Enjoy your fruit as fresh as it gets with a trip to one of the best 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 veg together, and many of us have happy childhood memories of doing just that. It’s a lovely way for children to get some fresh air while learning and having fun — and there’s a tasty treat waiting 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. And the fun doesn’t stop there, because kids love helping to prepare what they’ve picked and getting involved in the kitchen once you’re home. Fair warning: they’ll be asking for a return visit before you’ve even left the car park.
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 sites offer 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
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 left in Ireland. It’s only open on certain days from late June to early August, so it’s worth checking their Facebook page before you set off to be sure of availability.
When it’s open, you’ll find 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 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 proper trip 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 sweetness. At Wheelocks you can see them grow and pick your own.
Corderry Fruit Farm, Dundalk
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The family-run Corderry Fruit Farm in Dundalk, Co Louth, grows strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, apples, pumpkins and other produce.
Alongside supplying some well-known supermarkets, they offer pick your own during 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 fresh produce, picking your own seasonal fruit and veg, including asparagus, strawberries, cherries, gooseberries, runner beans, French beans and peas.
There’s usually a small per-person charge on entry, which is refunded against the produce you pick. They also hold 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 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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Set in the Surrey countryside, Garsons is one of the UK’s largest pick your own farms, alongside a garden centre and farm shop. The farm began well over a century ago, growing fresh produce to sell at London’s Borough Market.
Open from June to October, the offering is impressive — dozens of crops and varieties, including 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. All crops are easily accessible, and there’s plenty of parking on site.
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 grows well over a hundred varieties, and is known for one of the biggest fruit ranges 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. Their season runs from May to October, with pears, rhubarb and quinces among the crops on offer. Hillfield also has a farm shop and hosts 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 pick your own fruit across its 150-acre site, including strawberries, gooseberries, blackberries and blackcurrants from June to October.
Parking is free and there’s no charge for picking — you just pay for what you take home. There’s also a maize maze open from July to September, with a different theme each year.
They don’t have a café, but they do sell ice creams, drinks and refreshments from their pick your own hut, so bring a picnic and make a day of it.
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Parkside Farm, Enfield
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Located in Enfield, North London, Parkside Farm offers 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 collect. Many of the crops are grown on table-top systems, so there’s no bending down needed for the best fresh fruit.
There’s also a picnic area and a shop selling ice creams, meringues and Parkside honey.
The Hop Shop, Castle Farm, Kent
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The pick your own at The Hop Shop is a picture-perfect spot, set among the beautiful surroundings of a lavender farm in Kent.
In autumn (the lavender may be out of season, but it still smells wonderful) you can visit the pick your own orchard for pears, corn on the cob, Kent cob hazelnuts and a variety of apples, predominantly Norfolk Royal, with some Cox and Golden Delicious trees for cross-pollination.
The farm shop is well worth a visit in its own right, and there’s an old quince tree at the front, usually laden with fruit. Picking generally ends around mid-October, but check 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, set 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 little ones learn about the crops as you go.
Entrance is free, so you only pay for what ends up in your basket. All-weather polytunnels and 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 a great day out.
Follow the pick your own trail through the farm and choose whatever’s in season, from the first strawberries in May to the last pumpkins in October. Strawberries, blueberries, plums and runner beans are among the crops on offer, 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 little ones busy, plus an animal corner where you can meet the farm’s resident pygmy goats and pick up a bag of feed from the farm shop.
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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. There are table-top strawberries for easy picking too. But the fun doesn’t stop at the fruit — there’s also a café, funyard and maize maze.
If you visit while the Mega Maize Maze is open, it’s well worth a go. Even outside maze season, the Funyard offers trampolines, slides, swings, a fortress and tractors to keep kids entertained. 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 (a converted 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 grown-ups).
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, from Easter egg hunts to choosing a home-grown Christmas tree in December. Pick your own typically starts in spring, with a good range of berries available depending on the season.
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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 grows vegetables and potatoes too, available for most 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 fruit availability on the day, so check their Facebook page and website before heading out.
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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 pick their own gooseberries, raspberries, redcurrants and blackcurrants, followed later in the season by apples, pears, plums and pumpkins.
When you arrive, pick up a biodegradable punnet at the farm shop, then bring your haul back for weighing.
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 what’s ready) from mid-June to early August.
As well as strawberries, you can stock up on 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 draw, but blackcurrants, rhubarb, peas and broad beans are also available.
It’s worth checking their social media for up-to-date opening times and availability before you go.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What time of year is best for pick your own farms?
Most farms open from late spring through to autumn, with strawberries typically first up from May or June, and later crops like apples, pumpkins and squash carrying the season through to October. Exact timings vary by farm and by weather, so it’s always worth checking a farm’s own website or social media before you travel.
Do you need to book ahead?
Some smaller farms only open on certain days, or ask you to check availability on Facebook before visiting, especially during busy summer weekends. Larger farms are usually open to walk-ins throughout their season, but a quick check beforehand saves a wasted trip.
How does the pricing usually work?
Most pick your own farms charge for what you pick, often by weight, rather than a flat entry fee. Some sites do have a small admission or refundable deposit at the gate. Prices vary from farm to farm and can change year to year, so it’s best to check directly with the farm for current rates.
What should we bring?
A basket or container is often provided, but it’s worth bringing your own bags for the journey home, plus comfortable shoes, sun protection or waterproofs depending on the season, and cash, as some smaller farms are cash-only.
Are pick your own farms suitable for toddlers and younger children?
Many are, especially those with table-top growing systems that keep fruit at an easy height, and several also have play areas, cafés or animal corners to round out the visit. It’s a good idea to check a farm’s own site for accessibility and facilities before you go.
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