ideas for a perfect christmas...
The Lake District Cumbria is an idyllic destination for Christmas. With unique boutiques full of exquisite gifts perfect for your festive shopping, cosy pubs with roaring fires for comfort food lunches and delightful B&Bs just perfect for your yuletide break there are few places better suited for a winter escape.
A step back in time... Muncaster Castle, Ravenglass
Round the year off in style with Muncaster's 'Christmas at the Castle', every Sunday throughout December. You can go and see the Castle decorated for Christmas and, later in the afternoon, take a short guided tour of the Castle with a servant from 1885 and enjoy a glass of Mulled Wine and a mince pie before taking in the garden light show, Darkest Muncaster! Pre-booking for the tours is essential. Every Saturday will also see the garden illuminations, Darkest Muncaster running with the Cafe open late. www.muncaster.co.uk / Adults £8, Children (5-15) £2, Under 5's free (additional charge for Victorian tours)
A Viennese Strauss Christmas Gala... Theatre by the Lake, Keswick
Head to the Theatre by the Lake for an unforgettable evening of Strauss at Christmas featuring some of his most glorious waltzes including The Blue Danube, The Emperor Waltz, The Champagne Polka, Roses from the South and The Radetsky March. During the course of the evening, audiences will also be invited to join members of Opera North and get into the Christmas spirit with renditions of much loved Christmas carols and songs including Silent Night, O Holy Night, White Christmas and many more. www.theatrebythelake.co.uk
A traditional and tasty celebration...Holker Hall, Cark-in-Cartmel
On the weekends in the run up to Christmas Holker Hall will give visitors a warm and wonderful welcome with magical decorations in the historic hall, twinkling illuminations in the winter gardens and seasonal food in their café. There'll also be warming braziers in the courtyard and a barbeque of Holker produce and roasted chestnuts, live music and carol singing, special Christmas hampers in the food hall and a range of fun children's activities. www.holker.co.uk
A creative Chrimbo, The Beacon, Whitehaven
This year it's a festive extravaganza at The Beacon in Whitehaven. They're offering a reindeer postal service - kids can write their letter to Santa and post it in their special postbox, Christmas Craft days full of creative play, story telling and even a visit from Father Christmas and a Santa's Grotto day where each child receives a gift from the big man himself. www.thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk
A culinary Christmas celebration... Lucy Cooks, Staveley
Visit Lucy Cooks for this celebration demo and lunch and we promise you there won't be a turkey in sight. You start with a glass of Lucy's special mulled after which you will then be seated 'dinner party' style in the big Aga kitchen and enjoy watching one of the chefs demonstrate Christmas food- there is a large plasma screen, so plenty of visibility. After the demo you will then dine on a feast of Cumbrian foods that could include baked lemons filled with Morecambe Bay shrimps and Keldthwaite gold cheese, a casserole of wild boar and pancetta with root vegetables finishing with Grasmere Gingerbread crumble bread and butter pudding with Cumberland Rum Butter. Yum. www.lucycooks.co.uk
A Dickensian Christmas...Ulverston
This annual Christmas festival is a free family event marking the start of the Christmas Shopping Season. As well as Ulverston's boutiquey shops, great pubs, cafes and cobbled streets, visitors will be able to enjoy free entertainment including top hat and tiara making, costume competitions, balloon modelling, horse drawn carriages, dancing, a wonderful traditional fairground, complete with Helter Skelter, and lots of music with everything from folk to brass bands. There is also a fabulous Christmas market complete with costumed stall holders offering lots of unusual and locally made gifts and festive food. A vibrant start to the Christmas period. www.dickensianfestival.co.uk
A Christmas cruise...Ullswater ‘Steamers', Ullswater
Take a festive trip on an Ullswater ‘Steamer' and as well as the spectacular winter scenery, you can also take in a performance of ‘The Cruise II' starring Santa and his Happy Elf. Kids can take part in the onboard colouring competition and each will be given a present from Santa himself. Parents can enjoy a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie and will receive a Christmas card containing a free future voyage to be enjoyed in 2010. www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk
A yuletide mystery...Linthwaite House Hotel, Windermere
Outdoors, the crisp Lakeland winter's day; indoors, the roaring log fire and cosy armchairs... Where better to celebrate Christmas than this plush country house. Make the most of the festive period with a four night short break in luxurious accommodation overlooking Lake Windermere. Enjoy Christmas Carols, a murder mystery, a treasure hunt, a cruise on Lake Windermere and a magnificent festive Christmas Dinner in the restaurant. If you're feeling extra-extravagant you could splash out on a stay in their huge luxury Loft Suite complete with it's own retractable glass roof and telescope for star gazing on those frosty winter nights. www.linthwaite.com
A royal stay in a castle...Augill Castle, Kirkby Stephen
Welcome in the New Year by being king or queen of your own castle! The UK's Best B&B 2009, Augill Castle is offering a decadent New Year break this year... On 31 December you'll be welcomed with a sumptuous afternoon tea and then that evening you'll dine on the best of Cumbrian produce, complemented by fine wines, before the champagne flows at midnight and beyond. New Year's Day will start with breakfast (or brunch), there'll be a light lunch for anyone who can't face daylight, then afternoon tea before an evening buffet and dancing to a live band. Saturday 2 January will again begin with a delicious breakfast followed by the day at your leisure before you dress to the nines for a night of cocktails, canapés, dinner and casino. www.stayinacastle.com
A January recovery...Armathwaite Hall, Bassenthwaite
This grand hotel is offered a specially tailored ‘Spoil your Spouse' break to help you and your loved one recover from the Christmas excesses. The package is specially designed for couples wanting to ease away tension, restore energy and have a new start for the New Year. The two night treat includes a delicious six course dinner each evening, full Cumbrian breakfast and accommodation plus a day in their brand new swish spa. The spa day includes welcome refreshments, light lunch, use of the extensive spa facilities, fluffy bathrobes and slippers to wear during the day and two 60 minutes treatments for each of you. www.armathwaite-hall.com
