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 pick your own farms or local hedgerows. It’s a wonderful way for children to get some fresh air while learning and having fun – with a tasty treat at the end (or along the way, in many cases).
Children quickly get the hang of picking the biggest, ripest fruit and dropping it into the basket. The fun doesn’t stop there either, because kids love helping to prepare what they’ve picked and getting involved with cooking once you’re home. They’ll almost certainly be asking 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. Some farms offer dozens of different crops across the season. Here are some of our favourites, organised by region.
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Pick Your Own Farms in Ireland
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. It only opens on certain days between late June and early August, so it’s essential to check their Facebook page to be sure of 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 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 usually available for picking, and only on occasional dates, so it’s worth checking 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.
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 sweet taste. Now you can see them grow at Wheelocks Fruit Farm and pick your own.
Corderry Fruit Farm, Dundalk
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The family-run Corderry Fruit Farm in Dundalk, Co Louth, produces strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, apples, pumpkins and other produce.
Alongside supplying some well-known supermarkets, they offer a pick your own service through the summer months and again in autumn.
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
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 entry charge on arrival, which is redeemable against whatever you pick, so you’re effectively only paying for your produce. They also hold Fruit Festival Days on selected Sundays during peak season, when you can eat fruit straight from the fields – any extra you take home is weighed and charged separately.
Open from May to September, there’s also an on-site shop stocking picked produce as well as 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 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. The fruit is grown on a table-top system at waist height for easy picking, and in polytunnels so it can be picked 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 one of the UK’s largest pick your own farms, alongside a garden centre and farm shop. The farm has a long history, having originally supplied fresh produce to London’s Borough Market.
Open from June to October, the offering is impressive, with a wide range 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. All crops are easily accessible, 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 larger range of apples – Hillfield Nursery and Farm Shop is known for one of the biggest fruit ranges in the whole of East Anglia.
Whether you prefer wandering under the trees in the orchards or hunting for strawberries among the soft fruit crops, there’s plenty of fun to be had. Their season runs from May to October, and alongside pears, rhubarb and quinces, they also have a farm shop and host seasonal events such as 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 on its 150-acre site, including strawberries, gooseberries, blackberries and blackcurrants from June to October.
Parking is free and there’s no 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.
They don’t have a café, but they do sell ice creams, drinks and refreshments from their Pick Your Own hut. So head over for a delicious day of family fun, and bring a picnic to enjoy.
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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 too.
Stroll around the farm with a basket in hand and select your favourites to take home – you’ll only pay for what you collect. With a selection of “table-top” crops, including lots of berries, redcurrants and vegetables, you won’t even have to bend down to get the best fresh fruit.
There’s also a dedicated picnic space and a shop where you can buy ice creams, meringues and Parkside honey.
The Hop Shop, Castle Farm, Kent
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The PYO at The Hop Shop is stunning, set on a lavender farm in the Kent countryside.
During autumn (even out of lavender season, the scent still lingers) you can visit the PYO orchard for pears, corn on the cob and Kent cob hazelnuts, as well as a variety of apples.
The orchard is predominantly planted with Norfolk Royal apple trees, with a few rows of Cox apples and the odd Golden Delicious tree for cross-pollination. It’s worth checking in advance what payment methods they accept, as this can vary.
The farm shop is well stocked and well worth a visit in its own right – look out for the very old quince tree at the front, laden with fruit. Picking generally ends around mid-October, but check before visiting as this is a popular site.
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Trevaskis Farm, Cornwall
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Enjoy the full countryside experience at Trevaskis Farm in the beautiful Cornish outdoors. There’s enough here to keep everyone busy, with fruit picking, a shop, a farm park and a café offering a great kids’ menu.
As well as PYO cherries you’ll find pumpkins, peas, sweetcorn and raspberries among others – plenty to please every taste in the family. Informative signposts around the farm help teach little ones about the crops as you go.
Entry is free, so you’ll only pay for what you put in your basket. Weather is never a problem thanks to all-weather polytunnels and plenty of trees for shelter from the coastal breeze.
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 a well-organised PYO trail through the farm and select the best of whatever’s in season – from the first strawberries in May to the last pumpkins in October. As well as PYO strawberries, they offer blueberries, plums and runner beans among others, and the children’s play area sits right next to the cafe garden so you can supervise while enjoying a cup of tea.
With a kid-sized digger and tractor, a two-storey Wendy house and a climbing frame, little ones will have plenty 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 strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries, pumpkins and even sunflowers. The farm also grows table-top strawberries for easy picking, along with a café, funyard and mega maze.
If you visit in summer when the six-acre Mega Maize Maze is open, it’s well worth a try. Even when the maze is closed, you’ll have full access to the Funyard, a playground packed with trampolines, swings, slides, a fortress, tractors and more. There’s an entry fee to pay, but this 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 – one gated area for under-12s, and another for older kids (and adults!).
There’s plenty of seating, including spots overlooking the play areas so you can relax while the kids play. Even on a busy summer weekend, the farm is well managed with ample parking and space to run around.
Throughout the year there are seasonal events to enjoy, from Easter egg hunts to choosing your own Christmas tree in December. Pick Your Own starts in spring and, depending on the season, you’ll find a good range of berries available for family picking.
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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 available for picking at Border Berries. This family-run soft fruit farm has large, well-tended crops to choose from, with pricing based on weight.
Picking depends on the weather and fruit availability on any given day, so check their Facebook page and website for the latest updates before visiting.
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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, English apples, pears and plums, 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.
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.
Pick your own hours vary through the season, so it’s best to check their social media for current opening times and availability before you travel.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is pick your own season in Ireland and the UK?
Most farms run from late spring through to autumn, though this varies by farm and by crop. Strawberries are usually first, from around May or June, with later crops like apples, pears and pumpkins running into October. Always check the individual farm’s website or social media before you travel, as picking depends on the weather and what’s ready that week.
Do I need to book ahead?
Some smaller farms only open on specific days and rely on Facebook updates to confirm availability, so it’s worth checking before you set off, especially if you’re travelling a distance. Larger farms with visitor facilities tend to be open more predictably through the season.
How does pricing usually work at pick your own farms?
Most farms let you pick as much or as little as you like and charge by weight for what ends up in your basket. Some also charge a small entry fee, which may be redeemable against your pick. Prices vary by farm and by season, so check current rates directly with each farm.
What should we bring on a pick your own day out?
Comfortable shoes, a container or bag for extra produce if you’re buying some to take home, and weather-appropriate clothing are a good start. Many farms are outdoors with only partial cover, so check the forecast. A picnic is a nice touch if the farm doesn’t have a café.
Is pick your own suitable for toddlers and younger children?
Yes, many farms are very family-friendly, with low-growing or table-top crops that are easy for little hands to reach, plus play areas, animal corners or mazes to extend the day out. It’s worth checking each farm’s facilities in advance if you have very young children.
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