Bilpin
To anyone living in New South Wales the name Bilpin immediately conjures up a vision of apples. Bilpin is a small rural community in the Hawkesbury area. It is known as the "land of the Mountain apple". Jonathon, Royal Gala, Pink Lady and Granny Smith apples are all there, as well as lesser known varieties such as the English Bramley. Some of these apple orchards are open during the season where people can go in and pick their own baskets of fruit. This is a wonderful experience for families living in the suburbs as they can come and show their children where the fruit is grown. They can then pick their own selections, which they pay for when they leave. Bilpin is a settlement on the Bells Line of Road between Richmond and Lithgow and, at an elevation of 623 metres, the steep hillsides are covered with rows of apple orchards. Most people, at some time, have stopped at the famous Bilpin Fruit Bowl and bought their wonderful home-made apple pies!
Well, that is what we did yesterday when our small group of friends, travelling together in a mini bus, stopped off at the Bilpin Fruit Bowl Shop to have a look around and have a serving of their delicious apple pie for morning tea. In Summer they also sell Peach pies made from Peaches grown in their orchards. Recent changes to the farm have seen the introduction of strawberries growing in a hothouse where there are long tables of these luscious fruit growing, ready for picking all year round. They also grow long rows of lettuce and bok choy, also available for picking.
We then drove on to the Cellar Door at the Bilpin Cider Co. and had some non-alcoholic ciders for our second morning tea. There are also alcoholic ciders for sale in the tasting shed and Ken and I bought a six pack of the original cider made from freshly crushed Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples. This cider is neither too sweet nor too dry as the tartness of the Granny Smith juice is balanced by the sweeter apples.
We then continued on further up into the Blue Mountains intending to have lunch at The Hive located at Berambing at the base of Mt. Tomah. However, when we arrived there we found it was not open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. We turned around and headed back down to have lunch at Mountain Bells Cafe, opposite the Fruit Bowl, with a vegetarian/vegan menu and this cafe is open seven days a week. I had a huge cheese, egg and tomato sandwich with salad and a large cup of English Breakfast tea, all quite delicious.
2 comments:
I have been thinking I should try Bells Line of Road for getting between Kandos and Penrith. As for apples, I have a lot of wormy ones on my tree at the moment, and will have to pick them up when they fall to the ground. Pears too.
The Bells Line of Road is a lovely alternative route over the Mountains. It is a bit narrow in parts and was dangerous in the recent floods when parts of the road were washed away. However, it has been repaired and seems quite safe now. It makes a nice change of scenery.
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