Magical winter days out in the South West

The best days out for an unforgettable winter
 

Whether you’re meandering through sparkling Christmas markets with a glass of mulled wine in hand, or venturing into the crisp Cornish countryside for a windswept walk, the South West is a magical place to be as the seasons change. To celebrate this wonderful time of year and the countdown to Christmas, we’ve compiled the best festive days out to add to this year’s calendar.

Commemoration Garland at Cotehele

© Bob Radlinksi and Andy Martin via Flickr

Celebrate Christmas with a festive day out at Cotehele, in Cornwall. A much-loved tradition for over 60 years, a beautiful garland of seasonal flowers is being built to adorn the Great Hall throughout. Colourful as ever, each of the 30,000 flowers in the traditional garland are home-grown, cut and dried on site, before being added to a 60ft-long rope and displayed for the public to see from 20th November until 2nd January. This year’s garland is honouring Cotehele’s rich past by recreating how it would’ve looked in the 1980s, with a ‘modest design inspired by decorative greenery and kissing boughs.’

With plenty of festive food and drink to enjoy at The Barn Restaurant or The Edgcumbe tea-room on the quay, as well as a fantastic gallery exhibiting the work of West Country artists and makers, Christmas is a magical time to experience Cotehele.

An hour’s drive away in the beautiful coastal village of Bigbury-on-Sea, Avocet is a fabulous multi-generational home that’s perfect for large group retreats.

Dickensian evening in Lostwithiel

Brave the cold this December 12th and enjoy a Dickensian evening in Lostwithiel. The much loved festive event has been running for over ten years, and shows no signs of slowing down. Lostwithiel’s ever popular festive event sees its streets filled with crowds of all ages, looking forward to an old-fashioned Christmas experience steeped in Cornish tradition. Church bells open the evening, before a lantern parade and procession of reindeer alpacas lead the way down Lostwithiel’s streets to the heart of the event. Stilt walkers and performers bring the evening alive with music and entertainment as the local townspeople line the streets in Dickensian dress.

Enjoy lashings of mulled wine, late night shopping, traditional fairground rides and a bustling Christmas atmosphere before rounding off the night admiring festive scenes in the Advent Window Trail or soaking up some history at Duchy Palace, open to the public throughout the night.

Rosemoor at Christmas

© Ted Strawson and UK Garden Photos via Flickr

Hosting a wintery extravaganza that will continue long after the festive frenzy of Christmas is over, Garden Rosemoor is welcoming colour-changing trees, magical storytelling workshops and a series of food and craft fairs to Devon.

Kicking off the event, the Glow Garden Illuminations are sure to bring a sparkle to everyone’s eyes this winter. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until 8pm, take a walk following the new route towards the lake as colour-changing lights and the rich colours of autumn guide the way through the trees. Recently the focal point will be Rosemoor’s commemorative soldier display, standing among 100 ceramic poppies in a wildflower meadow to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Complete with a ‘Glow Simple’ supper menu to be enjoyed in the Garden Kitchen, the event will also feature an intriguing wildlife sculpture exhibition, a family workshop with Father Christmas in his magical theatre, and ‘The Magic of Christmas Food and Craft Fair’ where you can pick up unique last minute gifts and local artisan produce.

Fowey Christmas Market

Bringing together the best local chefs, food producers and craftspeople, Fowey's annual Christmas Market celebrates the festive season in style, with plenty of culinary delights to sample in a picturesque waterside setting. The picturesque Cornish town welcomes hundreds of visitors each year, with the independent shops open until late, a beautiful lantern parade, local food vendors and excellent live music to entertain the bustling crowds.

Find your favourite festive treats in the Christmas market – from handmade fudge and artisan peanut butter to Cornish crepes and award-winning charcuterie. Pop-up stalls will be showcasing the wares of the county’s leading arts and crafts producers, it’s the perfect opportunity to pick up a few stocking fillers. And with plenty of the restaurants offering warming takeaway food, from beetroot-cured salmon to Tuscan bacon and bean soup, there’s something to suit every taste on the quayside.

Christmas at Corfe Castle

Feel the magic in the air with a festive visit to Corfe Castle. With an array of enchanting events taking place throughout December in and around the striking ruins, kick-start your celebrations with the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas Family Quest’ and search for hidden shields scattered throughout the castle to secure an ancient siege coin as your prize. Try your hand at Christmas crafts and make your own festive decorations to liven up your home this December, using all natural materials inspired by Corfe Castle and its picturesque countryside surroundings.

The rugged landscape is transformed into a mesmerising spectacle for the winter solstice every year, where the public are advised to arrive bright and early to secure a spot to sit and watch the sunrise on the shortest day of the year.