Celebrate apple season in Somerset: cider & orchard events
As September rolls in, Somerset’s apple season is upon us, and with it comes a whole crop of family-friendly events celebrating our county’s juiciest treasures: cider and apple juice.
From pizza picnics beneath apple-laden branches to orchard strolls under crimson-globed boughs, farm animals, classic cars, and even a woodland sprite sanctuary hidden beneath the trees. These gatherings offer more than just a taste of local cider-making heritage – they’re often a wholesome day out in Somerset’s most idyllic rural corners, a way of learning about the region’s cider-making heritage, and often located in idyllic rural surroundings.
So pack a blanket and head for the orchards! Here’s my pick of the best places to celebrate apple season in Somerset this September.
Burrow Hill’s Cider Bus Saturdays
As the apple trees hang heavy with fruit, Burrow Hill’s orchards come alive each Saturday this September. The legendary turquoise Cider Bus will be serving a range of drinks crafted from fruit grown on the farm, to be quaffed alongside food from some of Somerset’s tastiest vendors.
6 Sept – Marinades Caribbean plus live music from The Sidetracks.
13 Sept – Ludacrust Pizza
20 Sept – Basement 17 Tacos
27 Sept – Paella Ca’Luciano and live music from Toad Patrol.
Climb the hill for mighty, uninterrupted, 360 degree views over the colour-changing Somerset landscape, then settle beneath the orchard trees, surrounded by pooches, picnicking families and free-range children.
Sheppy’s Cider Farm
Wander through orchards flushed with red bauble-like fruits this September at Sheppy’s cider farm. With 90 acres of orchards, there are some 19,000 trees to marvel at.
Choose from three signposted trails, ranging from 20-60 minutes, winding through rows of trees bursting with fruit. Along the way, kids can spot farm animals, explore the play area, or linger by the duck pond.
After your walk, settle in at the award-winning café or farm shop for traditional, seasonally-pressed cider, deli treats and seasonal bites – a wholesome slice of early autumn in the Somerset countryside.
North Down Orchard
Rolling into September with oodles of rustic Somerset charm, North Down Orchard is hosting its monthly Vintage and Classic Car Meet on 7 September from 2pm.
Set on a working cider farm near Haselbury Plucknett, this family-friendly gathering welcomes kids and dogs – perfect if you’ve got a budding engineer in your brood keen to peek at an old-fashioned bonnet or two while you sip a cider.
On the food front, Ludacrust will be firing up their scrumptious wood-fired pizzas, and cider will be flowing in the barn – just a stone’s throw from where the apples are grown, pressed and transformed into North Down’s signature sip.
Torre Cider Farm
Towering, intricate treehouses fit for fairy-sized folk, carved wooden doors hidden among the apple trees, stools shaped like hands and far-reaching countryside views – the Sprite Sanctuary at Torre Cider Farm near Watchet makes for an enchanting orchard stroll with youngsters.
Add in farm animals, a play area, hammocks for lounging, a farm shop filled with Scrumpy cider (picked, pressed and processed onsite) and a cafe serving up wood-fired pizza and you’ve got yourself a day steeped in Somerset whimsy and charm. There’s glamping too, if you fancy staying longer. Open Saturdays, 10am-3pm.
Perry’s Cider
With its thatched roofs, vintage wagons, barrel planters and time-leaning stone walls, the family-run Perry’s Cider in Dowlish Wake oozes rustic character.
Its cider roots run deep – the business has been in the family since 1920 when it was founded by owner George’s grandfather’s uncle, William Churchill, (not that one, though a case was sent to his namesake during WWII).
On September 14, Perry’s hosts Pizza in the Orchard with Ethic Street Pizza (pre-ordering is highly recommended). Expect your cider (one of my faves) served from the back of a Landy while kids splash in the stream and dash through the trees.
Harry’s Cider
Kick off an apple-packed Saturday with a laid-back, family-friendly afternoon at Harry’s Cider, Littlefield Farm, Long Sutton.
From 12-6pm, visiting punters can shimmy along to live music from The Priddice Brothers Band and graze on tasty bites from Bristol-heralding Toffs Pasta, alongside top-notch cider and apple juice.
The new taproom and cider shop, opened in 2025, sits just 50 metres from the orchard where the apples are picked, pressed, and fermented – so you can sip and share stories, while overlooking views of the trees that gave life to every pint.
Bring the kids and well-behaved dogs (on leads in outside areas) to enjoy the chilled-out Somerset vibes.
North Perrott Fruit Farm
There’s no supermarket apple that can compare to the crunch and satisfaction of picking one straight from the tree.
From mid-July through to October, North Perrott Fruit Farm invites fruit lovers to pick their own apples and pears – perfect for eating, cooking, juicing, or even a spot of home cider-making.
Swing by the Farm Shop to stock up on other locally-grown fruit and veg, plus seasonal blooms from the Plant Centre. There’s a small café too for a post-picking pick-me-up.
With 30+ named varieties of juice made and pressed onsite, they certainly know their apples! Call ahead to check what’s available for the plucking.
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