Seaweed foraging is planned by the moon: the big ‘spring’ tides around each new and full moon uncover shore that neap tides never touch. This planner computes the lunar cycle for the weeks ahead, estimates how big each low tide will be on the East Neuk, and shows which seaweeds each tide puts within reach. (How it works: How to Read the Tides.)
The tide days are the same along the whole East Neuk — what changes is the shore underfoot. Pick a village for its character notes.
The next six weeks, day by day
What to bring for a shore session
- Feet & body: wellies or grippy boots, warm layers and a windproof shell — coastal weather turns fast, whatever the forecast said.
- Harvest kit: scissors (always cut, never pull), a breathable basket or mesh bag — never a sealed plastic bag — and a small tub for delicate finds like pepper dulse.
- Safety kit: the day’s tide table, a charged phone, water and a snack, and an ally who knows where you are — the full A.L.L.W.E.T. checklist takes two minutes to read and covers the rest.
What each tide uncovers
- Neap lows (small): upper & mid shore only — channelled and spiral wrack, gutweed, the upper patches of pepper dulse.
- Moderate lows: the full mid shore — bladderwrack and serrated wrack country, pepper dulse at its best.
- Spring lows: the lower shore opens — dulse, sea lettuce, carrageen.
- Big spring lows: the sea’s bottom shelf — dabberlocks, sea spaghetti, sugar kelp and oarweed. These are the days our workshops run.
Plan, then verify: this tool identifies the right days from real lunar arithmetic (with the coast’s tide lag applied), and estimates the low’s size — but exact low-water times shift ~50 minutes daily and weather nudges heights. Check an official Fife tide table for your day, go down on the falling tide, and read the A.L.L.W.E.T. safety rules first. Or skip the homework: workshop dates already sit on the best lows.