Pumpkin Patch and Spooky Trail
High Lodge Farm’s best-selling Spooky Trail and Pumpkin Patch adventure is back this October half-term in Abingdon, Oxfordshire!
Looking for things to do with the kids this Halloween? This autumn, our enchanting woodland trail will be bursting with ghostly displays, mischievous skeletons, and spooks behind every corner. Keep an eye out for our much-loved regulars: the Monks of Abingdon, the Headless Man, and the Wicked Witches of High Lodge, who will be brewing up trouble in their bubbling cauldron. And this year, you’ll also need to help ghost-hunter Professor Spectre round up all the runaway ghosts that have escaped from his Culham Lab!
Of course, the Pumpkin King will be watching over it all… along with werewolves (please don’t try to pet them!) and our gang of mischievous moggies. Don't forget to look up - are they witches' hats drifting through the trees?
The fun doesn’t stop with the trail. Little adventurers can let off steam in our Play Patch, complete with straw bale stacks, a farm tractor, a giant sandpit, wooden games and — brand new for this year — our slippery, squelchy Mud Mountain! Take a spin on the barrel train, toast marshmallows over our roaring fire pit, and strike a pose in our picture-perfect Pumpkin Patch. And of course, every visitor leaves with a sweet treat… no tricks, just treats at High Lodge!
Don’t forget our four Pumpkin Nights evenings where you can explore the trail after dark (5pm - 9pm). With a touch more spookiness than our daytime adventure — plus beer served as the autumn sun sets — it’s a Halloween experience not to be missed.
Take a look at the pictures below to see why High Lodge has become one of Oxfordshire’s most popular Halloween days out.
-
Spooky Trail
Head into our witchy woods via our sunflower graveyard and enjoy our enchanting Halloween artwork and spooky scenes everywhere you look. Keep your eyes peeled for the hidden letters and unscramble the spooky word to claim your free sweet treat. Hurry, you must leave the wood by nightfall!
-
Pumpkin Patch
Warty ones, wrinkly ones, white ones, we will have thousands of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes ready to pick at our pumpkin patch. Sledges, wheelbarrows and baby barrows at the ready! Don’t forget to enjoy our spooky photo opportunities and pose next to the giant spider - he’s very friendly.
-
Tasty treats
The Toot will be serving a selection of hot drinks, including Oxfordshire roasted coffee, creamy hot chocolate and locally baked cakes and brownies. Burgers, hot dogs, chips and breakfast rolls will be available from the Tasty Toot and more goodies from the Sweet Toot, including toasting marshmallows.
Pumpkin Nights
Book one of our four Pumpkin Nights evenings where you can explore our enchanting woodland trail after dark and pick a pumpkin by torchlight. With a touch more spookiness than our daytime adventure — plus beer served as the autumn sun sets — it’s a Halloween experience not to be missed! Ideal for school-age children and above.
-
Barrel train
Jump aboard our barrel train for a fun-filled ride around the fields. Who wants a go? Perfect for a spooky farm adventure. Toot toot! Also enjoy climbing on our farm tractor, straw bales, play in the sandpit and enjoy our rustic garden games.
-
Mallow toasting
There’s nothing better than gathering your friends and family around an outdoor fire as autumn descends. Toast some delicious marshmallows on our fire-pits. Pick up a giant mallow and a skewer from the Toot for £1 and get toasting!
-
Play Patch
There’s so much fun to be had in the Play Patch! Enjoy our sandpit, straw bales, farm tractor, giant wooden games including Twister, Connect 4 and Snakes & Ladders. Burn off any extra energy climbing up our super squelchy Mud Mountain!
FAQs
1. How do I book tickets?
Click here to book tickets and an entry time. Tickets are non refundable. If you create an account when booking, you can log-in and move your tickets to another date, free of charge and subject to availability, if your plans change.
2. How much are the tickets?
Online prices are £9 for children and £7 for adults. Under 1s go free. Please note, tickets more expensive on the gate and aren’t guaranteed.
3. What are the opening hours?
The Spooky Trail and Pumpkin Patch will be open on selected days in October between 10am and 4pm with the last entry at 2.30pm. See our booking page for dates.
4. What if I am late for my timeslot?
Don't worry if you're a bit early or late for your slot, the sessions are to manage the flow of people on site and cars in the carpark. You’re welcome to stay all day.
5. My plans have changed. Can I change the day and time of my booking?
If you create an account when booking, you can log-in and move your tickets to another date, free of charge and subject to availability. Alternatively, email highlodgeevents@gmail.com at least 24 hours before your booking and we will do our best to accommodate you - but this is not guaranteed. Please note, no refunds will be given unless we have to cancel the event for safety reasons.
6. Where are you based?
High Lodge Farm is based at Culham, near Abingdon - not the farm of the same name in Chipping Norton! The field runs parallel to the A415 Abingdon Road. It is roughly 0.4 mile from the Europa School and the entrance will be well signposted. Please use this post code to find us: OX14 3BN.
7. Where do we park?
There’s plenty of free parking in our grass field just off the A415 Abingdon Road. If it’s been raining, please take care entering and exiting the site and expect some mud.
8. How long can I spend at the Patch and Spooky Trail?
You can stay all day or until your children are completely worn out - but please leave by 4pm.
9. Are you running SEN sessions?
Yes, we’re running SEN sessions from 9am - 10am on selected days (visitors are welcome to stay as long as they like after 10am). Please see our ticket booking page and book the SEN specific sessions. Carers are free.
10. What is Pumpkin Nights?
It’s the name of our evening event, which runs on four nights only from 5pm - 9pm. The format is exactly the same as the daytime event - but at night, with spooky lights in the woods and alcohol on sale. It’s a lot of fun by torchlight and a completely different experience! Ideal for older children. Book tickets on our booking page.
11. Do you take cash and card?
Yes, we take both everywhere on site.
12. Are there toilets?
Yes, we have a mobile toilet block, handwashing and one accessible temporary toilet with a baby changing facility. Facilities are basic and fairly limited on site.
13. What food and drink is available at your events?
The Toot sells proper coffee, tea, hot chocolate, brownies and flapjacks, ice creams and other soft drinks. The Tasty Toot sells hot dogs, burgers, breakfast rolls and kids meal deals. The Sweet Toot sells hot brownies, toffee apples, crepes and other goodies.
14. Is the site buggy and wheelchair friendly?
It depends on how much rain we’ve had. Most of the time an all-terrain buggy (not a stroller) will be able to navigate the field and woodland. We recommend a baby/toddler carrier when it’s wet.
There are no solid paths, so wheelchairs will struggle in and around the woodland. We have accessible parking near the entrance. Please speak to our staff if you require assistance.
15. What footwear do we need?
If there’s been a lot of rain, we recommend wellies because it’s likely to be very muddy. We are not liable for any injuries.
16. Can I bring my dog?
No. Only assistance dogs are allowed on site.
17. How much are the pumpkins?
Pumpkins range in price from £1 to £10 plus depending on type and size. Pay for what you pick.
18. What type of pumpkins will you be selling?
Regular carving pumpkins of various sizes, munchkins and a mixture of different squash - festivals, red onions, acorns, goosebumps, harlequins, crown prince, casperitas and giant polar bears, subject to availability.
19. Are the pumpkins grown on site?
A small number of them are. We source the majority from our favourite suppliers to meet demand and to stock a range of varieties. This ensures that visitors enjoy a complete experience.
20. Is the event scary?
Absolutely not, this is a family friendly farm and we’re not planning on scaring anyone. We hope youngsters will love our woodland attractions.
21. Do we need to cut the pumpkins?
No. They will be scattered already cut around the field, so no knives are needed.
22. Is marshmallow toasting extra?
Yes, toast a giant marshmallow on our fire-pits for £1.
23. How much is the barrel train?
The barrel train is not included in your ticket price. It’s £3 per person. Anyone over the age of three can ride (including adults). Pay the driver by cash or card on the day.