Prettiest Autumn Walks in Hampshire
Nothing says a cosy autumn day quite like a family walk, lined with orange trees, crunchy leaves and a steamy seasonal drink.
Best Places to Go Apple Picking in The UK (Hampshire, Sussex and Dorset) 2025 Guide
When the schools return after the summer holidays, there’s still time to make the most of the milder months before winter, where wholesome outdoor adventures can be experienced, such as apple picking season.
There are many pick your own apple farms with charming orchards across the South Coast, allowing visitors to pick fresh apples straight from the tree. Who doesn’t like apples with so many varieties to choose from?
When is Apple Picking Season in the UK?
This transition from Summer to Autumn is the perfect time for little ones to explore outdoors as the weather cools, enjoy watching the leaves change and learn about local produce through real-life experiences at PYO farms. Apple picking typically takes place between September and November, that’s when many British varieties are ready to be eaten. As certain varieties are ready to be picked at different times, we advise checking with the farm beforehand.
Check to see if there are Community Orchards near you, as they differ slightly to PYO farms. Community Orchards are a collection of fruit trees grown and maintained by the community, allowing the public to take free fruit, rather than being grown and sold privately for profit. It’s important to note that these orchards will have rules and guidelines you need to follow, such as only collecting the fruit that has already fallen from the tree, or they may have designated picking areas.
So, if you’re after some classic autumn fun and apple-themed adventures, this guide covers the top apple-picking spots and events across the South Coast.
Varieties of Popular Apples
There are so many varieties of British apples, all with different flavours from sweet, tart, crisp and rich. Some are great to eat on their own, and others are best when cooked in a fruit dessert.
Here is a list of a few delicious apple varieties grown in the UK.
Early Season Varieties
- Discovery: Ready from late August, these red apples are perfect for eating fresh
- Worcester Pearmain: Available from early September, offering a sweet, strawberry-like flavour
- ·James Grieve: A Scottish variety that thrives in a northern climate, ready mid-September
- Bramley: Ready to pick from mid-September until early October. Great for apple pies, crumbles and sauces.
- Royal Gala: Sweet and crisp flavour. Can be grown from September all the way through May. Known as Britain’s favourite apple.
Late Season Varieties
- Egremont Russet: Distinctive apples with brown skins, ideal for those wanting a unique taste as it has a sweet, nutty flavour.
- Lord Lambourne: A Hampshire heritage variety that keeps well through winter
- Sunset: Ready in October, these apples offer a rich flavour, suited for both eating and cooking.
- Cox’s Orange Pippin: An aromatic flavour with a balance of sweet and sour.
- Pink Lady: What was once an imported apple, now grown in England. Very sweet and crisp, one of the nation’s favourites. Its season runs from November to May.
Best Family-Friendly Apple Picking Farms
Blackmoor Estate, Hampshire
If you’re looking for apple picking in Hampshire, there are many places, such as the Blackmoor Estate. This is a great place for families ready to enjoy the autumnal season. This traditional, family-run estate located in Liss has grown its own fruit for over 100 years. They host an annual Apple Tasting Day on the second Sunday in October. They produce premium cider and apple juice, jams, chutney and honey available to purchase through their website or on-site shop.
Blackmoor Estate will be celebrating their 54th year this year and the event will be held on Sunday 12th October. It is free to enter, and last year they hosted a selection of activities like apple tasting, craft fairs, local produce stalls, horse and cart rides and much more. They also sell premium apple juices and ciders on-site.
Longdown Activity Farm, Hampshire
Longdown Activity Farm near Winchester is a working farm that offers apple picking alongside many other fun activities. Families can enjoy a day out with farm animals, adventure playground and seasonal pick-your-own activities. Their apple orchards have a
variety of apples including Discovery and Worcester Pearmain and cooking apples. The farm also features tractor rides and indoor play areas for rainy autumn days.
Kingston Lacy, Dorset
A beautiful National Trust property, Kingston Lacy hosts apple picking in autumn, often as part of volunteer-run harvest events in their kitchen gardens. Apples are available to pick from around 30th September to early October. The National Trust has 71 varieties of apple tree, 52 varieties of pear and 19 varieties of plum. In the recently restored kitchen garden, there’s a children’s play area and kiosk serving drinks and snacks.
Paternosters Farm, West Sussex
Paternosters Farm is a small, family-run farm situated in the village in Warninglid, near to Haywards Heath. established since the 1970s. September is when they start to see the main crops of apples, ready to pick by the end of the month. You will find different varieties of apple at Paternosters Farm, including Cox, Bramley, Russet, Jonagold and Idared. From mid-august, you can pick plums and damsons.
Maynards Fruit Farm, East Sussex
Maynards Fruit is another family-run, pick-your-own fruit farm in East Sussex. They have a selection of apples including Green Gages and Aprium, Summer Crisp Apples, Estival and Bramleys (cooking apples). They also have cobnuts, damsons and plums. On their website, they have a weekly fruit update, so visitors know exactly what’s ready to pick.
Tips for Apple Picking
- Ripe apples will come off easily with a gentle twist
- Look for even colouring and a firm feel
- Bring a sturdy container
- Place apples carefully into your basket
- Use two hands to support the branches
- Pick apples on the lower branches first
- Utilise fallen apples, just check for bruises or holes
- Store in a cool, dark and dry place
- Try different varieties, that’s half the fun!
Community Orchards Worth Visiting
Liss Community Orchard (Hampshire)
In 2023, a community orchard was created by local volunteers as part of the Mill Road Community Garden. Throughout the village you’ll find 20 different varieties of fruit trees planted, including apple, cherry, damson, mulberry and plum fruit trees which all help to
increase biodiversity in the area. Surrounding the orchard, there is communal seating and a wildflower meadow. There is access to water on-site to encourage visitors to water the plants and trees. It has been a huge success for the local community.
Bridport Community Orchard (Dorset)
This orchard is a permanent green space, open for everyone to enjoy. The orchard features a wide variety of fruit trees, allotments, wildlife habitats, mixed hedgerows and areas of wildflower meadow. The idea of the orchard was to preserve rare apple varieties that have fallen out of commercial use, as well as to protect local types unique to West Dorset.
Broadoak Orchard (Dorset)
Broadoak orchasrd is a charming old orchard located in a quiet spot on the edge of Broad Oak hamlet. Old varieties of English apple and plum trees can be found here. With the surrounding grassland left to grow for flowers, creating seeds for birds and encouraging pollination, it makes for a great spot to enjoy a peaceful picnic or take a short break on one of the many benches dotted around the area.
Oaklands Park Community Orchard (West Sussex)
Chichester’s first community orchard contains a variety of apples, pears and plums and heritage Sussex varieties. These fruit trees were planted in Oaklands Park in 2011 by the volunteers of Transition Town Chichester. Members of the local community are welcome to take the fruit for personal use and when there’s a surplus of fruit, the orchard is harvested by the volunteers and donated to local charitable food projects.
Ringmer Community Orchard (East Sussex)
Located in East Sussex Ringmer Community Orchard is a heritage fruit orchard, it was planted in 2005 with a diverse collection of apple, pear and plum trees, including rare Sussex varieties. The orchard is cared for by its members, who meet regularly to share tasks, such as harvesting crops. New members are supported with guidance from experienced members
Apple Day Themed Events
Little Owls Apple Day - Countryside Education Trust
At Countryside Education Trust in Beaulieu, Little Owls Club (for their tiniest visitors), have their very own Apple Day on 11th September from 10am – 12pm. This is perfect for little ones to get stuck in with the hands-on activities available.
You can pick your own apples from their orchard and make something sweet to take home with you, by using their traditional presses for juicing apples. Don’t forget to bring along your own bottle to take your handmade apple juice home. Booking is essential as spaces are limited.
Apple Day at Sholing Valley
On Saturday the 11th October, Sholing Valley will host their free annual apple event. They’ll be pressing fresh juice on the day. You can bring any spare apples you have (and a bottle or container for your juice) and enjoy activities, tastings and autumn inspiration.
Chris Bird from Sparsholt College is an apple expert and will be on hand to help identify apple varieties, including rare local types. There will also be a guided foraging walk, hot and cold refreshments (including mulled apple juice), vegan pumpkin & apple soup, plus pumpkins and squashes for sale.
Apple Day at Dorset Cider Farm
Dorset Cider Farm will host their free Apple Day themed event on Saturday, 20th September. Visitors are encouraged to bring their apples for community pressing in exchange for tokens to either be donated or used in their shop. If you’re unsure which apples you are growing, there will be experts available to identify them for you.
You can watch the team harvest and press the fruit to turn into cider, in addition to live music, a BBQ, ice cream and games to keep children entertained. Throughout August and September, you can also book a guided harvest tour
Apple Harvest Day at Home Farm Orchard, Stamner
The Apple Harvest Day at Home Farm Orchard is organised by Brighton Permaculture Trust, and will take place on Sunday 21st September 2025. It’s a free, family and dog-friendly apple picking event that celebrates the harvest and the changing seasons. There will be orchard tours where visitors can learn about permaculture and its importance.
There will be live music and entertainment, stalls and crafts, a selection of fruit ciders, homemade apple desserts, plus, you can get involved with some apple juicing. If you are interested in volunteering, you can find out more about how to become one.
We hope this guide has helped you to discover the best apple-picking farms and events in Hampshire, Sussex and Dorset. Apples are one of the best-tasting fruits, with so many different varieties in the UK alone, so it’s easy to see why apple picking and tasting is a popular pastime.
Despite apples being consumed and enjoyed all year round, this time of year gets many Brits looking forward to making and eating delicious apple desserts that warm the soul in the colder months.
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