Treat yourself to lashings of festive cheer by enjoying a Welsh Christmas with all the trimmings. With a slew of open-air Ice rinks, Christmas markets, Santas' grottos and cherry shopping experiences (phew!), Wales has plenty to offer anyone seeking a bit of Chrimbo va-va-voom.
Victorian Christmas
Rewind to Victorian time with a visit to Penrhyn Castle, Bangor, December. Opulent rooms will be decked out in festive decorations and carol singing will echo through the halls. Glug back some hot punch and munch on roasted chestnuts to get that cosy festival feeling.
Icy does it
Get your skates on at Cardiff's open-air ice rink, part of its Winter Wonderland on City Hall Lawn, which also includes a big wheel and a cafe bar. The rink is open until the first week of January.
The seaside town of Swansea's National Waterfront Museum will morph into the annual Waterfront Winter Wonderland with an open-air ice rink and traditional fairground rides, such as a big wheel and a carousel. It's open until early January and there will be plenty of food stalls to refuelat (see cardiff.gov.uk).
Step back in time
Shopaholics should get their credit cards poised and ready for action at the Caerphilly Medieval Fayre, rated one of the best Christmas markets In Wales by those in the know. Offering more than 22 stalls selling crafts and tasty tucker, the market will open during December, see caerphilly.gov.uk for more detail. If that's not enough for you there will also be a continental and farmers market bursting with potential Christmas presents and seasonal goodies.
Get sporty
Rugby fans can have a sticky beak behind the scenes of Cardiff's Millennium Stadium during a dedicated Christmas tour. The national stadium of Wales is home to the Welsh rugby union and football teams, as well as playing host to a host of music concerts.
Check out the dressing rooms, walk down the players' tunnel and sit in the president's box. The tour finishes up with hot drinks and mince pies. Tours are available on some weekdays in December and at weekends throughout December, visit millenniumstadium.com for more information.