Last year was the first time that we had explored the idea of picking apples at Castle Farm which is just down the road from us in Shoreham. We loved it, so this year we decided to go again and stock up on deliciously fresh, local apples perfect for cooking or just eating on their own.
Apple Picking at Castle Farm opened on Saturday 1st September and is open every Friday, Saturday & Sunday (weather permitting), from 10am – 5pm, until early October. Castle Farm has a couple of apple varieties available in their pick your own orchard including Norfolk Royal and Cox apples.
Norfolk Royals are the reason I go apple picking at Castle Farm, the only commercial grower of this rare and beautiful variety in the world (!) which is lovely and sweet which is why I love them. The apple is a distinctive bright red and develops a natural waxy skin as it matures. It is best eaten straight from the tree but can also be cooked with a consistency similar to Bramleys but much sweeter. You are unlikely to find Norfolk Royals in the supermarket as they bruise easily and do not cope with a lot of handling.
In alternating rows, you will find the Norfolk Royal amongst traditional Cox apples which are small and flavoursome, ideal for lunchboxes or afternoon snacks. You will also find local Bramleys, pears, corn on the cob and the Kent Cobnuts which you can purchase at the orchard.
Picking the apples was as much fun as I remember it being from last year; simply take a bag with you and fill it up with a combination of varieties from the trees, dodging the ones that have fallen to the ground. Be sure to inspect each apple for any blemishes, bruises or signs of bugs before gently twisting them off of the branch. Tugging can damage the trees so be careful!
The price this year was £2 per kg and I came away with more than 6kg of Norfolk Royals which I prefer over the Cox.
If you’d rather enjoy your apples in juice form then Castle Farm sells bottles of their locally pressed apple juice which combines the Norfolk Royals with Kentish Bramleys to make a full and fresh tasting juice with a balance of sweet and tart flavours, best served chilled.
Apple picking makes a fun day out for all the family, I recommend it wholeheartedly!
Have you been apple picking this year? Tell me about your experiences below.
That looks really fun to do, I was going to go Apple picking at a place near me and my friend said just to warn you there are a few wasps, I chose to stay at home and just send the kids lol
I have never been apple picking. What a fun way to pick your apples and use them to make a yummy apple crumble! Would love to try the freshly pressed apple juice at Castle Farm. I’ll have to see if there’s a farm near me to pick apples : )
I’ve never been apple picking before, looks like a lot of fun and a nice way to spend an afternoon. x
What a gorgeous thing to do – apple picking is something we have personally never done, but it is certainly something we’d love to do!
This looks a lovely afternoon out. I have been strawberry picking but not apple picking.
I would love to do something like this. As a side note these look delicious. I could make the most amazing crumble with them!
Wow those apples look so red! I’ve never been fruit picking in any way but apple picking is what I’d love to do x
I never realised that there was an orchard in Shoreham, will have to have a look when we next visit the family
Oh what a fab thing to do! We stayed at a farm recently and the kids loved going apple picking! So much fun!
I’ve never been to a pick apples this sounds great. I love that you can also get juice. We love apple juice.
£2 per kg is amazing value! I love this time of year because picking apples and apple tasting is such fun. It sounds like you’ve got a brilliant place just down the road from you and the apples look really tasty.
Oh I love the idea of going apple picking, what a fantastic price too!
Looks like a very lovely place to visit. I would love to try apple picking with my tweens.
I love the idea of this! we go strawberry picking and pumpkin picking but we all adore apples so this would be super! i will have to have a look locally to us
Oh this sounds like such a fun autumn day activity. My Nan had an orchard when I was a kid full of fruit trees including apple, pear, damson and plums. It was always great fun picking the fruit.
I have never been apple picking before. I must check and see if there is such a thing local to me 🙂 I’m sure my dudes would love it as well as me
I love this what a fab day out. £2 per 2kg what a steal. Bet those apples were crisp and fresh xx