Pick of the pumpkins
Let Heather Greenaway show you where to have family Halloween fun
WITH Halloween just around the corner, it’s time to pull on your wellies and head to the pumpkin patch for some autumnal fun.
What spooky All Hallows Eve would be complete without a kick-ass carved Jack-o’-lantern or a ghoulish gourd at the front door to welcome those pesky trick or treaters?
Luckily for us, there’s been a surge in the number of pumpkin patches cropping up around Scotland, so why not jump in the car this weekend and find your nearest picking paradise.
Here we take a look at five of the country’s best pick your own farms. With more than 7000 pumpkins, just hit the patch and find your perfect gourd. From orange ones and green warty ones to white ones and stripy ones – it’s a pumpkin extravaganza.
As well as pumpkin picking, there are other activities to keep all the family busy including pizza, face painting, a kale maze, stovies, chainsaw carving and – for the adults – gin cocktails.
Prices from £6.98. Book online and check availability before visiting. Open daily 9am-6pm Tel: 01786 870 481 or go to www.arnpriorfarm.com This farm near Edinburgh is a perfect family day out. To top it all there are plenty of activities for the kids. Whether you’re visiting the farm animals, playing on the swings or taking a tractor and trailer ride, there’s more than enough to keep the whole clan entertained.
No booking is required and the pumpkins cost between £4 and £10, depending on the size you pick. Open daily 9am-5pm Tel: 0131 319 1048 or go to www.craigies.co.uk It’s pumpkins galore over in this well established patch - with a whole range of sizes, shapes and colours to choose from.
If you want to make a day of it, why not buy a ticket for the kids’ fun park, which offers crazy go-kart and barrel rides and a super duper maze.
No pre-booking required. Free on site parking. Simply pay for the pumpkins you pick by their size. Open daily 10am-5pm Tel: 01334 655610 or visit www.cairniefruitfarm.co.uk This is ticket-only and money raised goes to a host of Scottish charities and there are lots of fun activities for the whole family.
The £3 ticket price covers one car entry to the car park and all pumpkins foraged in the patch are paid for on the day, starting at £4. Wear woollies and wellies.
If you have any question, just email lochnesspumpkins@gmail.com
For tickets, visit www.eventbrite.co.uk This is the new kid on the block. The farm, next to Glasgow Airport, has been a summer strawberry picking paradise for nearly 100 years.
No booking is required and you buy what you pick. Their patch will be open Saturday, October 19, and Sunday, October 20, from 10am to 4pm.
Tel: 0141 889 3492 or visit www.eastyondertonfarm.co.uk