Halloween is getting even more spooktacular across Raby Estates with a new mini pumpkin patch, trails and installations creating a spine-tingling experience for all ages.
Little witches and wizards can zoom into Raby Castle, Park and Gardens’ woodland adventure playground, which has transformed into a Haunted Forest Trail with the outdoor play space is covered with hauntingly good Halloween decorations. From large spiders dangling from trees to spooky skeletons popping up, a feast for the senses awaits at The Plotters’ Forest, as well as new sounds and photo opportunities raising everyone’s spirits. The hair-raising adventure also takes advantage of the playground’s recent extension into the Hidden Forest, as the trees part for a magical new Halloween experience, as well as leading the way to a new mini pumpkin patch where visitors can wander through the field and pick their own pumpkin, perfectly sized for little ones, to carve at home for the Halloween season. There’s a new trail at the pumpkin patch and photo opportunities for all the family, from hand-carved giant wooden spiders and pumpkins to straw bales and tyres.
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.”
In addition to the daytime trail, The Plotters’ Forest is hosting its popular Halloween After Dark experience. As the sunlight fades and the sky grows dark, the illuminated trail comes alive with eerie excitement, full of shadows and enchanting darkness as mysterious creatures appear at dusk.
During a day out at Raby, families can enjoy a creative pumpkin painting workshop after blowing away the cobwebs at The Plotters’ Forest. With spooky characters and iconic Halloween colours to include, each little artist receives their own pumpkin plus paints and brushes to design a fa-boo-lous masterpiece to take home with them.
The Halloween creativity isn’t just for children – a charming autumn pumpkin flower workshop has been introduced for adults this year. Deborah Simpson Boston from Periwinkle Barn is leading the hands-on seasonal session in the Conservatory, with beautiful views across the Walled Gardens as the backdrop, as she takes attendees through the steps to transform a pumpkin into a striking natural vase, filling it with fresh autumn flowers, textured foliage, seed heads, berries, and rich harvest colours.
For those looking for a haunting experience, the Ghost Walk Tour at Raby Castle provides an unforgettable night which is not for the faint-hearted. During the torchlit event, which features some rooms not usually open to the public, Raby’s guides share tales of the unexplained phenomena and reported hauntings witnessed over centuries at the castle, from long-standing myths to the more recent encounters with the past.
With its medieval past, Raby Castle is also the perfect place for little ones to get into the spooky spirit. Families can join a Haunted family explorer tour through some of the creepiest rooms, taking part in a hunt for curious objects hidden around the Castle and enjoy some hands-on Halloween activities, which explore some of the strange and surprising crimes and punishments seen in Raby’s history.
Raby Castle has also created a new Curious Collections exhibition uncovering some of the unexpected stories behind some fascinating objects in Raby’s Collections. For those wanting to delve deeper and discover more macabre tales, the Raby Estates app shares some surprising research, brought to life by Durham University students.
The Haunted Forest Trail at The Plotters’ Forest is available on select dates until 1st November. An Autumn Family Explorer Ticket is available for two adults and two children at £60 online or £65 on site, including access to Raby Castle, The Plotters’ Forest, Deer Park and Walled Gardens. The mini Pumpkin Patch is set within the play area, entry is an additional £5 per pumpkin picker, with additional guests going free. Tickets are limited on 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th and 31st October.
The Halloween After Dark experience is taking place on 24th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st October with several time slots available between 5pm and 6.30pm and is £10 for children and £8 for adults. The pumpkin painting workshop is in the Yurt and is on 24th, 25th, 29th, 31st October and 1st November at 11am and is £12 per child. Each child must be accompanied by at least one adult. Periwinkle Barn’s pumpkin flower workshop is on 24th October and is £60 per person. The Ghost Walk Tour at Raby Castle is £25 per adult and is held from the 24th October to 1st November at 6pm and 6.30pm. HIGH FORCE HOTEL AND WATERFALL
Halloween and nature combine at High Force Hotel and Waterfall, which are part of the Raby Estate, with several new experiences for families at this eerie time of year. Glowing pumpkins and mystical potions light the woodland path at the majestic High Force waterfall, in a spooky skeleton trail through the trees. Whilst collecting clues, families can hear the incredible roar of water and experience the sheer power of one of England’s most spectacular waterfalls.
A family stargazing experience at the waterfall has also been designed especially for younger explorers and curious minds for a family-friendly journey through the stars this October half term. Families will be taken on an evening walk to High Force Waterfall, one of the north’s highest waterfalls which will be dramatically illuminated, and experience an interactive event which brings space to life with fun demonstrations, storytelling, and guided night-sky viewing. Led by expert stargazing hosts, adults and children can learn how to spot stars, constellations and planets and enjoy engaging science to spark young imaginations.
The spooky skeleton trail at High Force Waterfall is available daily until 1st November and a family ticket for two adults and two children is £12 when booked online. The family stargazing experience is on 29th October and is £34 for children (5-15 years) and £39 for adults.
