Pick-your-own farms

The UK climate is perfect for growing berries, and although you can buy them year-round in the supermarket, the sweet summer fruits are a highlight of the British growing calendar. Strawberries and raspberries may get all the limelight, but it’s also worth looking out for tayberries or loganberries (hybrids of raspberries and blackberries) and gooseberries at your local pick-yourown farm, or farmers’ market. Don’t forget to forage the brambles in your local area for blackberries, too.

Scotland

Wester Hardmuir Fruit Farm, Nairn, hardmuir.com

● Apples, blueberries, cherries, gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries and more.

● Try the ice cream or home-baked goods and apple juice before hitting the ields. Charleton Fruit Farm, Hillside, Montrose, charleton-farm.co.uk

● Strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, cherries, brambles, redcurrants, blackcurrants, plums, apples, yellow raspberries, tayberries and more.

● Charleton is also a popular dining spot. Plus, there’s an adventure park for kids and a farm shop. Cairnie Fruit Farm, Cairnie, Cupar, Fife, cairniefruitfarm.co.uk

● Strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, gooseberries, cherries, brambles, pumpkins and sunlowers.

● Cairnie’s Funyard is open from March to November, with a maize maze part of the year. The shop and café are worth visiting, and dogs are welcome too. Craigies Farm, Queensferry, craigies.co.uk

● Strawberries, raspberries, cherries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, gooseberries, blackberries and apples, plus sunlowers, peas, broad beans and more.

● There’s also a farm shop, café, and an adventure farm park for children.

Northern Ireland

Finlay’s Place, Killinchy, Co. Down, inlaysplace.co.uk

● Strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants.

● The farm also sells eucalyptus and lowers, and runs wreath-making workshops. Visit the farm shop for produce from neighbouring farmers.

England

The Balloon Tree,

Gate Helmsley, York, theballoontree.co.uk

● Strawberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and pumpkins.

● Look out for strawberry treats made on-site in the relaxed bakery. Strawberry Fields Farm Shop, Lifton, Devon, strawberry ieldslifton.co.uk

● Strawberries, lowers, lavender, sweetcorn and pumpkins.

● There’s a ‘golden strawberry hunt’ for kids, plus farm animals, games and a hay mountain. Visit the shop or book in for an afternoon picnic. Crockford Bridge, Addlestone, Surrey, crockfordbridgefarm.co.uk

● Rhubarb, strawberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries, redcurrants, blackberries and raspberries, and more – even Christmas trees later in the year.

● Check the website for ‘how to pick’ tips before your visit, then try the treats at the on-site ice cream parlour and tea shack. Copas Fruit Field, Iver, Buckinghamshire, thefruit ields.co.uk

● Strawberries, raspberries, cherries, blackcurrants, plums and apples, plus asparagus, peas, beans and sweetcorn.

● Extras include a maize maze with clues and a game card. Clive’s Fruit Farm, Upton Upon Severn, Worcester, clivesfruitfarm.co.uk

● Strawberries, raspberries, cherries, plums, apples and more.

● One of the pioneers of the pick-your-own movement in the 60s.

Wales

Gower PYO, Reynoldston, Scurlage, Swansea, gowerpickyourown.wales

● Strawberries, raspberries and broad beans.

● Gower is an all-weather farm, so prepare for rain or shine (there’s covered and tabletop picking). Find ice cream, homemade cakes and co•ee at the farm café. Find the full guide at: bbcgoodfood. com/best-pick-your-own-farms-uk

Sweet summer fruits are a highlight of the British growing calendar