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Strawberry Picking, PYO at Spilmans: A Mumbler Review

Summer has well and truly started for us! We went along to Spilman’s Farm to pick our own strawberries last week. Find out how much fun and see how many strawberries we picked in York Mumbler’s review.

We’ve been to Spilmans for the Pumpkin Festival but this was our first time for PYO. It was an absolutely gorgeous day weather-wise and we went straight from school.

Enjoy visiting a working farm

The girls were super excited! It’s so good to be doing things again and was great to be outdoors after they’d been in at school all day. How is it that kids have a bundle of energy when you pick them up from school?!? We arrived around 4pm and it felt instantly chilled out. It’s a real working farm at Spilmans and that authenticity comes through in spades. Having said that, it was superbly organised and really easy to pre-book your slot.

Book in advance

The format is that you book a ticket online before going (£10 per car) which is then used as a credit to spend anywhere on the farm. You need to make sure you arrive within your designated hour slot and last entry to the PYO fields.

There are multiple time slots per day and dates are released a week in advance
There is a booking fee of £1.50
Allow 15 minutes to park and enter the fields.
On arrival follow signs directing you to the strawberry fields.
You will receive an order confirmation email as proof of your ticket entry which is a £10 credit to spend anywhere on the farm during your visit (the PYO Fruit Shop, our Farmshop or the Take Out kiosks). Have this ready on arrival so it can be scanned.
You can pre-book Pick You Own at Spilmans here.

More than just strawberry picking

The soft fruits at Spilmans are grown uncovered in the fresh air and ripen naturally in the sunshine. The farm is spread across 15 acres, there is plenty of space for everyone.

At Spilmans they grow strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries, potatoes and sunflowers that are ready to pick from June – September at various different times. Check out the Spilmans website to see what’s available for picking when you plan to visit and to pre-book your entrance.

As you can see from the photos there were LOADS of strawberries when we went, so the girls had a brilliant time picking them. Plus we really enjoyed eating them once we’d washed them when we got home.

Enjoy an ice cream or snack

When we’d finished strawberry picking as it was such a lovely day, we needed to cool down so what better way than ice cream! There is a great selection of delicious Yorvale ice cream flavours available, plus snacks and hot and cold drinks.

Kids Zone: 3 & 4 July 2021

If strawberry picking and ice cream wasn’t enough fun, a Kids Zone is coming to Splimans for selected dates during the PYO season, so you can have a full day out!

The Kids Fun Zone offers 2 hours: Unlimited Rides, Bouncy Castles, Crazy Golf, Giant Slides, Garden Games and much more for children. It is £8.99 per session per child and adults charged at 50p (booking fees also apply). Find out more information, dates and book tickets here.

Useful information

Spilmans, Church Farm, Sessay, Thirsk, YO7 3NB

Driving distance from York: Approximately 20 miles/40-minute drive

Wednesday – Friday 10am-4pm, late night Thursday til 6pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am -4pm

The small farm shop sells fresh seasonal produce, eggs, milk, cheese, meat, freshly baked cakes and much more! Open Wednesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm.

A takeaway kiosk is located in the farm shop building and is open for take-out hot & cold drinks, sweet treats, snacks and ice creams.

A picnic spot is available

There are toilets available for customers with baby change facilities

A map of the farm is available to download here

Disclaimer: York Mumbler was invited to Spilmans for an honest review. No amount of strawberries and ice cream would ever be enough for us to write a dishonest review, therefore this review contains our honest views and opinions and we would only recommend something we genuinely enjoyed.

All prices and details correct at time of publication (June 2021).

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