Outdoor fun

Go up in the world on the big wheel and other fairground rides at Waterfront Winterland in Swansea Bay. There will also be market stalls, Santa’s grotto, an ice rink and warming food from alpine dining cabins. Until Jan 7. Free to visit with charges for ice-skating (from £6 off peak when booked in advance) and the ferris wheel. For more information call 01792 637300 or visit www. swanseachristmas.com/ waterfront-winterland Take the grandchildren on a gingerbread trail through the woods at Lowther Castle in the Lake District. Successful adventurers will be rewarded with a freshly baked gingerbread man to scoff! There will also be a fairytale Christmas art installation, wreathmaking workshops and Christmas trees available to buy. Entry costs £9 adults, £7 children including entry to the trail. Workshops cost extra. For more information call 01931 712192 or visit www. lowthercastle.org Visit one of London’s loveliest outdoor skating rinks at the Natural History Museum. Glide past the iconic building, taking in the 30ft Christmas tree, before enjoying a signature Hotel Chocolat hot chocolate to warm you. Afterwards, pop into the museum itself to see the newly hung whale skeleton in the Great Hall. Until Jan 7. Tickets from £12.65 adults, £8.80 children. Call 0844 847 1576 or visit www.nhmskating.com Wrap up warm to explore Kew Gardens at its wintery best. While spring is wonderful for flowers and blossom, during the dark months the gardens are lit with dazzling light displays involving more than a million twinkling lights. Admire the palm house (above) marvel at the walkway of bubbles, brave the ‘fire corridor’ and watch a sound and light show over the lake. There’s even a tree made from 360 wooden sledges. Along the way you can eat roasted chestnuts, toast marshmallows and warm your cockles with mulled cider. Nov 22 to Jan 1 every Weds-Sun. Tickets from £16 adults, £10 children. Call 0208 332 5655 or visit www.kew.org Visit one of six English Heritage ‘enchanted gardens’ to enjoy the grounds after dark, following a trail of lights to a traditional fairground. Sip mulled wine and do a spot of shopping at either Belsay Hall, Northumberland, Brodsworth Hall, South Yorkshire, Osborne House, Isle of Wight, Eltham Palace, London, Audley End House, Essex or Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire. From Dec 15-23, 4pm-8.30pm. Call your nearest property or visit www.english-heritage.org.uk