Half Term in a Treehouse: Pumpkins, Woodland Walks and a Very Big Fire Pit

Half term. Five days of "I'm bored" and "can we have a snack?" on repeat. Or is it?

Picture this instead: a treehouse hidden in the woods of a working hop and cider apple farm. Leaves to kick, a fire pit to toast marshmallows on, and a whole wood to explore. Nobody's asking for the iPad, because nobody remembers where it is.

That's Journeyman, our family treehouse at Brook House Woods, tucked away in the Herefordshire countryside near Bromyard. And for October half term (26–30 October), it's still free. Here's why we think it's the best place in the county to spend it.

Meet Journeyman

First things first: the staircase. A wide sweep of timber steps rising up to the deck, with the fire pit waiting at the bottom. The kids will race up it; you’ll stroll up behind them, cup of tea in hand. Everyone wins.

Inside, it's all warm wood and big windows framing the trees. The kitchen is properly big, the kind with room for everyone round the table and a pumpkin or three on the counter. Which is handy, because half term runs on snacks.

There's room for everyone, too. Journeyman sleeps eight across three king-size bedrooms and a twin, so the grandparents can come along (or not, your call). And yes, there are two roll-top baths. Two! Muddy kids in one, you in the other with a book. We call that fair.

When the rain comes in (it's Herefordshire, it will), there's a pool table, a cosy sitting room and a stack of board games. Fair warning: family Monopoly can go on for days. We're not saying you'll fall out over Mayfair, but we're not saying you won't.

And outside? Woodland walks, leafy tracks, and all the conkers, sticks and "really important" leaves a small person could want.

Here's the one the kids will still be talking about at Christmas: you can book a falconry experience right here on site. Meeting an owl up close beats any screen, hands down. Just ask us when you book.

Pumpkin picking at Pumpkin Pete's

If there's one day trip to make this half term, it's this one. Pumpkin Pete's is a fourth-generation family farm at Stretton Grandison, near Ledbury, just 15 minutes' drive from us. Come October it becomes six acres of pumpkins, just waiting to be wheelbarrowed away.

The good news for your wallet: pick-your-own pumpkins cost from £1 to £10. Expect plenty of photo opportunities, a proper farm experience, and food stalls all month, including the much-loved Beefy Boys. This year, the circus is in town too.

It's open every day through half term (24–31 October), and it's worth booking ahead as it gets busy.

Our top tip: go in the morning, fill the wheelbarrow, then head back to the treehouse to carve your haul by the fire pit. You'll have the best-dressed deck in Herefordshire.

What else is on nearby this half term

Pumpkin trail at Newton Court. Wellies on for a hunt through Knowl Orchard at this Herefordshire cider farm, 24 October to 1 November. Each hidden pumpkin has a letter: collect them all and unscramble the secret spooky word. No booking needed for the orchard, but book the café as it gets busy. Find out more

National Trust trails at Croft Castle and Berrington Hall. Croft Castle has a Legends of Croft trail full of myths and magic (24 October to 1 November), plus pumpkin carving and painting in the greenhouse from Wednesday 28 to Friday 30 October. Nearby Berrington Hall runs a self-led family trail over the same dates.

Brockhampton. The National Trust's Brockhampton estate is right on our doorstep, with woodland walks that look their best in October. Ideal for burning off the morning's marshmallows.

Hereford's spookier side. For older kids, Hereford has ghost tours of the city's eerie past, and Visit Herefordshire's "Hideous Histories" road trips take in castle ruins, haunted houses and fearsome folklore. More half-term ideas from Visit Herefordshire

Dates and details can change, so check with each venue before you go.

The lowdown

Perfect for: families who want a half term the kids will actually remember (and grown-ups who'd quite like a sit-down by the fire).

Where to stay: Journeyman, our family treehouse in the woods at Brook House Woods. Sleeps eight (three kings and a twin), with two roll-top baths and falconry on site.

When: October half term, 26–30 October. It's available as we write this, but not for long.

Pack: wellies (non-negotiable), waterproofs, marshmallows for the fire pit, and an empty boot for your Pumpkin Pete's haul.