of the castle – with our visitor's guide.
Dartmouth Castle: history, ferry and how to visit
Dartmouth Castle has guarded the entrance to the River Dart for centuries. Visit the fortress today to learn all about its dramatic past.
Dover Castle: history, tunnels and how to visit
Explore Dover Castle's impressive network of tunnels that run deep beneath the Kent fortress then take a walk along the famous white cliffs – the perfect day out for history lovers
Caernarfon Castle: history, facts and how to visit
Built in the 13th to 14th centuries, imposing Caernarfon Castle was designed to be a show of Edward I’s imperial strength. Explore this fortress on the north-west coast of Wales with our visitor's guide
Eilean Donan Castle: history, facts and how to visit
Eilean Donan, which means the Island of Donnán, is one of the most photographed places in Scotland and has appeared in a number of films, including Highlander. Visit the fortress, learn about its past and admire the grandeur of the mountains that surround it.
Conwy Castle: history, facts and how to visit
Conwy is exceptionally well preserved and one of the most complete castles in the Wales. Explore the castle in the centre of Conwy town, then head to Conwy Mountain for an aerial view of the fortress.
Bamburgh Castle: history, beach, The Last Kingdom, and how to visit
Find out everything you need to know about Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland – including its history, filming, ticket prices, opening times and how to explore Bamburgh Beach – with our visitor's guide.
Tintagel Castle: history, legend and how to visit
Step into Arthurian folklore with a visit to Cornwall’s rough and rocky north coast and Tintagel Castle, one of Britain's most iconic ruins
British wild mushroom and fungi guide: how to identify and where to find
The UK's woods, riverbanks and meadows are home to roughly 15,000 species of wild mushrooms. Find out how to identify the most common species found in Britain, plus essential safety tips on which mushrooms are edible or poisonous with our British fungi guide.
Dunnottar Castle walk, Aberdeenshire
From Cromwell’s mighty armies to the North Sea’s pounding waves, this castle has been under siege since its foundations were laid
Walk: Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye
Visible throughout most of the Isle of Skye, the Old Man of Storr is one of the most iconic rock formations in the British Isles.
Bracket fungi guide: common UK species and identification
Learn how to identify some of the most common species of bracket fungi, or polypore, found in the UK with this BBC Countryfile Magazine forager's guide.
Walk: High Ash Farm and Venta Icenorum, Norfolk
Visit the farm of BBC Radio Norfolk presenter Chris Skinner, who has spent the past 10 years transforming a struggling plot of land near Norwich into a wildlife haven
Walk: Brough of Birsay, Orkney
July is a great time of year to spot puffins on UK shores, particularly on the islands of Orkney where these charming birds once shared the cliffs with Picts and Vikings
Walk: Leigh Woods, Bristol and Somerset
Visit several iconic Bristol sights – Clifton Suspension Bridge, the Camera Obscura and Leigh Woods
Day out: St Mary's East Somerton, Norfolk
An evil witch left the walls of St Mary’s impaled by a huge oak tree – or perhaps it was the less foreboding work of a stockpiling squirrel? Either way, nature now dominates the medieval ruin
