The Patch is at Kilduff Farm just outside Athelstaneford in East Lothian. The postcode for the farm is EH39 5BD. Access to The Patch is from the B1343. The Patch and parking will be clearly signposted so you won’t miss it!

Coming by bus? The farm is serviced by the North Berwick to Haddington route – the 121 is currently run by Eve’s Coaches.

Kilduff Farm isn’t a scheduled stop but if you make the driver aware that you are coming to The Patch they should stop to let you off. Walk up the farm drive and you can access The Patch safely from there.

The Patch will open for our pumpkin festival in October 2023 on the following dates:

• Saturday 14th, Sunday 15th, Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th October
• Friday 20th, Saturday 21st, Sunday 22nd and Monday 23rd October
• Friday 27th, Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th October

Sessions will run between 9.30am & 11.30am, 12pm & 2pm and 2.30pm & 4.30pm.

We are running ASN sessions and Little Pumpkin Picker Sessions. See below for further details.
Little Pumpkin Picker Sessions will run on Friday 13th, Tuesday 24th and Friday 27th October.
Additional Support Sessions will run on Monday 16th and Friday 20th October.

You are welcome to arrive at any time during your chosen session but must leave The Patch by the end of the session time to allow us to clear The Patch and car park before the start of the next session.

Yes, the pumpkin festival is a ticketed event. You need to purchase a car parking ticket to access The Patch. Please contact us if you are intending to arrive by foot or on public transport.

We introduced ticketing to pick pumpkins in 2020 and will be continue to run our pumpkin festival on a ticketed basis. This allows us to manage numbers and ensure a safe and happy experience for all of our visitors.

Tickets are PER CAR not per person. Each ticket will admit one car and all passengers. Please see below for information on our Little Pumpkin Picker Sessions.

Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

You can access The Patch at any time during your session but you will be asked to leave as soon as the session ends to allow us to clear The Patch and prepare it for the next session to begin.

Please note that tickets will be limited to 2 car parking tickets per transaction and you will be required to provide contact details.

Tickets for our standard sessions and ASN session are £7 per car and permits admission of all passengers.

Tickets for Little Pumpkin Picker under 5s Sessions are £10 and permits admission of little pickers and their parents or carers.

Pumpkins are priced according to weight, ranging between £1 and £8.

Tickets are non-refundable and we regret that, due to restrictions on numbers, we are unable to transfer tickets to different picking sessions.

Parking for the pumpkin festival is in a grass paddock adjacent to The Patch or on the farm steading, depending on weather and ground conditions. Please note that there is no parking on the roads around the farm.

While we will do everything we can to keep the car parks from getting too muddy, we are in Scotland and it might get very wet! If your car is as precious as Cinderella’s carriage we may not be the place for you to visit.

There will be members of staff managing the traffic and parking so please follow their instructions – they are there to help and keep you safe.

If you have mobility difficulties and need to park close to The Patch please let our staff know and they will direct you to a parking spot as close as possible.

We have planted thousands of pumpkin seeds of lots of different varieties and each pumpkin grows in its own way so you are sure to find the perfect pumpkin to suit you.

All the pumpkins will be cut from the vine and ready to lift into one of the wheelbarrows waiting on The Patch.

We sow thousands of pumpkin seeds and on the farm each year.  Our aim is to grow all the pumpkins we sell ourselves from seed right here at Kilduff.

Pumpkins need certain weather conditions to grow and survive until they are harvested in Autumn. They need sunshine and warmth to ripen and encourage their skins to set. However Scottish weather doesn’t always play the game and sadly not every pumpkin survives on The Patch until picking.

If weather conditions make growing pumpkins tricky, we may need to top up our numbers of carving pumpkins with pumpkins grown on other farms. These pumpkins will come from farms further South where conditions are warmer and dryer.

Our culinary pumpkins are grown on a dedicated culinary patch separate from the pick your own patch. The culinary pumpkins we sell will only ever be grown here at Kilduff Farm.

We have had a great growing season this year and are delighted to have grown each and every pumpkin that will be picked from The Patch in 2023 right here at Kilduff.

Yes, we accept contactless and cash payments on The Patch.

Unfortunately not. The Patch is a pooch-free place. Dogs must be left at home or, if happy, in the car.

There are lots of lovely walks surrounding the farm and further afield in East Lothian that you can all enjoy together once you’ve visited The Patch.

Wrap up warm and wear wellies – we are in Scotland after all!

The Patch will be open for picking whatever the weather (as long as snow and storms stay away) so please dress appropriately. Children always have a better time on The Patch when they are cosy and dry.

The Patch and car park may get muddy so save your white trainers for another day!

Our Pumpkin Festival is a celebration of all things Autumn!

We will have food trucks, our straw bale maze, autumn family photo opportunities and lots of other exciting festival fun and games to keep everyone entertained.

Our stretch tent will be back for shelter as well as toilet facilities, including wheelchair accessible toilets.

Remember that a pumpkin is fresh produce, so it won’t last forever. Most uncarved pumpkins will last for at least a couple of weeks (and often longer) but unfortunately some will rot after a few days of being picked. It all depends on a huge number of factors. Culinary pumpkins can usually be stored for up to 6 months.

Pumpkins like being kept clean and uncarved in a cool, dry place.  As soon as you damage the skin of a pumpkin (i.e. carve it) it will start to deteriorate – it’s natural!

If you are wanting your pumpkin masterpiece to last until Halloween it is best to leave it to carve until the weekend before. Please note that we are unable to offer refunds for pumpkins that rot.

• Entry to The Patch is strictly by ticket only.
• Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be transferred to a different day or time slot.
• As an outdoor experience, The Patch will be open for pumpkin picking even if it is cold and wet. We will only close The Patch if it becomes unsafe for visitors or if we are forced to close due to government enforced restrictions. We will make the decision to close The Patch as early as possible on the day and will aim to have made the decision at least one hour before your picking session is due to begin. You must check your email and our social media before leaving for any updates from us.
• In the event of cancellation by us, ticket holders will be offered a refund and this should be requested by email.
• Refunds will only be offered in the event full cancellation. No refunds will be given for any partial closure of the event.
• Children must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult over 18.
• You must dress appropriately for an outdoor event and wear suitable footwear.
• Dogs will not be allowed on The Patch, with the exception of guide dogs and assistance dogs.
• When purchasing a ticket for Kilduff Pumpkin Festival you consent to being filmed and/or photographed while on The Patch. Any images or footage taken on The Patch may be used in promotional materials including on our social media platforms and website.
• Kilduff Farm cannot accept liability for personal damage, loss or injury or damage to vehicles sustained as a result of negligence or unforeseen actions of ticket holders or other visitors.
• Refunds will not be given for any damaged or rotten pumpkins.
• Visitors will be asked to leave The Patch in the event of abusive or antisocial behavior, failure to follow directions given by staff members or in the event of failure to adhere to Covid-19 safety precautions where required.