Enjoy your fruit as fresh as it gets with a trip to one of the many pick your own farms in Ireland and the UK – a great idea for a family day out, with the added bonus of delicious treats to enjoy afterwards!
There’s so much to be gained from picking fresh fruit and vegetables, and many of us have happy childhood memories of doing just that at a local farm or hedgerow. It’s a wonderful way for children to get some fresh air while learning and having fun – and there’s a tasty treat at the end (or on the way round, in many cases).
Children quickly catch on to picking the biggest and ripest fruit and dropping it into the basket. But the fun doesn’t stop there, because kids love helping to prepare the fruit and get involved in cooking once you’re home. Expect a fair bit of nagging for a return visit!
And it’s not just strawberries up for grabs – everything from courgettes to cherries, wildflowers to herbs can be found at pick your own farms, with some offering dozens of different crops across the season. Here are some of our favourites across Ireland and the UK.
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- Pick Your Own Farms in Ireland
- Pick Your Own Farms in England
- Pick Your Own Farms in Scotland
- Pick Your Own Farms in Wales
Pick Your Own Farms in Ireland
#1. Lamberts Fruit Farm, Dublin
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Every year, the rush to get to Lamberts Fruit Farm is huge, as there are very few pick your own farms remaining in Ireland. The farm only opens on certain days from late June to early August, so it’s essential to check their Facebook page for current availability before you travel.
When open, you’ll find strawberries, raspberries, tayberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants and gooseberries ready for picking.
#2. The Apple Farm, Tipperary
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Apples have grown in this area for hundreds of years, and since 1968 more and more orchards have been planted here. As well as apples, the farm grows pears, plums, cherries, raspberries and strawberries – although only strawberries are available for picking, and only on occasional dates, so check in advance.
There’s a farm shop open year-round, plus a camping and caravan park on site if you fancy making a longer stay of it.
#3. The Village at Wheelocks, Wexford
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Wheelocks have been growing fruit near Enniscorthy since the 1950s – strawberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries, raspberries, rhubarb and even pumpkins. Wexford strawberries are almost a brand in themselves, famous around Ireland for their sweetness, and Wheelocks is a great spot to see them grow and pick your own.
#4. Corderry Fruit Farm, Dundalk
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This family-run farm in Dundalk, Co Louth, produces strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, apples, pumpkins and more. Alongside supplying well-known supermarkets, Corderry offers a pick your own service during the summer months and again in autumn.
#5. The Berry Farm, Wexford
Based in Clonroche, Co Wexford, The Berry Farm is open to the public for strawberry picking from May to September.
Pick Your Own Farms in England
#6. Copas Farm, Cookham, Berkshire
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Head to Copas Farm and enjoy the fresh air as you wander acres of fresh produce, picking your own seasonal fruit and veg including asparagus, strawberries, cherries, gooseberries, runner beans, French beans and peas.
There’s an entrance charge per person, which is then refunded against the produce you pick. The farm also holds Fruit Festival Days on some Sundays during peak season, when you can eat fruit in the fields, with anything you take home weighed and charged separately. Open from May to September, there’s also an on-site shop stocking picked produce, jams, eggs, sausages and bacon.
#7. Graveley Fruit Farm, Stevenage
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Get lost in the Hertfordshire fields of Graveley Fruit Farm and enjoy strawberry picking in summer, or hunt for the perfect pumpkin in October. This farm has been in the same family for four generations, and the business has grown to include a children’s adventure play area with a zip-wire and haystacks, tractor and trailer rides, and a café.
Expect ripe strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants, grown on a table-top system at waist height for easy picking, and in polytunnels so you can pick whatever the weather. Pick your own, or buy fruit ready-picked in the café.
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#8. Garsons of Esher, Esher, Surrey
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In the beautiful Surrey countryside, Garsons is one of the largest pick your own farms in the UK, alongside a garden centre and farm shop. The farm has a long history, having first grown produce to sell at London’s Borough Market.
Open from June to October, the offering is impressive, with dozens of crops and varieties available. You’ll find all the favourites, like strawberries and raspberries, plus fresh vegetables such as runner beans, onions and peas, and even seasonal sunflowers. A handy map tells you what’s ready for picking on the day, and all crops are easily accessible, with plenty of parking on site.
#9. Hillfield Nursery and Farm Shop, Norwich
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You’d be hard-pressed to find a pick your own farm with a bigger range of apples – Hillfield Nursery and Farm Shop is known for having one of the largest ranges of fruit in the whole of East Anglia.
Whether you prefer wandering the orchards or hunting for strawberries among the soft fruit crops, there’s plenty to enjoy. Alongside pears, rhubarb and quinces, the season runs from May to October. Hillfield also has a farm shop and hosts seasonal events such as a blossom walk through the orchards.
#10. Stanhill Farm, Wilmington
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This family-run farm has a huge selection of pick your own fruit across its site, including strawberries, gooseberries, blackberries and blackcurrants from June to October.
Parking is free and there’s no charge for picking – you simply pay for what you take. There’s also a maize maze open from July to September, with a different theme each year, from dinosaurs to safaris. There’s no café, but the farm sells ice creams, drinks and refreshments from its pick your own hut, so bring a picnic and make a day of it.
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#11. Parkside Farm, Enfield
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Located in Enfield, North London, Parkside Farm lets little ones pick their own fruit and veg between June and October. Choose from strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants and plenty of vegetables.
Stroll around with a basket in hand and select your favourites – you only pay for what you collect. Many crops are grown “table-top” style, so there’s no bending down needed. There’s also a dedicated picnic space and a shop selling ice creams, meringues and Parkside honey.
#12. The Hop Shop, Castle Farm, Kent
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The pick your own at The Hop Shop is a stunner, set on a lavender farm in Kent. During autumn (even out of lavender season, it still smells wonderful) you can visit the orchard for pears, corn on the cob, Kent Cob hazelnuts and a variety of apples, predominantly Norfolk Royal, with a few Cox and Golden Delicious trees for cross-pollination.
Note that they typically only take cash, so bring some along. The farm shop is well worth a visit too, and there’s an old quince tree at the front laden with fruit. Picking generally ends around mid-October, but check ahead as this is a popular spot.
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#13. Trevaskis Farm, Cornwall
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Enjoy the full countryside experience at Trevaskis Farm in the beautiful Cornish outdoors. There’s fruit picking, a shop, a farm park and a café with a great kids’ menu.
As well as pick your own cherries, you’ll find pumpkins, peas, sweetcorn and raspberries, so there’s something for everyone. Informative signposts around the farm help teach little ones about the crops. Entrance is free, so you only pay for what’s in your basket, and all-weather polytunnels mean the weather is rarely a problem.
#14. The Balloon Tree Farmshop and Cafe, York
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With pick your own fruit, a children’s play area, an animal corner and a café known for its cakes, The Balloon Tree in Yorkshire makes for a great day out.
Follow the well-organised trail through the farm to find whatever’s in season, from the first strawberries in May to the last pumpkin in October. Strawberries, blueberries, plums and runner beans are among the highlights, and the play area sits right next to the café garden, so you can keep an eye on the kids while you enjoy a cup of tea.
There’s a kid-sized digger and tractor, a two-storey Wendy house and a climbing frame to keep tots busy, plus an Animal Corner where you can meet the resident pygmy goats and pick up a bag of feed from the farm shop to treat them.
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Pick Your Own Farms in Scotland
#15. Cairnie Fruit Farm, Fife
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Cairnie Fruit Farm has pick your own cherries, plus strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries, pumpkins and even sunflowers. The farm also grows table-top strawberries for easy picking, and there’s a café, a funyard and a mega maze too.
If you visit when the six-acre Mega Maize Maze is open, it’s well worth a try. Even outside maze season, the Funyard playground has trampolines, swings, slides, a fortress, tractors and much more. There’s an entry fee, but it makes for a full family day out.
#16. Charleton Fruit Farm, Montrose
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Charleton Fruit Farm is a family-run business where you can pick your own fruit, grab a bite in the café (converted from an old barn and stables), browse the gift shop, and let the kids loose in the play zones – one gated area for under-12s, and another for older kids (and adults!).
There’s plenty of seating, including spots overlooking the play areas, and even on busy summer weekends the farm manages parking and space well. Throughout the year there are seasonal events too, from Easter egg hunts to Halloween activities and choosing a home-grown Christmas tree in December. Pick your own starts in spring, with a range of berries available depending on the season.
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#17. East Yonderton Farm, Renfrew
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East Yonderton is a family-run Renfrewshire soft fruit farm near Inchinnan, just beside Glasgow Airport. During fruit season, the farm is open daily for picking, and fruit can also be ordered ready-picked for weekday collection. The farm also grows vegetables and potatoes, available for most of the year.
#18. Border Berries, Kelso, Roxburghshire
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Strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, tayberries and peas are all available at Border Berries. This family-run soft fruit farm has large, well-tended crops to choose from.
Picking depends on the weather and fruit availability on any given day, so check their Facebook page and website for regular updates.
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Pick Your Own Farms in Wales
#19. Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, Hawarden, Flintshire
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Between June and October, families are invited to pick their own gooseberries, raspberries, redcurrants and blackcurrants. Later in the season there are apples, pears and plums, both for eating and cooking, plus Hawarden Estate pumpkins.
When you arrive, pick up a biodegradable punnet at the farm shop, then head back for weighing once you’re done.
#20. Aberbran Fawr Farm, Brecon, Powys
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Aberbran Fawr is a campsite in the Brecon Beacons National Park that also grows pick your own soft fruit, available (subject to seasonal availability) from mid-June to early August. As well as strawberries, you can stock up on broad beans, peas, potatoes, raspberries and blackcurrants.
#21. Hooton’s Homegrown, Brynsiencyn, Anglesey
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Hooton’s Homegrown offers a variety of seasonal fruit on a pay-as-you-pick basis. Strawberries are the main attraction, but blackcurrants, rhubarb, peas and broad beans are also available. It’s worth checking their social media for confirmation of opening times and availability before you travel.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pick your own farm?
A pick your own (PYO) farm lets visitors walk through the fields or orchards and harvest their own fruit or vegetables, usually paying by weight for what they collect. It’s a hands-on, budget-friendly day out that’s especially popular with families.
When is the best time to visit a pick your own farm?
This depends on the crop and the farm. Soft fruits like strawberries and raspberries are usually at their best in summer, while apples, pears and pumpkins tend to be ready from early autumn. Always check the individual farm’s website or social media before you travel, as picking seasons and opening days can vary from year to year.
Do I need to book ahead?
Some smaller or seasonal farms only open on specific days and recommend checking availability on Facebook or their website beforehand. Larger farms are often open daily throughout the season without booking, but it’s always worth checking current opening hours before you set off.
What should we bring on a pick your own day out?
Comfortable outdoor shoes, weather-appropriate clothing and cash (some smaller farms are cash-only) are a good idea. Many farms provide baskets or punnets, but check in advance if you need to bring your own containers.
Is pick your own good value?
Because you’re harvesting straight from the field, prices can be lower than shop-bought produce, and you only pay for what you pick. Charges vary by farm and by crop, so check current pricing directly with the farm before you visit.
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