What better way to celebrate the arrival of Autumn than by perusing pumpkins! At this time of year we love to visit Castle Farm in Shoreham, Kent, to admire their GOURD-geous (sorry) selection of pumpkins and squashes, all of which are grown on site and harvested by hand. The produce is beautifully arranged in their picturesque courtyard, so you won’t have to trudge through muddy fields to find the perfect pumpkin! Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Castle Farm in Autumn:
Where is Castle Farm?
In the middle of charming countryside fields, you’ll find Castle Farm halfway between the villages of Eynsford and Shoreham. We recommend arriving via the A225 and following the farm track down to the barn where there’s a car park. The postcode can lead you to the wrong entrance, so be sure to follow local signage or use the What3Words location below to help you find your way.
There are also Go2 bus services that serve ‘The Hop Shop’ stops in either direction at the top of the farm track, from Swanley, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks, though these do not operate on Sundays or after 7.30pm.
For those arriving by train, there are stations at Eynsford and Shoreham, both of which are 1.5 miles (2.4km) from Castle Farm. It’s worth noting that there are no taxi ranks at either station, so you will need to pre-book a service or arrive at Castle Farm on foot via the Darent Valley Footpath.
Pumpkins at Castle Farm
There’s a stunning range of pumpkins and squashes available to purchase at Castle Farm from September to December, depending on the variety. If you’re looking to make a warming pumpkin soup, the grey-skinned Crown Prince is a favourite! There’s also Sweet Lightning pumpkins with their distinctive mottled orange skin, as well as the traditional plump, orange carving pumpkins that are perfect for making Jack O’Lanterns at Halloween, and so many more! If you love to make a decorative pumpkin display in your home for Halloween, Castle Farm offer extra large pumpkins as well as teeny-tiny varieties that fit into the palm of your hand. The only downside is struggling to decide which ones to pick!
We love perusing the arrangements in the sunny courtyard, looking for the perfect squashes to take home. The courtyard is the perfect place to pause while you make up your mind, as there are a few benches where you can sit and soak up the Autumn sunshine as you look over the pumpkin displays. There’s also a coffee cart serving a selection of hot drinks and sweet or savoury snacks. At this time of year you can pick up Halloween themed biscuits in the shape of pumpkins, bats, ghosts and spiders!
Just around the corner there’s a cute photo opportunity in the ‘Pumpkin Patch’, where you can sit and snap an Autumnal portrait surrounded by pumpkins against the picturesque background of neatly arranged hay bales. Once you’ve taken your pumpkin portraits and picked up a few of the squashes to take home, head into the shop to pay for them.
Castle Farm shop
We visit the shop throughout the year as it’s our go-to place for finding unique, local gifts for friends and family, but we especially love a trip here in Autumn. Once you’ve picked your pumpkins, the shop sells pumpkin carving kits and Halloween arts and craft books bursting with inspiration for those looking to create a spooky Jack O’Lantern. If you’ve chosen the edible kind you’ll find recipe leaflets with tips on cooking your squashes, as well as an array of seasonal ingredients to give your recipe an Autumnal flair, such as the hot Vampire Relish.
As soon as you walk in the doors you’re greeted with a seasonal display, bursting with shades of gold, orange and brown at this time of year. If you missed out on visiting the Farm’s pick-your-own apple orchard in September, you’ll find the last of the fruit in wicker baskets conveniently picked for you to take home. Castle Farm is the only commercial grower of the Norfolk Royal – colloquially known as the ‘Disney apple’ – which are gorgeous and bright red, with a shiny skin. We have sampled more than a few of these delicious apples, and we highly recommend snapping them up if there’s any left!
We spent a while browsing the Autumn goodies on offer for the season, and we were particularly drawn to the toasted marshmallow flavoured popcorn and the pumpkin soda drinks! If you love to decorate your home for Autumn or Halloween, there are cute ceramic ghosts, coasters with Autumn leaf designs, and sweet handmade witches to hang around your home. For little ones, we loved the cat- and spider-adorned hair bands and pumpkin-shaped chocolates.
You’ll also find the shop’s usual offerings of tea towels depicting local villages, greetings cards, candles, baked goods, juices, and of course their famous lavender bunches and lavender-flavoured treats. Castle Farm is the UK’s largest lavender farm and they run special events in their fields throughout the Summer season, giving you the perfect excuse to re-visit next year!
Tips for your visit
A few things to know before you go:
- Castle Farm is dog-friendly! Dogs are permitted on lead throughout the farm, though they cannot enter the farm shop. There are water bowls for dogs in the courtyard, outside the shop.
- Parking can be limited at busy times. If you’re planning to visit on the weekend, arrive as early as you can to secure a spot in the small car park. It can be tight to get around the farm when it’s busy, so plan ahead to avoid disappointment.
- Most of the farm is not sheltered. Other than the Farm shop, all the pumpkin tables and the photo opportunity at the Pumpkin Patch is outside, so be prepared with umbrellas in the rain and wrap up warm when it’s chilly!
- The shop is only open on certain days. Currently the Farm shop is open Tuesday – Saturday from 9am to 5pm, and on Sundays from 10am to 5pm. Be sure to check any changes to their opening times before you visit.
- Make a day of your visit! From Castle Farm, you can access the Darent Valley Footpath and head to either Shoreham or Eynsford. Both are quaint villages that are bursting with charm, and it only takes around 30 minutes to reach either of them on foot. Head South to Shoreham for characterful local pubs, or a visit to Mount Vineyard for wine tasting and the most delicious artisan pizza you’ll ever eat. Eynsford is equally pretty with its postcard-perfect ford and historic buildings, and you can take a stroll through Lullingstone Country Park on your way there.
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