Autumn is here, which means seasonal events like Halloween and Bonfire Night are creeping our way, plus the huge countdown to Christmas. But first on the agenda for autumn has to be Halloween. Whether you’re doing it for the gram or just love getting your carve on, here’s our pick of the best pumpkin patches near Glasgow to visit this autumn.
1. Arnprior Farm
Arnprior Farm, Stirling, FK8 3HA
Arnprior Farm’s events are kicking off on October 9 for three weeks, adding pumpkin picking to their already fun list of activities. Guests will be able to grab a wheelbarrow and pick their perfect pumpkin, and you can even dig for nips and tatties too! The event in Stirling will also have lots of activities like face painting, quad bike rides, a kid’s maze made of kale, plus their all-weather haybale soft play area. There will be pop-up trucks serving churros, home-baked cakes, woodfired pizzas, and artisan Scottish beef burgers, and there will be a horsebox gin truck and freshly ground artisan coffee team too. The entertainment doesn’t stop there as Arnprior Farm will have a chainsaw carving show and cooking with pumpkin demonstrations. Plus, the farm’s event is the perfect date or family day out as you can stroll around the massive pumpkin patch whilst a photographer takes some seasonal snaps of you. Don’t want to leave? Book yourself into one of their glamping pods which even has a jacuzzi!
2. East Yonderton Farm
East Yonderton Farm, Walkinshaw Road, Renfrew, PA4 9LP
Open every day from the start of October until Halloween, East Yonderton Farm is ready to welcome back guests for their PYO Pumpkin season, with lots of pumpkins being planted over the last year so there should be plenty available to pick this season. After their successful summer season, the farm is opening up its pumpkin patch for another year. The patch is pretty spectacular, with a variety of sizes and colours to pick from. Guests will get to run about in search of their perfect pumpkins, before getting stuck into a spot of potato digging too. With all that produce, roasts and soups are most definitely on the cards this autumn.
Call either 01418893492 or 01418877044 to book your slot.
3. Craigie’s Farm Deli and Cafe
West Craigie Farm, South Queensferry, Edinburgh, EH30 9AR
Located near Edinburgh, Craigie’s Farm is back again for 2023 – and it’s perfect for families to enjoy. Although this patch is further away than the other pumpkin patches, you will be glad you came when you see the various produce on offer. So grab your basket and get picked! Craigie’s Farm have confirmed that there are plenty of pumpkins up for grabs as well as apples and sunflowers. If you fancy making more of a day of it, you can also book an afternoon tea at the farm’s café and buy a range of food products including jams, juices, meat, cheeses, groceries, as well as gifts and hampers. Christmas is creeping closer so maybe get a head start. If you’re looking for more activities for kids, Craigie’s Farm has a brand new timber play area and you can also meet some of the farm animals.
You can book your tickets by pressing here.
4. M&D’s Scotland Theme Park Outdoor Pumpkin Festival
Strathclyde Country Park, Motherwell, ML1 3RT
Scotland’s Theme Park is one of the best places for family activities. Not only do you get to hunt around for a pumpkin you can visit the animals there too! This October, guests can check out their pumpkin patches, before choosing one of their own to carve. Children can take part in the theme park’s pumpkin treasure trail, listen to Folksy Theatre’s storytelling performance and attend one of their Halloween Arts and Crafts sessions. There will also be a pumpkin bashing game and you can all clamber on the Pumpkin Express to help those weary legs carry back your pumpkin from the pumpkin patches. All activities will take place between October 7 and 29. The theme park will also be holding autism-friendly pumpkin-picking sessions on October 22 and 27.
5. Balgone Estate
Balgone Estate, Balgone Barns, North Berwick, EH39 5NY
Balgone Estate near North Berwick offers Scotland’s largest pumpkin patch with over 50,000 pumpkins along with a 2km haunted trail between October 14 and 29. The pumpkin patch is abundant with Instagrammable spots to help create memories that are as vivid as the colours of autumn. The Crooked Cauldron is another Halloween edition where visitors can cook marshmallows with the witches. Little ones can also delight in the farm-themed play area, meet friendly local animals, get to face painting and tractors that the kids will adore.