Courtesy/News Source: cntraveller.com

NEWQUAY, CORNWALL From adrenaline-pumping winter sports to a northern lights road trip, here are 10 brilliant ideas for a winter break – without leaving the country

Best for: surfing big breaks without the crowds

The water might be icy but there’s no need to hang up your wetsuit: winter surfing in Cornwall is mercifully crowd free apart from a handful of hardcore locals who turn out in all weathers to make the most of the swells (during the colder months, low-pressure systems build up in the Atlantic, driving surf towards the west coast). And there are plenty of sweet spots to choose from, whether it’s Newquay’s legendary Fistral beach or protected Praa Sands, an hour’s drive away near Porthleven, where the northwest to northeast winds create hollow, fast waves.

CLEY MARSHES, NORFOLK Best for: bird spotting and boat trips

You know winter is on its way when thousands of pink-footed geese migrate to the UK. Each year these pink-grey birds swap their breeding grounds in Greenland and Iceland for the mudflats and salt marshes of Norfolk (most arrive by the end of November), where they spend their days feeding on the tops and tails of sugar beet left in the fields by farmers. The sight, as the flocks fly back to their roosts at dusk, is extraordinary. December and January are also peak months for grey seals to give birth to their pups: head out on boat trips from Morston Quay for an up-close look at these inquisitive creatures swimming in the water and lolling on the beaches. For more information: beansboattrips.co.uk

CAIRNGORMS, THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS Best for: all-action winter sports (and reindeer)

Forget Switzerland, Scotland has skiing much closer to home. The varied terrain at Glenshee, in the Cairngorms National Park, makes it one of the best options for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. Runs extend across three valleys and several mountains, including Glas Maol, which offers access to some of the best off-piste slopes. While you’re in the Highlands, don’t miss the chance to visit the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd that roams the mountains. Daily guided trips to hand-feed the 150-strong free-ranging herd leave from the centre in Glenmore year-round except for a few weeks in late January/early February – bring wellies and waterproofs. For more information: ski-glenshee.co.uk; cairngormreindeer.co.uk

HAY-ON-WYE, WALES  Best for: a bookish weekend getaway

The main difference between the annual Winter Weekend festival in Hay-on-Wye and its longer literary counterpart in May is that while the talks – by writers, artists, academics, thinkers – still take place in a tent, there’s a real focus on events in the town too. On the Friday the Christmas lights are switched on, with carol singing to follow (in 2018 there was also a ceilidh and a lantern procession through the streets); Saturday is the Hay Food Festival, with around 50 stalls selling local produce; and on Sunday the main square turns into a festive outdoor flea market from 28 November to 1 December 2019. For more information: hayfestival.com

WOODSTOCK, THE COTSWOLDS Best for: fabulously festive illuminations

The illuminated light trail is always a highlight of the Christmas celebrations at Blenheim Palace, from the vaulted Tunnel of Light that twinkles with more than 100,000 white bulbs to the futuristic woodland Laser Garden and the Water Terrace pièce de résistance, where coloured lights are projected onto the palace’s façade. Sip a cup of mulled cider as you explore the grounds, and afterwards toast marshmallows around the fire pit. There are also fair rides (a Victorian carousel, a helter-skelter) for children and a Christmas market from 22 November 2019 to 1 January 2020. For more information: blenheimpalace.com

LODE, CAMBRIDGESHIRE Best for: a mindful meander in winter gardens

There’s something rather wonderful about crunching along the frosty narrow path at Anglesey Abbey, just outside Cambridge, on a freezing sunny morning. Here, the Winter Garden has been specially designed with plants that are at their most vibrant in the colder months: flaming scarlet willow and red-barked dogwood, the Killarney strawberry tree, which bears fruit just before Christmas, and the grove of Himalayan silver birch trees with their stark white trunks. Snowdrops bloom in January and February, and the scent of winter–flowering honeysuckle and Christmas box fills the air. Those who want to make it more of a ‘mindful meander’ can pick up a sensory trail map from reception, which marks the most peaceful spots for contemplation.

THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY, IRELAND  Best for: a glimpse of the northern lights

Instead of hopping on a plane to the Arctic Circle to see the northern lights, rent a car and drive a section of the Wild Atlantic Way, which stretches 1,500 miles along the west coast of Ireland. With secluded bays, rocky headlands and sheep-dotted hills, it’s pretty magical at any time of year but brave the changeable weather and there’s a chance of witnessing the Aurora Borealis too. The unpolluted skies of the unspoilt Northern Headlands at the tip of the route are your best bet for a clear sighting. For more information: wildatlanticway.com

THE LAKE DISTRICT, CUMBRIA  Best for: wild walking in the hills

Whether strolling the length of the seven-mile Borrowdale Valley or yomping up the steep path to Tarn Hows, through woodland and past gushing waterfalls, the possibilities for wild winter walking in the Lake District are endless. Yes it’s glorious in the summer sun but it’s equally atmospheric in the off-season mist and drizzle, when there are far fewer walkers and the solitude of the mountains acts like a soulful reset. Pack waterproofs and sturdy boots, and plot your path so there’s a rewarding tea shop or cosy pub at the end.

BEAULIEU, NEW FOREST Best for: kayaking in a private estuary

Beaulieu River is the idyllic location for invigorating two-hour guided ‘winter paddling’ sessions with New Forest Activities: choose from either open-top Canadian canoes or typical stable touring kayaks and push off from Baileys Hard. Large sections of the river are part of the North Solent Nature Reserve, which means plenty of birds flitting along the reed-covered banks to distract from any aching arms. Just remember to bring a flask of steaming hot chocolate to help you warm up afterwards. For more information:newforestactivities.co.uk

CANTERBURY, KENT Best for: a button-busting foodie break

From Michelin-starred gastropubs – think chef-owner Daniel Smith’s refurbished riverside pub The Fordwich Arms in Fordwich and Stephen Harris’ The Sportsman in Seasalter – to the Goods Shed farmers market and food hall in Canterbury, the foodie buzz about this corner of the UK has been growing for some time. Plan a weekend around a list of must-try restaurants and, in between meal times, cycle off what you eat along the Viking Coastal Trail, which takes in of-the-moment seaside towns such as Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate.

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