Updated 22 September 2026
Are Bay Bolete out in County Wicklow yet?
The best time for bay bolete in Ireland is August to November, with the peak normally in the middle of that range. Today they’re at 43% and looking good in County Wicklow
It fruits after late summer and autumn rain once soil temperatures have cooled, typically from August through November. A good soaking followed by mild, humid days brings flushes, and it tolerates cooler conditions better than many boletes, often fruiting late into the season.
Late summer to autumn, roughly August to November.
A reliable test is to press or bruise the pale yellow pores, which slowly stain blue-grey, then fade; this and the bay-brown cap help separate it from the bitter Tylopilus felleus. Pick young specimens with firm flesh, as older caps quickly become spongy and waterlogged, and check for maggots in the stem before bagging.
It can be confused with the cep (Boletus edulis), which is also edible, but the bay bolete is darker brown and its pores bruise blue-green whereas cep pores do not. No common European bolete with which it is confused is deadly, but always check that the pores are not red or orange and that any blueing is slow, to rule out the few unpleasant blue-staining boletes.
Wicklow is dominated by Ireland’s largest mountain range, a sweep of rounded granite uplands, blanket bog and heather moorland cut by deep glacial valleys such as Glendalough and Glenmalure. Beyond the mountains the land drops through wooded river valleys to a fertile coastal strip along the Irish Sea, earning the county its name as the Garden of Ireland. Much of the woodland is Coillte conifer plantation, mostly Sitka spruce and pine, but Wicklow also holds some of Ireland’s finest surviving native oak woods around Glendalough and the Vale of Clara, mixed with birch, hazel and holly. Look for mushrooms among mossy oak and birch, on the conifer floor, and along the grassy margins of forest tracks.
The climate is mild and distinctly wet, with the high ground catching far more rain than the coast and staying damp and misty well into autumn. These soft, humid conditions keep the woods and bogs productive for fungi from late summer onwards. Autumn is the main season, with ceps and chanterelles in the older mixed woods, plenty of fungi on the conifer floor, and waxcaps on the open upland grasslands. Much of the high ground is open access, though foragers should respect the national park around Glendalough and stick to picking for personal use.
FAQ
Is it mushroom season in County Wicklow, Ireland right now?
For bay bolete in County Wicklow, Ireland, the typical season is August to November, and today the live forecast reads 43% with conditions looking good this September. So yes or no depends on the day and the weather, which is exactly what the forecast tracks.
Does ShroomCast tell me if a mushroom is safe to eat or identify it for me?
No. ShroomCast only forecasts timing, so it tells you when bay bolete are likely to be fruiting in County Wicklow, Ireland. It does not identify mushrooms, and it cannot tell you whether anything you pick is safe to eat. Always confirm your own identification from a reliable source before eating anything.
How does the live bay bolete forecast for County Wicklow, Ireland work?
We take the usual bay bolete season for County Wicklow, Ireland (August to November) and weigh it against the weather right now and over the last few days. That gives you one live number, today 43% and looking good, plus a 14-day outlook and a normal-year line to compare against.
When is bay bolete season in County Wicklow, Ireland?
In County Wicklow, Ireland, bay bolete season usually runs August to November. The exact start shifts year to year with rain and temperature, so some years they show up early and some years late. Right now (September) the live forecast for County Wicklow, Ireland reads 43% and conditions are looking good.
Where do bay bolete grow in County Wicklow, Ireland?
Grows in conifer woodland, especially with pine and spruce, and sometimes under beech and oak on acidic, often sandy or mossy ground. It is mycorrhizal and frequently fruits on or beside rotting stumps and conifer litter. They tend to come back to the same kinds of ground year after year, so once you find good cover it is worth checking again. ShroomCast does not share exact spots; it tells you the timing for County Wicklow, Ireland so you know when it is worth heading out.
See the live regional forecast in the ShroomCast app.
This page shows today. The app gives you the full 14-day outlook for your area and all 14 species, so you can pick the right day before you drive out.
Scale: 0-20% very low · 20-40% low · 40-60% moderate · 60-80% high · 80-100% excellent. ShroomCast forecasts fruiting probability from weather, soil, forests and years of observations – a guide, not a guarantee of finds.
ShroomCast forecasts the region and the time of year. It cannot identify mushrooms for you, so confirm any species with a reliable source before eating it.