Fiendish family fun comes to Burghley House and the Gardens in October, as torch lit tours return with more scary stories and haunting hidden history.
Burghley’s ever popular Spooky Tours (19-29 October) are led by ghost expert Martin Tempest and take visitors on a guided tour through creepy cellars and centuries-old cloisters, taking in some of the less visited areas of Burghley House, on the edge of Stamford in Lincolnshire.
Designed to be scary but fun, although not advised for under 12s, the tours reveal some ghostly goings-on across the centuries, as well as scares, during the 45-minute flickering torchlight trails. Tickets, which must be pre booked, cost £24 per person.
For fewer scares – and more daylight – head to the Sculpture Garden and tackle the Burghley Halloween Trail (15-30 October) to find the hidden spooks and solve clues to receive a treat.
Set amidst the splendour of the historic country estate’s Sculpture Garden, visitors young and old can get into the Halloween spirit by dressing up in their scariest costumes to tread through the autumn leaves and find the clues in every creepy corner.
The Halloween-themed trail winds its way through the lakeside Sculpture Gardens, originally designed by Capability Brown and now boasting a mix of open space, sweeping borders, and trees with shrubs, creating a natural ‘gallery’ for a host of outdoor sculptures.
The gardens are open from 10.30am to 5pm and the trail is free with House or Gardens ticket.
Youngsters can also magic up their own own creations at the October Half Term Children’s Halloween Craft Workshops (24–28October), included with a valid House or Gardens ticket.
Held daily between 12 noon and 4pm in the Sculpture Garden Workshop, next to the Garden Café, the sessions offer a chance to get all crafty with a Halloween theme. Visitors just need to pick up a timeslot ticket from the Garden Kiosks.
House and Garden tickets cost £20 for adults and £9 for children, while Gardens tickets are £13.50 for adults and £8 per child.
For full details and to book tickets, visit www.burghley.co.uk or telephone 01780 752451.
