Christmas at Kilnsey Park brings reindeer to the dales!

There's an absolute cracker of a festive family weekend planned on 8 and 9 December as Kilnsey Park launch their first Christmas under the Crag celebration. We are very excited!

A great day out at the best of times (we love the Kilnsey trail and are always partial to the food from the farm shop) this special weekend promises to be a real highlight of all the local Christmas events, with real life reindeers Comet and Blitzen joining in the fun.

Saturday (8 Dec) sees the beautiful setting host the Winter Real Ale Festival and live music, 6pm till late. Kilnsey Park is set to sway to the live sounds of blues prodigy Bluesbeaten Redshaw, who played Glastonbury and Montreux Jazz festivals aged just 19. There will be hot food cooked on the fire and the entire park will be illuminated.  It's absolutely free but donations are welcomed to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

It sounds like the perfect evening to us and is topped only by what's in store the next day! Sunday (9 Dec) looks like an incredible way to spend a day in the dales with the little ones. We cannot imagine their excitement on hearing that Father Christmas will be in attendance with two real life beautiful reindeer!

Alongside this there will be a special illuminated Christmas Trail with Santa's Grotto, hot food cooked on the fire, Christmas craft workshops, 'make your own snowman' and pony rides (for an extra £2.50). There will be festive food in the (child/baby-friendly) café, mince pies and mulled wine, carols from local schoolchildren, plus stocking and hamper fillers galore available from the Estate’s well-stocked Farm and Gift Shop. All this and a fantastic Christmas market in a marquee. 

Entrance to the Park, Estate Shop and Cafe will be free. Tickets for the special Christmas Trail experience - including the illuminated walk, meeting the reindeers and a visit to Father Christmas including special present - are: Children (under 14) £5, Adults £4 and Family £15. Opening hours are 10am-8pm and there's no need to book just turn up ready to have fun!

We think this sounds like the hot ticket this year and we cannot wait to enjoy Kilnsey Park's first Christmas celebration. With the line-up they've planned, we're already hoping it won't be the last! See you there...

 For more information please visit www.kilnseypark.co.uk

Father Christmas takes up residence at Bolton Abbey!

With the Christmas countdown now officially on we’re delighted to let you know that Santa himself is in residence at Bolton Abbey throughout December gearing up for the busiest day of his year!


Magical enough at the best of times, Bolton Abbey Estate cannot wait to host the visits from Father Christmas, Mrs Christmas and the elves to enchant little ones from across the area.


After a 4,000 mile journey from the North Pole, he will be resting in an old Romany caravan nestled in Strid Wood on the 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th (fully booked), 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd December between 10am and 4pm.


You’re invited to wrap up warm and follow a trail of presents from Father Christmas' sleigh (parked outside the Cavendish Pavilion) to find where he is hidden in the woods (Only a 5 minute walk from the Cavendish Pavilion – suitable for pushchairs). Once you find him – you’ll also find that he has presents suitable for all ages, being sorted by Mrs Christmas and a merry band of elves!

To keep queuing to a minimum, the elves have devised a system giving each family a booking time. The visits by Father Christmas are always incredibly popular so it’s recommended you book now to avoid disappointment. The Estate Office can be contacted on 01756 718 000.


Tickets are £4.50 per child and normal admission to the estate applies. For those visiting Father Christmas, the Cavendish Pavilion will offer a free children’s hot drink with each full paying adult hot drink. There’s much to tempt you to keep the chill off – delicious hot chocolate or a yummy babychino for the little ones – frothy milk with chocolate sprinkles.


Also on at Bolton Abbey is the Winter Wonderland Christmas Gift Fair (3rd and 4th December) and the 12 Days of Christmas Trail (25th December – 5th January).