Thrills and chills

Somerset

The caves at Wookey Hole in Somerset can be spooky enough at normal times of the year – in the run-up to Hallowe'en they make the perfect backdrop for an array of ghouls and ghosties, Wookey Hole's new resident witch, Carole Bohanan, and a Hallowe'en circus. Throughout half-term week there will be live shows alongside the regular play areas, cave tours and dinosaur park. Family tickets cost £45, kids in costume get in for £5 rather than £10. 01749 672243; wookey.co.uk.

Shropshire

Let them run off some steam in the woods at Weston Park in Shropshire, which is whipping up some spooky goings-on. A "Phantom Express" train will travel through the woods, dropping guests off to find their way back along the Pumpkin Lantern trail, with plenty of frights and scares along the way. If you make it safely back to the Stables Courtyard, there are hot sausages and pumpkin soup on offer before games, storytelling and a Hallowe'en disco. Tickets need to be booked and cost £25 for a family of four, including all activities. 01952 852100; weston-park.com.

Cotswolds

Wrap up against chills – of the temperature and the scary kind – at the Cotswold Country Park, which is holding a Hallowe'en spectacular this Friday and Saturday. Kids will love the slime-making workshops, scary storytelling and the chance to bob for apples and go on a "hide-and-freak" treasure hunt. The cost of £3 for adults and £2 for children includes a gruesome goody bag to take home. 01285 868096; cotswoldcountrypark.com.

Warwickshire

Mix the spooky with a little history at the six main properties in and around Stratford that have links to Shakespeare – all have special events taking place throughout half term. Listen to local legends on Mary Arden's Farm, meet the "Wilmcote Witch", and follow the "treacherous trail" walk. At Anne Hathaway's cottage there is storytelling in the garden and a treasure hunt through the woodlands. At Nash's House, kids can learn how the Tudors marked Hallowe'en, and take part in an orienteering-style quiz. 01789 204016; shakespeare.org.uk.

Nationwide

Many National Trust properties are hosting special Hallowe'en-themed events in their gardens. On Brownsea Island kids can follow the Brownsea bats on a nature trail, while Belton House in Lincolnshire has a treasure trail through the garden from tomorrow to next Sunday and Attingham Park in Shropshire is running a "horrifying" tour of the grounds – too scary for under-eights; warm clothing and a torch is essential. See nationaltrust.org.uk/events.

Go wild in the woods

Gloucestershire

There is nowhere better to see spectacular autumn colours than at Westonbirt, the National Arboretum just outside Cirencester. From tomorrow until Thursday, the park is running a "Natural Autumn Colour" family event, which combines a trail around the park to take in the best of the beautiful russet, gold and scarlet leaves with explanations as to why leaves change colour. There is also the chance for children to create their own tree-inspired art. Activities are free after admission; adults £8, kids £3. 01666 880220; forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt.

Devon

Get on your bike for a night ride through Haldon Forest Park near Exeter on Tuesday, when the park will come alive with all manner of ghosts and ghouls. Kids can bring their own bikes or hire them from the forest centre and the guided ride, which takes place from 5.30-7pm, costs £5 per child, but accompanying adults go free. It's for over-sevens only and booking is essential. The Forestry Commission has similar events taking place throughout the country. See forestry.gov.uk.

Perthshire

One of Scotland's most spectacular sights, the Enchanted Forest is an outdoor sound and light show that brings pyrotechnic displays, water features, faeries, witches and bogeymen to Faskally Wood near Pitlochry until next Sunday. Visitors are free to explore the woodland in their own time, and maps are provided to help explore the caves, woodland and floodlit trails. This year the theme of the show is Scottish myths and legends. Tickets cost from £2 for children, and £10.75 for adults, and the Enchanted Forest is open to visitors from 5.15-9.15pm. See 0844 888 6688; perthshirebigtreecountry.co.uk.

Lancashire

Keen mountain-bike enthusiasts should head to Gisburn Forest near Clitheroe in Lancashire, where a network of trails has just opened. Set in the Forest of Bowland, there are two trails; a 14-mile "red" course for experienced cyclists and an easy five-mile "blue" route for families and beginners. If you would rather not take your own bikes, you can book rental bikes from Off the Rails (01729 824419; cyclebowland.com). See gisburn.org.uk.

Outdoor treats

Worcestershire

Small boys – and their dads – should head to the Severn Valley Railway for the chance to ride on "Tornado", Britain's new £3m express steam locomotive. The Class A1 Pacific, the most powerful steam locomotive in Britain, will make two round-trips a day from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth in Shropshire, until next Sunday. Tickets cost £14 for adults or £37 for a family, departing Kidderminster at 10.55am and 2.50pm daily. 01299 403816; svr.co.uk.

Kent

Just because it's autumn it doesn't mean the beach is out of bounds. Kent Coastal Week runs throughout half term, with boat trips, exhibitions, markets and family events. Join a Wildlife Trick or Treat at Dungeness Nature Reserve on Tuesday, sea safari boat trips from Ramsgate throughout the week or a Rocky Shore Discovery Tour at Broadstairs. Most events are free although some are weather-dependent. 01622 221487; coastalkent.net.

Shropshire

Would-be engineers can test their design skills at Enginuity, one of the museums at Ironbridge in Shropshire, which is holding a daily Float-a-Boat challenge throughout half term. Families can design and make a sailing boat and then try it out on the large pool; breezy conditions are guaranteed by the presence of a hi-tech wind machine. The boat-making takes place 11am-4pm, with a break for lunch, and costs £1.50 per boat. Adult tickets are £6.95, children £5.95. ironbridge.org.uk/our_attractions/enginuity.

Northumberland

Test your survival skills at Alnwick Garden. Its Castaway for a Day event will see families scouring the gardens for wood, branches and twigs that they can hammer and saw into useful survival objects. If that sounds like far too much hard work, don your scariest witch's costume for spooky storytelling sessions among the shadowy trees of the gardens on Friday. There'll also be a "trick or treat" event taking place throughout the grounds on Saturday. Tickets cost £10 for adults, 1p for children. 01665 511350; alnwickgarden.com.

Cardiff

Be wowed by Wales's biggest fireworks display. Every year 18,000 people descend on Coopers Field in Bute Park for Sparks in the Park, a spectacular pyrotechnics display against the backdrop of Cardiff Castle. It starts at 8pm on Saturday, and there'll be rides from 5.30pm, live music and a huge bonfire, lit at 7pm. A family ticket (two adults and up to three children) costs £15. 029 029 2023 0130; visitcardiff.com.