Sunflowers, pumpkins and autumn magic: the best pumpkin picking spots near Hill Farm Camping and Glamping Derbyshire
We love the moment when Derbyshire switches gears. The fields go golden, the air gets that first crisp edge. And if you know where to look, you can find yourself trudging through a dewy pumpkin patch trying to find the most magnificently wonky one in the row.
August to October around Hill Farm are gorgeous months. In August you can wade through sunflowers (there’s a maze nearby). September is in our opinion a great time to camp, the sun surprises us and everything is quieter, in that post summer lull. And we've done the legwork for what to do over these few months, so you don't have to. 🌻🎃
Here are our favourite sunflower and pumpkin picking spots all within easy reach of Hill Farm glamping, camping and touring. These pumpkin picking experiences are all locally-run, get-muddy-and-love-it kind of places.
The Derbyshire Pumpkin Picking you absolutely cannot miss: Bloom and Gourd, Egginton
About 10 minutes from Hill Farm · DE65 6GU
Bloom and Gourd is a proper farm field experience right here on our doorstep in Egginton.
The sunflowers come first, usually opening around mid to late August, great towering rows of them in full golden bloom. You pick your own bunch, take a million photos, and come home absolutely glowing.
Then come the pumpkins. In 2025 the patch wasn’t able to open. However the plan was for the 18th October - we'd expect something similar in 2026, watch their Facebook page for the exact dates as they announce each season fresh. The field is stuffed with pumpkins in all shapes and sizes, from perfectly round orange classics to knobbly, pale, ridged varieties that look like they've been designed specifically for a spooky windowsill display.
It's a simple, unpretentious, completely lovely pick-your-own experience. A beautiful farm field in the South Derbyshire countryside and a wheelbarrow.
Exactly our kind of thing. 🧡
Check their Facebook page for 2026 dates and updates: Bloom and Gourd Egginton.
Mr Pumpkin, Morley
About 20 minutes from Hill Farm · Lime Farm, Mansfield Road, DE7 6JU
So if you want BIG, BOLD and insane pumpkin picking gourd choice… then Mr Pumpkin is where you want to take the family. Last year they planted 90,000 pumpkins, ye, that’s a lot.
This is an event. There’s a bouncy castle, teacups and hot and cold drinks as well as local businesses selling produce.
The pumpkin trail is an added extra, but all proceeds go towards the Air Ambulance, they’ve raised £21,310.17 over the years - that’s quite an impressive effort from the farm and community!
You have buy a £2.50 ticket to enter if you’re over 16 and at peak times under 16s are also charged £1.00.
Bluebell Dairy Halloween Festival, Spondon
About 20 minutes from Hill Farm · Brunswood Farm, Locko Road, DE21 7AR
You might already know Bluebell Dairy from our Easter blog, they're one of our favourite local farm parks and they go absolutely all-in for Halloween. Every October the farm transforms into a full spooky season experience, with broomstick flying lessons, pumpkin picking, daily spooky shows and thousands of pumpkins to choose from.
Tickets need to be pre-booked, and while pumpkins aren't included in the entry price, last year each child ticket came with a £2 voucher towards their pumpkin. There are torchlit pumpkin picking events on too, which, if you can get tickets, are a spooky spin on regular pumpkin picking!
Make sure you treat Bluebells as the full day out it’ll give you, there are farm animals, a café, ice cream (always), and the usual brilliant Bluebell energy.
Check out what’s on and find out more on the Bluebell Dairy website here.
Plan your Hill Farm autumn stay around it
September and October at Hill Farm are some of our favourite weeks of the year. The site feels like it’s taking a big breath before saying “and relax” after the summer. The hot tubs steam up beautifully in the cooler air, and there's something about coming back from a pumpkin patch with muddy boots and armfuls of gourds, getting the fire going and settling in for the evening that is just peak autumn.
We've got pods and bell tents available through October, and the Derbyshire countryside is honestly stunning at this time of year, golden fields and trees, misty mornings on the canal, cooling evening air. A long weekend in late September or early October. We can't think of anything better. ✨🎃
Keep an eye on Bloom and Gourd's Facebook page for exact 2026 opening dates -sunflower and pumpkin picking seasons in Derbyshire vary year to year depending on the growing conditions. We'll update this post when dates are confirmed.
We’ve written about pumpkin picking based on 2025, however check all’s well for the 2026 season before arriving at a pumpkin picking patch!
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