For spookiness and shakes choose the South Lakes

Parents can find some spellbinding and spirited events with which to entertain their children, if they head to the South Lakes – arguably the most stunning part of the Lake District.

At Fell Foot Park, on the shores of Lake Windermere, families can venture out together on October 31, for Halloween Horrors - a very spooky mission devised by the National Trust The seasonal adventure will begin with the creation of a pumpkin lantern, but participants should bring a torch and dress warmly, if they wish to see exactly what is casting eerie shadows between the stark and spookily-shaped trees!

Booking for this event, which takes place between 6-8.30pm is essential. Tickets cost £7.00 for an adult and £5.00 for a child.

A few miles away, at Sizergh Castle, Halloween is being celebrated a little earlier. Sunday 26 October will see the National Trust laying on a number of themed Halloween activities at the impressive castle with its famous Elizabethan banqueting hall and its wonderful gardens.

Some activities are free and there will be an optional children’s fancy dress competition.

At the Lakes Aquarium, at Lakeside near Newby Bridge, there will be Halloween activities every day from October 27 to November 2 as the attraction lays on its Wizards on Windermere event.

A very special wizard will be making a guest appearance on Monday, October 27, to cast a few spells, show off his magical balloon skills and oversee some of the other activities taking place. These include daily creepy creature talks, relating to some of the toads, frogs and snails in the Lakes Aquarium and also bat-making craft activities.

With a mystical quiz trail and the involvement of the Furness Bat Group on October 27, 28 and 31 and Furness Owls on November 1 and 2, it is well worth an admission price of £8.50 for an adult, £5.50 for a child (aged 3-15) and £25.00 for a family of two adults and two children. Visit lakesaquarium.co.uk for online purchase and a 10% discount.

Families with a real appetite for Halloween can head to Oscar’s lakeside restaurant, where the Aquarium’s chef has concocted a menu that will comprise pumpkin soup, Halloween eye-ball pizza, ghost toast, pumpkin bread pudding, Halloween frothy punch and screaming spice and Tarantula cookies! This will sit alongside the normal delicious treats that can be enjoyed whilst taking in a stunning view of Windermere.

Just outside the Aquarium, the ghostly vision of the big, black Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway engine will arrive on a platform paced by the headless station master! Departing from spookily-themed Haverthwaite Station, trains take families through the dark, dark tunnel in search of ghosts, witches, black cats, cauldrons and pumpkins, throughout Witches and Wizards Week (October 27 – November 2).

The first train leaves Haverthwaite at 10.40 am and the last back from Lakeside is at 15.45pm. Tickets cost £14.80 for a family of two adults and up to three children aged 5-15. An adult return ticket costs £5.40 and a single £3.25. Children’s fares are £2.70 and £2.20 respectively. Visit lakesiderailway.co.uk for more details.

On November 2, passengers can book reserved seats on the special Ghost Train, departing Haverthwaite at 4pm. A dramatic, scream and bang-filled journey will ensue and a spooky story will get everyone in the mood. Children will receive a little treat if they dress up and adults can also reach into their Halloween wardrobe! Tickets cost £6.95 for adults and £4.25 for children.

But for an alternative Halloween head to The World of Beatrix Potter where A Fluffy Halloween event (October 31-November 2 – 10.00 to 4.30pm) is ideal for those who want smiley faces on their pumpkins and soft pastel coloured decorations rather than sombre black. From Flower Fairies, to Wizards, there’s something for all children, who can even enter for free if they come dressed as their favourite character and not in ghoulish gear! Admission costs are £6.00 for adults and £3.00 for children who are not in character dress. Visit hop-skip-jump.com for more details.

For more information on the South Lakes, log on to Southlakeland.gov.uk.