Rejoice! Rejoice! It is the time to hunt down perfect presents for our beloved ones, squirrel them away, wrap them with stealth and present them on Christmas Day with a heady mix of excitement and a sudden, sinking panic that you might have, in fact, got it really, really wrong. There are those in this world who hate finding presents for people and those who absolutely delight in it. However, they do sometimes approach it with aplomb, optimism and the occasional misfire. Even now I cringe at the memory of a nineteen year old me, presenting a male friend at university with an ENORMOUS cushion, embroidered with the words ‘where the brass bands play tiddly om pom pom’. In my defense, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I didn’t know at the time that I was a bit in love with him and he did play the trumpet. Unbeknownst to me, it was the equivalent of the creepy friend in Love Actually, presenting Kiera Knightly with giant placards declaring his unrequited love for her, just because, “it’s Christmas”. I feel a little better remembering that an ex boyfriend once received a tea towel from his girlfriend of the time. Thankfully, we become older and wiser and instead of being haunted by the ghost of Christmas Past, I am here to offer a foul-proof gift guide to Christmas 2021.
At Dorset Adventure Park, we know that visitors love charging through the mud trail and gleefully leaping across our wibit inflatables before merrily splashing into the lakes. Despite being surrounded by acres of the beautiful isle of purbeck woodland, sprawling countryside and overlooked by the spectacular Corfe Castle, the shouts of laughter ring out like bells and are heard from far and wide. During my first visit to Dorset water park, I quite literally followed the sounds of laughter. Whether it was through seeking a Dorset day out and looking for things to do on a holiday or if you are a lucky local and regular visitor to the aqua park, we have a good idea about what else you and your loved ones might enjoy this Christmas.
The Almanac: A seasonal guide to 2022
£12.99
This bestselling Almanac series makes a thoughtful gift for anyone who enjoys nature and the great outdoors. This accessible guide is both practical and beautiful. Providing both facts and folklore, this almanac is an indispensable year round guide to the wonders of nature unfurled. Available through Waterstones as well as any of Dorsets independent bookshops.
The Girl Outdoors: The Wild Girl’s Guide to Adventure, Travel and Wellbeing
£14.99
This book by award winning traveller writer Sian Anna Lewis, is the perfect companion to getting outdoors. Described as “an adventurous best mate in book form”, this guide really does read like a best friend at your side. As a travel writer, Lewis strives to make the outdoors accessible and fun to all, especially women and girls. This helpful guide will see you through solo trekking, around the world adventuring to campfire cooking and surfing. Available at all bookstores and through The Girl Outdoors website.
Finisterre RNLI Crew Sweatshirt & The RNLI D-Class Sweatshirt
£65
Cornish clothing company Finisterre, founded by Lifeboat Helmsman Tom Kay in 2003, not only have a fantastic range of thoughtfully designed clothes, both for and inspired by the outdoors but also offer a range in collaboration with the RNLI. These sweatshirts provide a brilliant alternative to the traditional Christmas jumper. Cool, comfortable, cotton and with 10% of all sales going to support the RNLI.
National Trust Individual Membership
From £36
Gifting a yearly membership to the National trust is a thoughtful and hugely useful present. With an array of prices and gift options, a National Trust membership will allow the reiption access to over 500 properties, free use of any NT car park and access to adventure across the country!
The Kelly Camping Kettles
From £49.50
This gift recommendation comes from Liz, the director of Dorset Adventure Park, “I love my kelly kettle”. The Kelly Camping Kettle is absolutely perfect for any outdoor and adventure lover, this clever kettle works perfectly with nature to create a versatile, fun and essential piece of kit. It works so well as the Kelly Kettle, “is essentially a double-walled chimney with the water contained within the chimney walls. Once the camp kettle is filled with water, simply start a very small fire in the base, set the kettle on the base and drop additional fuel down the chimney (natural fuels such as twigs, leaves, grass, paper, dry-animal dung, etc.).”
Field Notes
From £9.95
Lightweight, pocket sized and with their minimal design, welcome to the ‘cool kids’ of the notebook world. A perfect stocking filler gift that is endlessly useful and always well received. With a huge array of beautiful designs now available, the Field Notes are the brainchild of Aaron Draplin and Jim Coudal who, “take their inspiration from the vanishing subgenre of agricultural memo books, pocket ledgers and the simple grocery
lists.”
National Geographic Magazine Subscription
From £15
When the possibility of travel and adventure is still very contentious and ever changing, a subscription to National Geographic is a guaranteed taste of adventure and the wonders of this wide world. Magazine subscriptions make for another considerate gift as it tends not to be the type of thing many people will treat themselves too. Available as a print and as a digital and print subscription, National Geographic allows you to ‘travel further’, taste more culture and immerse yourself in history with their incredible storytelling and exceptional photography.
All Natural Microgreens Grow Kit from Verdancy Grows
£17.99
The bountiful days of summer may now be just a distant memory, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still treat yourself to homegrown fresh food in the depths of winter. These eco-friendly grow kits from Verdancy Grows come with everything you’ll need to grow microgreens at home including plastic free bamboo fibre trays, three varieties of microgreen seeds, coco coir compost and detailed instructions. They may be micro in size but microgreens are big in flavour and are packed full of nutrients.
We always recommend our Dorset Adventure park gift vouchers as a great Christmas present. Available to use on both our mud trail and inflatable aqua course, these vouchers will give anyone an exciting adventure come the Spring. After the excitement of Christmas is over, it is always lovely to have a little something to look forward to.
