Daily fun for families this autumn half term

Staff and volunteers at Buckland Abbey, Garden and Estate near Yelverton are gearing up for a bumper half term week full of activities, crafts and Halloween events. There will be plenty for families to do throughout the day, every day between 26 October and 3 November.

Families can set off with a bag full of activities to complete on the estate’s Autumn Adventure Trail which boasts views of the Tamar Valley and beautiful woodland. For those not wanting to venture so far, the Willow Patch play area is being transformed into a welly obstacle course for the week. Visitors can challenge themselves to a tyre run, curtain of wellies to dodge, welly hoopla and, of course, welly wanging before gliding down a 100ft zip wire to finish. Prizes will be given out for the fastest completion time at the end of the week.

Anwen Roberts, Visitor Experience Manager, says: “It’s great to do something fun like this as part of the Walking Festival, I’m hoping all age groups give it a go, especially the zip wire which is actually quite thrilling.”

In March the property announced that a painting held in their collection had been re-attributed as an original Rembrandt self-portrait. As part of the Buckland’s Rembrandt Project, local wool artist Claire Packer will be asking for help creating a giant felt copy of the flamboyant self-portrait on 26 and 27 October. Visitors will also have the chance to create their own miniature left self-portrait to take home with them.

Buckland is increasingly becoming known for the work of its Costume Group, who use authentic techniques and materials to create beautiful and practical historic costume. On Tuesday 29 November they are once again opening their stores to the public to try on outfits from the whole range of the Abbey’s history.

Staff and volunteers are aiming to take the mess out of pumpkin carving by hosting drop in sessions for families carve creepy, spooky faces into the fruit. “We’ve got some ideas for designs but can’t wait to see what our visitors, especially the youngsters, come up with themselves.” says Room Guide and Events Volunteer, Kate Glew.

The property’s family-friendly walk will be lit by candles on 31 October for a night time All Hallow’s amble, with a bonfire and storyteller in their charcoal area clearing. Included in the price is pumpkin soup and soul cakes back in the Oxyard restaurant (£8 adult, £6 child 01822 853607).

Crafts have always been a key part of holidays at Buckland and there’s something to make and take home each day. The first part of the week will be focussed on Halloween with Creepy Crafts, followed by Firework Crafts from the Friday to the Sunday. On Wednesday there will also be a drop-in Family Felting workshop (£3 per child) and on Saturday visitors to the Abbey can reconnect with the building’s monastic past and try their hand at calligraphy.