{Scotland} Pumpkin Patch Outing 2023 to Kilduff Farm
Today was the day I look forward to every Autumn – our annual pumpkin patch outing! Ever since we moved back to Edinburgh, we’ve spent a happy morning or afternoon pumpkin picking every October. And while we’ve tried a few different farms and locations, there’s one we always keep coming back to – Kilduff Farm in East Lothian. Now in its sixth year, today was the fourth year we have visited. We were actually invited to the inaugural Kilduff Pumpkin Patch back in 2018, to blog about our experience, and have been fans ever since.
Kilduff Farm is a working arable farm located in the heart of East Lothian in Scotland, between the towns of Haddington and North Berwick, and less than a mile outside the village of Athelstaneford. Lucy and Farmer Russ, who own and run the farm, put so much love and care in to making it a truly memorable experience. Since its inaugural year, the patch has grown to include not only the pumpkins and much loved straw bale maze, but a host of other fun and games too plus even more photo opportunities than ever before.
You can play noughts and crosses, hoop toss, connect four, bean bag toss or giant dominoes. There’s tunnels to crawl through, giant spiders to climb, hay bales to jump off, and the afore mentioned hay bale maze. Oh, and there’s a scavenger hunt too – just pick up a sheet from the staff at the entrance.
On the patch itself, you can choose from a range of pumpkins in different sizes and colours. They have already been cut off the vine, but have all been grown on the farm, and range in price from £1 for the smallest munchkins, to £7 for big whoppers. We usually end up with pumpkins somewhere in the middle, in the £3 – £5 price range.
Yes, you can get pumpkins for cheaper at the supermarket, but believe me, the mass produced supermarket pumpkins won’t taste anywhere near as good as ones grown on an independent farm. Plus, it’s a small price to pay to know we are supporting a local farmer. There’s weighing stations on the patch too, so you can check the size and price before you commit, and colourful wheelbarrows are available to transport your pumpkin treasures to the pay point – apparently they’re perfect for transporting little brothers too, haha!
If it’s fun photo opportunities you’re looking for, there’s no shortage of spots you can pose at – from photo frames and mysterious doors, tractors and trucks, to pumpkin sculptures and giant chairs, a witches coven and the skeleton campfire. Not to forget the every popular pumpkin house. And your visit to the patch isn’t complete if you haven’t heard Hank & Marvin play their duelling banjos!
If all that isn’t enough, there’s food vans too selling hot drinks and cake, cheese toasties, hot dogs and more! There’s picnic tables under the stretch tent, if you want to take a seat. And a wee farm shop offers a range of culinary pumpkins, other produce such as local honey, pumpkin spice granola, or other preserves, and a range of seasonal souvenirs from spooky mugs to Halloween decorations.
I know this is starting to sound like some kind of sales pitch, but we really have no further affiliation with Kilduff Farm, we just really love it there!
A few things have changed since its first year. Admission is now ticketed since it has become so popular, meaning you can visit safe in the knowledge it will never be overcrowded. The pricing is by car/group rather than per person, which was £7 this year, and then you pay for whatever pumpkins you choose. Compared with other Halloween and Autumn activities, I think that’s a really fair prices especially considering all the extra things you can do. Your ticket lets you visit in a specified two hour slot. At the time of writing, there were still tickets available for Monday 16, Tuesday 17, Friday 20 and Monday 23 October. You’ll find all further details on the Kilduff Farm website.
>> Book tickets
>> Check the pumpkin patch FAQs
How to get there
The Patch is at Kilduff Farm on the B1343, by Athelstaneford, just outside Haddington in East Lothian. The postcode for the farm is EH39 5BD. The easiest way to get there is by car, and there’s parking available. However, we have also done it in the past by public transport. You can either take a bus to Haddington, or a bus or train to North Berwick, then take a connecting bus. The farm is on the 121 North Berwick to Haddington bus route, which is currently run by Eve’s Coaches. It’s not a scheduled stop, so you’ll need to ask the bus driver to let you off. Carefully check the time table though before you head off, as the connecting bus only runs about every two hours.
