A WEEKEND of family festive fun not too far from home, writes Natalie Lawson. That was the wish list when we headed off, toddler in tow, to the borders of Shropshire and Powys earlier this month in search of delicious food, family activities and - of course - Father Christmas!

As every parent will know, too long a journey can kill any weekend away when there are children involved. So our destination being only an-hour-and-a-half’s drive from Aberystwyth, proved a huge boon, and we can confirm that we arrived unfrazzled and with no tears (neither from us nor the two-year-old).

Our first destination was Powis Castle and Garden near Welshpool, to take part in their Christmas celebrations.

The National Trust property had really put on a show for Christmas. The immaculately-maintained and opulent rooms at the Medieval castle were themselves a joy to roam around, given a festive twist by a display of unique and very unusual Christmas trees in each of the rooms.

A small knitted Christmas pudding hidden in each room kept the little one busy searching, while we admired the architecture, sculptures, paintings and furniture, helped by extremely knowledgeable and friendly staff.

In the cellar kitchens we even made a snowman tree ornament using pieces of wood and twig from the estate grounds. A lovely keepsake that now adorns our tree.

It turned out that tucked into one of the cosier rooms of the castle was Santa’s Grotto! The toddler was thrilled to get a chance to say ’ho ho ho’ to Santa, recite his Christmas wish list, and receive a present from Father Christmas’ elf.

The festive feel continued with a reindeer biscuit and drink in the homely cafe, and a walk after dark through the illuminated gardens. Lit up for the festive period, the amazing landscaped gardens looked incredible bathed in colourful light displays. Again there was a game for the little ones, looking for lit-up lanterns in different festive shapes.

Only 30 minutes’ pleasant drive away was our main destination for the weekend - Bishops Castle.

This south Shropshire market town is bustling, beautiful and bursting with history, and we were there at the right time to take part in their Christmas Cracker event, which went on all day and evening.

We wandered round the friendly small town, popping into the Christmas craft fair at the church and another incredible santa’s grotto, and we joined in the carol singing by the tree ahead of the big switch-on. The fire brigade even put in an appearance to cover the street by the magnificent town hall with foam to create a snow effect, which dozens of kids enjoyed.

And we even came prepared with a homemade lantern to take part in the procession, which was led by an accomplished samba band.

Other highlights were visiting the small railway museum, which had an extremely knowledgeable and welcoming staff, and sipping a few real ales in the many historic inns dotted around the town. The town even boats the oldest licensed brewery in the country, the Three Tuns, established in 1642. Well, it would have been rude not to!

Dinner and bed for the night were at the Castle Hotel right in the centre of the town. The beautiful building, dating from 1712, housed a warmth and welcome we have seldom experienced. The roaring fire in the snug that greeted us on arrival, along with owners (the hotel is family-owned), set the scene for a wonderful stay. Our family room was spacious and beautifully appointed - though the hotel dates from the early 18th century, the modern, lucurious bathroom most certainly did not - and the staff without exception were open and friendly.

After the Christmas celebrations in the charming town, it was back to the Castle Hotel for dinner in their spacious restaurant.

The dining room gave a comfortable and relaxed setting, and we were in a small table in an alcove, adding to the atmosphere.

Due to the Christmas festivities, the place was packed with not a spare seat in the house. We were left wondering how on earth they managed such timely and efficient service in the circumstances.

The service was matched by the food. There was great choice on the menu, and we opted for caramelised red onion and goats cheese bruschetta, and stilton and shallot bread and butter pudding to start. Both were bursting with flavour and looked beautiful on the plate. Mains of beef bourginon and chicken stuffed with garlic mushrooms were real winter warmers and great after a day exploring castles in the cold!

A pint of local ale accompanied the bourginon perfectly (I am told), and the samba band even made a trip through the hotel at the end of the parade - which proved a little too loud for our toddler who was snoozing in his stroller next to us and a nearby dog, but proved a hit with majority of the clientele!

Situated not far from Shrewsbury and Ludlow, the area is famous for its glorious countryside and is a real magnet for walkers. The hotel offered plenty of information on walking in the area - even a ’walk of the day’ on the breakfast table in the morning. We will definitely return here (sans infant) for a walking weekend.

After a great night’s sleep and delicious breakfast at the Castle Hotel, our next destination was nearby Stokesay Castle.

Billed as the finest and best preserved fortified manor in England, we whiled away a good few hours exploring the castle, climbing right to the top of the south tower to take in stunning views of the Shropshire countryside. I highly recommend the audio guide to show you round and immerse you in the history of the place. All that climbing and running around tired out our little one perfectly, and he (blissfully) slept all the way home.

It was a weekend full of castles, Christmas and cracking hospitality - and one I would highly recommend.

It's all in the detail:

The Castle Hotel is in Bishops Castle, Shropshire, SY9 5BN. Tel: 01588 638403. Website: www.thecastlehotelbishopscastle.co.uk

There are 12 quality, characterful and atmospheric bedrooms each with its own en suite, individually-decorated with lovely views.

They serve modern, good pub food that is healthy, hearty, flavoursome and fresh, and great value.

The hotel doubles as a traditional country pub and has three bar areas which stock beers from the two breweries located within Bishops Castle.

As a special offer they are offering 20 per cent off a midweek break in December 2016 and January 2017.

Powis Castle and Garden, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 8RF. Tel: 01938 551944. Email: [email protected], website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/powis-castle-and-garden

Admission to the whole property is £12.15 per adult, £6.07 per child. Free with National Trust membership.

Santa’s Grotto is open until 20 December 2016. Booking essential.

Stokesay Castle, Stokesay, Craven Arms, Shropshire, SY7 9AH. Website: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stokesay-castle

Open weekends only, 10am to 4pm. They hold events throughout the year. See the website for details. Entry is £7 for adults, £4.10 for children over 5. Free for English Heritage members.