Big Apple Harvestime

A volunteer-run weekend celebrating Herefordshire's apple and pear harvest across orchards, farms and halls around Much Marcle.

Harvestime marks the apple and pear harvest across a cluster of venues in and around Much Marcle on the second weekend of October. Visitors move between orchards, farms and halls to watch cider apples and perry pears being pressed - from an 18th-century wooden press to a modern hydropress - to taste fruit, cider and perry, and to have apples from their own trees identified.

Hellens hosts displays and sales of apples, cider fruit and perry pears, with tastings and talks; Westons Cider opens its shop and restaurant with tours and walks; the Memorial Hall serves soup-and-roll lunches and apple teas; and small makers such as Gregg's Pit and Lyne Down Organics open their orchards. The event is run entirely by volunteers.

Some venues are a 20-30 minute walk apart. Parking is available at Westons and in a field at Hellens, and the Daffodil Line community bus links Ledbury, Much Marcle, Newent and Ross-on-Wye all weekend. Dogs may not be allowed in some areas where fruit or food is being prepared.