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 on a pick your own farm. It’s a lovely 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 get the hang of picking the biggest and ripest fruit and dropping it into the basket. The fun doesn’t stop there either, because kids love helping to prepare the fruit and getting involved with cooking once you’re home. Be warned – they’ll be nagging you for a return visit!
And it’s not just strawberries up for grabs. Everything from courgettes to cherries, and wildflowers to herbs, can be found at pick your own farms, with some sites offering dozens of different crops across the season. Here’s our pick of some of the best.
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Pick Your Own Farms in Ireland
Lamberts Fruit Farm, Dublin
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Every year, families flock to Lamberts Fruit Farm, as it’s one of the few remaining pick your own farms in Ireland. It’s only open on certain days across the summer months, so it’s worth checking their Facebook page in advance to confirm availability before you set off.
When open, there are strawberries, raspberries, tayberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants and gooseberries up for grabs.
The Apple Farm, Tipperary
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Apples have grown in this part of Tipperary 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 – though only strawberries are typically available for picking, and only on occasional dates, so do check in advance.
There’s a farm shop open year-round, plus a camping and caravan park on site if you fancy getting back to nature for a night or two.
The Village at Wheelocks, Wexford
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Wheelocks have been growing fruit on their farm 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. Now you can see them grow at Wheelocks Fruit Farm and pick your own.
Corderry Fruit Farm, Dundalk
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This family-run farm in Dundalk, Co Louth, produces strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, apples, pumpkins and other produce.
Alongside supplying some well-known supermarkets, Corderry offers a pick your own service during the summer months, and again in autumn.
The Berry Farm, Wexford
Based in Clonroche, Co Wexford, The Berry Farm opens to the public for strawberry picking from May through to September.
Pick Your Own Farms in England
Copas Farm, Cookham, Berkshire
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Head to Copas Farm and enjoy the fresh air as you wander around acres of produce, picking your own seasonal fruit and veg, including asparagus, strawberries, cherries, gooseberries, runner beans, French beans and peas.
There’s a small entrance charge that’s redeemed against whatever you pick, and the farm also holds Fruit Festival Days on some Sundays during peak season, when you can eat fruit in the fields as you go. Open from May to September, there’s also an on-site shop stocking picked produce alongside jams, eggs, sausages and bacon.
Graveley Fruit Farm, Stevenage
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Get lost in the Hertfordshire fields of Graveley Fruit Farm and enjoy strawberry picking through the summer, or head out on the hunt for the perfect pumpkin in October. The farm has been in the same family for four generations, and 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, much of it under polytunnels so you can pick whatever the weather. You can pick your own, or buy fruit ready-picked in the café.
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Garsons of Esher, Esher, Surrey
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In the beautiful Surrey countryside, Garsons is home to one of the UK’s largest pick your own farms, alongside a garden centre and farm shop. The farm has been growing fresh produce for well over a century, having first supplied London’s Borough Market.
Open from June to October, the range on offer is genuinely 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 on site tells you what’s ready for picking, and there’s plenty of parking too.
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 has over 200 varieties, and is known for one of the widest fruit ranges in East Anglia.
Whether you prefer wandering the orchards or hunting for strawberries among the soft fruit crops, there’s plenty to enjoy. The picking season runs from May to October, and includes pears, rhubarb and quinces among many other crops. Hillfield also has a farm shop and hosts seasonal events, including a blossom walk through the orchards.
Stanhill Farm, Wilmington
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The family-run Stanhill Farm has a huge selection of PYO fruit across its 150-acre site, including strawberries, gooseberries, blackberries and blackcurrants from June to October.
Parking is free and there’s no entry charge for PYO – you simply pay for what you pick. 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 on site, but you can pick up ice creams, drinks and refreshments from the Pick Your Own hut, so it’s worth bringing a picnic too.
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Parkside Farm, Enfield
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Located in Enfield, North London, Parkside Farm gives little ones the chance to pick their own fruit and veg between June and October. Choose from strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants and plenty of vegetables besides.
Stroll around with a basket and pick your favourites – you only pay for what you take home. Many crops are grown “table-top” style, so there’s no bending down needed for the best fresh fruit. There’s also a dedicated picnic space and a shop selling ice creams, meringues and Parkside honey.
The Hop Shop, Castle Farm, Kent
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The PYO at The Hop Shop is a genuinely stunning spot, set on a lavender farm in Kent. During autumn – even once the lavender is out of season, it still smells wonderful – you can visit the PYO orchard for pears, corn on the cob, Kent cob hazelnuts and a variety of apples.
The orchard is mostly planted with Norfolk Royal apple trees, with a few rows of Cox and Golden Delicious for cross-pollination. There’s also a well-stocked farm shop worth a visit in its own right, and an old quince tree at the front, usually laden with fruit. Picking generally continues until mid-October, though it’s worth checking ahead, as this is a popular spot.
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Trevaskis Farm, Cornwall
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Enjoy the full countryside experience at Trevaskis Farm, deep in the beautiful Cornish outdoors. There’s enough here to keep everyone busy, with fruit picking, a shop, a farm park and a café with a great kids’ menu.
Alongside PYO cherries, you’ll find pumpkins, peas, sweetcorn and raspberries, among others, so there’s something for every taste. Informative signposts around the farm help little ones learn about the crops as they go.
Entry is free, so you only pay for what ends up in your basket, and all-weather polytunnels plus plenty of trees mean the weather is rarely a problem.
The Balloon Tree Farmshop and Café, 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.
A well-organised PYO trail takes you through the farm to whatever’s in season – from the first strawberries in May to the last pumpkin in October, along with blueberries, plums and runner beans among others. The play area sits next to the café garden, so you can keep an eye on the kids over a cup of tea, and there’s a fully-functional kid-sized digger and tractor, a two-storey Wendy house and a climbing frame to keep them busy.
Right by the play area is Animal Corner, where you can meet the farm’s resident pygmy goats and pick up a bag of feed from the farm shop to give them a treat.
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Pick Your Own Farms in Scotland
Cairnie Fruit Farm, Fife
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Cairnie Fruit Farm has pick your own cherries, plus plenty more, including strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries, pumpkins and even sunflowers. The farm also grows table-top strawberries for easy picking, and beyond the fruit, there’s a café, funyard and mega maze to enjoy.
If you visit while the six-acre Mega Maize Maze is open, it’s well worth a go. Even outside maze season, you’ll have full access to the Funyard, a brilliant playground with trampolines, swings, slides, a fortress, tractors and more. There’s an entry fee, but it makes for a full family day out.
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 – there’s a gated area for under-12s, plus another for older kids (and adults).
There’s plenty of seating, including spots overlooking the play areas so you can relax while the kids run around, and even on busy summer weekends the farm tends to be well managed, with good parking.
Throughout the year there are seasonal events to enjoy, from Easter egg hunts to Halloween activities and choosing a home-grown Christmas tree in December. Pick your own typically starts in spring, with a good range of berries available for family picking as the season goes on.
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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 your own, and fruit can also be ordered ready-picked for weekday collection. The farm also grows vegetables and potatoes, available for much of the year.
Border Berries, Kelso, Roxburghshire
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Strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, tayberries and peas are all on offer at Border Berries. This family-run soft fruit farm has large, well-tended crops to choose from.
Picking depends on the weather and on fruit availability on the day, so it’s worth checking their Facebook page and website, which are updated regularly.
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Pick Your Own Farms in Wales
Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, Hawarden, Flintshire
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Between June and October, families are invited to come and pick their own. You’ll find rows of gooseberries, raspberries, redcurrants and blackcurrants, and later in the season, apples, pears and plums for eating and cooking, plus Hawarden Estate pumpkins.
When you arrive, pick up a biodegradable punnet at the Farm Shop, then return for weighing once you’re done.
Aberbran Fawr Farm, Brecon, Powys
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Aberbran Fawr is a campsite in the Brecon Beacons National Park that also grows PYO soft fruit, available (subject to availability) from mid-June to early August.
As well as strawberries, you can stock up on a variety of fruit and veg, including broad beans, peas, potatoes, raspberries and blackcurrants.
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 in advance for current opening times and picking availability before you travel.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is pick your own season in Ireland and the UK?
Most farms open from late spring through to autumn, with strawberries typically first up from May or June, and later crops like apples, pears and pumpkins running through into October. Exact opening dates vary from farm to farm and year to year, so it’s always worth checking a farm’s own website or social media before you travel.
What should we bring on a pick your own day out?
Comfortable outdoor clothing and footwear, sun protection or rain gear depending on the season, a basket or container if the farm doesn’t provide one, and cash or a card for the farm shop or café. A picnic is a good idea too, as not every farm has an on-site café.
Do pick your own farms charge an entry fee?
It varies by farm. Some charge nothing and you simply pay for what you pick, while others ask for a small entrance fee that’s sometimes redeemed against your picking. It’s best to check the individual farm’s current pricing before you go.
Is pick your own a good activity for young children?
Yes – it’s a lovely, low-pressure outdoor activity that gets kids moving, gives them a hands-on introduction to where food comes from, and often ends with a treat they’ve picked themselves. Many farms also have play areas, animals or cafés to round out the day.
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Loved This Guide?
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