CHRISTMAS AT HATTERRALL – What it’s like to spend the festive season in one of our luxury holiday cottages at the base of the Black Mountains in rural Herefordshire!

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31 Dec, 2023

CHRISTMAS AT HATTERRALL – What it’s like to spend the festive season in one of our luxury holiday cottages at the base of the Black Mountains in rural Herefordshire!

The first of November has arrived and just like that, Christmas is upon us. As the 6 week countdown begins, we thought we’d share what it’s like to spend Christmas at Hatterrall, celebrating the festive season, from the comfort of one of our luxury holiday cottages.

From our favourite decorations, to seasons old recipes, local traditions to festive events. Learn all about Christmas in Herefordshire, right here…

The beautiful Black Hill, Herefordshire in winter! See more about walking the Black Hill, here: https://hatterrall.co.uk/?p=691

WREATH MAKING

For us, a wreath hanging on the door signifies the start of Christmas, and when you use real foliage and hang them outside, they’re sure to last all season long, bringing beauty and cheer to any home!

To make a Christmas wreath, you will need the following materials:

Our step-by-step guide to creating a Christmas wreath:

  1. Start by preparing your wire wreath frame. Grab a handful of moss and secure it in place on your wire wreath frame using floral wire. Continue grabbing handfuls of moss, wrapping the wire around the frame to secure it in place. This will serve as the base of your wreath.
  2. Secondly, gather your foliage into bunches. Choose branches with the widest span and sturdiest stems and place those at the back, flat. Continue to layer different types of foliage onto you fan, with smaller more delicate and colourful foliage types on top.
  3. Attach the first bunch of evergreen branches to the wreath frame using floral wire. Place the stems against the frame, pointing at a 45 degree angle, and secure them tightly. Overlap the top foliage of each subsequent bunch of branches over the previous one to hide the stems and create a full appearance. Continue adding more branches until the entire wreath frame is covered. When you get to the last bunch, hide the stems under the foliage of the first bunch.
  4. Once the wreath base is complete, you can start adding decorative elements. Use floral wire to attach pine cones, berries, cinnamon sticks, pheasant feathers, or a bow ribbon to the wreath. Adding decorative elements in odd numbers often looks better.
  5. Attach a ribbon or string to the back of the wreath for hanging. Make sure it’s securely fastened.
  6. Hang your beautiful handmade Christmas wreath on your front door and admire your creation and enjoy the festive spirit it brings to your home!

See some examples of the wreaths we’ve made for the holiday cottages over the years:

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT

For us, Carols by Candlelight is the epitome of Christmas. Taking place a few days before Christmas, often on a Thursday, the carol service in our local church, St Clydawg’s, Clodock is one not to be missed.

Around the 23rd December, the regular congregation of around 20 parishioners is soon joined by festive merry makers from far and wide, who pack tightly into the church, filling pews, covering the balcony and lining the stairways. As the lights go out, the candles are lit, and the choir begins singing.

With a solo of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ commencing the goings on, the congregation soon joins in for 45 minutes of Christmas classics.

There really is no better place to be than to get you in the spirit. Exit the church with a smile on your face, looking back at a snow-covered Hatterrall Hill, before pottering across the churchyard back to the local pub, the Cornewall Arms which is packed to the rafters with folk old and young, spreading nothing but Christmas cheer!

TREE DECORATING

If you’re staying at Hatterrall, you’re sure to be welcomed by a beautifully decorated, real Christmas tree on arrival! But if you’d like to decorate your own tree, please do let us know and we will leave it for you to enjoy!

BAUBLE MAKING

To make pheasant feather baubles, you will need the following materials:

Here’s a step-by-step guide to create your pheasant feather baubles:

  1. Start by warming up your hot glue gun, and using it to make an indentation on your bauble. Fill the indentation with glue, and stick on your string/ribbon (photo one below).
  2. Take your pheasant feathers, and trim off the bottom neatly, using scissors (photo two and three – before and after).
  3. Starting at the top, apply a small amount of craft glue or use a hot glue gun to attach the trimmed feathers to the bauble, continue in layers, moving around the bauble, covering all areas (photo four).
  4. Allow the glue to dry completely before moving on to the next layer down (photo five).
  5. Continue until you add the last feather to the bottom of the bauble.
  6. Repeat these steps for as many pheasant feather baubles as you’d like to create, using different coloured or patterned feathers each time for a unique bauble.

Now you have beautifully crafted pheasant feather baubles to enhance your Christmas decorations, and add texture to the tree!

FESTIVE BAKING

Two of our favourites are Mince Pies and Gingerbread Cookies. For us, they are staples at Christmas time, with tins stacked high in the pantry all season long.

Other festive favourites of ours include our classic cupcakes with a festive twist, traditional pavlova with a festive twist, arranged as a wreath, and of course… pigs in blankets!

We love popping into our wonderful local town of Crickhowell to visit the wonderful Cashell’s Butchers to collect our Christmas goodies!

Find them here: https://cashells.co.uk

HOW TO MAKE GINGERBREAD MEN:

We love using this BBC GoodFood recipe! Be sure to try it our for yourself for a fun festive activity for the little ones, or simply if you wish to enjoy a tasty treat this Christmastime!

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/gingerbread-men-0

FESTIVE FUN

When it comes to festive fun in Herefordshire during the Christmas period, there are plenty of exciting activities to enjoy. Here are a few suggestions to get into the holiday spirit:

  1. Christmas Markets: Explore local artisan Christmas markets, where you can find unique gifts and delicious treats. Indulge in hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts, and traditional festive foods while browsing the stalls. For an up-to-date list of local Christmas markets and fairs, see: https://www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/inspiration/christmas-markets-fairs
  2. Christmas Light Displays: Take a leisurely stroll through our wonderful local towns of Abergavenny, Hay on Wye or Hereford or drive around the picturesque black and white North Herefordshire villages to admire the beautifully lit streets and houses adorned with twinkling Christmas lights. It’s a magical sight that is sure to put you in a festive mood.
  3. Carol Singing: The local Young Farmers’ Club often makes an appearance in the local pubs on the few days leading up to Christmas, singing their heart out to traditional Christmas carols. Melodious voices can also often be heard in our nearby towns, or church services, including the wonderful Hereford Cathedral (for current services see: https://www.herefordcathedral.org).
  4. Festive Movie Nights: Gather with friends and family for cosy film nights, sit down with a bowl of popcorn and a mug of hot chocolate to enjoy a Christmas classic. Whether it’s ‘The Holiday’ or ‘Love Actually’, ‘Elf’ or ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’, nothing beats an afternoon spent cosying up by the fire watching a Christmas film.

Remember to embrace the festive spirit, spread kindness, and make lasting memories during this joyful season.

TABLE LAYING:

How to Lay the Table for Christmas

To create a beautiful and inviting table setting for Christmas, follow these steps:

  1. Tablecloth or Runner: Start by laying a festive tablecloth or runner as a base for your table setting.
  2. Plates and Cutlery: Place your placemats or chargers, and then the dinner plates in the center of each setting, with the dessert plates above them if needed.
  3. Glasses: Position the water glass just above the knives, followed by the wine and other specialty glasses to the right.
  4. Napkins and Napkin Rings: Fold or arrange the napkins and display them creatively using napkin rings or other decorative elements. You can also tuck them under the dessert plate or in the water glass for an elegant touch.
  5. Centerpiece: Create a stunning centerpiece as the focal point of the table. This could be a traditional Christmas floral arrangement, a candle display, or a decorative holiday sculpture. Ensure it is low enough for guests to comfortably converse over it.
  6. Place Cards or Favors: If desired, add place cards or small favors at each setting to add a personal touch and help guests find their places.
  7. Final Touches: Once everything else is in place, take a moment to ensure all elements are evenly spaced and aligned. Consider adding festive touches like scattered pine cones, holly sprigs, crackers or small ornaments to complete the look.

By following these steps, you can set the stage for a memorable Christmas celebration with a beautifully laid table. Cheers to a festive and joyful holiday gathering!

PRINTING WRAPPING PAPER:

Printing our own wrapping paper is one of our favourite Christmas crafts, here’s how you can make your own too!

  1. Materials You’ll Need:
  2. Design Preparation:
    • Sketch or trace your desired design onto the carving block or rubber block using a pencil. This can be a repeating pattern, festive symbols, or any custom design.
    • Ensure that the lines and shapes are bold and clear for easy carving. Consider the negative space as you will be carving away the areas that you want to remain white on the paper.
  3. Carving the Block:
    • Use the carving tools or lino cutter to carefully carve around the design, removing the areas that you want to remain white on the paper. Take your time and work slowly to avoid mistakes.
    • Remember that whatever you carve away will not pick up ink and will appear as the background color of your paper.
  4. Ink Application:
    • Squeeze a small amount of water-soluble printing ink onto a palette or tray.
    • Use the brayer to roll the ink onto the carved block, ensuring an even and consistent coverage of ink on the raised design.
  5. Printing Process:
    • Carefully place the inked carving block onto the craft paper or kraft paper, applying even pressure to transfer the design.
    • For a repeating pattern, ensure that each impression is aligned with the previous one to create a seamless design.
  6. Drying and Setting:
    • Allow the printed wrapping paper to dry completely before using or storing. Follow the ink manufacturer’s instructions for setting the ink, which may involve heat setting or air-drying.
  7. Cleanup:
    • Clean your carving block, tools, and workspace thoroughly after printing to maintain their longevity and performance for future projects.
    • For a repeating pattern, ensure that each impression is aligned with the previous one to create a seamless design.
  8. Wrap Your Gifts:
    Once the wrapping paper is dry, use it to wrap your presents! You’ll love the personal touch and festive flair it adds to your gifts.

By following these steps, you can enjoy the process of creating personalized, block-printed wrapping paper, adding a unique and heartfelt touch to your holiday gift-giving. We also like to stamp brown paper bags we’ve collected from shops, tags and more! Get creative and enjoy both the process of making your wrapping paper, and seeing it in its true glory.