The ultimate list of fun, low-cost activities to do in Cumbria this Christmas from Forestry England

Winter is a magical time in the nation’s forests. Life slows down, and without the rustling of leaves in the wind the forest becomes quiet making it the perfect destination to escape the Christmas madness. Wrap up warm, pull on your boots, pack your flask and have a low-cost day out to remember with Forestry England.

From celebrating Julia Donaldson’s much-loved character the Gruffalo’s birthday, to collecting pine cones to decorate your tree, there are plenty of activities to keep all ages entertained this Christmas. And the best thing is, they won’t break the bank with many activities being free!

1. Gruffalo’s 25th birthday trail

Don’t miss your last chance to celebrate the beloved Gruffalo's 25th birthday this Christmas with a big party trail in the forest! Families can work together to find missing party items while enjoying fun games along the trail and learning how plants and animals care for each other. This trail is a delightful and educational experience for Gruffalo fans of all ages.

Gruffalo birthday trails available at Grizedale & Whinlatter Forests until the end of 2024.

Cost: £4 per Gruffalo trail pack plus parking charges. Free parking for members.

2. Explore a Gruffalo sculpture trail

Set off on a memorable day out this winter and venture into the deep dark wood with your family to find the Gruffalo and other creatures from Julia Donaldson’s classic story. Each sculpture has been hand-carved and placed in different positions. Can you find them all?

Your little ones will love meeting Mouse, Owl, Fox, Snake and Squirrel as well as the Gruffalo and the Gruffalo's child!

Gruffalo sculpture trail available at Whinlatter Forest.

Cost: Free. Parking charges may apply. Free parking for members.

3. Join Wallace & Gromit for the ultimate forest walkies at Grizedale & Whinlatter

Celebrate Christmas with your pooch by taking on fun, dog-friendly challenges together! Follow the trail with Wallace & Gromit as your guides, solve crossword clues, and enjoy an adventure for both of you.

This interactive trail is packed with games and challenges designed for you and your dog to tackle. Simply use the OS Maps app to follow the route and discover a series of panels, each featuring a fun activity and a crossword clue to solve.

Download the route on OS Maps, and pick up your Forest Walkies with Wallace & Gromit pack before you set off. It’s filled with tips, activities, and more ideas to make your adventure unforgettable!

Forest Walkies trails available at Grizedale & Whinlatter Forests.

Cost: £5 per Forest Walkies pack plus parking charges. Free parking for members.

4. Soak up the night skies

The winter landscapes of the forest are captivating by day, but after the sun sets there is a whole new world to discover in the dark skies. In winter, when the nights are longer, and the skies are darker, it is a brilliant time to head outside and gaze at the stars.

Download Forestry England’s free beginner’s guide to see the forest at night in a whole new light! Written in association with BBC Sky at Night Magazine and packed with fantastic activities for all the family, get your hands on this free guide to learn about constellations, try star navigation, play night-games and become a Forest-Star.

Cost: Free. Parking charges may apply. Free parking for members.

5. Reconnect with nature on a wellbeing trail

The holidays can often feel overwhelming. Did you know that simply taking time to be mindful can be good for children's health and happiness?

During the winter holidays, spend some quality time away from screens with your family and connect with nature on one of Forestry England’s wellbeing trails.

In addition to the wellbeing trails, families can also give forest bathing a go. Simply find a quiet spot where your kids feel safe and relaxed and start practicing the art of forest bathing with Forestry England’s downloadable activity sheets.

Wellbeing trails available at Whinlatter Forest and Forestry England Ennerdale.

Cost: Free. Parking charges may apply. Free parking for members.

6. Become a forest rider

Cycling is an excellent way to keep warm in winter and can be enjoyed by the whole family. Ride your way to adventure this Christmas with Forestry England’s Forest Rider packs. The packs have been designed to challenge children to complete a series of off-road rides, build their confidence and to enjoy the fantastic network of trails the nation’s forest have to offer.

Don’t have a bike? Biketreks Grizedale and Cyclewise Whinlatter have you covered with plenty of hire options!

Cost: £5 per pack, plus £1.50 postage and packaging per pack when ordered online. Parking charges may apply. Free parking for members.

7. Look out for animal tracks on your next forest walkWinter months are an excellent time to get to know mammals in the forest. You may not meet an animal face to face, but you can read the tracks and signs they leave behind. Prints in the mud or snow can show the journeys animals in the forest have shared alongside you. You can quickly learn the difference between foxes, badgers and deer.

Did you know the only mammals that hibernate in the winter are hedgehogs, dormice and bats?

Cost: Free. Parking charges may apply. Free parking for members.

8. Download free Christmas activity sheetsFrom making the perfect decorations to spruce up your spruce, to getting arty with leaves collected from the forest floor, Forestry England free craft ideas are sure to make this Christmas the best yet!

In the pack you can expect:

• Decorate festive pine cones - Decorate pine cones to create a mini Christmas tree, or paint a pine cone robin to get in the festive spirit.
• Create a twig star - Ditch your plastic tree-topper in favour of a lovely handmade stick star with this guide. The perfect ornament for your family Christmas tree.
• Forest artwork - Make forest artwork with branches, pine cones and leaves collected on your forest adventure.
• Natural wreath - Get the family together to make your very own Christmas wreath for your home.
• Gruffalo winter - Help the Gruffalo match the snowy footprints to each of his animal friends!

Cost: Free. Parking charges may apply. Free parking for members.

10. Silhouette spottingBroadleaved trees become ghosts of the forest in winter, leaving their skeletons on show. Each species is built differently, with the silhouette of oak being round and stocky with low branches, but birch standing tall and slender with trailing branches.

Although deciduous trees lose their leaves in the winter months, look closely at these bare branches and you’ll see next year’s leaves are ready and waiting to burst out in spring.

Looking at leaf buds can be a great way to identify trees in winter. Ash twigs have sooty, black buds, beech are long and pointed, and rowan are purple and hairy!

Did you know warming winters may be confusing trees out of dormancy? Some buds have broken open as early as November.

Cost: Free. Parking charges may apply. Free parking for members.