Hallcourt Farm
BEST FOR
Ages 2-10
ENTRY
from £6.50
BUGGY FRIENDLY
Yes
What it’s like
A five acre pumpkin patch with a spooky woodland trail, giant hay bales to climb and pumpkin carving thrown in.
This is the pumpkin picking version of a day out, not just a quick trip to grab one off a pallet outside a shop. You pick your own from a five acre field, then there's a homemade woodland walk strung with Halloween decorations and characters, a puzzle to solve on the trail for a prize, giant hay bales to climb and jump on, and outdoor games. Pumpkin carving and decorating happens in the barn afterwards, and that's actually included in the ticket price rather than an extra you get stung for at the end.
It suits the 2 to 10 range well. The trail is built to be fun rather than scary, so a nervous four-year-old should be fine, and there's enough climbing and running around to keep a ten-year-old busy too. It runs on selected dates from 17 to 31 October only, 10am to 5pm with arrival slots up to 4pm, and you do need to book a timed slot in advance. Popular dates sell out, so this isn't one to leave until the week before half term.
Wear wellies. The site is upfront that the trail and fields get muddy, and it's unpaved with some steep, bumpy bits, so a pushchair is hard work here even though you can leave one outside the woodland walk if you'd rather carry a toddler through. Dogs generally aren't allowed because of the farm's sheep and cattle, though there are two specific dog-friendly days if that matters to you.
Tickets are £6.50 on weekdays and £7 at weekends, with under 2s free, and pumpkins themselves are priced separately from £1. The Lamb Yard Café does teas, hot chocolates, cakes and hot dogs, plus wood-fired pizzas at weekends between 4 and 6pm. Parking is free and there's plenty of it in the fields near the barn.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 2 to 10, older ones get as much from the trail as toddlers do
- Parking
- Free on site, ample parking in fields
- Pushchairs
- Trail is unpaved with bumpy and steep areas
- Dogs
- Not allowed except on specific dog-friendly days
- Worth knowing
- Pumpkin carving and decorating included in ticket price
- Wear wellies, the trail and fields get properly muddy
- Book your slot well ahead as popular dates sell out fast
- Loos are portaloos, with a separate bathroom for baby changing on request
- Wood-fired pizzas only run 4 to 6pm at weekends
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£6.50 a person on weekdays, £7 at weekends, with under 2s free. There's a small booking fee added per ticket, and pumpkins themselves start at £1 on top.
Do we need to book ahead?
You need to book a timed slot in advance, not just turn up. Popular dates and slots sell out, so it pays to get in early.
When is it open?
Selected dates from 17 to 31 October, 10am to 5pm, with the last arrival slot at 4pm.
Is pumpkin carving really included?
Yes, carving and decorating in the barn is part of the ticket, not an add-on.
Will the spooky trail frighten a young child?
It's designed to be fun rather than scary, with hand-made decorations rather than jump scares.
Can we bring a pushchair?
It's tough going. The trail is unpaved with steep, bumpy sections, though you can leave a pushchair outside the woodland walk and carry a toddler through instead.
What's there to eat?
The Lamb Yard Café serves teas, hot chocolates, cakes, hot dogs and ice creams, with wood-fired pizzas on at weekends between 4 and 6pm.
Is there parking on site?
Free parking in fields close to the barn and pumpkin field, and there's plenty of it.
Can we bring the dog?
Not usually, because of the sheep and cattle on site, but there are two dog-friendly days in October when leads are fine.
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