Truffle Hunting Experience Days

£195.00

2023-24 season complete. New season (September 2024 – January 2025 – now available for booking.

Gift vouchers and private truffle hunt options are available.

Please note, the only dogs to participate are our own. These days are NOT for your dog to learn how to find truffles.

Description

Would you like to experience the once-in-a-lifetime thrill of truffle hunting with dogs? Follow our truffle hounds through the woods and experience the surge of excitement as they locate this edible treasure. These tours have venues in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire. These comprise:

  • Introductory talk on truffles
  • Lunch
  • 2 hours truffle hunting
  • Afternoon tea including sampling of a truffle dish

Our truffle hunting experience days have made Countryfile Magazine’s list of the “Top 10 foraging courses“. You can read more about reporter’s experiences of these days:

Among the more well-known people who have truffle hunted with us are:

  • Dame Mary Berry (food writer, chef, baker and television presenter).
  • Angellica Bell (television and radio presenter, winner of Celebrity MasterChef 2017).
  • Chris Beardshaw (garden designer, plantsman and broadcaster (BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question / Gardeners’ World)).
  • Dan Saladino (journalist and presenter of The Food Programme on BBC Radio 4).

As well as the reviews, you can view a short film from an attendee about her day with us on one of the above tabs and also view a gallery of photos from these days.

Places on our truffle hunting experience days are £195. You can also buy truffle hunting gift vouchers.

We produce several newsletters per year with truffle news, events, goods, services and offers.


Locations

We offer truffle hunts at one location in each of Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. Current locations are below, they are subject to revision. At all locations, the days start at 10 AM and end at around 4:30 – 5 PM.

Truffle hunt location map

Our west Dorset days are based near the county town of Dorchester. Our meeting point is only 15 minutes from the spectacular Jurassic Coast. So, why not make a weekend of it and enjoy more of the area’s many sights and culinary delights. For those concerned about walking, the Dorset site slopes very gently.

Our west Wiltshire site is near the beautiful city of Salisbury yet only two and a half hours from central London. Please note that truffle hunting at our Wiltshire site will require walking on steep slopes.

The north Hampshire site is near Basingstoke, approximately one and a half hours drive from central London or is reachable in under an hour by train from Waterloo and a 15-minute walk. For walking, the Hampshire site is flat.

If you have any questions about these days, please check the “FAQ” tab above and contact us.


Important

Please note, the only dogs to participate are our own. These days are NOT for your dog to learn how to find truffles. If this is your aim, our truffle dog training workshops are for you, although much of the content is relevant so you know where and how to search and what signs to look for.


Booking

While we will truffle hunt on sites where we have previously found truffles, finding them cannot be guaranteed.

We ask you to read our booking terms and conditions. In booking places you are agreeing to these. Your attention is particularly drawn to the below extract:

If the booking is cancelled by the client(s) (for any reason) the following cancellation charge will arise:
  • Cancellation 2 weeks or more before the course, 50% of course fee payable
  • Cancellation less than 2 weeks before the course, 100% of course fee payable
And the client acknowledges that it is reasonable for such penalties to arise, given the need for The English Truffle Company to make preparations for a truffle hunting experience day substantially in advance of the day.
Customer Reviews

Joy & Sudhir

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London

Thoroughly enjoyed

…we both thoroughly enjoyed the truffle hunting on Saturday 13th January. This experience will be cherished for a long time.


Delle and Dickie

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Kent

Highly recommend it

We had a brilliant day with James and Jack, exploring woodland and digging up truffles!! James is super knowledgeable and welcoming and we’d highly recommend it as brilliant day out!


Tim

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Hampshire

A great day

Saturday was a great day out, beautifully organised, and Jack was a spectacular truffler.


Hua

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London

A fabulous day

Thank you so much for such a fabulous day! We learned so much about truffles and truffle hunting!


Emma

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Hove

Fantastic day out, highly recommend

I booked this as a surprise for my husband, not really knowing anything about truffles. James was very informative about all things truffle and Jack was amazing at finding them. I honestly didn’t expect to find any as I thought they were so elusive but was surprised when we found quite a few! We had a great lunch at a local pub chatting to fellow truffle hunters. Also delighted that we got to take some truffles home with us and we cooked a tagliatelle with truffle and Parmesan – delicious. Fantastic day out, highly recommend.


Gabby

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London

A highly recommended day out all around

A quite wonderful experience! James has an infectious enthusiasm for the topic of truffles. His introductory talk on the biology, ecology, and history of truffles and truffle hunting was engrossing.


Even as someone with many years of mushroom foraging experience, the talk was fascinating and I learnt a lot. I was nervous that the hunt itself could be a disappointment, fearing that the truffles would remain elusive however within minutes Jack, the Labrador, was excitedly pawing at the forest floor and soon the truffles began to emerge! I have never seen a group of people so focused on the forest floor, gently exploring for the warty treasures. Leaving with generous portion of fresh, English truffle was a real culinary bonus. A highly recommended day out all around.


Anne & Peter

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Dorset

The whole day was a great experience

Peter and I really enjoyed our day truffle hunting with you. We had truffle infused scrambled egg this morning with our daughter who bought us the experience. She is with us for a few days so it is lovely that she (a real foodie) can enjoy what we returned with. A pasta dish tonight. And we have bought Camemberts to infuse for a lunch with both daughters on Tuesday. We thought the whole day was a great experience. The balance of theory and practice was perfect. Food and drinks excellent.


Vienna & Joe

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Dorset

I’ve fallen in love with ferreting for the prized fungi!

It was like bingo. When I finally unearthed one, it’s not just the aroma that hits me, but the adrenaline. There they are: small, dirty, but full of delicious promise, in the palm of my hand. James showed us how to rake leaf litter with our fingers and replace it without damaging the mycelium (fungi roots), stressing the importance of sustainability and respecting the environment. It’s fair to say that I’ve fallen in love with ferreting for the prized fungi! 🖤🍄🍂🐾 


John

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Hampshire

I thoroughly recommend the truffle hunting day

A superb day packed with interest and fun. I learnt so much about the truffle and enjoyed watching Jack uncover a dozen of the beauties. What was also a pleasant surprise was the excellent lunch and tea when we were treated to generous amounts of fresh truffle shavings on top of truffled scrambled eggs. James is an excellent host and experienced truffle hunter, I thoroughly recommend the truffle hunting day.


Sue and Phil

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Cambridge

We would definitely recommend to others and indeed, we would do again.

What a fabulous fun day in Dorset this was! We learnt a great deal about truffles, experienced the excitement of digging for, and finding truffles in some great company with folk from all over England. We would definitely recommend to others and indeed, we would do again.


Deb and David

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Cambridgeshire

We have recommended this widely

A long-awaited Christmas present. Such a fun, informative and enjoyable day. We were truly astounded at the yield and quality of truffles (thanks to Jack of course!) We have recommended this widely among friends and family.


Jules

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Gloucestershire

A really wonderful day

Thank you both so much for a really wonderful day. I came with my friend Alan and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. We found the day very informative and learnt so much about truffles, thank you. Also have to comment on the lunch, it was really delicious and the two ladies who served us with refreshments were really welcoming.


Annabel and Chris

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Yorkshire

We thoroughly enjoyed it

A huge thank you for today, we thoroughly enjoyed it and learnt so much.


Carly and James

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Merseyside

Will be recommending it to everyone we know

Thank you for a wonderful day, we had such a fabulous time and will be recommending it to everyone we know.


Dmitry and Ekaterina

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London

A lovely weekend

Review

Thank you so much again for a lovely weekend. It was a great pleasure to have such a nice experience with you and Jack.


Laura

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Surrey

Great day and highly recommend to everyone.

An amazing day – James and Jack were lovely and it was great that James shared so much knowledge in an interesting and informative way. The truffle hunting itself was fun and interactive and the excitement of finding truffles was hard to contain across the group. Great day and highly recommend to everyone.


Madoc

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Oxfordshire

Fun and informative

A fun and informative day. Very well organised. Highly recommended.


Eva

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London

Fabulous adventure

Thank you so much for such a fabulous adventure, I had the most wonderful time. The farm and views were stunning and it was the perfect getaway from London.


Malcolm & Lindsay

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Bedfordshire

Will definitely recommend

We spent a fabulous day hunting for Black Gold – the first outing for September 2023 and one very happy James (and attendees) with the amazing haul meaning we could all take a precious nugget home! Everyone in our group got to use the special truffle tool to successfully excavate a truffle. We thoroughly enjoyed the truffle tasting at the end of the day too, from ground to plate, in less than an hour and the freshest truffle ever. Thank you James and of course Jack. We will definitely recommend this experience to our family, friends and clients.


Graham and Jenny

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Surrey

Absolutely brilliant

An absolutely brilliant all day experience with our group digging up >750gm of delicious Autumn truffles led by James and his great dog Jack. This day was beyond expectations and hugely enjoyed. We thoroughly recommend it in every respect and the organisation of the day superb.


Paul

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Oxford

Excellent

…thank you for the excellent Truffle Hunting Experience today. The whole event was so well organised and I really enjoyed every part of it and learnt a lot. The group of attendees gelled together well and it was very nice to get to know some of the other people over the course of the day. I certainly will be highly recommending these Experience Days to family and friends.


Caroline & John

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Surrey

Excellent

Had a wonderful day, very informative with good company. Highly recommended to Truffle fans!


Peter

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Surrey

Well-organized and fun

Thank you very much for a well-organized and fun day in Hampshire yesterday. Your knowledge of truffles is extraordinary and I learned far more than I already knew about truffles during your enthusiastic introduction at the beginning of the day. Your guidance and explanation during the hunt itself in the woods were clear and fun to learn how to sniff woodland soil in search of the exact spot. A lot of work indeed to find such a precious delicacy. The company of the group was great, but the star of the show was without a doubt your very active darling pet, master sniffer, Jack. After a pleasant drive home, I decided to cook today the most basic risotto dish I know with porcini and one of the truffles we found, so enabling us to enjoy the experience a little longer. Thank you again.


Lydia and Kerry

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London

Wonderful

What a wonderful way to spend the day on Saturday. We loved it all. The presentation, the style of the whole day and the sense of humour and funny stories. Not to mention the way in which we were given the opportunity to find the truffles and learn about them. Thanks too to the lovely farmers who hosted us – amazing food for lunch. What a memorable experience.


Darren

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Wiltshire

Wonderful

Thank you for an excellent day and the weather didn’t dampen our spirits (no pun intended). The whole day was so enjoyable and the tractor ride was an added bonus as was taking a lovely sample of the fresh truffles we found (well done Jack) home for our own little recipes.


Darren

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Wiltshire

Wonderful

Thank you for an excellent day and the weather didn’t dampen our spirits (no pun intended). The whole day was so enjoyable and the tractor ride was an added bonus as was taking a lovely sample of the fresh truffles we found (well done Jack) home for our own little recipes.


Anna & Marius

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Kent

Super-informative

What a lovely day we had in Dorset! James was super-informative; Jack (his black lab) was super-keen to please; and our group of 16 found lots of truffles, which we tasted and took home at the end of the day. With a combination of today and our previous truffle dog training with James, we have now managed to find our own truffles nearer home. Success!!


Laura and Harry

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New York

Super-informative

Thank you for an absolutely lovely truffle experience! Harry and I so enjoyed the whole day: The presentation, the stories, Jack!, the hunt, the lunch, the snacks.. and finding so many truffles! Thank you for a lovely adventure.


John

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Kent

Thoroughly enjoyable

A big thank you to James and Jack for a great day out. Despite James explaining that the heatwave hadn’t produced the best conditions, Jack the Lab managed to uncover a veritable store of treasures that we all shared over eggs back at the pub. James started the day with a very informative lecture and slide show, followed by the first woodland hunt, then lunch provided and a second hunt in the afternoon, then tea and cakes, truffle eggs to finish. A thoroughly enjoyable day out.


Jim

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Dorset

A great day

Thank you for such a great day last week. I told my wife that it was one of the best birthday presents I have ever had.


Chris & Nicky

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London

Really interesting and fun

Thanks for Saturday, it was a really interesting and fun day. We both had a great time, and I had a very nice carbonara yesterday!


Anne

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Somerset

Loved the experience

I was on the truffle hunting experience with my daughter Amy on Saturday and we loved the experience so much that I want to buy gift vouchers for my son and daughter-in-law as a Christmas present.


Peter

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Hampshire

Fabulous, entertaining and informative

Many thanks to James and Jack the awesome Truffle Hunter. Fabulous entertaining and informative day. Will never forget the surprise “Land Rover Experience”. Will definitely recommend this day.


Emily

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Lancashire

Great value for money

James held an excellent day, I would recommend this experience to anyone, it was great value for money and we had a fantastic day. Thank you James.


Phil

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Wiltshire

Great value for money

A quick thanks for such a great day on Saturday, really informative and exciting too, great to see Jack in action !! The venue was absolutely spot on and lovely hospitality.


An interesting day with an insight into truffles and truffle hunting. We will certainly view them in a different light now we better understand their origins and uses. We noted your comments about the aroma as the following day, the car smelt of truffles from the piece that we received from you. Richard and Linda

Thanks for the most fantastic day today James and lovely Jack. I found it fascinating and loved every minute. So very well organised but it felt so relaxed and friendly. A superb day. Kate

What a great day out! The highly knowledgeable, passionate and attentive James taught us much both in his well-researched presentation and in the woods with Jack. We did find plenty of truffles to underline the point of the day and departed with samples. Plenty of coffee and a cracking pub lunch. All in all, exceptionally well organised and delivered. Loved it. Chris

Thank you James and Jack. I had a great experience truffle hunting from the fabulous host to the food. Starting in the amazing old barn meeting some interesting and lovely people to share the day with. It was a very wet day but this didn’t stop us. Great day – highly recommended it. Barrie

Thanks so much for yesterday, Matt & I had a great day & finding a truffle was a big bonus! (Don’t think I’m ever going to a woods again without scouring the ground 😊).

I just wanted to say how much my Dad, Brother and I enjoyed our truffle hunting experience yesterday. It really was an excellent day!, Lucy

Thank you for a very enjoyable day on Sunday, I did not really know how much I was going to get out of it, but all I can say is that I will of course be singing your and Jack’s praises to whoever will listen! Laura

We thoroughly enjoyed our day with you and Jack….as well as our truffled cheese toastie when we got back to London 😊 Fiona & James

What a great experience topped and tailed by delicious hearty food. Who knew I liked venison ? Patti

Thank you so much for the Truffle Hunting Experience. I certainly learnt a great deal of information and enjoyed your company throughout the day. Samuel

I just want to say a huge thank you for yesterday. It was such a fun day with a great group. I will certainly be recommending to my friends for a fantastic and different present. Off back to London now for truffled roast chicken. Sarah

Thank you for a wonderful informative and truly, memorable practical day of truffle hunting. I will never forget smelling the earthy, oaky and nutty aroma of the truffle in the ground, detecting it (with the initial help of Jack), seeing its inner of pale cream with a browning marble pattern and removing it! When we arrived home, we ate the truffle with scrabbled eggs for supper. It was probably the freshest truffle we had tasted! You make such a fantastic team that will not be forgotten! Carol

Brilliant day with you and jack! Sayjel

Thank you Jack and James for a great day. It was informative, fun and exciting – a really unusual day out and we learnt so much. Food at the pubs was excellent too. Highly recommended. Kate and Richard

Thank you for an excellent day! Naturally it was great to be out in the woods but I wanted to say that i found the initial lecture most interesting, which I had not expected and also the lunch was above expectations. Kajsa

Once again a great day out and my friends really enjoyed themselves. Also the people that come to your days are all very nice, I remember the time before the people were great. John – a returning guest!

Thank you for a great day. It’s great to learn from a knowledgeable instructor, and the day had lots of variety to it. The only thing I would change about it is to have slightly less food – maybe just a main for lunch would be enough? Otherwise I couldn’t fault the day, totally worth it. Thanks so much. Caroline

Wasn’t to sure what to expect but went with an open mind. We both love truffles so thought why not. Meet in a lovely pub where we were given the history and background of the company. We then went on a gently walk where we meet Jack and watched him work wonders. After an hour we went back to the pub for lunch but beware lunch was more like dinner! After stuffing ourselves with some lovely food but another walk beckoned. This time we got a bigger haul. Once back at the pub they cooked some truffle infused eggs and cake. The haul of truffles was divided between the group then we went on our way. It was a fantastic day where we learnt and eat a lot. Once home Simon finished the day with a truffle gin and is now cooking macaroni cheese with truffle, hummmmmm. Thank you so much James & Jack. Simon & Vicki

The whole day was a wonderful experience. James was a super host, full of information and Jack, his truffle hunter dog, rewarded us with many truffle finds. The hospitality of the farm venue was excellent. Home cooked lunch, puddings and afternoon tea, with fresh scrambled eggs with truffle shavings to finish the day off. We came home with a delicious truffle, another unexpected bonus. We met some like minded foodies on the day it was very social indeed! We highly recommend this experience day. Laura & David

I saw an item on Alan Titchmarsh’s Love Your Weekend last year and it really drew me in ! I always have trouble looking for a Christmas present for John and this definitely fitted the bill. He loves the outdoor life , shooting, fishing, dog training, hunting. I knew he’d love this and I’m a total dog lover and a country person, so couldn’t wait! It was an experience that was beyond expectations. Incredibly informative, lots of fun, really good food and hospitality! would recommend it for anyone who loves the outdoors! Jayne & John

My wife bought me this experience as a 30th Birthday gift which we both attended. The day was great fun, James’ knowledge of truffles is fantastic and he has a great method of sharing his knowledge in a fun and interesting way. The truffle hunting itself was brilliant despite the cold weather/showers . Jack the dog is brilliant. All in all a great day that was also very well organised. Highly recommended. Richard

We had a great day with James and Jack. Very interesting talk all about truffles which whetted our appetites to get out hunting. We went to a lovely woodland and almost immediately found a truffle! (Well Jack the Labrador did…) in fact by the end of the day we had collected, as a group, over a dozen. Great pub lunch too and the whole day was most enjoyable despite the rain and inevitable COVID restrictions. We had truffle infused scrambled eggs for breakfast the following day. Delicious!. Caroline & Terry

Brilliant is an understatement! It was a pleasure meeting you. Thank you for showing us around and educating us about truffles. The experience was so exciting /thrilling and professional…..Can’t recommend you highly enough ! 5*. Callum

Came on this course not knowing what to expect. The insight that James gave with all his passion and experience was fantastic. It’s a great place to start learning about truffles! Ajmal

Thanks again for a very informative day. I really enjoyed it and was amazed at the haul of Truffles Jack found in that small wood, truly amazing! Spike

Thanks for a wonderful day on Saturday. Very inspiring, educational and fun. Daniel

Thanks for a fantastic trip on Saturday! Rob

Thanks for a most enjoyable day in your company with the help of Jack, of course! Philip

Great day, would thoroughly recommend it. The weather was not great, the poor weather was surpassed by the experience. Thanks to James for his brilliant presentation and to Jack for his expertise in finding truffles in poor conditions. Credit where credit is due…..awesome! I would recommend a truffle experience day to anyone. Rod.

I thought I’d drop you a line to say thanks for a great day. It was great to learn so much about truffles and take part in the hunt! Love your work, we’ll be recommending you. Henri & Tiffany

We just wanted to drop you a line saying how much we enjoyed our day with you, Jack and the others in the group. Lorna & Rod

Thank you so much for the most enjoyable & fascinating day at XXX Farm last Saturday. It was a joy to meet you & Jack together with other fellow truffle hunters. I’m glad that the rain didn’t seem to dampen our enthusiasm at all! Furthermore, XXXX’s warm welcome & excellent hospitality certainly enhanced the day – excellent food & truffle scrambled eggs for tea – what a treat! Overall, a very special day, long to be remembered. Again, many thanks. Judith

Very nice to meet you and I enjoyed the day very much – most educational thank you and the farm is an ideal venue and the host was charming. Brian

What a wonderful way to spend a day! I was given a Gift Experience of truffle hunting and found the practical side straightforward from booking to finding the location. On the day, James was informative, enthusiastic and entertaining, and more than willing to answer any questions. The food was lovely, the setting pretty and the information we took away has helped me appreciate woodland walks in an entirely new way. Thank you James (and Jack)! Cara, Gloucs

Just wanted to say thank you to James and Jack for a really enjoyable day. Sue, Devon.

We had a wonderful day on Saturday – thank you so much. I still can’t quite believe that these little treasures are just under the surface and that within minutes they are enriching a dish as simple as scrambled egg on toast! Just a fantastic experience for foodies who love the outdoors…and dogs. Cath, London

Just to add our thanks and appreciation to the others that you will have received to say how much we enjoyed our day. It was a long haul from Kent but well worth the journey. Who knew there was so much to know about a knobbly thing that comes from under the ground. Enlightening! Vanessa, Kent

Excellent day, very well balanced between theory and practice. James is a most charming host and Jack a boisterous and industrious Truffle Hunter. Could not recommend the day highly enough, and very sad it all had to end; would have been back the next day, if I could.. James choice of venue for lunch is also thoroughly recommended. Overall, one of the best of many experience days I have had the pleasure of undertaking. Steve, Devon

We thoroughly enjoyed the day and found it most informative and fun, we also enjoyed meeting the other truffle hunters and Jack, of course. Alice & Richard, Oxfordshire

It was a really great day. So carefully and thoroughly planned by you…. your very interesting and entertaining intro, the various pub stops – all delicious, with eggs ready for our return – and the actual combing of that most fertile bit of woodland. Thank you for your continuing good humour and enthusiasm as we fired advice suggestions and wonky folklore your way. I’m not a natural dog person, but I was fascinated by your relationship with the star of the show, Jack. We still have some of your oil but it was a great thrill to come on the real thing under your generous guidance. Charlie & Alice , Oxfordshire

As part of my birthday treat, my wonderful fiancé surprised me with an afternoon of truffle hunting with the @EnglishTruffles in the woodlands of Dorset. Being a huge truffle lover, this was really a glorious treat and one that I’d recommend to all truffle lovers out there! Daniah and Alex, London (on Twitter)

Many thanks for a very enjoyable day on Saturday and for making space at such short notice. James, Bath

A belated email but wanted to say that Hope and I had a great day and really enjoyed it. We learnt a lot too! We cooked some pasta with our truffle sprinkled on top and it was delicious. Thanks for being such a great host and wish you every success. Ed and Hope, London

We really enjoyed the truffle hunting on Saturday, it was very interesting and good to find out what truffle tastes like. Charlotte and Lorna, Dorset

It was a great experience and a lot of fun too! Harold and Stephanie, Dorset

Both Mike and I thought that it was a really nice and interesting day! Thank you so much! – Dawn and Mike, West Sussex

Thanks for the truffle hunt on Saturday it was excellent and inspired me to do some training with our dog – Gary, Berkshire

Thank-you for an informative and enjoyable day yesterday. Chris, Hampshire

Thank you very much for a very enjoyable and informative day. I had a great day, with lovely company and hospitality. David, Hampshire

I just wanted to say thanks for a great day out today. James and I both loved learning so much about the science behind truffle growing and all the different variants (instead of just eating them). I think we will be attempting our own truffle orchard in the future! Izzy, London

A huge thank you for a fabulous truffle hunting experience day! It was great fun and such a lovely group of people. Jack was the star of the show and such a great truffle hunter – glad he actually managed a few nibbles of truffle as well as the Red Leicester for all his hard work! Thank you too James for all your hard work – the day was a huge success. The pub was an excellent location and the woods are just beautiful and a good source of truffles. Davina, Hampshire

Really great day out with you and Jack ..very informative. thoroughly enjoyable and very professionally organised. I am slightly amazed that truffles were readily found so easily..and cannot wait to return to France to try out my new found knowledge. Sarah, France

I just wanted to say thank you so much for today. Tom & I thoroughly enjoyed the day & were so impressed with Jack! Everything was so well organised & the food was amazing, not to mention the fresh truffles! Cat & Tom, London

Thank you for a stimulating day. Particularly enjoyed the lecture and chance to learn from you. Charles, Berkshire

Thanks so much for an absolutely brilliant day James! I learnt so much about truffles and had a wonderful time! Can’t wait to cook dinner tonight! Great bunch of people and perfect location. Natasha, London

Thanks for a brilliant day truffle hunting. We had a great time and loved meeting you and Jack. Rachel, London

Just found a quick moment to send big thanks for a great day Truffle hunting with the gang last weekend. Really enjoyed the day. Del, Leicestershire

May I heartily recommend this truffle-hunting day? It’s educational, healthy and delicious! Fascinating experience, many thanks. Pamela

Congratulations on giving us such a wonderful experience. Carolyn and Robin, Surrey

It was great to meet you (and Jack) on Saturday and to enjoy such a successful day’s Truffle Hunting with you. Jackie and I had a great time, thank you! Francis and Jackie, Surrey

Thanks again for a fantastic day yesterday, from start to finish it was absolutely spot on. I had no idea we would find so many truffles but even if we hadn’t found any I would not have come away disappointed – your talk was so interesting, Max was an absolute star and please pass on our thanks for Karen’s wonderful hospitality [Norburton Hall] (and a request for the recipe for that yummy apple cake!) Hannah and Rowan, Manchester

On behalf of the four of us , we would like to thank you and Max for a fabulous day truffle hunting! In every respect it was educational, beautiful scenery, excellent company, great food and we found loads of truffles! Max has to be the star of the show of course, we all fell in love with him! and your lovely manner, stories and anecdotes were just the icing on the cake! The great experience will always be memorable for us and we shall certainly recommend it to our friends and family as a great day out. Helen, Chris, Sandra and Alan – Gloucestershire

We had a wonderful time Truffle Hunting on Saturday. What a great crew! Happy to report that we made truffle eggs with our truffle this morning, for guests that are in town staying with us, and they were such a hit! : ) – BB – London

Just a note to say we enjoyed truffle hunting with you and Max very much. You had put together a lovely day – and so exciting to find truffles – like finding treasure. LC – Suffolk

Thank you for arranging a lovely day for us yesterday. I was delighted that Max was in such good form and located rather more truffles than I expected. We had lovely weather and I very much enjoyed the glorious views. Lunch and truffle tasting was much enjoyed. MS – London.

Thank you for a very instructive, interesting and enjoyable day. I didn’t realise how exciting it would be to scent for yourself the smell of the truffle in the ground after Max had indicated where to look. And, then to actually discover the truffle in the ground……! DR- Gloucestershire

It was a really great day last Saturday, I very much enjoyed the experience and thought that it was a great mix and balance of learning and hunting! I am pleased we had success and I ate the truffle I took home on Sunday night over pasta and it was delicious. Many thanks for an excellent day. WP – London

Many thanks for a great day truffle hunting in Wiltshire. Insightful classroom sessions, a lovely lunch, super truffley nibbles, charming hosts at the farm and great fun out in the woods with you and Max truffle hunting. I learned a lot and we found a surprising number of Truffles. A top day out in the countryside. Perfect. PS: the truffle infused Somerset Brie went down a treat at the dinner party last night. TK – Surrey

Many thanks for a great day yet again. Thoroughly enjoyable and very pleased to come away with a truffle. The day was informative, fun and well paced. Claire MacDonald – Principal, Leiths School of Food and Wine – London

Thank you for a great day out on Saturday, the whole experience was really great from your well considered address first thing, the scrabbling about in the woods, the nice pub lunch and eating the fruit of our spoils in the evening. It was a great present to get and the couple who bought it for me were very pleased that I had such a good time. I have recommended you to my friends so you should get a few more customers. JC – London

Thank you so much for arranging a great day on Saturday, we really enjoyed it and were amazed by the truffle haul. LE & CE London.

Thanks James and a special thanks to Max. Great truffling in the woods. Max is a superstar albeit with a mind of his own! Had a lovely day and also a very nice stay at the Marquis de Lorne. Very friendly and accommodating with very nice food and cosy rooms. Delicious lunch in Lyme Regis at Hix Oyster and Seafood house. JM & SM, London

Thank you so much for a lovely day. It was a very enjoyable experience and well worth the trek down from London! SA & JA – London

Thank you for a wonderful day yesterday. We thoroughly enjoyed every part of the day. JM, BM, & JM – Kent

Many thanks for an excellent day on Saturday, great dog, great truffles and good company. SS & SS – Dorset

The day exceeded our expectations and we thought you did a superb job of working with the group. Thank you. PB & EB – London

Thank you so much for such a great day. Marvellous truffles and a marvellous day for hunting them and I thoroughly enjoyed your talk. RS – London

Thank you for such a great day today truffle hunting! Loved everything about it. AR – Staffordshire

A truly marvellous experience and highly recommended. A great day out in the countryside with James and his truffle dog, who found plenty of pungent truffles. AG – Cheshire

James gave us a very good working knowledge in a relaxed but structured talk about truffles and their likely habitat. Then we actually walked some woodland where we found the real articles, one weighing in at over two hundred grams! He talks the talk and his loveable dog walks the walk ! A thoroughly enjoyable day out. SC – Hampshire

Great way to spend a weekend, very informative and the best fun – like digging for Gold (Black Gold). D&D – Wiltshire

What a brilliant day! from arrival to departure I loved every moment. Thank you, I am inspired!! SB – Dorset

Great day really enjoyed it, learnt a lot. We both a really good time with a good group. We would highly recommend the whole day. MW & DD – Berkshire

A big thank you to you for a fascinating and gourmet day. I felt I learned loads and had some great exercise in the fresh breeze. I really liked the format of the day. SHT – Hampshire

Thank you for the most marvellous and enjoyable day on Saturday. I will be recommending your courses to friends and family. TP – Hertfordshire

Just to say thank you very much for such an interesting and informative day. Next step is to find a clever dog and retire! SE – Dorset

I thought it was a great day and well organised. Your timings, venue location & preparatory info was sent well in advance which was appreciated. 10am -4:30pm is about right to fit it all in. The venue was lovely. Teas/coffees and a super lunch. I liked the format with the presentation first to build the picture and give you the background info then heading out for hunting. Nice to return for a second hunt after lunch. Tasting the shaved truffles on scrambled eggs worked well. Nice and simple to get a good flavour. So all in all very good. MO – Lincolnshire

Gallery

A selection of photos from our truffle hunting experience days can be found in the gallery.

Video

You can view a short Instagram film from a lady who attended a Wiltshire truffle hunt by clicking / touching the below image.

Dates

2023-2024 season (late September to mid-January): 

Dates all complete.

2024-2025 season (late September to mid-January): 

DateLocationStatus
21 Sept 2024West DorsetFully booked
28 Sept 2024West WiltshirePlaces available
05 Oct 2024North HampshireFully booked
12 Oct 2024West DorsetPlaces available
26 Oct 2024West WiltshirePlaces available
02 Nov 2024North HampshirePlaces available
09 Nov 2024West DorsetPlaces available
23 Nov 2024West WiltshirePlaces available
30 Nov 2024North HampshirePlaces available
07 Dec 2024West DorsetPlaces available
FAQ

Some questions we get asked regularly:

When do you run the truffle hunting experience days?
We run two to three per month in the season (c. October to January) on Saturdays.

Do you run truffle hunts on days other than Saturday?
Sorry, Saturday is when most guests are available. Private truffle hunts can be run on other days.

Will we definitely find truffles?
The truffles we are hunting are wild growing and subject to weather trends, the impact of animals, the dog’s mood etc. so we cannot guarantee finding them. We only take you to sites where we have found them on many occasions before and have only had two complete failures since 2011 with about 10 hunts per year.

Which site or month is best for truffle hunting?
Which is the best site or month varies from year to year depending primarily on rainfall amounts through the Spring and Summer. Our one failure since 2011 mentioned above, the same site on the same weekend a year later did amazingly!

Who keeps the truffles found on one of these days?
Our first priority is having enough to be part of our afternoon tea. After that, if we have found sufficient numbers, everyone gets a share.

Can I bring my dog?
We regret that your dog may not join you on these days as they will distract our truffle hound. If you need to bring your dog as it would be too long to leave them at home, we recommend the Wiltshire truffle days as your car is parked in a private location all day. Your dog will need to stay in your car for most of the day, though you will be able to let them out during tea/coffee and lunch breaks. For the Hampshire and Dorset truffle days, your car will be left in public locations such as pub car parks for parts of the day.

If your aim is to train your dog to find truffles, our truffle dog training workshops are for you (and them).

How big is the group?
A fully booked truffle hunt will have approximately 16 guests attending.

What is included in the price?
All refreshments (tea / coffee / biscuits on arrival and mid-morning, lunch with a drink, as well as afternoon tea) are all included in the price.

Got a gift voucher?

Please note that one voucher entitles one person to attend one truffle hunt. If you are part of a couple with one voucher, you need to pay for the second place.

You can book your places from this page. It is fairly straightforward and most people manage unguided. If you need help the stages are:

  • Choose a date and location to suit you.
  • Adjust the quantity of places you require (number to the left of the “Add to basket” button).
  • Press the “Add to basket” button.
  • Press the “View the basket” button.
  • On the Basket page, enter your voucher code into the long grey box.
  • Press the long button just below – “Apply gift voucher or coupon code“.
  • You should get a “Coupon code applied successfully.” message above.
  • Press the long button “Proceed to checkout” at the bottom right of the page.
  • Fill out the required details on the checkout page and finally press the “Place order” button.
  • When we have processed your order we will send you an email confirming your place(s).

Should you have any problems using your voucher, please look at the truffle hunting experience day information on this page (Description tab), check dates / availability (Dates tab) and read the terms and conditions of booking. Then contact us with:

  • Name(s).
  • Gift voucher code.
  • Truffle hunt date / location.
  • A mobile number.
  • Any dietary requirements.
  • Details of any allergies / health conditions we should be aware of.
  • An emergency contact name and their phone number (not your own please).