CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR EVENT

Fall into Autumn Celebrations at Apple events across Scotland

The National Trust for Scotland is celebrating autumn harvest by inviting people to its annual Apple events across the country.

Fall into Autumn Celebrations at  Apple events across Scotland

Article Source: National Trust for Scotland
Last Updated: 26 September 2024 14:20

The Trust is home to hundreds of varieties of apples, including many special, heritage species, and it carries out work year-round to preserve some of Scotland’s older and rarer varieties. To celebrate the arrival of autumn and harvest season, the conservation charity is hosting a series of events at many of its orchards across the country.

Colin Wren, Gardens & Designed Landscapes Manager at the National Trust for Scotland, said: “Our apple events across the Trust are a fun way to celebrate this wonderful fruit in a way that is enjoyable and engaging for people of all ages. With many games and activities, delicious food and drink, and of course the opportunity to explore our gardens, they offer something for everyone. But these events are also a way for us to enjoy this humble fruit and remind people not to take it for granted.

“We expect that a changing climate may affect many apple species so it’s important that we maintain the diversity of the fruits we grow. We want to ensure that these apples aren't lost, so we’re investing in a range of activities to conserve Scotland’s heritage varieties for generations to come.”


This year’s apple events include:

Pitmedden Garden – Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Sunday 29 September - 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Pitmedden’s orchard is home to more than 200 fruit trees, including the historical espalier apple trees that line its garden walls.

This year’s Apple Sunday event celebrates these humble trees with a day packed with autumnal fun for all ages, including music from Ythan Fiddlers, Tarves Folk Club, and Meldrum Academy; home baking, refreshments, and hot food; local craft and food stalls; woodturning demonstrations; face painting, storytelling, trails, and a craft area; and the Balloon Mannies and family lawn games. Guests can also treat themselves to some of Pitmedden Garden’s own delicious varieties of apples and pears.

Entry: a donation to the National Trust for Scotland; no booking required.

Falkland Palace & Garden – Falkland, Fife
Saturday 5 October – 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The 400-year-old orchard at Falkland Palace is bounded by willow beds and old apple, pear, and cherry trees are underplanted with lots of spring bulbs and a rich carpet of wildflowers.

This year’s Apple Day honours these heritage variety apples and guests can enjoy fresh apple juice from Falkland’s Apple Presse. They are even welcome to bring their own bottle to take some away. Apple Trees will also be on sale for those who wish to create their own apple harvest bounty.

Entry: a donation to the National Trust for Scotland is welcome; no booking required.

Harmony Garden – Melrose, Scottish Borders
Friday 11 and Saturday 12 October – 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Harmony Garden is a peaceful escape with manicured lawns, scented borders, and fruit and vegetable beds overlooking Melrose Abbey.

Guests at this year’s Apple Weekend can retreat to this beautiful garden to admire heritage apple displays; participate in nature activities hosted by rangers from St Abbs Head National Nature Reserve; enjoy printing workshops hosted by the team from Robert Smail’s Printing Works; and experience the Britannia XIV re-enactment group.

On Saturday only, there will be local market trader stalls, alpaca walks, and Gaita medieval music.

Entry: £1.00 booked in advance online or cash on entry.

Kellie Castle & Garden – Anstruther, Fife
Saturday 19 October – Apple Display: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Lecture: 3:00p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The walled garden at Kellie Castle is filled with a variety of fruit, flowers, and vegetables and is entirely cultivated using only organic methods. This year, the team is hosting the Apples of Kellie event, where guests are invited to see an apple display in the undercroft all day, as well as buy produce for sale, and attend a fun-filled talk celebrating all things apple in the afternoon.

Colin Wren, Gardens & Designed Landscape Manager at the National Trust for Scotland, will discuss the Trust’s collection of apples and how it is preserving them, from taking graft material from old trees to produce new, young trees, to doing DNA testing to establish the names of some of the older varieties that have proved difficult to identify from fruits.

Entry: £5.89 booked in advance online.

The Apple events support the National Trust for Scotland’s vision to care for, share and protect Scotland’s nature, beauty and heritage for everyone to enjoy, as outlined in its 10-year strategy, launched in 2022. These events help to deliver its engagement objectives to provide access and enjoyment for everyone.

Image: Falkland Palace Orchard
Image credit: National Trust for Scotland

Sponsored Links

Headline PR
Hilton Glasgow
Escape The Past
Edinburgh Street Historians
Fayre Play

Latest Edinburgh News

Scottish Building Society brings communities together for largest walking rugby event in Scotland

Scottish Building Society brings communities together for largest walking rugby event in Scotland

Scottish Building Society hosted Scotland’s largest walking rugby festival last month, bringing together players of all abilities for a celebration of sport, community, and accessible active living.

READ MORE
Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy joined Sir Tom Hunter to lead out Edinburgh Kiltwalk

Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy joined Sir Tom Hunter to lead out Edinburgh Kiltwalk

Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy joined philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter to lead out 8,500 Kiltwalkers at the Edinburgh Kiltwalk (Sunday September 14) raising £1.5 million for 800 charities.

READ MORE
Edinburgh school kids team up with Kabin Crew to create a new rap song in Irish and Scottish Gaelic

Edinburgh school kids team up with Kabin Crew to create a new rap song in Irish and Scottish Gaelic

Young musicians from Edinburgh and Cork are breaking new grounds with a unique hybrid international hip-hop collaboration led by Cork’s Kabin Crew.

READ MORE
Capitals Bartenders Cast Their Vote As Edinburgh Bar Awards Reveal Finalists

Capitals Bartenders Cast Their Vote As Edinburgh Bar Awards Reveal Finalists

Edinburgh’s top bartenders have had their say, as the Edinburgh Bar Awards today (Thursday, 11th September) reveal the 2025 finalists across 11 categories.

READ MORE
Take to the skies with Daredevil Photographer Alfred Buckham at the National Galleries of Scotland

Take to the skies with Daredevil Photographer Alfred Buckham at the National Galleries of Scotland

This autumn at the Portrait gallery in Edinburgh, take to the skies and see the world from above the clouds through the remarkable work of Alfred Buckham: Daredevil Photographer.

READ MORE
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition on the big screen in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Inverness from 1st to 19th October 2025.

READ MORE
Scottish International Storytelling Festival Programme Announced

Scottish International Storytelling Festival Programme Announced

With support from the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund and Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival launched its 36th festival programme.

READ MORE
Mindroom Fundraising Heroes Drive Charity Support Forward

Mindroom Fundraising Heroes Drive Charity Support Forward

Mindroom is celebrating a series of extraordinary fundraising activities, led by charity co-founder 81-year-old Robin Dow, living with stage 4 cancer, as his 25-mile walk raised a huge £70,000.

READ MORE
Fresh deals for freshers

Fresh deals for freshers

Calling all students in Edinburgh! Britain’s biggest craft brewer, BrewDog, has announced some fresh new deals for freshers and returning students to toast the new academic year.

READ MORE
Carol Main MBE FRC appointed Chair of National Centre for Music

Carol Main MBE FRC appointed Chair of National Centre for Music

The development of a new National Centre for Music has reached another key milestone, with the appointment of Carol Main MBE FRC as Chair.

READ MORE
Eat Spain Drink Spain returns for a Culinary Fiesta across Edinburgh

Eat Spain Drink Spain returns for a Culinary Fiesta across Edinburgh

Get ready to embark on a culinary journey as the "Eat Spain Drink Spain" campaign makes its much-anticipated return to Edinburgh.

READ MORE
Haggis the pygmy hippo to say goodbye to Edinburgh Zoo

Haggis the pygmy hippo to say goodbye to Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh Zoo has announced that Haggis the pygmy hippo will be moving to another zoo as part of the breeding programme for the Endangered species.

READ MORE
Spooky Season Arrives at Dynamic Earth this October

Spooky Season Arrives at Dynamic Earth this October

This October, Edinburgh’s Science Centre and Planetarium, Dynamic Earth invites visitors of all ages to step into the shadows and uncover the science behind the spookiest stories ever told.

READ MORE
Cineworld 4DX Rewind returns for 2025

Cineworld 4DX Rewind returns for 2025

Cineworld is excited to announce the return of 4DX Rewind this September across Cineworld 4DX cinemas nationwide!

READ MORE
Edinburgh bridal expert shares her top trend prediction for Taylor Swift wedding

Edinburgh bridal expert shares her top trend prediction for Taylor Swift wedding

Now is the time to shop for that perfect dress, as Rachel Scott Couture has announced it will be hosting a one-off, three-week long sample sale at its Queensferry Street boutique.

READ MORE
Marcos unveils first of its kind interactive karaoke room

Marcos unveils first of its kind interactive karaoke room

Whatever kind of music you’re into, the brand-new interactive karaoke room at Marco's is the place for uninhibited singing, selfies and self-expression.

READ MORE
Final countdown to the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run 2025 is on

Final countdown to the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run 2025 is on

Scotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow next month, and there’s still time to secure your place.

READ MORE
Divino Enoteca launches September tasting menu and free wine tastings

Divino Enoteca launches September tasting menu and free wine tastings

This September, Edinburgh’s Italian wine bar Divino Enoteca, is offering plenty for food and wine lovers to explore.

READ MORE
September offers for Freshers Week at Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh

September offers for Freshers Week at Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh

Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh is giving students an extra reason to head out this semester with 20% off food, non-alcoholic drinks and merchandise when they show a valid student ID.

READ MORE
Marstons and Tom Shepherd join forces once more to serve up the best ever pub pie

Marstons and Tom Shepherd join forces once more to serve up the best ever pub pie

Marston's and Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd have teamed up once more to serve up The Best Ever Pub Pie to locals across the country.

READ MORE
Edinburgh Fringe smash hit Oran embarks on first UK tour

Edinburgh Fringe smash hit Oran embarks on first UK tour

Òran, the award-winning sell-out hit of the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe embarks on its first ever UK tour this autumn as company Wonder Fools take their work to a host of venues across Scotland.

READ MORE
Dynamic Earth partners with Scottish Water to deliver Water Cycle Workshops

Dynamic Earth partners with Scottish Water to deliver Water Cycle Workshops

Dynamic Earth is to join Science Centres across Scotland to deliver Water Cycle Workshops as part of Scottish Water's Generation H2O education programme.

READ MORE
Edinburgh Cocktail Week 2025 programme announced

Edinburgh Cocktail Week 2025 programme announced

The Edinburgh Cocktail Week programme for 2025 has been announced, reaffirming its status as the UK’s leading cocktail festival.

READ MORE
Iconic films to take centre stage at Vue venues in Scotland

Iconic films to take centre stage at Vue venues in Scotland

Iconic movies celebrating key milestones this year are returning to Vue for a limited run - including Steven Spielberg classic Jaws.

READ MORE
20 expert sessions at The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show

20 expert sessions at The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show

The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show will be packed with expert speakers when it returns to the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston on 4th – 5th October 2025.

READ MORE
A Taste of Loch Lomond Book launches with live cooking demo at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival

A Taste of Loch Lomond Book launches with live cooking demo at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival

Love Loch Lomond will officially launch its new publication, A Taste of Loch Lomond – Stories and Flavours from the Bonnie Banks, at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival on Sunday 7th September.

READ MORE
DF Concerts Celebrate Biggest Summer in Edinburgh

DF Concerts Celebrate Biggest Summer in Edinburgh

DF Concerts is celebrating a record-breaking month after selling more than 356,000 tickets in Edinburgh during August 2025.

READ MORE
Forever Edinburgh launches winter phase of Stay Different campaign

Forever Edinburgh launches winter phase of Stay Different campaign

Forever Edinburgh has launched the winter phase of its ‘Stay Different’ campaign, inviting visitors to discover an entirely different side of the city during the colder months.

READ MORE
Seriously fun ideas for your work Christmas Party

Seriously fun ideas for your work Christmas Party

It might only be September, but the C-word is not too far away, so it's time to start thinking about planning the annual office Christmas shindig before everything gets booked up!

READ MORE
Collective Gala returns this weekend

Collective Gala returns this weekend

Collective is delighted to announce the return of the Collective Gala, offering a free and vibrant celebration of art, music, food and tours across Calton Hill this Sunday.

READ MORE

Sponsored Links

Hilton Glasgow
Children's Classic Concerts
TGC Leisure
ATG
Hostelworld
Edinburgh Dungeon

Sponsored Links

Headline PR
Hilton Glasgow
Escape The Past
Edinburgh Street Historians
Fayre Play
Hilton Glasgow
Children's Classic Concerts
TGC Leisure
ATG
Hostelworld
Edinburgh Dungeon

Popular Events

Doors Open Days - Edinburgh
Scotland's annual Doors Open Days festival gives you free access to lots of fascinating buildings across Edinburgh! This year's event will be held on September 27th & 28th!
A Play, A Pie and A Pint
A popular feature of the Traverse programme, A Play, A Pie and A Pint, Òran Mór returns this Autumn!
Conifox Terror Scream Park
Terror Scream Park, Edinburgh’s most intense 18+ horror event, launches for the very first time this autumn at Conifox Adventure Park.
Insane Championship Wrestling: We’re No Fae Here
Insane Championship Wrestling heads to the Edinburgh Corn Exchange on Sunday 2nd November!
Liquid Identities Festival
Come along to the Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh, on 28th September 2025 for Liquid Identities, a vibrant celebration of Scotland's ESEA creativity and the first-of-its-kind festival in Scotland!

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall