Family Christmas Ideas 2003

Exhilarating winter sports in the Cairngorms
At 3,800 sq. km, the new Cairngorms National Park is Britain's biggest and most diverse park. It is Britain's premier destination for winter sports and home to four of Scotland's highest mountains. In addition to the peaks, it's home to the romantic River Dee, which flows through the glen where Queen Victoria persuaded Prince Albert to buy her the Balmoral Estate. The park also holds a quarter of Scotland's native woodlands, including forests of rare natural conifers, pines and birch. There is a good chance of snow at Christmas, although when the weather turns nasty, which it can do without warning, the only place to be is indoors.

Where to stay
While Scotland is rife with hunting lodges, most are geared to adult pursuits and don't cater for children. One place families flock to is the Hilton Craigendarroch resort hotel at Ballater (pictured), in the heart of Royal Deeside. The hotel has two swimming pools, one with a children's slide; all-weather tennis courts; an outdoor playground and dry ski slope; squash courts; a fitness suite; sauna; steam room; games room and snooker room. When guests arrive on Christmas Eve, adults enjoy mulled wine around the log fire in the study. In the evening, there is a champagne reception, followed by a buffet of Highlands seafood and game in the Lochnagar Suite. For children, there are Christmas Eve parties, high tea, a Hamleys playroom, and a supervised swim and video evening.

A three-night Christmas break, including dinner, bed and breakfast with entertainment and activities costs £300 per person (sharing a double or twin-bedded room), £90 per child (2 to 4yrs) and £180 (5 to 15yrs) sharing with adults.

Things to do around and about
For young animal-lovers, the nearby Cairngorm Reindeer Centre has visits to the herd and Father Christmas. Trips leave daily at 11am. For older children (recommended age, 10 plus) there is the Cairngorm Sleddog Centre. During a three-hour course (£45.00) you learn about the sport, discover how a pack of 12 husky dogs is trained to match the power of a pair of horses, and experience the thrill and power of sled dogs in an hour-long ride (with an experienced driver). At the village of Stonehaven on the coast, the fireball ceremony at Hogmanay is said to burn off bad spirits and welcome in the New Year, clean and fresh. Just before midnight, local people walk through the town, swinging flaming balls of fire in wire cages, which they then toss into the sea. The ceremony attracts thousands of onlookers, who make sure to watch from a safe distance.

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