Festive family fun in the Western Lake District
Reindeer post, podcasts from Santa and little people under the floorboards - what's happening in the Western Lake District this year? Having already won the hearts of the nation by having Britain's favourite view, the Western Lake District is now going flat out to provide 2007's favourite Christmas do, with some wonderful options that provide twists on the traditional festive experience.REINDEER POST
Children wishing to write and post letters direct to Santa can now rely on the good old reindeer post, if they trot along to the newly redeveloped Beacon Centre, in Whitehaven, West Cumbria. Special paper and pencils are on hand to allow them to script their correspondence and the magical postbox will be emptied each evening by the Post Reindeer, with letters taken directly to Santa, in Lapland.
Replies will be given to as many children as possible, remembering that Santa is a very busy chap at this time of year. The last day for reindeer post is December 17, so don't spare the horses - get down there!
CHRISTMAS CRAFTS
There are some fabulous Christmas workshops planned before Christmas at The Beacon, Whitehaven, West Cumbria. On December 22 and 23 Christmas Crafts will allow three to twelve year olds to get all glued up making funky penguin pencil post, reindeer yarn bugs, paper snowflakes, snowmen and other Christmassy things. Workshops are taking place from 11-2pm and 2-4pm on both days. Sessions cost £5 per child, including a visit and gift from Santa. Booking is required.
MONSTER MADNESS
Don't throw all your Christmas cards and wrapping paper away willy-nilly, if you live in Cumbria, as the kids can turn it into something mad, bad and dangerous to know if you book them in to Monster Madness sessions, at the Beacon, in Whitehaven, on January 5.
Sea monsters galore will be floating around the newly re-opened heritage centre, complementing the new Your Ocean exhibition in the Harbour Gallery. Made out of recyclable Christmas leftovers, these creatures will not only give your children hours of fun, but also teach them all about the importance of recycling.
The sessions are for kids aged seven to twelve and will be run between 11am and 1pm and 2pm and 4pm, at a cost of just £2 per session.
YO MAN - SANTA'S GIVING A PODCAST
Everybody’s favourite chap, Santa Claus, is staging live podcasts from his home in the Arctic Circle and from the beach in Madagascar this year.
The genial gent is sending these special messages of congratulation to children celebrating the real meaning of Christmas with their friends and schoolmates at Trotters World of Animals, in Bassenthwaite, in the Western Lake District, between December 3-21.
That's because these kids are learning all about the joy of giving and caring for the wildlife around them and about the lives of less fortunate children, in other countries, rather than being greedy and thinking about themselves.
At Trotters, they can discover how to help the wildlife on their doorstep, through wildlife encounters and presentations, listen to the enchanting story of the little fir tree and enjoy a traditional buffet and ride on a festively decorated tractor and trailer, as fairy-lights twinkle across the animal park.
They will also each take home a letter from Santa and a memento, as well as a greater understanding of what Christmas really means, backed with a hugely enhanced level of global awareness. After all, it’s not every day you see Santa in a Hawaiian shirt, sitting in a deckchair by a pool, or driving a car!
The price for the day, which starts at 10am and ends at 2pm, is £7.50 per child, within a group size of between ten and 90.
LITTLE FOLK UNDER THE FLOORBOARDS
The beautiful Theatre by the Lake, in Keswick, is providing children with a chance to learn all about the little folk who live underneath the floorboards, as it stages a production of The Borrowers, to January 12, 2008.
These little people rifle away all the things going missing in a home, but are now in a bit of bother, as a BOY has spotted one of them.
Children wishing to know what becomes of The Borrowers can ask their parents to take them along to the theatre at a cost of between £10-£17, with special rates also available. Visit Theatrebythelake.com for more information.
A FEAST FOR THE LITTLE MINCE PIES
From Boxing Day to January 3, 2008, the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway is laying on some tempting tucker, as well as its usual fabulous steam train journeys through some of the country's most breathtaking scenery.
Christmas in the Valley experiences, depart from Ravenglass Station, on Cumbria's West Coast, at midday, arriving at Dalegarth Station at 12.40pm, for a three course meal in the Fellbites Eatery.
Whether the tummy rumbles for a warming soup or prawn cocktail for starters, yet more turkey, or a full roast beef extravaganza for mains, or trifle, pud or cheesecake for dessert, this feast will not disappoint. Vegetarian choices are also available, with the full experience of steam train journey and meal costing just £23.90 per adult, with special rates for children determined by age.
Once the food has been devoured, passengers can browse the Scafell gift shop, or have a stroll around Eskdale, before catching the 3pm train back to the coast.
To book a place on one of these great trips, e-mail steam@ravenglass-railway.co.uk.
