TRAVEL / FESTIVE GETAWAYS


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Bath Christmas Market


Snow, ice and saunas


For many Christmas isn’t quite Christmas without a dusting or more of snow – and there are a handful of European cities that come into their own in winter. The Finnish capital Helsinki is one such contender. The days may be short but the natural light of snow-capped urban landscapes coupled with chic bars, fine restaurants and culture make this pocked-sized city – noted for its exquisite design and pioneering technology – a bit of a winner when it comes to winter wonderlands. Skiing (there are almost 200 kilometres of well-kept trails), sledging, skating, and ice swimming (ouch!) are all part of the Helsinki lifestyle but if that’s all a bit too strenuous then you’ll find our Finnish friends equally as happy relaxing in the sauna (the national pastime), sipping vodka and generally savouring the finer things in life. • Norwegian (www.norwegian.com) flies


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from Gatwick with fares starting at £130 return. The four-star Fabian Hotel (www. hotelfabian.fi) has rooms from around £100 a night.


Bring in the new


Few places are quite as special at New Year as the Scottish capital. Hogmanay in Edinburgh is a wonderful confection of tradition and partying and a seven-day holiday combines the “granite city” with the Highlands’ great railways, entrance to the festivities and a wee dram on route. Highlights include excursions to


Inverness, Loch Ness, and the Crieff and Glenturret Distillery, a journey on the Kyle Line (one of the most picturesque in the country), a Hogmanay champagne reception and gala dinner, evening meals and the services of a tour manager throughout.


• The 7-day trip with Great Rail Journeys


Shakespeare’s England The Cuttlefish


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