The Plotters’ Forest Extends The Halloween Fun At Raby
With A New Mini Pumpkin Patch
Halloween celebrations are getting even spookier across Raby Estates this year, with a new mini pumpkin patch, themed trails and atmospheric installations offering seasonal fun for the whole family.
Raby Castle, Park and Gardens' woodland adventure playground has been transformed into a Haunted Forest Trail, with Halloween decorations bringing a spooky atmosphere to the outdoor play space. Children can spot giant spiders hanging from trees, discover skeletons lurking among the woodland and enjoy new sounds and photo opportunities throughout The Plotters' Forest.
The adventure continues into the recently extended Hidden Forest, where visitors can discover a magical new Halloween experience before reaching the mini pumpkin patch. Here, families can wander through the field and choose their own pumpkin, specially sized for little hands to take home and carve. A new trail and plenty of photo opportunities add to the fun, with hand-carved giant wooden spiders and pumpkins, straw bales and tyres creating memorable backdrops.
Sophie Brown, sales and events manager at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens said: "Our Halloween trail is full of creepy clues, spooky spiders, wicked witches and creaking skeletons. With the new additions we've included this year to ignite everyone's senses, we've ensured that it's still the perfect mix of fun and fright for our younger adventurers.
"We'd also like to encourage little ones to come along dressed in their best Halloween costumes to really get into the spirit and enjoy some pumpkin picking too with the addition of our new mini pumpkin patch."
For those seeking something a little more mysterious, The Plotters' Forest also hosts its popular Halloween After Dark experience. As daylight fades, an illuminated trail brings the woodland to life with eerie shadows, atmospheric lighting and mysterious creatures emerging at dusk.
Families can also get creative with a pumpkin painting workshop at The Plotters' Forest. After enjoying the outdoor adventure, children can decorate their own pumpkin using spooky characters and classic Halloween colours, with each young artist receiving a pumpkin, paints and brushes to create a masterpiece to take home.
There is a seasonal creative experience for adults too, with a new pumpkin flower workshop led by Deborah Simpson Boston from Periwinkle Barn. Taking place in the Conservatory, overlooking the Walled Gardens, the hands-on session shows participants how to transform a pumpkin into a natural vase, filled with fresh autumn flowers, textured foliage, seed heads, berries and rich harvest colours.
For a more spine-tingling experience, the Ghost Walk Tour at Raby Castle promises an atmospheric evening for those brave enough to take part. During the torchlit tour, which includes rooms not normally open to the public, Raby's guides reveal stories of unexplained phenomena and reported hauntings spanning centuries, from long-standing legends to more recent encounters with the past.
The castle's medieval history also provides the setting for a family-friendly Haunted Explorer Tour. Families can explore some of its eeriest rooms, search for curious objects hidden throughout the building and take part in hands-on activities discovering unusual crimes and punishments from Raby's past.
Visitors can delve further into the castle's history through the new Curious Collections exhibition, which uncovers unexpected stories behind fascinating objects from Raby's collections. Those keen to discover even more macabre tales can also explore the Raby Estates app, featuring surprising research brought to life by students from Durham University.
The Haunted Forest Trail at The Plotters' Forest runs on selected dates until 1st November. An Autumn Family Explorer Ticket costs £60 online or £65 on site for two adults and two children, including access to Raby Castle, The Plotters' Forest, Deer Park and Walled Gardens.
The mini pumpkin patch is located within the play area and costs an additional £5 per pumpkin picker, with accompanying guests free of charge. Tickets are limited on 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th and 31st October.
Halloween After Dark takes place on 24th, 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st October, with time slots available between 5pm and 6.30pm. Tickets cost £10 for children and £8 for adults.
The pumpkin painting workshop takes place in the Yurt on 24th, 25th, 29th and 31st October and 1st November at 11am. Tickets cost £12 per child, who must be accompanied by at least one adult.
The Periwinkle Barn pumpkin flower workshop takes place on 24th October and costs £60 per person.
The Ghost Walk Tour runs from 24th October to 1st November, with tours at 6pm and 6.30pm. Tickets cost £25 per adult.
For more information about Halloween at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, visit https://www.raby.co.uk/halloween/
High Force Hotel And Waterfall
Halloween meets the natural world at High Force Hotel and Waterfall, also part of the Raby Estate, where new seasonal experiences invite families to explore the landscape after dark.
A spooky skeleton trail winds through the woodland towards the spectacular High Force waterfall, with glowing pumpkins and mystical potions lighting the path. As families follow the clues, they can hear the thunderous roar of the water and experience the power of one of England's most impressive waterfalls.
Younger visitors and curious stargazers can also enjoy a family-friendly stargazing experience during the October half term, designed to introduce children to the wonders of the night sky.
The evening adventure includes a walk to High Force Waterfall, one of the north's highest waterfalls, which will be dramatically illuminated for the occasion. An interactive programme of demonstrations, storytelling and guided night-sky viewing brings the wonders of space to life.
Led by expert stargazing hosts, the experience helps adults and children discover how to identify stars, constellations and planets, with engaging science activities designed to spark young imaginations.
The spooky skeleton trail at High Force Waterfall runs daily until 1st November. A family ticket for two adults and two children costs £12 when booked online.
The family stargazing experience takes place on 29th October, with tickets priced at £34 for children aged 5-15 and £39 for adults.
For more information and to book, visit www.raby.co.uk/high-force