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There’s something about this time of year, and despite the reputation, Halloween has in recent years become something that is enjoyed equally by kids and grown-ups. It doesn’t take a child-like imagination to see the attraction of the season; if ghosts and ghouls don’t do it for you, then the cosiness of the autumn nights at home will probably swing it. Along, perhaps, with some pumpkin spice or something tasty that’s infused in the slow cooker all day.

One thing that makes Halloween even more magical is the chance to take some day trips that make the most of spooky season and see some of the UK’s many castles and old towns. There are some excellent UK destinations that fit this purpose perfectly, and they need not even cost that much as they are all accessible by car. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the best trips, appropriate for a range of ages, that you can make this October – and they may well become the perfect day breaks to take every autumn to make the most of family time together.#

Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire

Wherever you are in the UK, Derbyshire isn’t that hard to get to; a fairly central location and one that’s convenient for much of the rest of England. Bolsover Castle is one that perhaps appeals more to the older kids, as it is considered to be the most haunted castle in the UK. Bolsover itself is a less urban location; if you’ve been thinking of a new car recently then a Volkswagen approved used vehicle which can handle rural roads is a good choice for trips just like this. See if you can spot Sir Charles, the former owner of the castle whose ghost is said to roam the corridors.

Pendle, Lancashire

It’s tricky to make a day trip to Salem from the UK, which is a shame if you’ve enjoyed the many depictions in literature and TV of the witch trial era. But did you know that the UK had its own witch trials? The “Pendle witches” were placed on trial in 1612, mostly found guilty and (unjustly, of course) punished for a string of crimes. In the modern era, Pendle remembers those days with a set of events that include spooky witch tours and a fireworks party at Thornton Hall Farm. Nearby Colne is maybe a better choice with younger kids, as it has events including face painting and spooky mask making.

Cawdor Castle, Nairn, Scotland

The UK’s best-known playwright, William Shakespeare, had Cawdor in mind when he wrote one of his spookier plays, Macbeth. This is the setting for the tale of Lord and Lady Macbeth, although the real life Lord and Lady had no actual connection to the castle. Indeed, the spookier story is what allegedly happened after Shakespeare chose to set the play here. Local witches are said to have cursed Cawdor Castle, and a blue-clad lady is said to roam the grounds after her romance with the son of a local rival family led her father to take unforgivable revenge.

ChrissyJ xxx