Foraging for Cockles, Clams & Razor Clams - Saundersfoot Beach

Razor Clams - Saundersfoot Beach

We used to dig up cockles & use salt to capture Razor Clams as students.

Today I took my 3 year old daughter to do the same thing.

She absolutely loved it and got ridiculously excited when the razor clams appeared of of the sand, through the salt.

We used a rake to dig up the cockles and then scoured the beach for the caracteristic holes in the sand that tells you where the razor clams live.

You just add salt to any likely dents or holes in the sand. If a razor clam is present they normally squirt at first, then slowly emerge from the sand. When they are poking out enough, you have to grab them quickly and slowly ease them out of their holes. Do it too quickly the foot (the bit you eat), can get snapped off.

We cooked the cockles and razor clams, there and then, with a portable camping stove and then ate them.

Freshly dug cockles - Saundersfoot Beach

Cockles being cooked on the beach.

Little Moo eating her cockles that she had foraged minutes before.

Razor Clam

It's coming dad!

Moo pouring a little too much salt in the razor clam holes. I admire her enthusiasm!

I've got one dad!

Cooking the Razor Clams.

Moo eating the Razor Clam feet.

3 Razor Clams - Saundersfoot Beach - Wales

A Razor Clam rising from the sand after being salted.

My 3 year old pulling a Razor Clam out of the sand - Saundersfoot.

When you place salt in the razor clam burrows, they very often squirt out a jet of water. Some, but not all, then emerge out of the sand.

My 3 year old pulling razor clams out of the sand at Saundersfoot Beach - Pembrokeshire.