Autumn activities at Kent’s National Trust properties, including pumpkin trails, ghost hunts and craft fairs

by Sam Lawrie

slawrie@thekmgroup.co.uk

Autumn is almost here, and the county’s historic houses and gardens are celebrating the season with a range of family-friendly trails, harvest activities, and Halloween-themed events.

From pumpkin hunts and ghost trails to Beatrix Potter exhibitions and apple picking, there’s something for visitors of all ages to enjoy at Kent’s National Trust properties…

Chartwell is being transformed into a pumpkin patch for this year’s October trail. Picture: ©National Trust

CHARTWELL, Westerham

During the October half-term, there will be pumpkins scattered around the grounds of Chartwell. Visitors will be invited to explore the stately home’s stunning gardens and try to find as many of the pumpkins as possible, all while taking on challenges and joining in with games.

Details: Saturday, October 18 to Sunday, November 2. Trail costs £3. Standard entry admission applies.

EMMETTS GARDEN, near Sevenoaks

As the colours change, visitors can spend the day at Emmetts Garden and take in seasonal sights at this year’s Autumn Festival. The festival takes place on select dates and includes a range of outdoor activities, including an autumn fair with woodland and botanical-inspired crafts, a family-friendly garden trail, and live music from the Medway Concert Brass and Biggin Hill Concert Band in the meadow.

Details: Select dates from Friday, October 10 to Saturday, October 25. Events are free, but the trail costs £3. Standard entry admission applies.

Children can take part in a ghost hunt at Ightham Mote as part of the half-term activities. Picture: Helen Smith

IGHTHAM MOTE, near Sevenoaks

Join the ghost hunt at this medieval moated manor house. This Halloween-themed trail, inspired by the best-selling children’s book We’re Going on a Ghost Hunt, will take visitors through the gardens to look for spooky spirits. The trail features hoopla games, broomstick races and stepping stones.

Details: Saturday, October 11 to Sunday, November 2. Trail is free, standard entry admission applies.

KNOLE, near Sevenoaks

This year, Knole is celebrating the stories of renowned children’s author Beatrix Potter. The showrooms inside the house are displaying manuscripts, illustrations and a Peter Rabbit toy as part of a nostalgic trail. There’s also watercolour artwork from early books, fascinating facts about the writer’s life and legacy, and themed toy boxes for children to play with.

Details: Daily until Sunday, November 2. Trail is free, standard entry admission applies.

From hop walks and beer tastings to outdoor trails and photography, there’s plenty to do at Scotney Castle this autumn. Picture: ©National Trust

SCOTNEY CASTLE, near Tunbridge Wells

There’s a great range of autumnal events going on at this country house over the next couple of months. There are guided hop walks, which take visitors on a two-hour journey through Scotney’s hop gardens and include samples of locally-brewed beer. For younger guests, there’s a goblin trail coming to the site in October with hidden spells and riddles, and kids’ photography classes focused on autumn colours.

Details: Hop tours take place daily until Saturday, September 20. Goblin trail is open from Saturday, October 18 to Sunday, November 2 and costs £3. Photography workshops take place on Tuesday, October 21. Standard entry admission applies.

SISSINGHURST CASTLE GARDEN, near Cranbrook

Get ready for harvest season at Sissinghurst Castle Garden. This world-renowned garden is giving visitors a chance to pick their own apples and pumpkins to take home, as well as drawing their own pumpkin designs and carving them themselves.

Details: Apple picking takes place on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28. Pumpkin picking takes place on Tuesday, October 21 and Wednesday, October 22. Both sessions cost £5. Standard entry admission applies.