Updated August 2023
This post is an ultimate guide to Pumpkin Patches Scotland.
The Ultimate Guide To The BEST Pumpkin Patches To Visit In Scotland This Halloween
Summer is starting to come to an end, which means it's time to turn our attention to Autumn and more importantly, Halloween. There's so much to do in October to celebrate Halloween but nothing is more suitable for the whole family than going to a pumpkin patch.I visited my first pumpkin patch in Scotland a couple of years ago and now visit one every October to help get me in the Halloween spirit. I researched the best pumpkin patches to visit in Scotland, so I can provide you with all the information to help you pick the one which is perfect for you too!This post covers all the information you'd need to find your perfect Pumpkin Patch Scotland.
This blog post will cover:
- What is a Pumpkin Patch?
- Is it worth visiting a Pumpkin Patch?
- 15 Best Pumpkin Patches Scotland
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What is a Pumpkin Patch?
A pumpkin patch is a garden or field where pumpkins are planted and grow. Once they are ready, the pumpkins are then put up for sale.
Pumpkin patches used to be more typically associated with North America, but it's quickly spread over to the UK and they seem to be more popping up in Scotland every year.
It is worth noting that tickets to pumpkin patches in Scotland sell out very quickly. So, if you are hoping to visit one at some point in October, you'll need to buy your tickets ASAP!
Is it worth visiting a Pumpkin Patch?
A visit to a pumpkin patch is a lovely wholesome day out for all the family. By visiting a pumpkin patch, you are paying to support local farms and home grown produce rather than large supermarket chains, which is a great thing! Plus, you get a memorable experience out of it, so in that sense it definitely is worth it!
That being said, don't be fooled by all the cute Instagram pictures. In reality, pumpkin patches in Scotland can be muddy, cold and quite expensive for what they are.
Just be prepared for the weather, get your welly boots on and a big comfy jacket to brace the cold, possible rain and very likely, mud.
15 Best Pumpkin Patches Scotland
Pumpkin Patch Glasgow
Arnprior Farm
Arnprior Farm first opened its pumpkin patch in 2015 and now, has over 20,000 pumpkins to choose from during the 3 weeks it's open in October.
It's conveniently situated in the central belt of Scotland, only 15 minutes from Stirling and 45 minutes from Glasgow and Perth.
At Arnprior Farm, you will get the choice of the typical orange pumpkins of all shapes and sizes and the less common ones; white pumpkins, striped pumpkins and green pumpkins.
There is also face painting, a bouncy castle, quad pod rides, pumpkin cannon, bale mountain and an indoor hay barn, as well as pop-up local food trucks selling anything from churros, to pizzas, and even, gin. Something for the whole family!
You could even turn your visit into an overnight stay as they also have their own little eco-friendly, luxury glamping pods with private hot tubs and access to a private indoor heated swimming pool.
Blair Drummond Safari Park
Blair Drummond Safari Park is only 10 minutes from Stirling and is an excellent day out for the family. Not only does it have over 300 animals for you to visit including giraffes, lions and elephants, but every Halloween, it also has a pumpkin patch for you to pick your perfect pumpkin.
With a ticket during October, you get access to the safari park, the pumpkin patch and the dinosaur attraction.
At their pumpkin festival last year, there was pumpkins to pick, a trick or treat trail to follow, giant hale bale spiders to climb, and fire pits to toast marshmallows. Sometimes you can even see them feeding pumpkins to the animals.
Dowhill Farm
Dowhill Farm is situated in South Ayrshire and is only a 30 minute drive from Ayr and 45 minutes from Kilmarnock.
At last years pumpkin festival at Dowhill Farm, there was pumpkin picking along with a Maize Maze Bale Trail, tractor rides, bale slides, face painting and some fun competitions. Whilst your here you can also pick up some Ayrshire potatoes.
There's also a lovely restaurant, gift shop and farm shop, with incredible views over the Firth of Clyde. Choose from a delicious range of food from full meals, snacks, soups and home-baking. The restaurant is open from 9.30-4pm.
East Yonderton Farm
East Yonderton Farm is located in Renfrew, only 25 minutes from Glasgow City Centre.
During the early summer season, East Yonderton Farm has lots of fresh fruit and vegetables for you to pick including strawberries, blackcurrants, peas, and potatoes.
It's relatively new to the pumpkin game having only opened its pumpkin patch in 2019, but you won't be disappointed with the selection as it has pumpkins of all shapes, colours and sizes.
M&D's Scotland's Theme Park
M&D's is Scotland's biggest theme park and is located about 20 minutes away from Glasgow city centre in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire.
Every October, M&D's hosts an outdoor pumpkin festival. Along with a pumpkin patch, there's lots to keep the whole family entertained including storytelling with Folksy Theatre, Halloween themed games, Pumpkin Trail and Halloween Arts and Crafts.
Pumpkin Patch Edinburgh
Balgone Estate
Balgone Estate is a family run farm situated on the east-coast of Scotland near North Berwick, approximately a 40 minute drive from Edinburgh. This pumpkin patch is one of the newly established ones after only opening for the first time in 2020.
They have the largest pumpkin patch in Scotland, with 21 varieties of pumpkin over 8 acres. However, there's more to do than just pick your perfect pumpkin including going on a haunted trail and to the crooked cauldron, where you can toast marshmallows.
There's also a range of tasty treats to eat at Balgone Estate from pizzas, burgers, falafel and more. If you wanted to stay overnight, there's also accommodation for between 8-10 people on the grounds of Balgone Estate called the Granary. It has it's own private indoor pool, hot tub and pool table. Proper luxury!
Cairnie Fruit Farm & Mega Maze
Cairnie Fruit Farm's 'pick your own pumpkins' patch has been open for 24 years! It's only a 20 minutes drive from Dundee and St Andrews, and a 40 minutes drive from Perth and Dunfermline.
There's over 12,000 pumpkins of all shapes, sizes and colours to choose from, so you're guaranteed to find the one for you. There's a funyard with a 6-acre mega maze, trampolines, crazy swings, go-cart track, and more.
In October, along with their pumpkin patch, there's also a Halloween Torchlight Maze but it can be pretty scary so only recommended for children over 8 years old.
During the summer season, you can also pick strawberries, raspberries, cherries, gooseberries and more at Cairnie Fruit Farm. You can even go sunflower picking in mid-September!
When you get peckish, there's an onsite farm shop and cafe to pick up some fresh local produce or grab some tasty home-baking.
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Craigie's Farm Deli and Cafe
Craigie's Farm Deli and Cafe is only 2o minutes from Edinburgh. Every year, they grow thousands of pumpkins of all shapes, sizes and colours. Did you know pumpkins can be blue?! Me neither, but apparently, you can pick up a blue one from Craigie's.
In addition to picking pumpkins, you can also pick apples and even, turn them into juice at the farm shop. There's also a popular deli cafe, where you can get delicious breakfast, lunch and home-baked goods.
There's even a 20,000 sq ft indoor and outdoor adventure play, which is perfect to keep the little ones entertained.
Kilduff Farm
Kilduff Farm is based in East Lothian about 35 minutes from Edinburgh city centre. Their pumpkin festival started as a means to teach children about rural life and about where their food comes from. It was so popular it's now in its 5th year with families returning every year to pick their pumpkins.
They are passionate about reducing food waste so they grow pumpkins of all varieties, not only for carving but also, for cooking. Their pumpkin festival has fun for all the family including a bale maze, festival games and lots of autumnal photo opportunities.
There will be food stalls to pick up some tasty treats and a wee red barn for you to buy some autumnal goodies and farm produce to take home.
South Ardbennie Farm & Pumpkin Patch
South Ardbennie Farm & Pumpkin Patch is 25 minutes from Perth and 45 minutes from Stirling and Dunfermline.
They first opened their pumpkin patch in 2019 and have over 1,500 pumpkins of all colours, including the typical orange ones and more unusual green and striped ones, for you to choose from. Alongside the pumpkin picking, there's also other entertainment and delicious food/drink to buy.
They've also recently opened gorgeous glamping pods called 'the Pigsties', which would make for a relaxing overnight stay.
Pumpkin Patch Aberdeen
Udny Pumpkins
Udny Pumpkins is only 25 minutes drive from Aberdeen and home to over 8000 pumpkins of 20 varieties.
Whilst your at Udny Pumpkins, you can also visit some friendly animals, take part in a colouring competition, play on hay bales, and more!
Udny Pumpkins likes to remind you that pumpkins aren't just for carving, there's also some delicious pumpkin recipes. So in addition to selling traditional carving pumpkins, they also sell culinary pumpkins and they have a pumpkin cookbook to inspire you.
Udny Pumpkins also offers pumpkin planting sessions, which take place every April, and at this time of the year, baby chicks will also have been born, which you can hold!
Westerton Farmers
Westerton Farmers is a family run farm in the North East of Scotland, only 35 minutes south of Aberdeen.
In October, along with their pumpkin picking event, Westerton Farmers also hold a harvest market, which involves local businesses selling their produce and activities for the kids.
You can also visit the spud hut, which sells potatoes, carrots, turnips, and other vegetables. As well as locally sourced beef, fresh bread and jams, marmalades and chutneys.
The Pumpkin Ranch
The Pumpkin Ranch is based in Inverurie, only 20-25 minutes from Aberdeen. It's the new kid on the block having only opened in 2021. They started planting 700 pumpkin seeds by hand back then, and this year, they've upped it to 9000 seeds due to the popularity of the first event.
The Pumpkin Ranch is the only pumpkin patch on this list which is undercover, meaning even if the weather is awful, you can rest assured that you will be protected from the elements.
They also have fun events and games to keep kids entertained, great autumnal photo opportunities and great food and drink stalls too.
The Fairy Woods at Fedderate
The Fairy Woods at Fedderate is a fantastic outdoor learning centre, located 40 minutes north of Aberdeen, that specialise in school trips and family events.
In addition to their year round events, they also run seasonal events for Easter, a pumpkin patch for Halloween and a winter woods event for Christmas.
A 2 hour ticket for their pumpkin patch includes a pumpkin, a goody bag, campfire snacks and fairy finding or orienteering. Only children require a ticket, there is no charge for adults.
Ethiebeaton Farm
Located only 15 minutes from Dundee and over an hour and 15 minutes from Aberdeen is Ethiebeaton Farm. They have a very instagrammable pumpkin patch with pumpkins of all varieties.
For their pumpkin patch last year, they had free entry and parking, and no booking was required. They also had a hay bale maze with pumpkin hunt to keep the little ones entertained and many autumnal photo opportunities. However, this is all subject to change for 2023.
Just keep an eye on their website for updates on this years pumpkin patch.
This post is all about Pumpkin Patches Scotland. Once you've picked your perfect pumpkin, it's time to get your favourite Halloween movies on and get carving! Enjoy!
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