October & HalloweenJournal

Make the most of Edinburgh's cocktail week for nights out in the capital this month. For a scary (but mainly fun!) night out, take advantage of the dark evenings for a Halloween ghost tour by vintage bus!

Taking place on the same night as Halloween, the Samhuinn Fire Festival is based on the traditional Celtic celebration. The story follows the overthrowing of Summer by Winter, with a dramatic stand off between the Summer and Winter Kings. The evocative mix of fireplay, drumming and performance could not have a better backdrop - overlooking all of Edinburgh from the top of Calton Hill.

• Samhuinn Fire Festival | 3rd - 12th October 2025
• Halloween | 31st October 2025
• Edinburgh Zoo Spooktacular | tbc
• Edinburgh Short Film Festival | tbc
• Scottish International Storytelling Festival | tbc
• Edinburgh Cocktail Week | 3rd - 12th October 2025
• Halloween at Dalkeith Country Park | tbc

There are some brilliant ghost tours in Edinburgh - most covering the capital's fairly gruesome past. Some are more light-hearted than others and the routes vary from historic streets to ancient underground arches and infamous graveyards!

• Ghost Bus Tours
• City of the Dead Tours
• The Real Mary King's Close
• Witchery Tours
• Don your welly boots and choose a pumpkin to carve from the pumpkin patch at Craigie's Farm shop. They also have pick your own apples and blackberries to make your own delicious seasonal crumbles and comfort food.

• The National Galleries of Scotland have a huge number of events, tours and artist workshops for both adults and children.
• Hopetoun House and grounds often host ranger-walks and house tours throughout the year.
• Dalkeith Country Park is very similar, bushcraft, walks and foraging workshops are hosted frequently alongside their fabulous Fort Douglas Treehouse and adventure playground for kids and Go Ape course for adults.
• Dovecot Studios offer behind the scenes tours and workshops on tapestry, drawing and needlework.
• And last but not least, the National Museums Scotland host in depth tours for grown ups and fantastic exhibition interpretations for little ones.
• Hopetoun House celebrate fantastic fungi and the Scottish Tree Festival this month with their guided walks and events on the estate.

We've listed some of our favourite Edinburgh and country based restaurants & shops and suppliers for your autumn break.

Don your welly boots and choose a pumpkin to carve from the patch at Craigie's Farm shop. They also have pick your own apples and blackberries to make your own delicious seasonal crumbles and comfort food.

Slightly out of the way, but definitely worth the drive is the wonderful Main Street Trading with deli, homewares, and bookshop to die for.

Brew your own

How about booking yourselves in to Craft Beer Kitchen? Stewarts Brewing has long invited the public in to try their hand at crafting the perfect pint. With expert guidance you can spend the day brewing your very own bespoke beer. If staying at Eastside, the brewery are more than happy to send the beer on (within the UK) when it's ready. Not a bad holiday souvenir!