Where to go strawberry picking near Bristol

My parents always tell the story of how my mum went into labour with me in a strawberry field. Back in the long hot summer of ’83, I decided to make my way into the world while they were picking strawberries – perhaps somehow aware of the delicious berries just outside. I’ve always been obsessed with strawberries, they are by far my most favourite food on this planet. Most delicious slathered in cream or bobbing around in a glass of ice cold PIMMs, but even better when you’ve plucked the strawbs yourself. Picking your own fruit is one of the nicest activities to do with kids, and while a few bristol strawberry picking farms have closed down in recent years, luckily there are still a few places to go strawberry picking near Bristol, just take a look at this little lot:

Strawberry picking Bristol

St Aldams Nursery, Pucklechurch

St Aldams, based near the village of Pucklechurch is probably the nearest strawberry farm to the Bristol. Around 20 minutes from the city centre, this Bristol strawberry farm has been going for over 30 years. Pick your own strawberries starts mid-June – to pluck yourself some berries, enter the nursery via a winding track with views overlooking South Gloucestershire countryside.

They also offer gooseberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants (late June), raspberries (mid-July), plus veg from August.

Primrose Vale Farm Shop, Stroud

If you’re looking for places to go strawberry picking in Bristol, Primrose Vale Farm Shop is about a 40 minute drive from the city, but those berries are worth it right?! The Strawberry farm here is a pretty affair, the fields are surrounded by trees, with the odd hill visible in the background. The strawberries here are grown on raised platforms, making them easy to pick and slug/bug free.

As well as strawberry picking (from around mid-May), there are lots more other fruit and veg to get your mits on – see the timetable on their website for a rough idea of when you can snap up various produce.

Discover up to date berry picking PYO info on their Facebook page.

PYO strawberries

Lotmead Farm, Swindon

Spread over many acres, Lotmead is on the Wanborough Road just outside Swindon, roughly 1 hour from Bristol. They were awarded the best national ‘Pick Your Own of the Year’ award at the Farm Retail awards for 2022.

Lotmead is a great one for families thanks to the adventure playground, small animal enclosure and nature walk (for which there is a charge of £2.95 for kids aged 3-5 years, £6.95 for 6-16 year olds, £4.95 for adults and over). Season passes will also be available.

There’s also an onsite café and farm shop for snacks and drinks, homemade cakes and ice creams. As well as strawberries, there’s a wide variety of fruit and veg to pick – check their Facebook page or call their answerphone on 01793 790137 to find out the fruit sitch before you visit.

Over Farm, Gloucester

This family-run farm has been going for over 30 years and is located one mile from Gloucester, about 50 minutes north of Bristol. Strawberry and fruit picking is due to start from June to mid-August – check their website for updates. You’ll need to book an entrance slot online so they can keep an eye on fruit levels and weather, and then fruit is charged by the punnet.

If you’re off to collect those fruity treats, be sure to re-use Your PYO bucket and you’ll get 50p off your pickings. After gathering your strawberries, don’t miss the farm animals in the adjoining paddocks – there are pigs, ostriches, chickens, ducks, sheep, donkeys, ponies and a goat, which you can feed with food available to buy from the shop.

If you’re visiting with kids, make a day of it! Over Farm has two adventure playgrounds, tractor-trailer rides, mini golf, bouncy pillows and quad train rides! Pre-book in advance to avoid disappointment (and because it’s cheaper!)

Thurloxton Fruit Growers, Taunton

Around an hour south of Bristol, this fruit-growing farm is run by the Quick family who have farmed on the foothills of the beautiful Quantocks for much of the last century. They grow several varieties of strawberries throughout the season, plus gooseberries, raspberries, loganberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, rhubarb, broad beans and potatoes.

Of course the availability of the fruit is subject to England’s variable seasons, so check their website/contact them beforehand for timings and to check what’s on offer.

They ask that you take your own containers to pick into, these will be weighed at entry.

Wotton Farm Shop, Wotton-under-Edge *temporarily closed

* Not currently offering pick your own strawberries near Bristol as their fields are in need of some love and care. This takes time and it is likely they will not have PYO for a while*

If you prefer to save your back and swipe some succulent strawbs from a tabletop growing system, Wotton Farm Shop is the fruit picking place for you. About a 30-minute drive from Bristol, they offer Pick Your Own (PYO) on a variety of summer fruits – ‘Sonata’ strawberries, tayberries, Gooseberries, blackcurrants,red currants, plums, broad beans and Raspberries, which usually begins mid-June. Once you’ve gathered and purchased your crop, you can taste your goodies on picnic tables with beautiful views outside the shop.

Daily picking until 4.30pm Monday – Saturday and 3pm Sunday. Avoid disappointment and check ahead before making the journey by calling 01453 521546 for an update and availability.

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