Dunster by Candlelight: A Somerset celebration of Christmas

The atmospheric Dunster by Candlelight Festival takes place on the first Friday and Saturday of December (this year 5/6th) in the remarkably well-preserved medieval village of Dunster in West Somerset. Colourful stilt-walkers lead an exuberant procession through the cobbled streets of the village to light the lanterns, which take the place of electric street lamps for two evenings every year.

A charming start to the seasonal festivities, Duster's ancient streets throng with carol singers, choirs, and street entertainers, as well as food and craft stalls. All the local independent shops stay open late providing ideal opportunities for quirky Christmas shopping. There are plenty of welcoming bars, cafes and restaurants should the weather be chilly.

Entrance is free and all profits from the sale of the festival programme go to the local St Margaret's Hospice (somerset-hospice.org.uk) There are no cars allowed in the village during these two evenings so visitors would be well advised to hop on one of the special buses (£3 per person) which leave from neighbouring Minehead, Watchet, Wheddon Cross and Porlock.

Stay at either The Beach Hotel in Minehead (thebeachhotel.org): luxury Doubles from £80 per room including breakfast or Marston Lodge (marstonnlodgehotel.co.uk) Doubles from £85 including breakfast, and take the 10 minute bus journey up to Dunster.

Visitors to the festival often stay awhile to explore the stunning local area. The pretty seaside town of Minehead is home to the West Somerset Railway, England's longest heritage line as well as being the gateway to Exmoor National Park; 267 square miles of unique moorland, woodland, valleys and high cliffs which plunge via the rocky coastline into the sea.

For more information, visit dunsterbycandlelight.co.uk,  minehead.co.uk and westsomersetrailway.vticket.co.uk.