Autumn is here and it’s about the simple pleasures, like stepping on carpets of brown leaves and hearing that delightful crunch or tasting the delicious new fall flavours at your favourite high-street coffee shop. It also marks the Halloween countdown, a time for playful spookiness with trick-or-treating, ghost walks, and pumpkins of all shapes and sizes.
One of the best ways to enjoy autumn is to go pumpkin picking - a wholesome, family-friendly activity and a great way to get outdoors! Join CrossCountry as we explore the best pumpkin patches in the UK.
Reddish Vale Farm, Stockport
You’ll find Reddish Vale Farm in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and they have a host of Halloween fun planned for October. Both day and night, you can pay a visit to pick your pumpkins and carve them on-site at the Carving Cavern. There are also tractor rides, marshmallow toasting, and real-life magic at the witch and wizard show.
If you’re not afraid of the dark, check out their Moonlight Pumpkin Evenings, featuring glowing displays, fire performers, live music, and a pick-your-own Halloween pumpkin patch.
If you’re visiting from Stockport, Reddish Vale Farm is only a bus ride away. You can get to Stockport station easily on a CrossCountry train; we run services from all over the UK, including Manchester Piccadilly and Bristol Temple Meads.
Craigies Farm, Edinburgh
Craigies Farm in South Queensferry is a fantastic pumpkin farm in Edinburgh, open to visitors for picking throughout October. The pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes, in a spectrum of autumnal hues, and they’re just one part of the Craigies Pumpkin Festival.
Halloween at Craigies offers a hay bale maze, paintball target shooting, and plenty of opportunities to take spooky photographs as a family. It’s a thrilling fright-fest for all the family and a must-visit if you find yourself around Edinburgh.
You can reach Craigies Farm by catching a bus from Princes Street to Barnbougle Gate Lodge; its around twenty-five minutes’ walk from there. Alternatively, a taxi will take around half an hour from Edinburgh Waverley.
Canalside Farm Shop, Stafford
Canalside Farm Shop are holding pumpkin picking events on weekends and selected half term dates throughout October. Along with exploring the pumpkin patch, visitors can take on the challenging Maize Maze, get their face painted, play crazy golf, and more!
Don’t miss Late Night Pumpkin Picking sessions, with a silent disco, a UV maze, marshmallow toasting, and amazing street food vendors!
You can get the bus directly to Canalside Farm Shop from Stafford. You can catch a CrossCountry train to Stafford station from key locations such as Southampton Central and Birmingham New Street.
Millets Farm Centre, Abingdon
Millets Farm Centre in Abingdon is open for pumpkin picking on weekends from early October, before increasing to daily later in the month. This Halloween, visitors can expect some spine-chilling events, like Bippo’s Halloween Circus and Spooktacular Discos at the Sprouts Play Barn.
You can also visit the farm by night, where the pumpkins will be illuminated by fire performers and twinkly lights. Enjoy marshmallow toasting, street food, and live entertainment.
Millets Farm Centre is less than twenty minutes' walking distance from Frilford Crossroads, which can be reached by bus from Oxford station.
Over Farm, Gloucester
Over Farm in Gloucester promises an impressive pumpkin patch that’s open for daytime and evening pick-your-own visits across October. Families can explore thousands of pumpkins in all shapes and colours, seasonal photo setups, and the farm shop.
During half term, be sure to pay a visit to Over Farm’s Spookyard Halloween Festival. The event will be full to the brim with spooky silliness - think corn cannons, fancy dress, duck races, and tractor-trailer rides. It’ll be one of the best Halloween events around, just don’t fill up on too much pick ’n’ mix!
Over Farm is a short bus ride from Gloucester, with the whole journey taking roughly fifteen minutes. You can get to Gloucester station with CrossCountry from places like Cardiff Central and Nottingham.
Smeaton Farm, Cornwall
Smeaton Farm is home to the Cornish Maize Maze & Fun Farm, where there will be pumpkin picking throughout October. Entry includes access to a mind-bending mini-maze with a Halloween-themed quiz, rare-breed farm animals, and plenty of photo opportunities.
If you’re brave enough, you can also visit the Halloween Maze of Horrors on the 31st of October. The maze will be haunted by scare scenes with live actors and will have a delicious BBQ and fire jugglers!
The Cornish Maize Maze & Fun Farm can be reached from Plymouth station by taxi; the journey will take about twenty-five minutes.
If you’re planning to visit a Halloween pumpkin patch, don’t forget to book Advance rail tickets via our website or the CrossCountry app. Before you travel, make sure to check scheduled train times to find the best journey for you. If you need more information, you can contact us here.
Info
At the time of publishing, all information given is correct. Details of events, businesses, and locations included may be subject to change by third parties. Please make sure to check any details with organisers before you travel.
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