Step into Calke's peaceful orchard

Calke Abbey, Midlands, the Orchard in autumn — The Orchard at Calke Abbey

Set in the atmospheric walled garden, Calke’s orchard is a peaceful place to wile away the autumn afternoons. Producing a healthy harvest, the orchard contains many local apple varieties from Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire – you can even try some of them at our popular Apple Day in October.

Local and historic apples

As well as local apple varieties, you'll find historic apple varieties in Calke’s orchard, such as Catshead, also known as Pig’s Snout. The name comes from the unusual shape of the apple, which is tall and angular. The skin is green, turning yellow when ripe and sometimes developing a warm blush on the cheek.

Catshead is a very old culinary variety of apple – once a favourite for baked apples and apple dumplings because of its shape.

Calke Abbey, Midlands, apples growing in the Orchard — Apples growing in Calke's peaceful orchard

Celebrate all things apple…

Come along to Apple Day to celebrate the English apple in Calke’s beautiful gardens. There will be juicing, tasting, games and plenty of apple-related stalls, with something for all the family.

Apple Day is on Sunday 13 October from 11am–4pm. Non-members will need to pop into the Ticket Office for a garden ticket first. Find full details on the What's On page of the website.

Take a seat

As you stroll through the kitchen gardens and orchard, take a moment to relax in one of our deckchairs and watch the world go by. You might see the gardeners at work, or catch sight of the bees working away in the hive.