October half term 2023 in the Peak District

October half term 2023 will soon be upon on, so what’s planned in the Peak District this year?

Frights of Abraham at the Heights of Abraham – October 24th to 31st, 2023

The Frights of Abraham returns to Masson Hill this October half term with a spooktacular line-up of activities, including:

• Enchanted witch’s grotto
• Colourful scarecrow displays
• Tasty Halloween treats in the cafe
• Trail to find 13 magical black cats
• The Good Witch of the West Grotto

Join the Good Witch of the West, Belinda Broomstick, on a magical journey through the cavern tunnels. Each child will be given their own magic wand of enchantment, and together with Belinda’s help they will reveal the secret cauldron and share the treasure amongst themselves.

Admission to the Rutland Grotto (plus wand and cauldron gift) is subject to an additional charge.

2023 Halloween Festival Fun at Matlock Farm Park – 21st to 31st October 2023

Join Matlock Farm Park for a spooktacular Halloween celebration this October. Walk through the spooky woodland trail and meet your favourite Halloween characters. From Wednesday, October 25th to Tuesday, October 31st, it will have friendly characters to interact with throughout the park, including broomstick flying workshops!

Of course, no Halloween celebration is complete without pumpkins! Pick your own pumpkin from its pumpkin patch and carve it at a special carving station, or take it home with you.

Witch Wendolyn will be running her craft workshops every day, where little ones can make spooky keepsakes. And if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the Headless Horseman late afternoon, just as the light fades…

In addition to all the Halloween fun, Matlock Farm Park also offers all the usual animal delights, including sheep racing, small animal petting, meerkat talks, wallaby encounters, ferret racing, and pony rides. And don’t forget to check out its fabulous covered Enchanted Hamlet multi-zone play area, marvellous indoor playcentre The Rainforest, and outdoor Jumping Pillow!

Half term Halloween fun at Chatsworth Farmyard, near Bakewell – 23rd October – 5th November 2023

Halloween fun at the farmyard! Chatsworth invites you to bring your little monsters to the farmyard this autumn half term for a spooktacular Halloween celebration!

In addition to its fun daily activities, such as animal feeding and milking demonstrations, Chatsworth will be offering a variety of Halloween-themed events:

• Pick your own pumpkin from the pumpkin patch
• Carve and decorate your pumpkin to take home
• Get your face painted with a spooky Halloween design
• Make creepy Halloween crafts

If you’re brave, you can also take a mysterious journey on a spooky tractor and trailer ride.

Activities are available throughout each day, so please check the noticeboard on arrival for specific times. Tickets are available online.

Halloween Trail at Carsington Water, near Ashbourne – Saturday 28th October – Sunday 5th November 2023, 10am-5pm

Boo! Get ready for some spooky fun at Carsington Water’s annual Spooktacular Halloween trail this October half-term!

From Saturday, October 22nd to Sunday, October 30th, its trail will be open every day from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm. Follow the trail to find spooky scenes and complete activities to earn a prize.

Dress up in your spookiest costume and come join the fun! No booking is required, just come to the Visitor Centre to buy your trail map for £3.

Once you’ve finished the trail, head to Carsington’s onsite restaurant/takeaway to collect a bag of trick-or-treat sweets (non-sweet alternatives are available). Bring your own pen or pencil to complete the activity sheet.

Castlewood Brewers Fayre

If you’re looking for somewhere to eat and have fun during half-term, Castlewood Brewers Fayre has some exciting Halloween offerings, including a spooktacular menu and a wide array of Halloween-themed activities.

Alongside its fantastic play facilities, Brewers Fayre has put together a fun-packed activity calendar to keep little ones entertained, rain or shine – from a Terrifying Treasure Hunt to crafting their own witches’ hats. This joins a tasty Halloween menu where you can treat the whole family for £18 with a mouthwatering selection of dishes to keep the kids and grown-ups happy.

You can find out more on the Brewers Fayre website.

Book your half-term cottage at Wheeldon Trees

We still have some availability for half-term 2023 at Wheeldon Trees.

Alongside all the events taking place in the Peak District, our cottages are close to a variety of activities. Things to do include hiking, biking, fishing, and visiting historic landmarks. In addition, we’re perfectly placed for wandering around charming English villages and taking in cafe society if you’re looking for a more grown-up break.

We have 10 stunning cottages set in 12 acres of Peak District National Park. Alongside luxury cottages, our rural retreat offers free EV charging and an honesty shop packed to the brim with goodies. In addition, we have a fantastic games room where you can play pool, air hockey or ping pong. We have two new electric bikes for you to borrow to explore the local area. What’s more, we have recently added two new hybrid bikes.

In 2023 five of our cottages were rated 5-Star Gold by VisitEngland. Firstly, the Farmhouse retained its 5-Star Gold rating from 2021. And now Priestley Cottage, Ollerenshaw Cottage, Nadin Cottage and Mycock Cottage join it with top marks. The remaining five cottages – Sheldon, Walker’s Rest, Critchlow, Elliott and Lomas were all rated 4-Star Gold. In addition, TripAdvisor recently named Wheeldon Trees in the top 10% of places to stay in the world. Thanks to our visitors’ amazing reviews, we were delighted to be awarded the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award 2023. To complete the hat trick, we were also the runner-up in best self-catering accommodation at this year’s Visit Peak District and Derbyshire Tourism Awards.

You can view our availability and pick your perfect cottage by following this link – view our availability.