If you’re after a relaxed, charming autumn day out with the family, Clackmae Farm near Earlston in the Scottish Borders is a brilliant pick. Nestled in the countryside between Lauder, Melrose and Earlston, this working dairy and sheep farm doubles as a seasonal pumpkin-pick destination and delivers a really well thought-out Halloween adventure for families.
From the moment you arrive, you’ll know this is more than simply a “go and pick a pumpkin” outing. Here’s a breakdown of the fun:
Pumpkin Patch (Pick-Your-Own):
Rows and rows of pumpkins, with over 85 different varieties planted this year according to the event information (including giant “Emperors”, knobbly “Knucklehead”, white “Polar Bear”, green ones, orange ones…lots to choose). The pumpkin patch is the second thing you’ll (likely) do when you are at Clackmae, because you walk out into it from the maize maze.
Pumpkin patch
Bring your wellies / outdoor shoes because this is a very real pumpkin patch in a real field! You’ll find plenty of space to wander, choose your favourite pumpkin (or more than one), and take some great photos with the backdrop of the scenic countryside.
At the start, you will receive a pamphlet with pictures of different objects that you need to find in the pumpkin patch. Each one has a letter hidden on it and you have to note it down in your booklet. At the end, when you have all of the letters you need to un-scramble them to figure out the secret phrase to earn your little prize. This was a really fun feature that made the pumpkin patch a full adventure rather than a quick stop to pick a pumpkin.
The cool thing is that the front page also includes a black pumpkin for the kids to colour in/design their own pumpkin and the back page has a recipe for pumpkin and carrot cake!
Clackmae Farm treasure hunt
Maize Maze:
A “terrifying maize maze” is part of the experience — great for older kids or anyone who wants a little extra adventure. There are a few surprises inside – be prepared for a few small scares!
Maize maze
Hay Bale Mountain:
After the pumpkin field fun, there’s more: climbing hay bale pyramids, running around, letting off steam. Built entirely of huge blocks of hay, the mountain is so impressive and also soft for kids to run and jump on.
The mountain of hay bales is huge! You’ll find multiple slides on one side of it, and a trampoline on another corner… but that is not all!
Hay bale mountain slides
There are also tunnels at ground level through the inside of it. It is really well thought-out and just so much fun for kids of all ages.
Hay bale tunnels
Barn Activities:
Inside the barn or covered space you may find workshops (painting or carving pumpkins) and other activities like multiple tuff trays set up with farm animals and buildings, dinosaurs and more. There is a table with hot coffee and baked goods too, and you can pay by card which was a relief for us because we often do not have cash notes or coins on us.
Goodies and snacks
There is also an area for smaller kids to ride toy farm vehicles, and a photo booth to take a photo to remember your day at Clackmae forever.
Tuff tables and costume swap
One really special touch we loved was the fancy dress costume rail where you could swap your old costumes for a new (to you) one from the rail. I love little touches like this.
The vibe here is local, friendly, no huge crowds, which makes it more comfortable for families including visitors looking for a slightly gentler day out.
Practical information & tips
- Location: Clackmae Farm, Earlston, Scottish Borders, postcode TD4 6AJ.
- Booking: You’ll need to pre-book a timeslot for sessions. The ticket entitles you to a set time (1 h 30 mins session) and includes voucher towards pumpkins + entry to maze etc. You can book the tickets here.
- Cost & details: For example the ticket price is per car, not per person, and includes a £5.50 voucher towards your total spend on pumpkins and entry to the spooky maze, hay bale pyramid and tractor barn. Pumpkin sizes/prices vary: Emperors £12.50, PumpKings £10.50, PumpQueens £8.00, Pumplings £5.50.
- What to bring: Wellies or waterproof shoes recommended (fields may be muddy), comfortable outdoor clothing, maybe a wheelbarrow or carrier for pumpkins (if offered). When we went it was so dry and beautifully sunny, so our wellies were just there for backup.
- No dogs: The event notes “Strictly no dogs allowed for hygiene and safety reasons.” If you want something similar where you can also bring your dog along you can check out Newmill Pumpkins in Dolphinton near West Linton.
- Parking and timing: Arrive within your booked slot; parking is limited per session. Aim to arrive on time and allow the full session to enjoy rather than rush. We booked the 10am slot which meant we could arrive any time from 10am until 10.30am, this was the first slot for the day and when we arrived we got parked right at the gate to the entrance of the pumpkin patch!
Why it stands out for families & kids
- Great for kids of various ages: The patch is spacious with freedom to roam, choose pumpkins, climb hay bales, get active in the maize maze. There is a little treasure hunt to do in the pumpkin patch, you collect letters and write them in your leaflet and then un-jumble the letters to create a spooky phrase to earn a reward.
- Sensory-friendly aspects: Because it’s more relaxed and not overstimulating like some large commercial events, families looking for slower-paced or low-stress experiences may find it a good fit. There are different areas, both inside and out which gives families options for where to be.
- Photo-friendly environments: The open fields, pumpkin varieties, hay bale elements, rural backdrop — all make for lovely keepsake snapshots. There are some things set up specifically for photo opportunities – like a giant frame, the photo booth area in the barn and the giant seat in the pumpkin patch.
- Local and authentic vibe: Being a working farm with seasonal events makes the experience feel genuine rather than “theme park style”. All of the details are well thought-out and the owners kids helped to arrange and hide clues for the treasure hunt. It just felt like the whole thing was designed with love and attention and really took what kids like and want into account.
Photo opportunities at Clackmae Farm
If you’re planning an autumn outing in the Scottish Borders, especially with children, Clackmae Farm offers a really pleasant mix of pumpkin hunting, outdoor fun, and chill farm atmosphere. You’ll walk away with pumpkins in hand, children happily exhausted from climbing and exploring, and some lovely seasonal memories.
Check out my Google Maps review of Clackmae Farm for other info and details.
Check my post more ideas for Halloween in the South of Scotland.
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