The best places to pick pumpkins in Scotland this Halloween

Why not plan a family day out and pick your own pumpkins for carving this Halloween?

Published 5th Sep 2024
Updated 5 th Sep 2024

Traditionally it was a turnip, but these days pumpkins have become a Halloween staple in most houses and it has become a family day out to go and pick your own pumpkins.

Here are some of the best places to do so in Scotland.

Arnprior Farm, Stirling

Arnprior was the first Scottish farm to open a pick your own pumpkin patch in 2015.

Since then, the family-run farm has been inundated with welly-adorned pickers ready to choose their own Halloween treat.

Open for the pumpkin harvest from October, visitors can also enjoy other activities such as a kale maze, quad pods, face painting and chainsaw carving (sounds spooky!)

There are also food, drink and craft stalls and the patch is dog-friendly, making this an ideal day out for all the family.

The farm also has glamping pods, which are individually decorated and kitted out with a cooking appliances, plug sockets and offer access to the private pool and hot tubs.

Tickets for pumpkin picking are on sale now, priced at £10 per car.

2024 dates: 12-30 October over three sessions - 9.00am, 12pm and 3.30pm.

• WATCH: Forget carving pumpkins, hilarious video shows how Scots celebrate Halloween

Arnprior Farm, Arnprior, Farm, Stirling, UK, FK8 3HA

Cairnie Fruit Farm & Mega Maze,

This fruit farm is also known for its mega maze, making it an ideal spot to take the kids to this October.

The maze is an artistically designed labyrinth of pathways and blind alleys extend over six acres and will keep the kids entertained for ages.

There's also a Halloween torchlight maze, every year.

After the berry season (of which the farm offer strawberries, raspberries, red and blackcurrants, gooseberries, tayberries, cherries and brambles), visitors can get kitted out to pick their own pumpkins.

If you fancy more than one pumpkin and are struggling with the load, there's a handy wheelbarrow available to help with your harvest.

The pumpkin patch opens in October and visits must be booked in advance - either a morning (10am to 12.30pm) or an afternoon slot (1pm to 3.30pm) and there's a £1.50 entry fee.

Sign up at their website to find out more details of this year's pumpkin picking.

Cairnie Fruit Farm & Mega Maze, Cupar, UK, KY15 4QD

Craigies Farm, South Queensferry

Craigie's is another farm that specialises in all kinds of pick your own fruit and veg.

It is also one of the closest farm shops to Edinburgh making it a great escape from the city.

Selling everything from fruit and veg, milk and dairy products to award winning sausages, Scottish cheeses, local gins and beers, the farm shop is well worth a visit any time of the year.

This autumn, Craigies Farm in South Queensferry will play host to its biggest event yet, promising to be the ultimate destination for Halloween fun in Edinburgh.

Building on last year’s success, the event is expanding to a whole new level, with a 900 square metre hay bale trail added to the line-up of spooky activities.

The team at Craigies have unveiled two Halloween themed events: the family friendly Craigies Pumpkin Festival by day, and Craigies Pumpkin Festival; After Dark.

2024 dates: The Pumpkin Festival daytime and after dark will run from 1-31 October with tickets from £5.

Craigie's Farm Deli and Cafe, South Queensferry, UK, EH30 9AR

South Ardbennie Farm, Perthshire

South Ardbennie Farm opened their pumpkin patch for the first time in 2019, with around 1500 pumpkins to pick from.

Visitors can look forward to pumpkins, pizzas, marshmallow toasting, space hoppers and more.

2024 dates: You can pick pumpkins from 10-27 October from 9am-3pm.

Tickets for this years pumpkin picking are available now, priced at £10 per car with a £5 fee redeemable against purchases on the day.

Find out more by following them on social media.

South Ardbennie Farm & Pumpkin Patch, Farm, Madderty, Crieff, UK, PH7 3PT

Balgone Estate, East Lothian

This family run farm, located on the outskirts of North Berwick, is the newest addition to Scotland's pumpkin picking experiences.

Not only do they have a pick your own pumpkin patch but there's also a pumpkin trail, which promises a lakeside adventure with lots of spooky characters to look out for along the way.

On the trail kids can stop at the witches hut, the Crooked Cauldron, which is a pit stop for toasting marshmallows.

They also have a maize maze available as well as food and drink stalls.

The patch is open from 12 - 14, 17 - 21, 25 - 27 October from 9am until 6pm, and tickets are £15 per car.

More information and booking info is here.

Balgone Estate, Balgone Barns, North Berwick, East Lothian, UK, EH39 5NY

Spooktober at Clyde Valley Family Park

This family-friendly park is hosting its annual pumpkin festival in October, which includes a free pumpkin for kids.

Visitors can pick, design and carve pumpkins at the park during the festival. There will also be a fancy dress competition and a themed hunt as well as plenty of decorations.

Dates for pumpkin picking run from 12-31 October and tickets are £15 via Eventbrite.

Clyde Valley Family Park, Carluke, UK, ML8 5NJ

Valley View At Gouldings

Valley View are holding their popular Pumpkin Picking event again this year, as well as a date night for adults.

Visitors can choose their pumpkins from the outdoor and indoor areas. There’s also Halloween scenes and decorations along the way, meaning there’s lots of photo opportunities.

The team also have carving stations available. For the date night, visitors can enjoy pumpkin picking under the stars with a glass of fizz. There will be some spooky scenes and surprises along the way.

Various hour sessions are available from Saturday 5 – Sunday 27 October. There’s also an option to visit at night for the pumpkins under the stars sessions, which take place on 18 - 31 October.

Tickets range from £3.50 to £15 for the date night. Find out more via their website.

Gouldings, Lanark Road, Rosebank, Clyde Valley, Carluke, UK, ML8 5QA

East Yonderton Farm

This farm, close to Glasgow airport offers strawberry picking in the summer, and pumpkin picking in the autumn.

Like the strawberry picking, visitors will need to phone to book the pumpkin picking.

Dates for pumpkin picking this year haven't been confirmed yet but will be announced on their social media.

East Yonderton Farm, Walkinshaw Road, Renfrew, UK, PA4 9LP

Blair Drummond Safari Park, Stirling

It’s all treats and no tricks at Blair Drummond Safari Park this autumn as the award-winning family destination is gearing up for their Hallowild season with pumpkins, firepits, hay-bale spiders, and the safari animals roaming the park’s plains.

From 12 – 31 October, visitors can head to the picket fence-enclosed pumpkin patch to choose a pumpkin before toasting some giant marshmallows on the firepits.

There's also a chance to marvel at the antics of the cheeky meerkats, look up to the towering giraffes and say hello to the lions.

There's also a trick or treat trail.

Find out more and book here.

Blair Drummond Safari Park, Blair Drummond, Stirling, UK, FK9 4UR

M&D’s Theme Park Outdoor Pumpkin Festival

The M&D's Pumpkin Festival is back, with all activities held outdoors in the grounds of the theme park.

Visitors can look forward to storytelling from Folksy Theatre, bash a pumpkin game, a pumpkin treasure trail, the Pumpkin Express and the pumpkin patch - where you can pick your own pumpkins.

All activities will take place from Saturday 5 - 27 October.

Tickets - which are priced at £8.95 which includes a hot drink or £11.50 which includes a pumpkin - must be booked online.

M&D's Scotland's Theme Park, Strathclyde Country Park, Bellshill, Motherwell, UK, ML1 3RT

Udny Pumpkins, Ellon

Udny Pumpkins, the north-east of Scotland’s original pumpkin patch, will host thousands of visitors next month from Aberdeen, Inverurie, Ellon, Peterhead and further afield.

As well as choosing pumpkins for Halloween, visitors to the farm can climb on hay bales, pet friendly sheep and meet baby chicks, hens and turkeys.

Udny Pumpkins, near Udny Green in Aberdeenshire, was established after mother-of-two Mrs Fyall realised there was not a pumpkin patch in the area for children to pick their Halloween pumpkin.

2024 dates: 12-20 October with tickets available now.

Udny Pumpkins, Udny, Ellon, UK, AB41 6SP

Pick a Pumpkin, Neilston

A relatively new addition to the pumpkin picking scene in Scotland is from this patch in Neilston, close to Barrhead.

As well as picking your own pumpkin for Halloween, visitors can look forward to a play area, an assault course, face painting, glitter tattoos and rock painting. There will also be hot drinks available.

The dates for the 2024 pumpkin picking are 19 and 20 and 26 and 27 October.

It’s free to book, you just pay for what you pick on the day.

71-73 Main St, Neilston, Glasgow G78 3NH, UK, G78 3NH

The Farm Stall Kintyre, Bellochantuy near Campbeltown

This family-run farm is gearing up for this year's pumpkin picking season.

Keep an eye on their social media for dates, times and what to expect.

Bellochantuy, Campbeltown, UK, PA28 6QE

Arnprior Farm, Stirling

Arnprior Farm, Arnprior, Farm, Stirling, UK

Cairnie Fruit Farm & Mega Maze,

Cairnie Fruit Farm & Mega Maze, Cupar, UK

Craigies Farm, South Queensferry

Craigie's Farm Deli and Cafe, South Queensferry, UK

South Ardbennie Farm, Perthshire

South Ardbennie Farm & Pumpkin Patch, Farm, Madderty, Crieff, UK

Balgone Estate, East Lothian

Balgone Estate, Balgone Barns, North Berwick, East Lothian, UK

Spooktober at Clyde Valley Family Park

Clyde Valley Family Park, Carluke, UK

Valley View At Gouldings

Gouldings, Lanark Road, Rosebank, Clyde Valley, Carluke, UK

East Yonderton Farm

East Yonderton Farm, Walkinshaw Road, Renfrew, UK

Blair Drummond Safari Park, Stirling

Blair Drummond Safari Park, Blair Drummond, Stirling, UK

M&D’s Theme Park Outdoor Pumpkin Festival

M&D's Scotland's Theme Park, Strathclyde Country Park, Bellshill, Motherwell, UK

Udny Pumpkins, Ellon

Udny Pumpkins, Udny, Ellon, UK

Pick a Pumpkin, Neilston

71-73 Main St, Neilston, Glasgow G78 3NH, UK

The Farm Stall Kintyre, Bellochantuy near Campbeltown

Bellochantuy, Campbeltown, UK

Known for cake making, experimental jam recipes, Champagne, whisky and gin drinking (and the inability to cook Gnocchi), Rosalind is the Food and Drink Editor and whisky writer for The Scotsman, as well as hosting Scran, The Scotsman's food and drink podcast.
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