Millfield Orchard - ELY

Exploring Millfield Orchard: A Hidden Gem in Haddenham

Nestled in the heart of Cambridgeshire, Millfield Orchard at 51-53 Aldreth Rd, Haddenham, Ely CB6 3PW, United Kingdom, is a delightful farm that has been captivating locals and visitors alike with its unique charm and offerings. This article delves into the main services, location, featured characteristics, practical information, and positive aspects of Millfield Orchard, providing an in-depth look at what makes this farm a must-visit destination.

Main Services

• Pick Your Own: Millfield Orchard offers a popular 'pick your own' service, allowing visitors to handpick their own fresh produce. This includes a variety of fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, and apples, depending on the season.
• Farmer's Market: The farm hosts a monthly farmer's market where local producers showcase their homemade products. Visitors can expect to find a variety of goods, from fresh produce to artisan crafts and delicious food.
• Events: Millfield Orchard plays host to various events throughout the year, including seasonal activities like pumpkin picking in autumn and Christmas experiences during the festive season.
• Educational Visits: The farm welcomes educational visits, providing an opportunity for students to learn about farming, horticulture, and the origins of food in a practical and engaging environment.
• Cafe: The on-site cafe offers a range of hot and cold drinks, as well as homemade cakes and light refreshments. It's the perfect spot to relax and refuel after a morning of exploring the farm.

Location and Access

Millfield Orchard is situated in the picturesque village of Haddenham, just off the A10 at the Ely junction. The farm is easily accessible by car, with ample parking available on-site. For those using public transportation, the nearest train station is Ely, approximately 5 miles away. From there, visitors can take a taxi or use the Stagecoach bus service, which stops near the farm.

Visitors coming from Ely can follow these directions: Head southeast on Lynn Rd/A10 towards Haddenham. Turn left onto Aldreth Rd, and Millfield Orchard will be on your right after about 1.5 miles. Alternatively, visitors from Cambridge can take the A10 south and follow the same directions from the Ely junction.

Featured Characteristics

• Stunning Scenery: Millfield Orchard is set amidst beautiful countryside, with rolling hills and picturesque fields providing a stunning backdrop to the farm.
• Animal Encounters: The farm is home to a variety of friendly animals, including goats, sheep, and chickens. Children and adults alike will enjoy meeting and learning about these creatures.
• Play Area: A dedicated play area ensures that young visitors have plenty of fun and excitement, with a range of outdoor games and activities to enjoy.
• Community Spirit: Millfield Orchard is more than just a farm; it's a hub for the local community. The farmer's market and events provide an excellent opportunity for people to come together, socialize, and support local businesses.

Practical Information

• Opening Hours: The farm is generally open from April to October, with varying opening hours depending on the season. It's recommended to check the Millfield Orchard website or Facebook page for up-to-date information.
• Admission: Entry to the farm is free, although there may be charges for specific events or activities. Prices for 'pick your own' produce and items from the farmer's market vary.
• Facilities: The farm offers clean and well-maintained toilet facilities, as well as a baby changing area. Wheelchair access is available in most areas, making the farm suitable for visitors of all abilities.
• Dogs: Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome at Millfield Orchard, with the exception of certain events or areas where specific rules may apply.

Positive Aspects from Reviews

With an average opinion of 5/5 from 33 reviews on Google My Business, Millfield Orchard has clearly made a strong impression on its visitors. Some of the positive aspects highlighted in the reviews include:

• Friendly Staff: Many reviewers praised the helpful and welcoming staff, who were always on hand to offer assistance and advice.
• Variety of Produce: Visitors appreciated the wide selection of fresh, seasonal produce available for picking and purchase.
• Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Millfield Orchard was praised for its family-friendly atmosphere, with plenty of activities to keep children entertained.
• Beautiful Surroundings: The stunning countryside setting and well-maintained grounds were regularly mentioned as a highlight of the visit.
• Excellent Events: Reviews often mentioned the varied and well-organized events held at the farm, providing excellent entertainment for all ages.

In conclusion, Millfield Orchard is more than just a farm; it's a unique and captivating destination that offers a wealth of experiences for visitors of all ages. With its stunning scenery, diverse range of services, and welcoming atmosphere, it's no surprise that this hidden gem in Haddenham has become a firm favorite among locals and visitors alike.

👍 Reviews of Millfield Orchard

Sarah

5/5

The most perfect morning! We arrived around 1045am on a lovely Saturday morning and spent about two hours wandering about. We have two small kids and the space was perfect for them to run free, play pretend, and learn about different apple varieties. There is a sweet and sturdy tree swing, many benches scattered around the property, and an antique tractor not suitable for climbing but suitable for snapping a cute photo with parent help.

Waze navigation had us pull onto an unmarked road that is still on the property but is not where you collect the buckets and pay. If this happens to you, you can either walk through the apple orchard to the main house (located in the middle of the property) or you can take a left out of the unmarked road and turn down the next road. The orchardists were on site to greet us and explained all of the many varieties available for picking and if they’d be best for snacking vs cooking. They were so knowledgeable and kind. There was a small pumpkin patch at the bottom of the hill next to the plum trees (which were sadly past their prime) with pumpkins of all colors and sizes. We also managed to find a few plums still ripe for the picking and WOW! So flavorful and sweet! Will definitely return next year at their peak.

We truly had the best time and found the £5 per bucket cost to be a great bargain given the size of the buckets and the quality/flavor of the apples. I ended up sharing some with a friend for a Stick Season themed party and someone literally smelled the sweetness of the apples from a distance and asked where they came from. Overall: highly recommend and will be returning.

Lin J.

5/5

Great place to go for a family trip with nature and fruits! So much fun for both adults and kids!

Matthew C.

5/5

This is a real hidden gem. I was told that it was a big place but I still wasn’t expecting it to be this big!
There are hundreds and hundreds of trees with a very wide selection of apples and plums to PYO.
It uses an honesty box system and the prices are really good value. Make sure you take cash as you cannot pay electronically.
There is a lovely area with a few benches that you can picnic at. The whole family are welcome as well as the dog.
You will find lovely views from one of the few high places in the area and you will look towards Cottenham and around. It’s great at sunset.
It is starting to show signs of overgrown-ness in areas, I think it must be a very difficult place to maintain.

Eugene K.

5/5

We wanted to do PYO plums and found this farm on Internet. Could not reach anyone to tell us more about this farm. Decided just to drive there and it was right decision. Posting this review to help others to navigate here and what is farm about. We followed Google to the entrance but there was no clear sings. Just drive down the end of the orchard and you'll find a table with prices, collection box and also signs with name of the plums and apples at each row(see photos). There will be loads of punnets and baskets for you to collect but they are £1.5 so better to bring your own. While picking we met loads of lovely locals with dogs. Then we met the son of the owner Stuart who told us more about orchard. They have different varieties of plums and apples that ripen one by one starting from July till late of Autumn. We had plums "Victoria", "Yellow Eggs", "Avalon", "Pershore", "Greengages". Also we had "Discovery" apples. You can come to the farm even outside of hours so don't be afraid to drive there even if you are not sure.
Overall we had great experience! Lovely local PYO farm that is jus 30 min from Cambridge.

Eric F.

5/5

My son and I had a lot of fun picking apples and plums today. There were ladders and baskets available. There were so many plums and apples to pick. We will definitely be back.

When you enter the property, follow the arrows on the signs until you reach the bottom of the hill.

Mrs V.

5/5

Wholesome experience. A bit tricky to find. Satnav wanted us to turn left, but it actually was 2nd turn.
Stunning views, heavenly quiet.

Zuraida M.

5/5

If you're looking to get away from some of the bustling and crowded PYO farms, then this farm would be for you. Easily accessible just half an hour drive from Cambridge.
We called up to check opening hours, and it appears that the orchard remains open even after the hours stated.
We were truly amazed at the number of apple and plum trees in this vast, yet peaceful orchard with stunning views beyond. All the trees were heavily ladened with luscious plump sun ripened Victoria plums and bright deep pink Discovery apples. We were the only ones there and it was a wonderful experience wandering through the orchard, picking plums and apples at our leisure.

On entering the farm follow the signs which will take you to a small table where you pay for a basket or punnet. Payment is via an honesty box, so do make sure you come with ready cash.

Dinesh A.

5/5

Myself Dinesh and went to here on August. Really super place to enjoy.