ALTHOUGH trick-or-treating and a bucket-full of sweet treats are always the highlight at Halloween, another tradition in October every year, for many, is carving a pumpkin to create a spooky and entertaining Halloween decoration.

A quick trip to the local supermarket around this time of year is where a pumpkin can be easily sourced, however, in recent times, pumpkin patches are being set-up on a number of different farms across Scotland.

Although it's a pretty American activity, pumpkin patches are becoming more accessible and more popular among Scottish families, and we investigated five established, and new, patches, with many having more than just pumpkin picking on offer.

A great way to entertain the kids, especially during the October holidays, this activity also teaches the youngsters, and the adults, where their pumpkins come from, and what they look like from the ground.

Below is a small description of each pumpkin patch - why not give them a visit before Halloween is upon us?

Arnprior Farm, Kippen, Stirling

Now part of a growing trend, Arnprior pumpkins gives visitors the opportunity to pick their own, which is a fantastic way to show the wee ones where their pumpkins come from.

The pumpkins

Anrprior is a sheep and arable farm, 15 miles west of Stirling, and each year, pumpkins are available to pick just in time for Halloween, meaning they can be carved and displayed as appropriate decorations.

As well as picking your own pumpkins, you can also pick your own turnip or dig potatoes, so it's an all-round exciting experience for anyone who visits, whether they are from a farming background or not.

Pumpkins are found all over the place, so there's plenty to choose from, and they come in a range of sizes, starting at £5, with the largest pumpkins costing £12.

You can go and visit Arnprior to pick your own pumpkins from October 12 to October 21 and October 26 and October 27 from 8:30am to 5:30pm, and to arrange a school visit, you can fill out a form on Arnprior's website.

arnpriorfarm.com

Craigie's, South Queensferry

A popular venue, whatever the time of year, Craigie's is the perfect venue to visit for PYO pumpkins. However, those are not the only items on offer, as fruit is also available to pick which is another interesting activity for families.

As well as the strawberry picking area, Craigie's has one of the only apple orchards in Scotland, so it's an all-round excellent venue for picking your own food, and it certainly passes the time for kids as well, on a day during the colder months of the year.

Once the pumpkin and fruit picking is complete, there are a range of activities you can do while you are there, including a small playpark and also playing with chickens.

A restaurant and larder are on-site too where lunch can be enjoyed and some of the finest products can be purchased.

Pumpkin picking season is in October and Craigie's is open from 9am until 5pm, seven days a week.

On arrival, you are given a basket for collecting your fruit and a map which highlights the best areas to pick fruit and pumpkins.

craigies.co.uk

Cairnie Fruit Farm, Fife

In place from October 6 to November 1, Cairnie, in Cupar, offers PYO pumpkins as well as PYO fruit, in a variety of offerings.

Sitting on 120 acres, 45 of those are used to supply the PYO areas and the pumpkin patch is now open, and will remain open until November 1.

As well as the pumpkins, four varieties of strawberries, three varieties of raspberries, red and blackcurrants, gooseberries, tayberries, cherries, brambles and sunflowers, can also be picked.

Established in 1970, Cairnie is the perfect place to take the family for a fun day out, with plenty of activities on-site to keep everyone entertained, including an exciting play area, filled with different activities.

As well as PYO fruit and pumpkins, Cairnie offers a farm shop and it showcases the freshly picked fruit that the farm produces, as well as take-away home-baking, freshly baked breads, local seasonal vegetables, free-range eggs, a selection of local honeys, chutneys, mustards, oils, and many other speciality foods, including Cairnie’s own line of Cam’s Jams and Cairnie Fruit Vinegars and Syrups.

Also on offer is a selection of fairly priced pocket money toys for children, and an array of country-inspired cards and gifts.

The inclusion of a cafe means that there's no need to bring a packed-lunch, and a variety of tasty food can be enjoyed there, including a mix of home-baking and hot food.

www.cairniefruitfarm.co.uk

Broadslap, Dunning

Broadslap is a small family-run fruit farm nestling within the Earn valley in the shelter of the Ochil hills in rural Perthshire, and the locale is renowned for its lush, high-quality vegetables and soft fruit, with raspberry being the farm's speciality.

When you visit Broadslap, you can see strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants growing mostly under cover, due to there being quite a few wet summers, as well as a pumpkin festival, meaning you can pick your own pumpkins during the Halloween season.

Keeping with the trend, Broadslap has its own farm shop, which is filled with produce from the farm as well as meat, poultry and game from the local area, as well as chutneys and relishes.

To complement the farm shop, a cafe is also on-site and it offers breakfast and lunch and the perfect place to have a refreshing break, or catch up with friends.

Private parties and events can also be booked in for the cafe and bespoke menus can be created for this.

Broadslap's pumpkin festival takes place from October 13 to October 21 and October 27 and October 28.

The time slots are: 9:30am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm to 5:30pm, with a PYO pumpkin ticket costing £5 per person.

Bookings must be made for this experience and a dress-up competition takes place on Saturdays and Sundays.

broadslapfruitfarm.co.uk

Corrimony Farm, Inverness

New to the pumpkin picking game is the Girvan family, who currently run a herd of Stabiliser cattle.

They decided that a PYO pumpkin patch might just work at their set-up and decided to run a PYO pumpkin day in order to trial it out and raise money for charity.

Taking place on Saturday, October 27, the day has now been fully booked, however there is a cancellation list for those who are still keen to try and nab a space.

All proceeds raised on the day will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House, in Glasgow, which is where David and Barbara Girvan stayed while their son, Angus, was very ill in 2015. This is their way of giving back, and if the day proves to be a success, the pumpkin patch might just be in business again next year.

To donate, you can do so here: https://bit.ly/2CBVKCD

Find the team on Facebook by searching Corrimony Pumpkin Patch