WALKING in a WINTER wonderland
SANTA & ELF DASH, Cardiff
Dress as an impish elf or pay tribute to the big man himself by donning a white beard and going full Father Christmas for this charity run. The route starts at Roald Dahl Plass in Cardiff Bay and crosses the barrage before turning back, so it is perfectly doable in an ill-fitting pair of felt trousers, though dressing up is not actually compulsory. Walkers are encouraged to participate also and spectators can even bring children, pushchairs and dogs onto the route to cheer others on. All the ticket money raised at Wales’s biggest festive fun run goes to charity.
Dec 5 at 12pm; £10; santadash.wales/home
TORCH LIT CAROLS, Monmouthshire
For something gentler in the Wye Valley, carry a flaming torch (children use glow sticks) on a parade that winds its way through dark streets to the windowless medieval arches of Tintern Abbey. The roofless, 12thcentury abbey’s annual carol service is always well attended and the arrival of the light-bearers creates a special atmosphere, as school choirs sing out from the gothic-style, floodlit building. The congregation having swelled, everyone then joins in singing some of the most well-known carols. The event has previously raised £5,000 for rotary charities.
Dec 4, 6-8pm; free; rotary-ribi.org
CHRISTMAS WALKING TOUR, York
Hear about the time when heathen revelry and wanton excess ruled the streets of York. A time that has nothing to do with today’s office Christmas parties but everything to do with the city’s historic mid-winter celebrations of years gone by, including the Norse Midwinter Festival, the Roman Saturnalia and the Solstice.
Blue Badge tour guide Sarah Cowling leads a 90-minute walking tour along cobbled streets, revealing why York claims to have held the firstever Christmas celebrations and where Rudolph the reindeer got his red nose from.
November-Dec 24, daily at 4pm; £12; yorkchristmaswalkingtour.co.uk/ schedule
WINTER POETRY WALK, Gloucestershire
For a stroll that invites quiet contemplation at a time of peace, look no further than Dyrham Park, where two trails have been designed for adults. Choose between a poetry walk or one that focuses on mindfulness while exploring the 270 acres of parkland at this 17th-century country estate. The poetry trail runs through tranquil, wooded terraces, with signs providing the chance to reflect on 17th-century winter verse amid the scenery. The mindfulness trail wanders through the parks and gardens, with suggestions along the way for places to stop, connect with nature and focus on your emotions.
Daily; entry £13 (child £6.50); nationaltrust.org.uk