Christmas Arrives at Castle Howard.

From Saturday 28th November – Sunday 20th December the magnificent 18th-century Castle Howard, near York, will be lit by roaring fires and candlelight. Giant Christmas trees will dominate the Great Hall and Long Gallery, each decorated with over 1,000 baubles, as well as the display of traditional Christmas 'twigs' - all decorated by the Hon. Simon Howard and Mrs Howard. Beautiful decorations, seasonal displays and garlands will all add to the magic.
Included in your admission; additional fee for Father Christmas
Musical performances will take place daily and families can enjoy discovering the House and decorations with our children's Christmas Trail, as they hunt for 'Figgy Pudding' and friends!

Visit Father Christmas at his Lakeside Grotto
Take the Christmas Express to visit Father Christmas at his Lakeside Grotto, every weekend during the Christmas opening, where every child will receive a gift appropriate to their age.
Visit Father Christmas on the following days: Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November, Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December and Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December 2009.
Tickets to visit Father Christmas cost £5.00 per child, whatever their age (including Annual Pass children) - which includes a gift and access to the Lakeside Cafe, and Adventure Playground. Adults accompanying children are free of charge. If you wish to visit the House additional tickets are required.

Stable Courtyard Christmas Markets
In the Stable Courtyard browse two delightful festive markets - Christmas Art Market on Sunday 29 November and a Christmas Local Produce & Craft Market on Tuesday 8 December Wednesday 9 December and Tuesday 15 December - open from 10am with free admission.

For further details about Castle Howard click here.

Visit the popular St Nicholas Fayre in York.

Between 26-29 November York's biggest and most popular Christmas market, St Nicholas Fayre, hosts traders from across the region and the rest of Britain to offer fresh and unique gifts as well as the very best of Yorkshire produce.

Open air markets stretch across the city centre's main squares and into the historic halls in the city, with the Made In Yorkshire craft market within the Guild Hall, a further craft market at St William's College and an unusual medieval market within the rooms of Barley Hall.Parliament Street stalls will offer handmade gifts by craftspeople and artists from across the UK, with breaks in the stalls for warming punch, hot chocolate and chestnut sellers.

Free entry Thursday 26th 9.00-20.00 Friday 27th/Saturday 28th 9.00-17.00Sunday 29th 10.00-16.00

For further information click here.

Get your skates on in York from 14 November 2009.

Right in the centre of historic York, overlooked by the spectacular facades of 13th Century Clifford's Tower, the Law Courts and the Castle Museum, York’s open-air real ice rink, The Ice Factor, returns for it fifth successive year.

At night, the rink positively sparkles with its floodlit surroundings and the numerous Christmas trees and cabins around the rink garlanded with lights too.

The Ice Factor has a public viewing area and a heated skate hire marquee. Situated right beside the ice rink, the glass-fronted, heated Ice Bar & Café is the ideal spot for those who don't wish to skate but want to watch the fun outside.

The National Trust hosts a Blues Night at Nunnington Hall in North Yorkshire.

On 21 November 2009 Steve Philips, one of the country's foremost blues guitarists and former member of the Notting Hillbillies, will be performing at Nunnington Hall.

The event takes place from 19.00 – 21.15. Gates open at 18.15.

Autumn Walks through Dalby and Cropton Forests, North Yorkshire.

It has been so busy here at Flamborough Rigg cottage B&B this summer that we haven’t had as many of our favourite epic forest walks as we might have liked. We know Phil and Caroline have been busy looking after guests so we forgive them.

They are making it up to us now as things are slightly calmer and who can resist the stunning Yorkshire forests in autumn. There have been walks to some of our favourite pubs including the White Swan in Newton under Rawcliffe and the Horseshoe Inn in Levisham.

The forests are knee deep or doggy nose high in golden leaves. Katie, Lily and I have had great fun playing hide and seek, diving under the mountains of leaves and then pouncing out on Phil and Caroline.

As you can see from our photo lots of people are out having as much fun as we are!

Hedge Laying Workshops in North Yorkshire.

The North Yorkshire Moors National Park Authority are hosting a couple of two-day workshops in the traditional country craft of hedge laying. It will take place on the National Park’s Levisham Estate close to the market town of Pickering in North Yorkshire.

You will be wielding billhooks - very sharp hand tools - and finding out all there is to know about pleachers.

Dates: 14th Nov 2009 - 15th Nov 2009 & 21st Nov 2009 - 22nd Nov 2009

Aimed at aged 18+ but 16 and 17 year olds may take part if accompanied by a paying adult.

View the British Wildlife Photography Awards Entries

On 7 and 8 November 2009 the National Trust at Nunnington Hall, North Yorkshire, will be displaying the winning entries from the 2009 British Wildlife Photography Awards competition.

This is an excellent opportunity to see these stunning photographs up close.

For further details on Nunnington Hall click here.

Castle Howard hosts NSPCC Christmas Shopping Fair

The NSPCC Castle Howard Christmas Fair is taking place on Friday 6 November from 9.30am to 3.30pm with over 50 stalls selling a range of goods for adults and children alike: from toys, swimming pool games and children’s books to traditional Yorkshire food stalls, clothes, jewellery, home wares and pet gifts.

The annual event attracts over 1,200 visitors and hopes to raise £35,000 for the NSPCC, who run vital services for children across North Yorkshire.

The admission fee of £7 includes entrance to Castle Howard house and the gardens. Buy your ticket on the day from the Castle Howard Ticket Office, with all the proceeds being donated to the NSPCC. Your ticket includes admission to the house, gardens and adventure playground.
Please note that pushchairs, prams and buggies are not allowed in the House.

For further details click here.