Festive fun at Goodrich Castle

1 & 2 December 2012

Cryptic clues, the finest festive fare and even a local choir named after the famous cannon – it is all at Goodrich Castle’s Festive Family Fun Trail on 1 and 2 December!

The two days of fun are the perfect antidote to the Christmas shopping frenzy on the high street, with families invited to explore the castle, hunting out clues around the courtyard and decoding words on cards in the Keep and the Great Hall in a toy-themed trail that will lead to a delicious Christmassy treat.

On Sunday 2 December, the chapel at Goodrich Castle will ring with seasonal music, as Goodrich-based choir, the Roaring Meg Singers, stand beneath the stunning stained glass window to sing a variety of carols and songs from 11.00am.

“This is the weekend when children start opening their advent calendars and the first Christmas trees start going up in houses around the country, so what better way to celebrate than by joining us at a castle that would have hosted some of the grandest Christmas celebrations in Herefordshire,” says site manager, Margaret Smithett. “We even have a new range of unique Christmas gifts in our shop, so anyone worrying about not getting their shopping done can kill two birds with one stone – and we’ll even make up and wrap hampers full of delicious goodies!”

Indeed, the castle shop stocks a wide selection of beautifully-packaged jams, mustards and chutneys including new Christmas Pickles and Boxing Day Chutney, priced from £2.75 to £3.50. Unusual seasonal tipples included Christmas Mead, priced at £8.99, Mulled Wine for £8.99 and Mulled Berry Punch at £4.99. For the man who has (almost) everything, unusual gift ideas include replica medieval armour, whilst mums will love the replica medieval tapestries.

Goodrich Castle is located five miles south of Ross-on-Wye off the A40, and is open every weekend throughout the winter from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Admission prices are £6.00 for adults, £5.40 for concessions and £3.60 for children. A family ticket (valid for two adults and up to three children) is £15.60, and English Heritage members get in free.

For more information, please visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/goodrich

ENDS

For further media information, please contact:

Jay Commins – PRO English Heritage (West Midlands)

Tel: 01904 500698

Mob: 07810 546567

Email: jay@pyperyork.co.uk