A LONG WEEKEND picking wild mushrooms in the beauty of rural Spain.

If you fancy a brief break away and the chance to savour the best of the autumn season's fayre then what could be better than searching ancient untouched woodlands for a bite to eat and then taking your hoard back to cook and eat among like-minded company?

The two night stay will include accommodation in a rural retreat, a morning's mushroom picking followed by a hands-on cooking on different dishes that incorporate such a versatile and tasty ingredient.

After dinner and a bit of sightseeing of the surrounding area we will be out to dinner at a nearby restaurant.

The province of Girona is Spain's area par excellence for the collecting of wild mushrooms. Almost all the natives join in the annual hunt and the autumnal event is very much a part of their culinary way of life.

From young to old they can identify a whole range of wild mushrooms, as well as quote a favourite recipe or two.

Arrival and pick up from Girona airport at 11am. Drive to the country house. Aperitif at the house before strolling into the local village for lunch. Then there's time for a siesta. After a rest we get to grips with the great cultural invention of the Spanish 'Tapa', which will be our dinner.

Breakfast and then it's time to take to the hills and find some of those mushrooms ! We're accompanied by our local guide. Then back to the house to start cooking our stash of hard won goodies. Time for wine, a great lunch and compare recipes. Siesta and then off to see some local villages. (Remember to bring your camera) We will have dinner in one of the villages.

First breakfast and then our next cooking lesson to prepare a typical Spanish lunch. Then a siesta. In the afternoon we go on an excursion to a local wine bodega to visit the vineyards and taste the tipple Dinner is at one of Girona province's best restaurants

Breakfast and then return to Girona airport for flight home