Behold the witching hour is almost upon us and there are plenty of terrifying adventures to scare you out of your wits this Halloween. SIMON PARKIN picks some highlights.

PrimEVIL

Dinosaur Adventure, Lenwade, until October 31, 01603 876312, dinosauradventure.co.uk

PrimEVIL is back to Dinosaur Adventure, and this year it's bigger, better and even more terrifying than last year's event which saw visitors scared witless by chainsaw-wielding mutants, crazed hospital inmates and all manner of supernatural ghouls. All attractions are live-action walk-throughs involving a cast of more than 35 actors who re-main in character throughout the night. The truly terrifying Dinohaunts, the Maze of Mutants and the pitch-black Insanitorium. New this year is the zombie infested House of the Living Dead, Circus of Terrors, where performers like lots of fresh meat, and Insanitorium, a hospital has been overrun with crazed patients and their equally insane doctors. A Spooky Ticket costs �8.95. Terror Tickets, including everything from the Spooky Ticket plus entrance to Circus of Terrors, Insanitorium and House of the Living Dead, cost �14.95.

www.primevil-scare.com

Spooky Express

Aylsham Station, until October 30, 9am-5.30pm, �12 adult return, two children free with fare-paying adult, 01263 738882

Bure Valley Railway offers some Halloween fun aboard the Spooky Express. A children's competition to see how many spooky items can be spotted on the train journey, a colouring corner and a decorated Whistlestop Caf� add to this Halloween themed event.

www.bvrw.co.uk

Halloween Half Term

Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, October 22-30, 10am-5pm, normal admission prices, 01328 851465

A spooky trail around Pensthorpe Nature Reserve will offer a fright for all the family, including learning more about the natural and mystical beasts that are related to this frightening time of year. To get into the spirit of Halloween, why not get dressed up in a scary outfit? Children in the best fancy dress will be in with a chance of winning a shiveringly good prize. The reserve will also be dressed up and decorated for Halloween, with pumpkins and lanterns adding to the dark and mysterious Halloween atmosphere. www.pensthorpe.com

Halloween Train

Dereham Station, October 29, 7pm, �12, �8 children, 01362 851723

Mid-Norfolk Railway will be running a 'spooky' Halloween Train tomorrow night from Dereham to Wymondham Abbey station and back. Come in costume and look out for the ghosts and witches on the train and along the jour-ney through Norfolk countryside. Bring your own food and drink and prepare to be spooked!.

www.mnr.org.uk.

Holkham Halloween

Holkham Hall, until October 30, 10am-9pm, prices vary, 01328 713111

Plenty of Halloween fun to be had at Holkham this year. Are you brave enough to join the Victorian ghost hunter as he unlocks the secrets in the cellars beneath Holkham Hall (5pm-8pm, �10, �7 children). Beware the witches as you creep through the cobwebs and search for the spiders in the magical museum for Bewitching Bygones (10am–5pm, �4, �2 children). A trick or treat awaits our younger visitors. There is also Freaky Face Painting (1pm–4pm, �2) and scary snacks in the Stables Caf�.

www.holkham.co.uk

Snagglefang's Spooky Spectacular

Bewilderwood, until October 30, normal admission prices, 01603 783900

Make your own masks and lanterns and join Bewilderwood's famous end of day lantern parade if you dare! Spend the day seeking out the Bewilderbats' silly jokes by hunting for colour-coded bats hidden around our forest; plus interactive storytelling sessions and face painting. Lantern making and mask decorating will be going on all weekend week from (Sun 12.30pm-4pm). Gathering for the lantern parade at 5.45pm (Sun 4.45pm).

www.bewilderwood.co.uk

Real Halloween

Holt Hall, October 29 (12.20pm-6pm)/October 30 (11.30am-5pm), �4.50 adv/�6 on day, under-3s free, extra charges for some activities

The Fairyland Trust's Real Halloween celebrates all that is magical about Halloween and late autumn. Throughout the weekend children can take part in the ever popular workshops, Witches Pets, Wizard Shields and Magic Potions and of course carve a pumpkin to take home. Other activities for families include lantern making, The Halloween Olympics (apple bobbing, broomstick javelin, sugar beet shot put), the witches' kitchen, lantern making, pixie post office, face painting, and a magical trail through the woods. Each day ends with a lantern parade and the telling of the Real Halloween story by candlelight

www.fairylandtrust.org

Halloween Spooky Trail

Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden, October 31, 6pm-8pm, �5.50 (�5 cons), �3 children, 01603 270449

Scare yourself silly at the haunted garden at Fairhaven. There will be magic, music and strange happenings. Plus new this year, the Thunder Metal fire breathers. Make sure you take wellies and a torch.

www.fairhavengarden.co.uk

Blickling After Dark

Blickling Hall, October 29, 6pm-9pm, �8.50, �4.75, under-5s free, �24 family, 0844 8004308

This family Halloween event at Blickling will feature ghoulish happenings in the hall and garden. Dare you enter the garden graveyard or try your luck at the ghostly fete? There will also be children's fancy dress competition and best dressed family. Seasonal, gruesome food in the restaurant.

www.nationaltrust.org

Halloween Walks

Norwich Ghost Walks leave the Adam and Eve pub every Mon/Tues/Thurs, 7.30pm, (www.ghostwalksnorwich.co.uk). And give yourself the spooks on Great Yarmouth's Halloween Walks (October 29-30), with strange stories of goulish finds, murder and witches (www.heritage-walks.co.uk).

Witches in the Workhouse

Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse, October 29, 6pm-8pm, �6, �4.50 children, under-4s free, 01362 869251

Witches in the Workhouse: Halloween Family Fun, is a new event at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse. Take a ghostly tour and hear chilling tales in the dark corridors of the workhouse. Make a mask to scare away unwelcome spirits, join in the Halloween games and at all times, watch out for the witch!

www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk

Halloween Night

Tolhouse Museum, Great Yarmouth, October 29, 5pm-7pm, free admission

This special night at the Tolhouse museum in Yarmouth is a chance to experience the spooky atmosphere of Yar-mouth's oldest civic building. Meet Solomon Allies, the Victorian gaoler, and hear his chilling tales. Entry is free and there's no need to book.

www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk