What’s to love about Autumn? The chill in the air? The rustle of the leaves under your feet? Whether you’re a fan of Autumn or not, you’ll still find great things to do this half term in Gainsborough and the surrounding area.
Become a history hunter
Gainsborough is home to one of the best-preserved, timber framed manor houses in England dating back to the fifteenth century. Wander the corridors of Gainsborough Old Hall or climb up to the top of the tower for views across the town and beyond.
Gainsborough Heritage Centre also offers a fascinating insight in to the history of the town through exhibitions and period displays. Until 30 October they are holding an art competition for young budding artists to design new their new window stickers. Find out more here.
If the weather in on your side, head out and explore the town using the heritage trial. This self-led trail will take you to some of the most iconic sites and some lesser known places, giving you a fun (and free) afternoon out.
Unleash your creative side
There will be a FREE drop in session on Saturday 22 October at Sweet Caroline’s on Lord Street to make a lantern for this year’s Illuminate! Drop in at any time from 10am to 4pm
As part of the Big Draw, this year’s theme is ‘a splash of colour’. We’re looking for the most colourful and creative lanterns to help light up Illuminate this November. Bring your lantern to a free guided walk on 26 November as part of the Illuminate event – find out more.
PYO Pumpkin
October means it is time to pick a pumpkin! Big or small, there’s a plenty of places to pick your perfect pumpkin.
Williamson’s Farm Shop at Thonock Lane Farm will be open during from 22 to 30 October with pumpkin picking, face painting and even a pizza trail. The farm shop also stocks seasonal fruit and veg plus their own grown potatoes.
Just a few miles away, you can pick and carve your own pumpkin at Blyton Ice Cream plus make your own ice cream Sunday!
If you’re looking for a fun day out, at Uncle Henry’s you can pick your own pumpkin with the added bonus of being able to carve it at one of their stations, leaving all the mess behind! You can also explore the Maize Maze and go behind the Garden Wall to find great family fun for all.
Just a short drive from Gainsborough will bring you to Bransby Horses, a welfare charity that cares for nearly 1000 horses, donkeys and mules. They have a visitor centre and café plus miles of footpaths that allow visitors to meet their equine friends. During half term you can visit Peacan’s Pumpkin Patch and follow the Hocus Pocus Halloween Scavenger Hunt.
Slightly further a field you can have a great day out at Rand Farm Park at their Pumpkin Festival! Pick and carve your own pumpkin plus meet Bobby and Wilma, the farm’s skeleton characters. You can also meet the animals on the farm and enjoy their fantastic indoor and outdoor play areas.
At Hall Farm Park in North Kelsey, plenty of pumpkins to choose from plus Halloween games, spooky woodland walk, and Winnie the Witch’s Halloween hunt. All this can be enjoyed in their usual admission which includes meeting the animals on the farm and indoor and outdoor play areas.
Get out and explore
Get out and enjoy the fresh Autumn air with a number of local woods just outside Gainsborough including Owlet Wood with its network of footpaths, which are dry all year round thanks to the sandy soil. Owlet is largely flat and there are no steps or other obstructions.
The Lincolnshire Wolds is under an hour’s drive away offer breath-taking scenery and vast open countryside. There are a number of walking routes around Market Rasen; plus the town’s interactive heritage trail has 20 stops offering surprising insights to the town’s past. Willingham Woods is also popular with walkers and cyclists and is a great stop off if you’re visiting the coast.
If you’re more energetic then Wild Pines Park is the place to be! It’s one of the largest rope courses in UK offering you the chance for a unique and adventurous day out. Play World in Gainsborough also gives you a chance to have a few minutes to yourself while the kids blow off some steam. Woodside Wildlife Park also offers hands-on access to some exciting animals!
For more information on places to visit this half term in Lincolnshire visit:
