Updated 11 September 2026
Are Slippery Jack out in Stirling yet?
The best time for slippery jack in Scotland is August to November, with the peak normally in the middle of that range. Today they’re at 49% and looking good in Stirling
It fruits after warm late-summer and autumn rain, typically when day temperatures sit around 10 to 20C and the ground stays damp. A good soaking followed by mild nights usually brings flushes within a week or two.
In the same pine woods and season look for other Suillus such as larch bolete and weeping bolete, plus saffron milkcaps and the occasional bay bolete or porcini on richer patches. False chanterelles and various brittlegills often share the same acidic ground.
A decent edible with a mild flavour, good in mixed dishes, soups and sauces rather than as the star. Always peel off the slimy cap skin, which can otherwise cause loose stools, and discard the spongy pore layer on older specimens.
Other Suillus boletes such as the larch bolete (Suillus grevillei) and weeping bolete, all of which are also edible, so there are no dangerous poisonous lookalikes. The slimy brown cap, yellow pores and ringed stem set it apart from any toxic gilled mushroom.
Stirling straddles the Highland Boundary Fault, where the flat, fertile carse of the Forth Valley meets rising ground in every direction. To the north-east the Ochil Hills climb steeply above the plain, while westward the land breaks up into the lochs and wooded glens of the Trossachs and the eastern half of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. Native oak and birch woodland clothes the hillsides and glens around the Trossachs, mixed with stands of hazel, rowan and alder along the burns. Large conifer plantations of Sitka spruce and pine cover much of the upland forestry ground, and these damp, mossy edges between native and planted woodland are prime mushroom habitat.
The climate is cool, mild and consistently wet, with the hills wringing heavy rainfall out of the moist Atlantic air that funnels up the Forth Valley. Damp ground and high humidity keep the woods reliably moist, which suits fungi through a long autumn season. Expect classic damp Scottish woodland foraging: chanterelles and ceps under birch and pine, with plenty of ground to roam between the carse-edge woods and the national-park glens. Much of the best habitat lies within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, so forage responsibly and stick to access-land etiquette.
FAQ
Is it mushroom season in Stirling, Scotland right now?
For slippery jack in Stirling, Scotland, the typical season is August to November, and today the live forecast reads 49% 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 slippery jack are likely to be fruiting in Stirling, Scotland. 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 slippery jack forecast for Stirling, Scotland work?
We take the usual slippery jack season for Stirling, Scotland (August to November) and weigh it against the weather right now and over the last few days. That gives you one live number, today 49% and looking good, plus a 14-day outlook and a normal-year line to compare against.
When is slippery jack season in Stirling, Scotland?
In Stirling, Scotland, slippery jack 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 Stirling, Scotland reads 49% and conditions are looking good.
Where do slippery jack grow in Stirling, Scotland?
Grows in conifer woods, almost always with pine, on sandy or poor soil and often along forest tracks and clearings. Common in young plantations and appears in groups. 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 Stirling, Scotland 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.