The festive season
is fast approaching and if you haven’t already decided how you’ll celebrate New
Year’s Eve, now’s the time to get planning. To shake things up a little, why
not try something completely new? Here are some alternative destinations that
could make the perfect setting to see in the new year.
Explore the great outdoors in the Lake District
If you fancy
burning some of those Christmas calories, why not book a trip to the Lake
District? England’s largest national park, it is home to the country’s highest
mountain, deepest lake and an array of other attractions. Rental agencies such
as Lakelovers
offer a selection of picturesque holiday cottages that provide the ideal bases
from which to explore the area.
Providing the
weather’s on your side, you can take to the slopes for a spot of skiing. The
Lake District Ski Club operates a 360-metre button tow at the Helvellyn
mountain range, allowing you to test your skills traversing the ridge. The
Raise fell offers the best snow conditions in the Lake District and, depending
on the conditions, you can find up to nine pistes there. The longest of these
stretches out for nearly a mile.
If skiing isn’t
your thing, you can explore the beautiful landscape on foot. On a crisp
winter’s day, the area is at its most beautiful. There are plenty of
challenging routes to explore, but if you’re after something a little gentler,
take a trip to Tarn Hows. Set in the hills above Coniston, you can drive up to
the waterway and then wander around the 1.5-mile circular pathway. You’ll get
to see some of the best mountains in the Lakes for minimal effort.
Enjoy the very best of Cumbrian hospitality
The Lake District
is also the perfect place to enjoy some fabulous food and drink. If you’re
after an indulgent New Year, check out some of the area’s acclaimed eateries.
Cumbria’s food scene has made great strides over recent years and you can now
find an array of fine dining establishments dotted across the region. Menus
showcase the best of local produce and you’ll get to tuck into the likes of
tattie hotpot, Herwick lamb and Cumberland sausage.
One establishment
that has earned a reputation for serving up mouth watering dishes is L’Enclume.
Led by Michelin starred chef Simon Rogan, this Cartmel restaurant offers an
imaginative take on modern British cuisine. There’s no set menu and dishes are
determined on the day by the produce available. Another top-class eatery is the
Holbeck Ghyll near Windermere. This 19th-century former hunting lodge also has
a Michelin star and it offers gourmet dishes with a Gallic twist.
Head for the bright lights of London
If it’s bright
lights and action you’re after, perhaps a trip to London would be ideal this
New Year. This bustling metropolis always has plenty going on over the festive
season and a highlight is the world-famous firework display over the Thames.
The show is now ticketed, but at only £10, it’s well worth the money.
Another must-see
if you’re in the capital is the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. Entry to this
outdoor attraction is free and you’ll find a select of fairground rides, a
60-metre observation wheel, an ice rink and two circuses. Meanwhile, the
Victorian bandstand is brought to life with the addition of 100,000 twinkling
lights. If you work up a thirst, you can check out the themed bars and warm
yourself up by their real fires.
These are just a
few of the myriad possibilities open to you this New Year. With a little
imagination and some research, you should be able to arrange the perfect
celebrations to welcome in 2015.
