Inside Countryfile presenter's luxury farm given spooky Halloween makeover

Steve Hughes and household bask a spookily bully clip gazing astatine the rolling hills of the Gloucestershire Cotswolds astatine the Cotswold Farm Park, location and birthplace of Countryfile presenter Adam Henson

Other than the alarm clock, determination are plentifulness of noises that aftermath maine up successful the morning. Bin lorries, passing postulation and – astir often – 1 of my 3 young sons. So it came arsenic a pleasant astonishment to beryllium roused by the gentle humming moo of a Highland cattle conscionable earlier 7am.

And I was adjacent much retired of my mean regular an hr later, drinking my greeting java portion sat successful a blistery tub, gazing astatine the rolling hills of the Gloucestershire Cotswolds.

My household and I were staying successful a luxury lodge astatine Cotswold Farm Park, location and birthplace of Countryfile presenter Adam Henson. The workplace itself welcomes immoderate 70,000 time visitors each year, and you tin besides enactment overnight successful a lodge, shepherd hut oregon bring your ain campervan oregon tent.

And – arsenic we cogwheel up for the spookiest clip of the twelvemonth – the parkland has launched its peculiar ‘Pumpkin Nights’ lawsuit successful a tract wherever they turn their harvest of Halloween fruit. The Pumpkin Patch by time is simply a fun-filled experience, particularly for younger kids, with jack-o’-lantern carving and face-painting.

You tin besides thrust a artifact tractor done the twists and turns of the Maize Maze. But, arsenic with each bully Halloween events, the country is champion enjoyed nether the screen of darkness. The backdrop of spooky woods and clever lighting gives the spot a genuinely eerie feel, and my lads wasted nary clip successful starting to take which pumpkins would look champion successful our porch. It’s a pugnacious process arsenic determination are truthful galore to take from.

Wheelbarrows are provided truthful you tin research the spot to question retired the cleanable pumpkin, which scope successful size from tiny to enormous.

Possibly much breathtaking than that though were the delicious s’mores that we were fixed to navigator implicit the ready-made fires dotted astir the place. With unrecorded euphony and an onsite bar, we were a blessed clump arsenic we ate our toasted marshmallows and reflected connected a beauteous time successful the countryside.

It had been hard bringing to an extremity our greeting plunge successful the blistery tub. It was truthful relaxing, not conscionable acknowledgment to the bubbles, but besides the sounds and views of our surroundings. At 1 constituent Adam Henson himself walked past done the tract other with his 5 dogs.

But with shrivelled tegument connected our fingers, we yet got retired and headed for the workplace park. The full spot is geared towards encouraging families to get to cognize the animals. All 3 of my lads’ hearts melted – peculiarly seven-year-old Albie’s – erstwhile they got to clasp chicks that were calved little than a week earlier.

I thought astatine 1 constituent that my woman wasn’t going to springiness her chick back. But it turns retired that was thing compared to her absorption successful the adjacent barn erstwhile we got to conscionable three-day-old piglets. In the meantime eldest lad Freddie, 10, and youngest Wilbur, three, were competing to go champion friends with a goat. The goat itself wasn’t truly picky – truthful agelong arsenic it kept getting handfuls of carnal feed.

There were besides donkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs, sheep and cows, galore of them uncommon breeds, and each of them keen to marque your acquaintance. In betwixt befriending farmyard animals, the assorted play areas kept everyone entertained, peculiarly the bounce inflatable, the zip ligament and the soil pit.

And alongside the pens of animals were acquisition accusation boards, explaining the relation that farming has played done the country’s history. For guests who enactment astatine the workplace you tin re-enter arsenic galore times arsenic you like, meaning determination was clip to chill retired backmost astatine the lodge for refreshments, and yet different accidental to popular successful the blistery tub. There is besides a two-mile wildlife locomotion astir the perimeter of the land, which allows you to bask immoderate quiescent clip with nature.

I went for a speedy tally earlier luncheon and managed to bump into a mates of pheasants on the undulating trail, which were astir arsenic shocked to spot maine arsenic I was to spot them. The way is besides fashionable with canine walkers, and favored pooches are invited to enactment astatine the park.

The lodges themselves are good equipped for a comfy self-catering stay, with a decent room and bathroom, arsenic good arsenic a astute TV. And if you don’t fancy cooking, determination is the enactment of visiting the onsite Ox Shed Restaurant which serves breakfast, luncheon and dinner.

The acquisition store besides sells essentials similar breadstuff and milk, arsenic good arsenic section wines and beers. The Pumpkin Patch volition alteration again from November, to bring assorted Christmas events including an enchanted airy way and a accidental to conscionable Santa.

Whenever I ticker Countryfile I usually privation to sojourn the spot I tin spot connected the screen. It’s 1 of those programmes I bask due to the fact that – contempt the taxable tune reminding maine that it’s astir Monday greeting – it usually shows the UK successful its astir beauteous light. It winds you down astatine the extremity of the weekend, and makes you consciousness that small spot calmer.

I surely had that refreshed and relaxed vibe by the extremity of our enactment astatine Cotswold Farm Park. But present I whitethorn person different problems to contend with. Like 1 lad who wants a favored chick, 2 sons who privation a favored goat, and a woman who is hopeless for america to get a piglet. Personally, I’d beryllium blessed conscionable getting a blistery tub.

Book the holiday

General admittance including Pumpkin Patch to Cotswold Farm Park, Guiting Power, Cheltenham, daytime: adults from £6.95, children (4-15) £5.95, toddlers £4.95 (2-3).

Nighttime: adults from £9.95, children £8.95, toddlers £4.95. Must beryllium booked successful advance.
Lodges from £150 p/n, safari tents from £125 p/n, pitches from £25 p/n, cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk