M.E.N tourism writer Liv Clarke visited Dunham Massey Ice Cream Farm's pumpkin patch for the first time, describing it as an impressive set-up that won her over despite initial scepticism about the trend.
Clarke, who had never picked a pumpkin before, chose the farm because it is consistently rated one of the best in Greater Manchester. She noted that even Molly-Mae Hague is a fan, having visited last year with daughter Bambi and called it “one of the best days in October!!!”
A quick drive and a pre-booked ticket
After a 20-minute drive from South Manchester, Clarke arrived at the countryside location. She had pre-booked her ticket online, priced per vehicle at £6. While she found this slightly expensive for one person, she noted it becomes more affordable if five people share a car. The ticket does not include the pumpkin itself, with prices ranging from £1 for the smallest to £10 for the largest.
Upon arrival, she followed signs to the ‘pumpkin check in’ at the ice cream parlour entrance, where her ticket was scanned. Visitors receive a scavenger hunt list of characters to find, along with stickers to tick them off.
Impressive set-up and photo opportunities
The patch itself was a short walk away. The farm has a large area with picnic tables and food stalls, a pen with goats, a maize maze, and the patch covering a good third of the field. During her mid-week visit, it was extremely quiet and the food stalls were not open, though she imagined it would be packed during October half term.
A hay bale archway led to the patch, where she found a decorative display with an old tractor and a heap of pumpkins, plus dozens of wheelbarrows for visitors. Rows of pumpkins were neatly organised beside towering sunflowers, with every shade of orange and yellow plus the odd white one, all glowing in the October sunshine.
The sunflowers, many already dead, added to the atmosphere with eerie rustling noises in the wind, while golden heads added bursts of colour. Clarke noted the farm clearly caters to people there for the ‘Gram, with photo opportunities from hay bales to ghosts swinging in the breeze.
Choosing a pumpkin and exploring the maze
After examining many pumpkins, Clarke settled on a golden one to be different from supermarket offerings. She hid it beside a hay bale for safekeeping while exploring the maize maze, which had fake gravestones at the entrance and creepy scarecrows. The quiet, breezy conditions made it rather spooky as the maize crackled in the wind.
She never found the centre of the maze but got close to cows in a neighbouring field. She ticked off several scavenger hunt characters and walked quickly past some unsettling scarecrows. Giving up on the maze, she paid £3 for her pumpkin and said hello to the goats. Her only disappointment was that it felt too chilly to try the farm's ice cream, including a seasonal pumpkin flavour.
During her visit, she saw a few groups of friends and lone parents with toddlers, with one little boy posing for photos in the tractor's driving seat. Clarke concluded that she might not have enjoyed it as much on a busy weekend, but the mid-week October sunshine certainly won her over.
