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
Ordered by Edward I in the 13th century, this impressive fortress was designed to quell the Welsh – on the very site Llywelyn the Great is buried
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.
A picture-postcard castle, this iconic fortress has been used in many films, including the James Bond epic The World Is Not Enough
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.
Inspired by the ancient Roman city of Constantinople, the grandeur of this 13th century castle simply takes your breath away
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
"I visited an abandoned Cold War base in England and discovered something astounding"
Forty years ago, Greenham Common was home to 96 nuclear warheads and era-defining protests. Now, butterflies have replaced the B-47s, as Dave Hamilton discovers on a walk with a Star Wars twist
This 1,000-year-old castle was ordered by William the Conqueror – and has been guarding our borders ever since, including playing a key role in WW2
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
This dramatic, medieval castle was once home to Owain Glyndŵr, the last native Prince of Wales, who tried to spark a rebellion that still stirs Welsh hearts
Visit Harlech Castle for spectacular views from the sandstone walls and towers towards Snowdonia's mountains
Perched high on an outcrop of volcanic rock, this iconic ancient castle will be instantly recognisable to fans of the Netflix series The Last Kingdom
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.
Designed to protect Devon from French invaders, this impressive fortress was built by a pirate nearly 700 years ago...
Dartmouth Castle has guarded the entrance to the River Dart for centuries. Visit the fortress today to learn all about its dramatic past.
Surrounded by the raging North Sea, on a rocky, 500-foot-high cliff-top this castle is a grand and dramatic ruin with a violent and murderous past
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.
This crumbling castle perched high on a cliff face is one of the world's most romantic ruins and inspired Game of Thrones' Greyjoy
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.
Hundreds of mysterious burial tombs were built across the English countryside 1,000 years before the Pyramids of Giza – why?
The Cotswold Severn barrows were built across England and Wales 1,000 years before the pyramids at Giza – but who built them and why?
From the duke who lived in underground tunnels to the jester who farted for a fortune: Discover history’s hidden eccentrics and oddballs
Five of the weirdest lives in history
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.
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