Autumn Activities to do Whilst Staying with CTBR 

As the warm summer nights draw to a close and we begin to welcome the chills of autumn, now is the perfect time to start planning what autumn activities will be the best way to spend the cosy evenings that await us. If you’re planning on staying at one of our wonderful properties this October, take a look at some of the fantastic autumn activities that are on offer that will be sure to fulfil your autumnal needs. 

Northumberland  

A wealth of fun is to be had around our Craster, Alnwick properties. Rock Lobster, Middlerigg, Craster Reach, Harbourway and Driftwood are all situated in Northumberland, a land bursting with the beautiful colours of the changing season and home to many autumn activities. The first of our favourite recommendations is the Murder Mystery at Alnwick Garden. Whether you are someone whose nights are spent soaking up hours of Cluedo games or just fancy some glitz and glamour to spice up your evening, you are invited to treat yourself to the real deal. This autumn activity that delightfully doubles up as a cocktail party is a real whodunnit and requires an exciting Cluedo character dress code. Secrets, enigmas and a deliciously themed three course menu; an enticing and captivating evening awaits you. 

After the excitement of a murder mystery, indulge in one of the more classic autumn activities to truly welcome the build-up to the spooky season. The Springhill Farm Pumpkin Festival & Halloween Trail is the perfect way for all of the family to spend a chilly autumnal afternoon, with a funfair, face painting and a winding bale maze to take your fancy. To really pamper yourself in pumpkin fun, take a trip down to the Pumpkin Pottery Session at Ravnclay. Designed for both the young and young at heart, this wickedly wonderful workshop will let your imagination, as well as your hands, run wild to create an autumnal treasure that can be collected or posted out in time for All Hallow’s Eve. Big or small, the beautiful clay pumpkins forged at the workshop will forever be a reminder of the crisp autumn days spent in Northumberland.  

For animal lovers who like autumn activities with a twist, NorthumBOOland Zoo is the perfect place for you. In true Halloween style on the evenings of the 28^th and 29^th October, the zoo will be taking a ghostly turn that all the thrill-seekers out there definitely will not want to miss! With a haunted trail, an exclusive trip to see the megabats after hours and toasted marshmallows for those with a sweet tooth, an abundance of frights will be on offer throughout the night that have something to offer all the family. If you want to truly lose yourself in the season of spookiness, round off your Halloween celebrations with a one-way ticket to Hexham Spook Night. Witness the beautifully eerie transformation as darkness draws in with a fancy dress competition to suit all the ages (and pets!), spooky dancing in the streets and fairground rides to light up the night. Wherever you turn, this Spook Night is one of the autumn activities you truly won’t forget.  

The Yorkshire Dales  

There are a plethora of autumn activities to revel in at the beautiful Yorkshire Dales this year, home to the magnificent Oughtershaw Hall and quaint Reading Rooms cottage. Let us first stop at the Daleside Countryside Museum, where you are invited to breathe in the crisp autumnal air and venture out on a mini-Halloween bike trail. This trail is perfect for beginners who are looking for a tranquil ride in a traffic-free area. After your afternoon cycle through the gorgeous wildlife of the Yorkshire Dales, light up the night with your very own lantern and a delicious hot chocolate to reward your efforts.   

To ignite some ghostly excitement into your trip that goes hand in hand with the chills of October, try your hand at Halloween Crazy Golf. With 18 spookily themed holes that are accompanied by headless horsemen and ghostly pirates, this spot is bound to make your Halloween dreams come true. If you would prefer a Halloween adventure full of twists and turns, Halloween at the Forbidden Corner is the nightmare alley of the Yorkshire Dales. The usual labyrinth hidden in the underworld will be transformed by ghouls, ghosts and missing skeleton bones that with them, will bring a host of prizes for budding adventurers. Whether it is Halloween or a free day in half term that needs filling, The Forbidden Corner is guaranteed fun for everyone. 

We know that spooky scares are not for everyone, which is why we absolutely love the popular Fountains by Floodlight event that is returning to Fountains Abbey every Saturday in October. Spend a glorious evening watching the transformation as dusk falls and the Abbey is filled with light and harmonious music; a treat for the eyes and ears!  

To end your journey of autumn activities in the Yorkshire Dales, we have the perfect place: Halloween at the beautiful Bolton Castle. Let yourself travel back in time and wander through the sparkling Castle by Lanternlight tour on a chilly evening between 14^th October and 2^nd November, and finish with a hearty meal of wild boar stew or vegetable tagine that will warm your heart and soul. Tickets are £30 and are likely to sell out, so head over to their website to secure your dream Yorkshire autumnal night. 

North Wales  

Last but certainly not least is the mesmerising North Wales, home to our beautiful Tan Llan and Coach House property. North Wales is full to the brim of exciting autumn activities, but we’ve narrowed it down to our favourites that show the array of fun on offer.  

The most simplistic of autumn activities comes under the wonderful guise of a crisp autumnal walk, and where better to wander than the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park? The park invites you to explore the rural Welsh culture that is steeped across the landscape and is an exquisite way to journey through the heritage of Wales. After a pleasant day of walking through this haven, sit back and watch as another world awakens under the night sky through the magic of Stargazing. As the natural wildlife of owls, bats and birds take their place within the sweeping landscape, keep an eye out for beautiful constellations and a shooting star to truly make your night sparkle.  

After the wonders of the National Park, you might be wanting to find autumn activities which embrace the spirit of the spooky Halloween season; look no further than the Halloween Trains around Bala Lake. With stops at the haunted Flag Halt and a terrifying trip to a witch’s coven, this train is destined to send shivers down your spine and although it may not be for the faint hearted, it is definitely one of the more memorable autumn activities to celebrate Halloween! If a train journey through the haunted heritage of North Wales is not enough to get your adrenaline pumping, the famous Fear Forest at Zipworld sounds like the perfect thing for you. Hidden in the darkest depths of Welsh woodland and embedded with horror and scares that will completely immerse you, this award-winning adventure is bound to chill you to the bone. 

Once the terrors of the Halloween train and Fear Forest frights have settled, let us journey back to less horror and more heart-warm at Manorafon Farm Park. Brimming with Halloween fun for all ages, the autumn activities on offer can be spent luxuriating in cosy autumnal magic. Pumpkin parties have never looked more enticing with an illuminated Pick Your Own patch, a pumpkin market and a carving tent; what more could you want as a pumpkin lover! As the sun begins to set, a feast for the eyes is truly on offer as you watch the night come alive throughout the eclectic Halloween trail and fizzling fire displays that will dance before you. After all the excitement Manorafon Farm Park has brought, take your pick from a selection of traditional food for the soul with the likes of macaroni cheese and hot dogs to take your fancy. Once your stomach is settled, sit back and relax at the Bopping Broomstick where the melodious entertainment will drift through the autumn air, providing a restful end to a glorious trip.  

Wherever you choose to spend your October break, the spectrum of autumn activities available can offer an event for everyone.  

For further information on our properties and their availability all year round, not just for autumn, contact us on 01829 830 388 or email at info@catchthebreeze.co.uk. And do not forget to tag us in any pictures you may take and use the #MyCTBR, we love seeing your fabulous pictures and all the fun you have whilst staying with us in our properties. 

Other News

Where to Hike in Winter in the UK - National Parks

Jan 2022

With the colder months here for the foreseeable future, you may need to put on an extra layer before you set off on a…

Catching the 2022 Breeze

Feb 2022

Welcome to Catch the Breeze Retreats’ first of many blogs, filled to the brim with all our news, updates, and…

What to do in Snowdonia When it Rains

Mar 2022

March – a month that is often filled with unpredictable and transitional weather as we slowly move into Spring, the…