Castle Magic at Lulworth

Swap the torn wrappings and trampled toys for a fun castle escape. Lulworth, Dorset's early 17th-century “mock” castle, has plenty of activities to keep youngsters amused. Merlin the magician will preside over events with special spells, or join in a Christmas quiz, castle games and “Hunt the Cracker”. Afterwards, try a bracing a hike along the Dorset Coastal Path above Lulworth Cove.

Open December 26, 10.30am-4pm. Adults £8, children £4, family ticket £24 (0845 4501054, www.lulworth.com)

Cornish waves

Britain's 12 best winter walks

A bracing stroll followed by a warming fire and a rewarding drink. What could be finer? Here are 12 beauties

• Britain's 13 best autumn walks

Britain's 10 best outdoor ice skating rinks

Get your skates on and get to one of these perfect ice skating destinations this winter

• London's 8 best ice skating rinks

Related Links

• Britain's 12 best winter walks

• Britain's 10 best outdoor ice skating rinks

How about a surf lesson? At Watergate Bay in Cornwall you can try out a half-day surf with instruction - an activity that should put a smile on even the moodiest teen. The cost is £25pp, but book before Christmas and you can make it a present with guaranteed cool appeal.

Extreme Academy at Watergate Bay (01637 860543, www.extremeacademy.co.uk)

Winter walkies

All those fireside snacks and turkey off-cuts mean pets are just as prone to seasonal weight gain as humans. But not for long. Pack the family off to Teesside, where they can help the dog to try out a new activity trail in Coatham Wood. The Forestry Commission has linked up with the Kennel Club to create this free dog trail with pipes, tunnels, beams, posts, hurdles and steps. Coatham Wood, a newly planted 200ha community woodland, offers plenty of chances for exploration.

www.forestry.gov.uk (OS Grid reference: NZ 390160)

Swindon stroll

Yomp away the mince pies with the Swindon Ranger Team on a free guided walk. Aptly named “No More Stuffing”, the 6km hike starts from Queen's Park Café, Queen's Park, Drove Road, at 10.30am - and continues through three of the town's historic parks. The walk is gentle and suits all abilities. Bring waterproofs.

Details: 01793 490150, www.visitwiltshire.co.uk (click on Christmas in Swindon)

Suffolk punch

Take to the seas and ride the waves on Southwold's high-speed Coastal Voyager, a 12-person rigid inflatable. Two rides are available. The “Half Hour High Speed Blast” costs £18 per adult and £9 for 13 years and under, while parties of up to 12 people can book the inflatable for £190 and enjoy the “Drive of Your Life” - with the chance to take the helm like a veritable James Bond.

Details: 07887 525082, www.coastalvoyager.co.uk

Island yomp

This should get the heart pounding and waistlines back on track - a 10km trek with the Isle of Wight ramblers, starting from Godshill car park at 9.30am. There are no stops, so you will easily be back in time for family lunch.

www.iowramblers.com

Bird-spotting in Dumfries

Winter is a great time for observing wild geese in action, so gather up your own flock and set off to one of the most scenic of the UK's Wildfowl and Wetlands centres. Caerlaverock Wetlands Trust in Drumfriesshire has a dramatic, open coastal landscape setting, and is the winter home of more than 25,000 Barnacle geese, which fly over from Norway's Arctic region. You can also watch barn owls and ospreys in their nests via CCTV, get close to hundreds of Icelandic whooper swans or go searching for the rare tadpole shrimp.

Family ticket (two adults and two children aged 4-16) £16. Open December 26, 10am-5pm

(01387 770200, www.wwt.org.uk/caerlaverock)

Skate to deflate

With its image of button boots and furry hats, ice-skating encapsulates the tinseltown season. Family skating can offer plenty of knockabout fun. Wrap up well and head for London's most atmospheric rink, set in the courtyard of Somerset House. The ice rink is open on Boxing Day from 12.30pm to 10.15pm (last session: 9.15pm), with a limited number of tickets released on the day from the on-site box office.

Family tickets £30

(0844 847 1520, www.somersethouse.org.uk)

Kew creepers

Set younger children loose in Climbers and Creepers, the interactive play zone in the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. They can have the excitement of being “eaten” by a giant pitcher plant or the thrill of crawling through a bramble tangle. The whole family can enjoy a winter walk around the gardens, using a downloadable booklet with tips on the best areas to see.

Open 11.30am-3.45pm; £12 per adult, free for children under 14 (020-8332 5655, www.kew.org)

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