With temperatures falling, it’s easy to stay at home in the warm. But with so much to do this winter close to Bristol, it would be a shame not to brave the great outdoors.
Here Bristol Business News travel editor Anne Gorringe shares 10 tempting trips to persuade us to pull on our hats and gloves and head on out.
Explore the light tunnel at Westonbirt. Wander beneath a million twinkling lights to discover luminous birds suspended in the air, colourful neon trees and huge glowing stars. Plus, you can walk through a sparkling tunnel of light. And, of course, keep an eye out for Father Christmas! Suitable for all ages, Christmas at Westonbirt, pictured right, is on selected evenings from 29 November to 31 December. Westonbirt The National Arboretum, Tetbury, GL8 8QS. For tickets and more info, click here
Bring the dog to Old Down Country Park. Tuck into toasted marshmallows, drink hot chocolate and wander – with your pet pooch – through this family-friendly magical immersive experience, complete with sparkling installations and mesmerising lights. Open daily between 4.30pm-6.45pm until Christmas Eve. Individual tickets from £13 (family tickets from £59) Children under two go free. Old Down Estate, Foxholes Lane, Tockington, Bristol, BS32 4PG. For tickets and more info, click here
Ride the carousel at Tyntesfield. Get transported to Christmas Past at this National Trust-owned spectacular Victorian gothic revival house with gardens and parkland near Bristol. Each room will be decorated as it would have been in days gone by, with new additions this year including a carousel in front of the house and a Dickensian street scene in the chapel courtyard. Familiar favourites, such as chapel concerts, Christmas trails and craft workshops will also return to provide something for everyone. From 2-31 December. Tyntesfield, Wraxall, Bristol BS48 1NX For more info and tickets, click here 
Take to the warm waters in Bath: The city’s iconic Christmas Market returns from 28 November to 15 December. But walking around the stalls outside can be chilly. So enjoy a bird’s eye view of the Abbey while basking in the naturally warm mineral spa waters of Thermae Bath Spa’s rooftop pool, pictured right. Booking is essential at busy times – but don’t forget that swimming burns off all the extra calories from those mince pies, right? Two-hour sessions can include evening ‘twilight sessions’. Thermae Bath Spa, The Hetling Pump Room, Hot Bath Street, Bath BA1 1SJ. Click here for tickets and more info.
Far-reaching views and pear trees at Dyrham Park. This 17th-century National Trust mansion near Bath is dressed for Christmas across the ages – from Tudor times up to the 20th century. Outside there are Christmas trees decorated with golden pears – a nod to Dyrham’s historic pear orchards – and a giant wreath for Christmas selfies. Families can also follow a reindeer discovery trail dotted around the 270-acre estate with views across to Wales and the Black Mountains. Local choirs will perform on weekends in the village church of St Peter’s, which adjoins the estate. Open 10am-4pm until 5 January (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) Normal admission charges/free admission for National Trust members. Dyrham, South Gloucestershire, SN14 8HY. For tickets and more info, click here
Discover Christmas past at Tredegar House. Unwrap 500 years of Christmas at another National Trust property, pictured below, just over the Welsh border near Newport. Enjoy a magical atmosphere with twinkling lights and more than 80 decorated trees and see how generations of the Morgan family celebrated the festive season – from Tudor feasts to Victorian traditions and up to the 1950s. From 6 December, with late-night openings between 13 and 23 December, and special guests, including choirs and festive singalongs, on the 14, 15, 21 and 22 December. Normal admission charges apply/free for National Trust members. Tickets and more here 
A Viking Christmas at Buckland Abbey. Get transported back to a Viking Long Hall to celebrate Yule, discover Norse traditions and even meet the god Odin at Buckland Abbey in Dartmoor National Park. It’s bit further from Bristol, but once there you can discover twinkling lights of the forest, and sounds and scents to take you back 1,000 years. The abbey will be decorated with handmade items telling the story of the Vikings. From 10am-4pm, 30 November to 31 December (closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day). Volunteers will be on hand demonstrating Viking recipes on 14 and 17 December. Buckland Abbey Estate, Yelverton, Devon PL20 6EY. Tickets and more here
A Fairytale Christmas near Salisbury Cathedral. Fairytales meet a Victorian Christmas with this immersive storytelling experience in the heart of Salisbury at Mompesson House. This 18th-century town house, nestling on the edge of the Cathedral Green, will be open upstairs and downstairs between 11am-3.30pm until December 23. Discover the three bears’ Christmas feast, follow Hansel’s trail to the tearoom and attend Cinderella’s grand ball in the Large Drawing Room. Children will love the free storytelling sessions in the second-hand bookshop too. The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2EL. For timings, click here
Ice and easy in Bath. Ice-skating is sure to burn up a few calories and the Christmas rink has returned to Bath’s Royal Victoria Park, with 1,000 sq m of smooth ice for you to glide around to the sound of festive tunes. Until 5 January. Or take to the ice in Cheltenham when the town’s undercover ice rink comes to Imperial Gardens. From 29 November 29 to 5 January. Royal Victoria Park, Marlborough Lane, Bath BA1 2NQ. Imperial Square, Cheltenham GL50 1QZ. Click here and here for more details.
Find the flock at Bristol Zoo Project. Hunt down 12 ewe-nique sculptures on the festive trail around Bristol Zoo Project – home to brown bears, giraffes and now Shaun the sheep! The new-ish home for animals transferred from Bristol Zoo after it closed two years ago, The Zoo Project near Cribbs Causeway concentrates on conservation. The baa-rilliant festive trail has been created in collaboration with Bristol animation firm Aardman. It’s also in partnership with global art producer Wild in Art. Each 160cm tall sculpture has been individually designed by artists from across Bristol and beyond. Until 12 January. Zoo Project, Blackhorse Hill, Bristol BS10 7TP. For details and prices, click here
