Autumn is here, whether we like it or not. Some people absolutely love it, while others mourn the passing of the warmer and lighter months. However, everyone can still make the most of it with Halloween inevitably approaching. What even is Halloween without a good ol’ carved pumpkin, so we listed some pumpkin patches near Edinburgh where folks can pick their own pumpkins. Whether it is for the perfect Instagram pic, a wee day out with the fam or to get some carving action going, pumpkin picking awaits.
1. Craigie’s Farm Deli and Cafe
West Craigie Farm, South Queensferry, Edinburgh, EH30 9AR
Located in South Queensferry, Craigie’s Farm Deli is a place for fruit and veg picking from July all the way until October. In October, as well as pumpkin picking, guests can also opt for apple picking for some extra rewarding fun. If you go now, you might even find some sunflowers! The farm is a tempting day out for the whole family, so just grab your baskets and see who can find the most perfect pumpkin for carving.
What is more, Craigie’s Farm is hosting a series of autumn events including pumpkin picking, Tunnels of Terror and Spooky Tunnels, providing some fun scares, as well as afternoon tea at their café where visitors can unwind after a day of fruit and veg picking. The farm’s shop also boasts a range of food products including jams, juices, meat, cheeses, groceries, as well as gifts and hampers. There is also a timber play area and some cute farm animals to be observed.
You can book your tickets by pressing here.
2. Balgone Estate
Balgone Estate, Balgone Barns, North Berwick, EH39 5NY
Balgone Estate’s pumpkin patches near the picturesque town of North Berwick are not only fun for children but for adults alike. They invite us to enjoy Halloween to its fullest, to invoke a little bit of mystery within us and inspire us to believe in magic more. As the largest patch in Scotland, the farm has a whopping 21 varieties of pumpkins within the space of eight acres. You can not only find the tastiest pumpkin for all your soup and pie needs but also decorate your home for an autumnal feel. Pumpkins are charged by their weight and if you’re after some hearty pumpkin recipes, Balgone’s Estate has you covered too.
There is also a 2km Haunted Trail where guests can witness real-life spookiness, so be prepared for ghosts and ghouls. The Crooked Cauldron is another Halloween edition where visitors can cook marshmallows with the witches. They say the trick is to win the favour of the witches! Moreover, make sure not to lose your little ones in the two-acre maze, where getting lost is a given.
3. Arnprior Farm
Arnprior Farm, Stirling, FK8 3HA
From October 9, pumpkin pickers can gather in Stirling’s Arnprior Farm where around 15,000 pumpkins of all sizes, types and colours will be waiting. In the 6-acre pumpkin patch, you can find massive orange Cinderella pumpkins, green warty pumpkins, white albino ones and groovy stripy pumpkins. There is also an area where visitors can dig for turnips and tatties, quad pod rides and a kid’s maze. With an overall autumnal festival vibe, guests can also observe a chainsaw carving show and indulge in a variety of foods from local pick-up trucks.
What is more, you can learn how to cook with pumpkins in the cooking demonstrations, and there will be a photographer on-site to take some seasonal shots of everyone. And for those who are just not ready to leave yet, guests can book into one of the farm’s glamping pods that also has a jacuzzi.
4. Cairnie Fruit Farm
Cairnie, Cupar KY15 4QD
Celebrating its 24th year of successful pick-your-own pumpkin events, Cairnie Fruit Farm opens its pumpkin patch in October this year. The pumpkin patches contain 12,000 pumpkins of all shapes and sizes that can be stored for weeks in a cool spot. And for the little ones, the Kids Funyard and Maze is open until November, when some serious fun is to be had. A tractor yard, trampolines, a giant maze and more should keep them busy for a while. Guests can also visit the Farm Shop & Café, where everything is home-cooked and made on the premises. So, don’t forget your wellies and get picking!
You can book your tickets here.
5. Kilduff Farm
Kilduff Farm Drem, North Berwick EH39 5BD
Another North Berwick-located farm with some excellent pumpkins. Guests can pick their own pumpkins from October 14 here, and tickets tend to sell out fast. Kilduff Farm is a family-run business, where the also owners get their own children involved in rural life, as well as educating visitors on the secrets of farming and nature. On top of plenty of pumpkins, there is also a bale maze and plenty of autumnal games where everyone can join in. The patch is also complimented with a spot to get some tasty treats and buy local produce.
Tickets can be found here.
All the pumpkin patches near Edinburgh are calling, so go and celebrate Autumn in the heartiest way possible.