Up in the air . . .

FINNAIR is to add 100 plus weekly flights for 2018/19 European Winter. Finnair will continue to grow its operations during the 2018/19 European Winter season with additional capacity on existing routes in Lapland, Russia and the Baltic countries. 

Finnair General Manager – Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia, Geoff Stone said Finnair would serve both Kittilä and Ivalo, in Finnish Lapland, with additional daily non-stop flights over the European Winter. Mr Stone said schedules for flights to Lapland airports were being aligned for more convenient connections and increased options for customers.

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The Brecons beckon in the winter

THE Brecon Beacons National Park, located in South Wales, is a treasure trove for visitors. From adrenaline-fueled abseiling and mountain biking, to scenic walks and pub lunches, visitors can explore the destination year-round.

Christmas is a particularly magical time to visit the National Park as the market towns come to life with festive markets, food celebrations and Santa grottos in underground caves.  Here are a roundup of festive activities to do in the #BreconBeacons this winter:

Hay Festival Winter Weekend, 23-26 November 2017
The world famous Hay Literature Festival’s Winter Weekend promises an array of literary talks and events throughout the book town alongside a food and vintage festival.  Over 40 exhibitors will attend the food festival and those looking to pick up a vintage bargain will be able to do so on Sunday 26 November at the fashion fair. http://www.hayfestival.com/winterweekend/

Royal Welsh Winter Fair, 27-28 November 2017
Recognised as one of the most popular attractions on the British agricultural show calendar and the finest prime stock show in Europe, the best Welsh food producers get together to showcase their produce. The two day event includes cookery, produce, handicraft, poultry, horticulture, floral art and meat products competitions, a firework display, Christmas gifts and a Santa’s grotto. www.rwas.wales/winter-fair  and prices cost £15 for adults and £5 for children.

Abergavenny Christmas Food Festival, 10 December 2017
The annual Christmas Food and Drink Fair showcases over 90 stalls and exhibitors from all over Wales, including fresh and cured meats, poultry and game, cheeses and chocolates, cakes and desserts, wines and liqueurs, ales and cider. The festival includes bite-size chef demonstrations throughout the day and the chance to spend time with food experts and learn the newest seasonal tips. www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com.

Beacons Trike Tours Limited
Whether it's the thrill of a motorbike ride or the chance to soak up the surroundings whilst being 'chauffeur driven', Trike Tours offer a unique and alternative way to explore the Brecon Beacons. Running a Christmas discount from now until the end of 2017, visitors can save 15% on all tours and vouchers. www.beaconstriketours.co.uk.

Dan-yr-Ogof Cave and Cathedral Cave Christmas Experience
Forget a Santa’s grotto in a high street store, behind a curtained-off section, and instead head deep underground and explore a magical world in the caves and caverns in the Brecon Beacons. Children can step right into a Welsh mountain and discover the ancient caves whilst visiting Santa in his authentic grotto. Furthermore, families can call by the National Showcaves Centre and marvel at one of the largest collections of life-sized dinosaur models in the world. Kids can also enjoy a trailer ride to look at the animals, including the Shire Horses, on the Morgan Brothers’ farm. The caves are open every weekend in December. www.showcaveschristmas.co.uk.

Christmas at The Angel, Abergavenny
The Angel Hotel, named 'AA Hotel of the Year for Wales 2016/17', offers a number of special Christmas packages and events, including The Après Ski Bar - a popup bar bringing the ambience of alpine ski lodge to Abergavenny and serving Swiss fondue, sausages and steins.  www.angelabergavenny.com

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Winter Skills in Scotland

FOR the last 7 years Unexplored Scotland has provided quality Winter Skills Courses in #Scotland. The company has revamped the programme of its courses and offers now a 2 day winter course every weekend from early January till early April. The two day course takes place on the Cairngorm hills near Aviemore.

Skills covered on the course include:

• Walking with crampons
• Using an ice axe to cut steps
• Avalanche awareness
• Digging an emergency shelter
• Practice ice axe arrests

For further information go to https://unexplored.scot

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Reykjavik Winter Lights Festival

#REYKJAVIK is set to be illuminated at the city’s 16th annual Winter Lights Festival which runs from February 2-5 this year. 

The festival celebrates both the winter and the growing sun light after a long period of darkness. The program is a mixture of art and industry, environment and history, sports and culture.

All events are free of charge except The Northernlights Run and there will be free of charge museum night buses. The buses will be transporting people between the museums free of charge making it easier to participate in the Museum Night Game. 

www.winterlightsfestival.is

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Picture Credit: precipices 19650786@N04/13155461724 Aurora Borealis, Iceland via photopin

Let it snow . . .

WAKE up this New Year to the fresh Alpine air in Italy’s beautiful Madonna Di Campiglio region, Switzerland or France?

Madonna Di Campiglio, Italy: seven nights at the three-star Hotel Touring on a half board basis over New Year from £1,455 per person. A charming, family run hotel offering breathtaking views and direct access to the nearest Belvedere blue run.

Flims Laax, Switzerland: seven nights over New Year staying at the four-star Sunstar Alpine Hotel Flims on a bed and breakfast basis from £1,330 per person. Situated in a stunning Art Nouveau style building, constructed over 100 years ago, it is located on the edge of the forest near Lake Cauma.

Five-star Christmas Val d’Isère, France: seven nights bed and breakfast accommodation during Christmas staying at the five-star Hotel Le Blizzard from £2,400 per person. This luxurious chalet style property features a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, a hot tub and restaurant.

www.skisolutions.com

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Visit Jersey launches UK advertising campaign

VISIT JERSEY is launching its Escape to Jersey winter campaign, designed to give UK city people a taste of the island’s winter pleasures.

The promotion is an extension of its Escape to Jersey summer campaign and highlights that, as a destination, Jersey is seasonally diverse and offers something for visitors year-round.

The hub of the integrated campaign is a bespoke Escape to Jersey microsite that introduces visitors to local legends, shares insider secrets and focuses on the island’s winter-time delights, which include spas, scenery, and seasonal produce and cuisine.

#VisitJersey is calling on residents to become local ambassadors for the #island, sharing favourite winter moments, via Visit Jersey’s Facebook page.

Adam Caerlewy-Smith, head of Marketing at Visit Jersey says: ‘We know how passionate locals are about Jersey and who better to inspire potential visitors, and tell our winter story? Personal recommendations are incredibly powerful – and we want to harness our untapped local knowledge and encourage residents to share what makes Jersey special, during winter.’ 


Perhaps rent a campervan and travel around the island . . .

https://govillasandcottages.co.uk/property/9077084107120077081061061/jersey-camper-hire-spingside-trinity.html

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Picture Credit: Victoria Tower, St Catherine's breakwater, Jersey by No machine-readable author provided. Man vyi assumed (based on copyright claims). - No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims).. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons 

Winter walks

#RAMBLERS groups will be leading hundreds of free walks in England and Wales from December 19 to January 3 … from short strolls to heartier hikes. 

Ramblers’ chief executive, Benedict Southworth, says: ‘Winter is one of the best times to go out for a walk. There’s something truly magical about putting on your hat and gloves, heading out and perhaps even being the first person to leave footprints in the snow. Our Festival of #WinterWalks is our Christmas gift to the nation, so that everyone can enjoy the wonders of a winter walk.

‘The Festival of Winter Walks is free and open to everyone. Anyone who gets the walking bug can visit www.ramblers.org.uk/become-a-member to find out more about becoming a Ramblers member. Our members enjoy access to more than 45,000 group walks led by our volunteers each year, as well as exclusive walking routes that can be downloaded. Membership will also be helping to protect the

www.ramblers.org.uk/winterwalks

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