Things to do at Halloween from our Roadford Lake Lodges

Are you looking for things to do during Halloween around Devon? This year Halloween is on Tuesday 31st October 2023 and there’s a lot of Halloween fun to be found not far from Roadford Lake Lodges if you’re booking a stay at our cosy luxury lodges.

Roadford Lake is running a Halloween Fun Day on 28th October, Expect nature-based crafts, spooky woodland trails, campfires, BBQs and other creative activities, as well as the opportunity to purchase hot drinks and snacks.

Halloween is a holiday celebrated on October 31st each year across many European countries and North America. It has gained significant prominence in the UK over the last few decades and is now something anticipated with great excitement as an October half-term highlight.

We have put together ideas for some Halloween fun this autumn half-term in Devon and Cornwall. Many of the activities require you to book well in advance, so if you are planning a stay at Roadford Lake Lodges during Halloween we hope this will help your spooky plans!

Ghostly train rides

If you love the thrill of a fairground ride the truly unique Dingles Heritage Fairground Museum is having some Halloween fun this half term and kids turning up in fancy dress get free admission! Literally a 5-minute drive from the lodges, the attraction is worth a visit at any time, especially if the weather is wet. Open 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm with rides including their Ghost Train running 10:30am-12:30pm and 2:30pm-4:30pm. Contact for details 01566 783425

Tickets for Dingles Heritage Fairground Museum

Ghost walk spooktacular

Bodmin Jail is just down the A30 from our lodges and has a great schedule of truly unique Halloween goings-on! Explore the very darkest side of this fascinating and ancient jail and spend a chilling day having a bit of family fun! Choose from their ‘Ghost Walk Spooktacular’ tour (Weds and Sats through October), their ‘Go Darker Junior Jailer’ tour, ghost hunting events, a kids special Cinema Fright Night or one of their other award-winning heritage tours taking place through October.

Bodmin Jail Spooktacular

Halloween Fun at Strawberry Fields

Strawberry Fields is offering some great value half-term Halloween fun just a few minutes’ drive down the A30 from Roadford Lake Lodges. Here you will find their superb farm shop and restaurant and they’re holding their own ‘Pumpkin Fest’ on 7th & 8th, 14th & 15th, 21st – 29th October. They encourage you to “Grab a wheelbarrow” and make your way around their 10-acre pumpkin patch! Children (and adults) love choosing and picking a real, growing pumpkin to creatively carve later, there’s award-winning magician Magic Martin and the whole event makes for great photo opportunities.

Strawberry Fields also has a pirate-themed maize maze for this half-term. Each twist and turn leads you closer to the hidden treasure. Tread carefully, find the clues, and unlock the mysteries that lie within. Hoist the Jolly Roger, follow the clues, and get ready to get lost It’s exciting fresh air and fun for younger ones!

Tickets must be bought in conjunction with Pumpkin Fest tickets. It’s something different and fun for the family this Halloween.

Strawberry Fields Farm Shop events

Haunted Hollow and a Halloween Trail

The Tamar Trails is well worth a visit too. They’re a great set-up based in the Tamar Valley, a unique and stunning part of Devon, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and part of the Cornwall & West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site. Just outside Tavistock they’re less than half an hour away from Roadford Lake Lodges by car and offer a network of nature trails for all abilities – by foot or by bike – ‘Tree Surfer’ high ropes courses and there’s a warm and friendly café to enjoy afterwards.

On offer this half term they have a ‘Haunted Hollow’ and a ‘Halloween Trail’ to explore. Make your way through the forest on rough and rocky tracks with spooky clues through the woods, haunting figures and scary sights to enjoy. There’s a shorter, flatter option for little legs and buggies. It’s good value fresh air fun. Booking online is essential via the Treesurfers website.

Tree Surfers Haunted Hollow and Halloween Trail

Halloween activities at the National Trust

Also nearby our Roadford Lake Lodges are two spectacular National Trust properties – ‘Castle Drogo’ and ‘Lydford Gorge’ both with Halloween activities planned for half term.

©National Trust Images/John Millar
Visit the National Trust website

Lydford Gorge

Lydford Gorge, with its Devil’s Caldron walk and spectacular waterfall, is a great outdoor visit only 10 miles from Roadford Lake Lodges on the road towards Tavistock. Here the River Lyd tumbles through what feels like a prehistoric land of rocky ravine, lush green vegetation and the stunning White Lady Waterfall. Please check the website as some paths are closed due to a landslide.

Lydford Gorge website

Castle Drogo

Castle Drogo’s unusual property is fascinating and is set on acres of beautiful grounds in the Teign Gorge on Dartmoor with wonderful walks for everyone. Near Drewsteignton, Castle Drogo is approximately 35 minutes by car. They’ll have some autumn and nature-themed events for families over the October half term such as a sensory outdoor trail and some craft activities.

Things to do for families at Castle Drogo

Cotehele House

Cotehele House is an “atmospheric Tudor house with Medieval roots, a working mill on a historic quay, a glorious garden with valley views and an expansive estate to explore”. We love it there and autumn is a wonderful time to visit their 14 acres of gardens and woodlands and 12 acres of orchards to explore. Only 21 miles from Roadford Lake lodges, on the other side of Tavistock, it has two play areas and offers seasonal events such as apple picking during September, a creative autumn art trail and a Halloween trail with spooky scarecrows from 21st October – 5th November

Things to do for families at Cotehele House

Halloweden at the Eden Project

If you’re happy going a little further afield, The Eden Project, about 50 minutes down the A30, has ‘Halloweden’ a wonderful schedule of entertainment focused on Halloween.

Discover the legendary Tree Giants which have arrived at Eden on a special quest this Halloween – they need your help to protect the world’s forests. Uncover their hiding places and discover ancient wisdom, extraordinary tales and enchanting performances. Running from 18th – 29th October. Their annual ice skating rink is now open until February.

Do make sure to check the details on their site and pre-book a slot if you want to go – booking is essential for all visitors, including those who visit for free, such as under-fives and carers. 

Book a Halloweden event

Halloween at Roadford Lake Lodges

And of course, if you’re staying at one of our lodges, there’s no need to go anywhere! Our lodges have a large but cosy living space with an easy-to-use gas fire and a large TV so you can relax and enjoy a Halloween film in comfort! And, each of the three bedrooms has its own TVs if guests prefer different channels!

The history of Halloween

We always thought Halloween was an American import, but although there’s no certainty as to its origin, many believe it was a European Christian festival celebrating All Saints Eve, its name probably derived from ‘All Hallows Eve’ the evening before ‘All Hallows’ or ‘All Saints’ Day on 1st November. But there’s also evidence that it could well have originated before this, with ancient Celtic harvest festivals taking place between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. During this time of year, after the harvest work was complete, people would light massive bonfires, pray to their gods, and wear costumes to ward off bad spirits and any tormented returning souls of those who had died.

Whatever its exact origins over the centuries, Halloween has changed out of all recognition and evolved into a family fun day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving pumpkin lanterns, putting on spooky costumes and collecting treats! If you’re considering a trip to Roadford Lake Lodges over half term there are some really fun things going on nearby to keep your family entertained!

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