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Why I love Christmas in the countryside

Why I love Christmas in the countryside

 

I’ve been very lucky to spend Christmas in some amazing and exotic destinations. I’ve spent Christmas Day on the beach in Sydney, one Christmas scuba diving with manta rays in Bali and even one year I was cruising around the Canaries.

But, do you know what? My favourite place in the world to spend Christmas is at home in the countryside.

Christmas is all about family and friends and those family traditions that are so unique to everyone.

I love wrapping up warm under lots of cosy layers and going for long walks through the mountains. These walks always tend to end in an old pub with wonky beams and roaring fires. I like visiting the Welsh farmers markets where you can pick up local delicacies and genuinely unique and handmade gifts. I love walking through my village and seeing twinkling lights in cottage windows and trees illuminated like they’re filled with stars.

It’s best when it snows and everyone takes to the streets to build snowmen and play outdoors. Adults of all ages are suddenly children again as they throw snowballs and give in to the festive spirit. There’s always one family member (my mum in my case) who stays indoors to keep the fire roaring while baking mince pies. They have hot drinks waiting for cold hands and tasty treats once you finally go inside.

As I’ve got older, Christmas stopped being about the presents and surprises underneath the tree. It’s now about all these lovely traditions that bring people together and I think you feel this even more in the countryside.

People in the countryside are friendlier and have more time for one another.

During my whole time in London I didn’t meet one of my neightbours. Now I live in the countryside and I know all of my neighbours like old friends. They pop in for mulled wine and there seems to be a different Christmas party each night of the week. I think it’s because people have bigger houses and more space to welcome their friends and family into their homes. Even if everyone is crammed into the living room, sat on cushions on the floor and lazing in front of the fire, it’s just nice to have everyone together.

I really love London but you can’t beat Christmas in the countryside.

Last weekend I was using the Huawei Mate S to capture the beginning of Christmas in the countryside.

Here’s how it looks.

Fires, Christmas wreaths and candles

This is what it’s all about! There’s nothing better than cosying up in front of the TV to watch Christmas films with the fire blazing and the scent of Christmas candles filling the room. This is usually enjoyed with a tub of mince pies from my mum.

Why I love spending Christmas in the country | The Travel Hack

 

Walks with my pooch

It has been weirdly warm this year – disappointingly warm if I’m honest. But I have enjoyed walking my dog through the fields with blue skies and bright sunshine. I’d enjoy a bit of snow more…

Why I love spending Christmas in the country | The Travel Hack

Why I love spending Christmas in the country | The Travel Hack

Why I love spending Christmas in the country | The Travel Hack

Why I love spending Christmas in the country | The Travel Hack

 

 

Christmas Shopping

Christmas shopping in the countryside is very different to Christmas shopping in a city – but in a good way. I love visiting little villages and discovering independent stores with unusual gifts.

Why I love spending Christmas in the country | The Travel Hack

 

Welsh countryside

Living on the outskirts of Wales, I’m really lucky to be able to visit places like this not far from home. This is Llynnau Mymbyr, two lakes in a valley in Snowdonia, looking gorgeous no matter what time of year it is.

 

Why I love spending Christmas in the country | The Travel Hack

Why I love spending Christmas in the country | The Travel Hack

Why I love spending Christmas in the country | The Travel Hack

 

Boardwalks through the forest

We’ve got walks through the fields, walks across the mountains and past lakes and now we have walks through the forest.

Why I love spending Christmas in the country | The Travel Hack

Betws-y-Coed

This is one of my favourite little villages in North Wales. It’s filled with tea rooms, cozy pubs, twinkly lights and lots of shops selling great gifts. It’s busiest during the summer but Christmas is a great time to visit.

Why I love spending Christmas in the country | The Travel Hack

Why I love spending Christmas in the country | The Travel Hack

 

About the Huawei Mate S

These photos were all taken with the Huawei Mate S, a smartphone with fantastic photography capabilities. It’s a phone that provides the professional photography experience as you can control things like shutter speed, exposure and light saturation. It has a 13MP camera and amazing functions for things like flowing water, lights at night time or capturing stars – things that are usually really difficult to capture on a phone!

This post was written in collaboration with Huawei.

 

Which do you prefer, Christmas in the country or Christmas in the city?

 

Kurt Jacobson

Wednesday 30th of December 2015

Very impressive photos from your smart phone. Makes me want one now!

TheTravelHack

Thursday 31st of December 2015

Thanks Kurt!

Maria

Wednesday 23rd of December 2015

Merry Christmas to you, Monica! What a beautiful write-up on your Christmas traditions in Wales. I've been living abroad and traveling for almost 10 years now and going "home" for the holidays is definitely what I love most. There is something magical about this time and "voluntarily" spending this time in a hotel or away from family just never felt right for me. It is also the time I turn into a sentimental & homesick cry baby. Luckily, the husband knows the secret trick to make me feel better by cranking up the AC and making a fire in the fireplace to fake a German Christmas ;-)

TheTravelHack

Thursday 24th of December 2015

Ahh, I love the idea of cranking up the AC to make it feel Christmassy. I wish I'd done this in Australia, it was so weird having a hot Christmas, it just didn't feel like Christmas at all.

Merry Christmas!

rebecca

Wednesday 23rd of December 2015

I am so with you. Nothing like a getaway in quiet land

Travelblogger Lisa

Tuesday 22nd of December 2015

What a cutie dog :)

Have a wonderful Christmas :-)

Lisa - Joy Della Vita Travelblog

TheTravelHack

Wednesday 23rd of December 2015

Thank you! You too.