Spain on top of its game
up over one of the UK’s most generous-sized ice rinks, just outside City Hall.
This winter wonderland concentrates on the key ingredients, with a Giant Wheel and other fairground rides, an authentic Alpine village and a cosy, atmospheric bierkeller. But yes, they do have hot dogs too, for these Alps have a Welsh accent.
The rink will have scheduled “relaxed access” sessions for users who may need extra support, during which lighting will become static, sound levels dropped and fewer skaters will be on the ice. DETAILS: Free entry: cardiffswinterwonderland.com
Cabaret and camp
There’ll be a lot of camping it up where seafarers used to roam this Christmas season, with the return of the Spiegeltent to Bristol’s former docklands.
This unorthodox venue for “night owls, SPAIN and its islands are the top winter sun spots for Brit holidaymakers. Holiday firm On The Beach fou found Tenerife is the No1 ch choice, followed by the o other Canary islands and t the Costa Blanca. Away from om Spain heartbreakers and dream chasers” is a Belgian tradition – it is a beautifully decorated circus tent featuring boothed seating, cut glass mirrors, stained glass panelling and a colourful draped ceiling.
The Spiegeltent is effectively a mobile ballroom, and it plays host to all varieties of performance and entertainment – with live music events, cabaret nights, Christmas parties, children’s shows, and a masquerade ball.
It also has a separate grotto open in December where Santa will be in residence. DETAILS: Prices vary by event, but the masquerade ball is £24, christmasspiegeltent.co.uk.
Chestnuts and fire
For much of the year the Georgian manor house of Dunham Massey, midway between Manchester and Knutsford, is a prim and proper National Trust Hurghada in Egypt and Agadir in Morocco are growing in popularity. Chief marketing officer Alistair Daly said: “Spain has always been a popular destination but it really is dominating this winter sun season.” property – but this winter the events producer Raymond Gubbay has been let loose in the formal gardens and the deer park.
The result is a magical, after-dark, illuminated trail wandering through trees dressed in seasonal shards of light and larger-than-life snowflakes.
There will be twinkling tunnels, a swaying lawn of colour and the flickering plumes of the scented Fire Garden. Singing Trees will also rise high into the night sky, Pealight Heaven is a canopy of more than 100,000 fairy lights, and the big finale features coloured water jets dancing in time to Christmas classics.
Afterwards there’s a chance to warm up around one of the fire pits, enjoy some toasted marshmallows and a mug of something energising – the spiced cider sounds good – while the aroma of roasted chestnuts fills the air. DETAILS: £16 adult, £12 child. For full info visit nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey/whats-on. WE are going skiing for the first time this year. Any advice on where we should go? FOR beginners, getting the right resort is vital to ensure you have the most enjoyable trip possible. A resort that has slopes close to a centre with easy to use lifts and some green and blue runs is a great place to start. It is also worth choosing a place that has plenty of amenities, such as snowmobiling, ice skating or simply a swimming pool to allow you to take a day off.
Arinsal, in Andorra, ticks all those boxes. It is top value for money, has a great ski school, plenty of wide open slopes and links to Pal and Arcalis for more runs. Go to crystalski.co.uk for deals.