WITH the October half-term approaching, parents will be looking for ways to entertain their children during the school break.
In Hampshire, the National Trust will be offering a host of activities across its properties in the county.
Families can enjoy everything from pumpkin festivals and witch trails to spy adventures and garden games at Hinton Ampner, The Vyne, and Mottisfont.
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At Hinton Ampner near Alresford, visitors are invited to explore the annual Pumpkin Festival, now in its fourth year and growing in popularity.
Claire Skinner, senior visitor experience officer, said: "Walking round the gardens it was heartwarming to see so many people taking photos with big smiles on their faces, and the little ones literally running towards the displays with shrieks of excitement.
"This year we’ve got more than 500 gourds on site, a mix of bright orange and white 'ghost' pumpkins, which we haven’t had before; they look amazing."
The festival runs until November 2, with a special Wilma the Witch Halloween Trail also on offer until the same date.
Children can help Wilma solve a spooky mystery by finding clues, meeting magical creatures, and solving puzzles.
Over at The Vyne near Basingstoke, young visitors can take part in the We’re Going on a Ghost Hunt™ Halloween Adventure, inspired by the popular Bunny Adventures books.
Roxanne Cooper, visitor operations and experience manager at The Vyne, said: "We were really delighted that the We’re Going on a Ghost Hunt trail got families out in full force at the weekend.
"The Vyne was an absolute hive of activity and broomstick racing was non-stop.
"The cauldron game was a real crowd favourite, and it was brilliant to see so many happy faces getting stuck into the spooky fun."
The trail includes Halloween hoopla, broomstick races, and stepping stone challenges to dodge ‘warty toads,’ and is free with standard admission until November 2.
At Mottisfont near Romsey, children can become undercover agents on the Agent 11¾ Spy Family Trail, filled with code-cracking and disguise-making.
This spy-themed adventure is inspired by Mottisfont’s connection to the world of James Bond and is recommended for ages six to 12.
In addition to the special events, visitors can enjoy the seasonal beauty of the estates’ gardens, which remain full of colour thanks to the unusually warm weather.
Entry to all trails and events is included with standard admission unless otherwise stated.
More information is available at nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/hampshire.
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