Alastair Farquhar of Brampton Abbots was the lucky winner of a day spent with craft cidermakers James Marsden and Helen Woodman of Gregg’s Pit Cider and Perry.

This year, the Harvestime weekend saw the introduction of a special Big Apple Trail, with visitors collecting stamps for taking part in a simple activity at each of nine different venues in and around Much Marcle. When Alastair’s name was picked out from amongst the many visitors, from Cornwall to North Wales, who collected four or more stamps, he chose Gregg’s Pit for his prize.

The 2013 vintage is in full swing, so Alastair was able to help with pressing a blend of cider apples, including Browns Apple, Kingston Black and Sweet Coppin. James and Helen also found time to talk him through the production process ‘from blossom to barrel’, take a look at several adjoining orchards and raise a glass or two of 2012 vintage cider and perry.