Pumpkin Picking at Malt Kiln Farm Shop

Entry here is charged by the car rather than by the head, which quietly changes the maths of a family trip: a car with five in it pays the same as a couple, and only anyone over the car's allowance is charged at the gate.

The variety list is the real draw. Alongside the orange, white and yellow pumpkins there are Crown Prince, Kabocha, Onion Squash, Blaze, Turks Turban, Porcelain Princess, Orange Goosebump, Spaghetti and Hoargarth, then Harlequin, Casperita, Patty Pan and Crook Neck and Bat Wing gourds. Everything is priced per kilogram, so a small unusual squash can work out cheaper than a big plain pumpkin, and the picking doubles as something to cook with rather than only something to carve.

Booking ahead is essential and slots go out at ten minute intervals with six cars in each, which keeps the field from filling up all at once and means arriving on time matters. Bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable, and the pick your own runs come rain or shine, with no refunds for wet weather.

The picking field is a food production area, so dogs are strictly prohibited, and they are not allowed in the farm shop either. Parking on site is free and the site has full wheelchair access. The farm shop is worth building into the trip while you are there, with its butchers counter and Rebecca's Kitchen coffee shop.