children exploring the carved pumpkins on Halloween at Northumberland's Seaton Delaval Hall — Get ready for a half-term adventure with the family this October | © Rebecca Hughes

Family days out in Wales

With fun-filled activities and exciting events, there are plenty of great family days out to be had in Wales. Explore vast Welsh castles, tick off some ’50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ activities, or let off steam in natural play areas. Plus, enjoy special half-term events like seasonal trails, craft sessions, and outdoor adventures, making it the perfect time for a memorable family getaway.

Chirk Castle and Garden

Follow the trail inspired by Welsh folklore, take on the challenges and complete the quest around the castle and garden. With the help of fairy friends, will you find the golden chair? Listen to fascinating tales with storyteller, Jake Evans and run wild in the play area at Home Farm.

Erddig Hall and Garden

Follow the trail inspired by the Tribes Room at Erddig to find the magical creatures and brave beasts hidden in the Coates of Arms. Come dressed in your best Halloween costume on 31 October to join the spooky family fun. Don’t miss a visit to Wolf’s Den, the natural play area.

A young girl explores dressed in a Halloween outfit.

Penrhyn Castle and Garden

Celebrate the season by joining the Big Autumn Adventure at Penrhyn Castle. Head into the garden to complete the scavenger hunt and find all the autumn treasures. Help the gardeners fill up the wheelbarrows with fallen leaves, make a leaf crown, and let off steam in the natural play areas.

Children on climbing frames in Rook Wood playground, Penrhyn Castle

Plas Newydd House and Garden

Crunch through golden leaves and splash in muddy puddles on your way to Dairy Wood natural play area. You might spot a red squirrel along the way! This year, Plas Newydd is taking part in The Big Draw, on the theme ‘Drawn Together’. Get creative and join in this half-term.

Close-up of two children lying on the grass

Plas yn Rhiw

Head into the orchard in half-term to join the Orchard Adventures event. Seasonal activities include scythe demonstrations and apple pressing on selected days. Have a go at wild art, play nature-themed noughts and crosses, and challenge yourself on the obstacle course amongst the fallen apples.

A child reaches up to touch one of several apples laid out on a bench outside

Bodnant Garden

To ignite young imaginations and creativity, follow the interactive family trail, inspired by Bodnant Garden’s outdoor exhibition and International Gardener of the Year photography competition. Burn off excess energy in the willow maze at Far End, jump over steppingstones in the Dell, and zig-zag walkways in the play park.

Powis Castle and Garden

Throughout half-term, hunt high and low in the castle and garden to see how many pumpkins you can spot on the Halloween pumpkin trail. On 31 October and 2 November, head to the castle courtyard at dusk to see haunting projections and spooky illuminations lighting up the castle walls.

Three bright orange pumpkins carved into different shapes, including a cat, ghost, ghost and a spooky face.

Llanerchaeron

Follow the scarecrow trail to explore this Welsh farming estate. Cook up a witch's potion in the mud kitchen or head inside the stable block to discover the Playroom. Don't forget to say hello to the animals in the farmyard.

A boy in a knitted jumper is busy playing in the mud pie kitchen, concentrating on what he's doing.

Dolaucothi

Visit the UK's only known Roman gold mine. Join a tour or follow the audio trail around the mine yard to learn about Romans in Carmarthenshire. Try your luck panning for gold and explore the new 'Treasures of Pumsaint' display in the Field Centre, showcasing 2,000-year-old artefacts.

Tredegar House

Follow the autumn trail through the garden with Rhubi the Welsh pixie. Borrow an explorer or sensory backpack with all the tools you need to connect with nature on a family walk in the garden. There’s plenty to do inside the house on a rainy day with three floors to explore.

Dyffryn Gardens

Are you brave enough to follow the ‘do you dare’ nature trail to discover the creepy crawlies that live in the garden? Do you dare put your hand inside the box? Do you dare find the ghost millipedes? There are also two natural play areas to run wild in too.

Dinefwr

Explore the inside of Newton House cast with big, beautiful shadows, making it feel like its midnight in the middle of the day. Watch spooky films in the Ale Cellar, listen to stories in the Drawing Room, toast a marshmallow in the garden, and on 31 October join a glow stick disco.