Wester Hardmuir Fruit Farm is a pick-your-own pumpkin patch and farm shop near Nairn in the Highlands, just off the A96 between Nairn and Forres. Through October it opens a genuine pick-your-own pumpkin patch alongside a themed Halloween trail, and the farm is well known locally for its homemade ice cream and home baking. It is one of the best-known pumpkin spots in the Inverness and Moray area.
About Wester Hardmuir Fruit Farm
Wester Hardmuir has grown fruit and vegetables since 1978 and is a long-standing local favourite, with a farm shop, pick-your-own fruit in summer and ice cream made on site. The farm changed hands in 2024, when Will Downie and Laura Stewart took over and have continued to develop it, including the autumn pumpkin and Halloween offering. It sits in open Highland countryside a couple of miles east of Nairn, an easy drive from Inverness.
Pumpkin Picking at Wester Hardmuir
The pumpkin patch is a genuine pick-your-own, open through October with a range of pumpkins to choose from out in the field. Alongside the patch, the farm runs a ticketed Halloween trail (in recent years branded the “Hardmuir Catacombs”), a spookier experience on selected weekends. The patch itself has been open seven days a week with no booking needed, which makes it an easy one to drop into during October.
Things to Do on the Day
- Pick-your-own pumpkins from the patch
- The ticketed Halloween trail on selected weekends
- Farm shop with local produce, home baking and deli items
- Ice cream made on site from the farm’s own fruit
- Pick-your-own fruit earlier in the season (summer)
- Face painting and hot food on event days
Opening Times & Prices
The pumpkin patch runs through October. In recent years it has been open seven days a week, roughly 9am to 5pm, with no booking needed for the patch itself. The dates for the coming season had not been published at the time of writing, so check the farm’s Facebook page, which is where dates are announced.
Entry to the pumpkin patch has been free, and you pay for the pumpkins you pick. The separate Halloween trail is ticketed (it was around £5 per person in 2025); prices for the coming season may differ, so check the current prices when you book. We have not been able to confirm the per-pumpkin prices, so it is worth checking on the day.
Getting There & Visitor Information
- Location: Wester Hardmuir, Auldearn, Nairn, IV12 5QG, just off the A96, about 2 miles east of Nairn and roughly 18 miles east of Inverness.
- Booking: no booking needed for the pumpkin patch; the Halloween trail is ticketed on selected weekends.
- Facilities: there is a farm shop on site with home baking and ice cream.
- Good to know: we have not been able to confirm details such as parking, accessibility or dog policy, so it is worth checking with the farm if any of these matter for your visit.
Contact
Address: Wester Hardmuir, Auldearn, Nairn, IV12 5QG
Phone: +44 1309 641259
Email: laura@hardmuir.com
Website: westerhardmuir.com
Facebook: Wester Hardmuir Fruit Farm
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book?
Not for the pumpkin patch, which has been open seven days a week through October with no booking needed. The separate Halloween trail is ticketed on selected weekends, so book that ahead.
When is it open?
The pumpkin patch runs through October, usually around 9am to 5pm daily. The exact dates for the coming season are announced on the farm’s Facebook page closer to the time.
Is there anything else to do?
Yes. As well as the pumpkin patch and Halloween trail, there is a farm shop with home baking and deli items, and ice cream made on site from the farm’s own fruit.
More pumpkin picking nearby
Cooking your pumpkin? Try Best Pumpkin Cookies Recipes for Home Cooks, How to Make an Amazing Pumpkin Risotto, Pumpkin Muffin Recipes to Make this Fall.