Forget Lapland this year, there’s a fabulous Christmas adventure awaiting you in the heart of North Yorkshire at Stockeld Park near Wetherby, York, Harrogate and Leeds.
The Christmas Adventure really is a magical and mystical Christmas extravaganza (and I should know, having visited twice in the last two years with my 3 boys under 10 and some of their pals).
There’s so much to take in and enjoy, it’s hard to know where to begin. Our kids loved the Enchanted Forest, a wonderful fantasy trail through woodland and around a lake lit up at night by some spectacular and imaginative lighting effects. There are magical characters and a host of animals and birds along the trail, including a 20ft high troll, Russell the Talking Tree, and illuminated flamingos, unicorns, geese, deer and angels. There’s plenty of interactive wizardry for children to marvel at too, such as the large-scale woodland instruments you’ll find deep in the forest.
And if you’re feeling really adventurous, you can ski the woodland trail on Nordic skis…!
Once we’d finished our skiing, we decided to head for the skating rink (well, some of us did – a few of the adults decided to stay warm and cosy with a mug of hot cocoa in the Woodland Café, which overlooks the eco-friendly rink). We had an hour on our hired skates, which is more than enough time to get the hang of it and build up some confidence and speed!
After skiing and skating, there’s a great selection of food on offer at the Woodland Café, including hot meals, tempting cakes and a glass of red wine or a pint of Christmas real ale. And once we’d recharged our batteries, we headed to the stunning Christmas maze, an illuminated labyrinth of over a mile of paths in the shape of a snowflake. There are 12 gates throughout the maze, each depicting one of the 12 days of Christmas.
And that’s not the end of the magic at the Christmas Adventure – there’s also a chance to visit Father Christmas himself in Santa’s Grotto, there’s a 50ft high big wheel, and a well-stocked Christmas shop selling some delightful Christmas decorations, ornaments, tree lights, baubels and gifts. You can even buy this year’s Christmas tree grown on the Stockeld estate.
The Christmas Adventure is a fabulous experience and really gets you and the kids into the Christmas spirit. For lots more information including how to find Stockeld Park, check out the Christmas Adventure website here. And if you’re coming to visit from a distance, why not check into a York hotel, Harrogate hotel or perhaps a Yorkshire Dales guest house.
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