Pumpkin Picking at The Cawdor Patch

Thousands of pumpkins across twelve dates, in a field beside the primary school in Cawdor village: this is the patch that families drive out to from Inverness and Nairn.

The £7 entry covers more than the picking. A woodland trail runs through the site with riddles to solve along the way, there is a play patch for children, and a scavenger hunt comes with the ticket, so the visit has a shape to it beyond choosing a pumpkin. The pumpkins themselves are charged separately, priced by size, with a size guide at the entrance so there are no surprises at the till.

Three evenings in October are given over to twilight pumpkin picking, which runs from 6pm to 8pm and costs a little more. Picking by torchlight is a different proposition from a bright Saturday morning, and older children tend to prefer it.

The kiosk runs to hot and cold drinks, cakes and sweet treats, sausage rolls, and homemade pumpkin soup, which is the right thing to be eating in a Highland field in late October.

A note on the ground. This is a field with no ramps, though the patch should be manageable for sturdy wheelchairs and off-road buggies unless there has been torrential rain. Toilet facilities are limited and there is no disabled access or baby changing on site yet. Parking is free, on hard standing, and included in the ticket price. Booking ahead is recommended, though walk-ins are accommodated when there is space.