Every autumn the orchards at Killerton National Trust estate, near Exeter, become a hive of activity with staff, volunteers and the local community helping to harvest tonnes of apples for pressing into Killerton’s award-winning cider and apple juice.

On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October, months of cider-making on the Killerton estate culminates in a weekend celebration. This is Killerton’s annual family festival to mark National Apple Day. The orchard is festooned with bunting and stalls are scattered between the apple trees selling local food, drink, crafts and plants.

For the adults, the Killerton cider bar serves Killerton’s award-winning cider, alongside local wines and ales to drink while sitting back to enjoy the live music hand-picked by Oxjam Exeter specially for the event.

The traditional hog roast starts slow-cooking before dawn breaks. Killerton’s chef sets his alarm for midnight and camps out in the orchard to light the spit. The amazing smell greets visitors arriving at the orchard gates on the morning of the event.

The event opens with a medieval mumming play and lively morris dance performed by a local folk group who bless the apples keeping old Devon customs alive. An apple juggler and magician entertains the crowds on his unicycle and families can compete amongst themselves on the Apple Shy, Hogs Mouth Target and traditional village fete games. Especially for the children, there is mask-making and a buzzing bumble bee parade through the orchard with kazoos.

The countryside tent is the busiest part of the orchard. Families are encouraged to bring one small bag of their own apples to mill and press and take home a bottle of juice to enjoy. Apples are also on sale and a cider apple expert will help identify visitor’s home-growns with expert advice and English apple trees for sale from a local fruit tree nursery.

The orchard trail follows a winding route around Killerton’s old varieties of English apple trees leading families out into the historic parkland, past Old Budlake Post office which is open to visitors, and finishes at Killerton’s Forestry Yard. There you will see a 200 year old giant cider press and a piece of history in action.

The Killerton cider and apple weekend is open 10am-5pm on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October. Entry is £2 Adult, £1 Child and £5 Family. Free entry to NT members and U5’s, with special concessions for Oxjam Exeter ticket holders. For full details call 01392 881345, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/killertonapples or tweet @NTKillerton