[AndyRVTR]

Apple Trees.. so.. while planning my new garden I've been thinking of adding a few fruit trees.. I want to use the space I've got to be as productive as possible so I've been looking at espalier apple/pear trees that I can grow on my fence. Has anyone any experience or tips they can share please, any varieties that crop really well etc.. TIA.

[mumofstig]

It's difficult to recommend varieties as performance/yield will vary on soil and position/climate.
I'd have a chat with any good local nurseries asking them which do well where you are. and the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale may also offer some advice.

[Christine]

I was lucky with a local nursery man who was a far better gardener than business man (though good at that too) who put me right with good local ones that are still growing happily. A good local nursery man who knows the area is your best friend. I was supplied with bare root as well which was good on price. Trouble is that good local nursery men are a rarity.

[Yorkie]

R V Roger of Pickering, N Yorks, might be worth a try.  A bit further south than you but not as far south as some of the South coast nurseries 

[hasbeans]

Espalier/trained trees can be very expensive.  If you need a few it might be better to buy them in as bare root bushes and train them yourself once a bit established.   
Looking at supplier websites that group trees by pollination groups can help shortlist varieties as it's better not to rely on 'self pollination'.  I'd also recommend choosing some varieties based on keeping qualities as even trees on limiting rootstock can become prolific after a few years.
Concorde is a good pear in my garden but grown as a column, Egremont Russet apple I grew as an espalier and does well. 
Don't forget that you can always play around with grafting scions once the trees are a bit older.  A much cheaper way of adding variety to your 'orchard'.

[CHRISDONOHUE]

As a dessert apple, I think Kidd's Orange Red takes some beating for flavour, Ashmead's Kernel has celebrated flavour but is said to be difficult to grow.   Bramley remains supreme as a cooker, but it grows very large and needs to be given a lot of room.   Spartan, a crisp juicy red and the early Discovery are liked by my family.

[AndyRVTR]

Thank you for all your input guys, it's very much appreciated!

[Nobbie]

Noticed a big difference in price between maiden whips and cordon trained, almost double. How much older are the cordon trained trees?

 Might go with whips and plant in pots to give myself a bit more time to properly prepare for a row of cordons. My plot is clay and they may just sulk unless I improve that substantially and make some sort of raised bed to avoid water logging in winter.

[CHRISDONOHUE]

If you are thinking of growing fruit against a wall, cordons planted at 45 degrees to the horizontal take up very little room and each give a small crop of fruit quite quickly whereas a single espalier will take up a large amount of space and take several years of training to establish but will then give a large crop in the long term.   If you are thinking of growing several varieties of apple, choose varieties that crop at different times.
I would certainly consider waiting until spring and getting much cheaper supermarket apple or pear trees (this year Tesco sold at £6 or 2 for £10).    Although they offer a much less restricted range of varieties and rootstocks than a specialist supplier, carefully selected plants should still crop well.   These are sold as feathered maidens, that is two-year old plants.   If you choose this route, check the quality of the rootball (which is in peat and enclosed in a small plastic bag and cannot be inspected until you open it) and return the whole plant if it is unsatisfactory.   In this way, you should get a good quality plant which will establish well.

[mumofstig]

Noticed a big difference in price between maiden whips and cordon trained, almost double. How much older are the cordon trained trees?

Each arm takes at least another year, usually 2 years, to form before they are sold

[Nobbie]

Noticed a big difference in price between maiden whips and cordon trained, almost double. How much older are the cordon trained trees?

Each arm takes at least another year, usually 2 years, to form before they are sold

That explains the cost, luckily I’m in no rush, so will go with maidens and ensure they go into well prepared soil. Just got to select varieties now.