Forget diets and new year’s resolutions: January is the month for firesides, fairytales, and the Bard. Here are a few heart-warming events to lift the spirits and see you through the first weeks of the fledgling year.

Head to Stirling Castle for a Celebration of Burns

Burnsfest at The Scottish Storytelling Centre: Just a cosy one-hour train ride from Stirling will transport you to the cobbled streets of Edinburgh’s Old Town, and the welcoming doors of the Scottish Storytelling Centre. To celebrate Burns Night, the centre is hosting an exciting and varied programme of readings, talks and suppers from 23 to 25 January. This popular ‘Burnsfest’ programme features a mix of family and adult activities with fun, contemporary takes on Burns stories, poems and songs including Lords of the Creation… And Other Beasts; a Burns Family event; Tam O’Shanter: Telling the Big Tale; and, on 25 January itself, Supper with Burns (an adult event). More information here.

Celebrating Burns:  23 and 24 Jan, 12 noon to 3pm at Stirling Castle Esplanade. Whatever you think of Burns, there’s no denying the man could tell a story fit for any warm hearth.  But did you know that the poet who penned ‘Tam O’Shanter’ and ‘Holy Willie’s Prayer’ also had a connection with Stirling? In 1787 Burns visited Stirling Castle, and afterwards returned to his hotel where he wrote the ‘Stirling Lines’, etched into a glass windowpane. Your guide at Stirling Castle will explore this remarkable visit, and the effect it had on Burns the man. More details here. And if you want to know much more about the Stirling Lines, and see a replica of them, visit the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum.

The Guid Crack Club, Edinburgh: If you are up for a night-time foray in the name of story-telling, then take a train ride to Edinburgh Waverley on 29 January too, for the first Guid Crack of the year. You can warm your hearts round the ceilidh fire with tales to keep the cold at bay and perhaps a few nods to the great Bard himself. Lea Taylor will delight with Burns song and story with a mischievous twist! This event takes place upstairs at the Waverley Bar, and young adults are welcome if accompanied. More information here.

The Nutcracker: And here’s a winter’s tale to beat all others. If your kids (or you!) haven’t had enough of Christmas, why not escape again to a magical world of snow, sweets and the Sugar Plum Fairy with Ballet West’s production of the Nutcracker? It is the Christmas party in the Stahlbaum household and young Clara is given a beautiful Nutcracker doll. After everyone has gone to bed and the house is quiet she returns to play with her doll and discovers he can take her on magical adventures through the land of the Mouse King, dancing snowflakes and the wonderful land of sweets. A magical winter fairytale for children and adults alike, Fri 5 Feb, 7.30pm and Sat 6 Feb, 2pm & 7.30pm. Details and tickets from the Macrobert Arts Centre.

Photo credits: Stirling Castle by Night by Finlay McWalter: under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

In the last days of November we’re looking our advent calendars square in the eye. But that needn’t mean a 24-day sentence of shopping, to-do lists, and stressing about the use-by date on your sage. Why not re-capture the slower pace of bygone Christmases, by visiting some of Scotland’s castles and stately homes? You’ll find there’s more than a little magic to be found…

Edinburgh Castle befriends the ghosts of Christmas past

Stirling Castle: Stirling Castle begins the season of advent with its annual shopping fayre in the glorious surroundings of the Great Hall on 1 December with market stalls, fine foods, and festive drinks, all in warm and regal surroundings. The event runs from 6pm to 9pm and booking is essential. Tickets cost £5 while under 16s go free and there’s on-site parking for free too. Stirling Castle also hosts its increasingly popular ‘Carols at The Castle’ on 13 December. The Great Hall will welcome the Stirling singers of the National Youth Choir of Scotland, where they will sing traditional carols and modern Christmas songs. Doors open 6pm for a 7pm start. To book tickets for both these events, buy online from the Official Historic Scotland webstore. If it’s Christmas food you’re after, then head to the Castle for its ‘Midwinter Feast’ on 6 December 12.30-3.30pm. You will join the Queen, Mary of Guise, as she celebrates the season with her courtiers and friends, taking part in her royal feast, with court jesters, music and dancing. Tickets are included in the normal Castle admission price.

Edinburgh castle: Edinburgh Castle marks the last days of advent with its ‘Traditions and Tales of a Victorian Christmas’ on 21-23 December. This look back at Christmas past reveals the origins of the Christmas cracker, Christmas cards and other yuletide traditions, as well as exploring the season’s familiar and atmospheric tales. On 24, 27, and 31 December, join Mary Queen of Scots as she celebrates the 12 days of Christmas with her court. While Reformation Scotland shuns Christmas festivities, she will be having her own ‘Very Mary Christmas’ – undaunted! Both events are included in the normal admission price. You can book online here, where you may also be tempted by a Christmas lunch at the Castle!

Callendar House: Falkirk’s Callendar House is getting right into the festive spirit for 2015. There are ‘Christmas Afternoon Teas for Two’ throughout December, as well as brunches and afternoon teas with Santa too. The House will also transform its impressive kitchen into a working Victorian kitchen at Christmas, open to all visitors from Saturday 28 November. Help the cook stir the Christmas pudding and find out how the Victorians celebrated Christmas in houses just like Callendar House. In December, visitors can sample freshly made traditional festive fayre like mince pies, shortbread, Scotch Christmas Bun and clootie dumpling. If that’s not enough, there will be a ‘Victorian Spit Roast’ on 5, 12 and 19 December. It’s all free – arrive hungry! These are just a few of the events the House has planned – there are more details here.

Linlithgow Palace: For something a little bit different, take part in the Linlithgow Palace ‘Winter Warmer Walk’ at 1pm on Sunday 13 December. This guided walk from the Palace will explore Linlithgow Loch and Peel, its wildlife and heritage – sure to bring colour to your cheeks on a winter’s day. Booking is required, though the event is included in the normal Palace admission price. You can book and find more details here.

Photo credits: Stirling Castle Great Hall: By Christian Bickel (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons. Edinburgh Castle: Sarah Charlesworth [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Linlithgow Palace Snow: Stanley Howe [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

November: it’s a month that often seems to fly by unnoticed while we write lists in the sprint towards Christmas. But perhaps it’s time to stop, and embrace this ‘transition to winter’ month. Light some candles, throw a log on that fire, and we’ll tell you how.

St Andrew’s Day at the Wallace Monument, Stirling

Festive Lights Event 12-5pm 15 November, Loch Lomond Shores: Nothing is more cheering in the darker winter days than light in any one of its guises – whether that be candles, open fires, or fireworks. And if you are someone who refuses to acknowledge Christmas until you turn your calendar page to December, then there’s not even a single mention of the ‘C-word’ at the Festive Lights Event at Loch Lomond Shores in Balloch on Sunday 15 November. Kicking off their festive programme of events in the weeks that follow, there will be live DJs, market stalls and street food, as well as free entertainment and activities for the kids. To finish the day with a bang, there will be a spectacular fireworks display over the Loch. The day out is free, as is the parking. Details here: http://www.lochlomondshores.com/whats-on/

Branagh Theatre Live: The Winter’s Tale, 26 November: Chilly outside? How about snuggling up in a warm theatre for a bit of winter Shakespeare? The Macrobert Arts Centre Stirling are screening Branagh Theatre, broadcast live from London’s Garrick Theatre, with a play that’s perfect for the season. A tale of jealousy and its consequences, ‘A Winter’s Tale’ will star a remarkable group of actors, featuring Judi Dench as Paulina, alongside Tom Bateman (Florizel), Jessie Buckley (Perdita), Hadley Fraser (Polixenes), Miranda Raison (Hermione) and Kenneth Branagh as Leontes. And there’s a happy ending too. For more information visit http://macrobertartscentre.org

Balfron Woodland Light Experience, 12-25 November: If you missed getting tickets for the Enchanted Forest at Faskally Wood in October, then this event might just be for you. Illuminating 14 acres of woodland on the edge of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, the Woodland Light Experience brings nature to life at night with light, sound and projection in North Ballochruin Farm, in Balfron Station. There’s a heart-warming story behind it too – the forest was created by doting grandfather of five Mr Hendry, who then decided to make it an experience not only for his own grandchildren, but for all children. Look out for their Santa Experience too. You need to book tickets but parking is free. Details here: http://www.woodlandexperiences.co.uk/light-experience/ and you might want to like them on Facebook too: www.facebook.com/seelights

St Andrew’s day Inspiration: Our poor Patron Saint St Andrew tends to get forgotten, appearing as he does in the last day of November – just one sleep before the advent calendars open. But this year, VisitScotland are determined we shouldn’t forget him, and have created a useful portal of St Andrews Day events for you to browse by postcode. Noteworthy amongst them is the Wallace Monument in Stirling, who will be offering free entry throughout the St Andrews’s day weekend of 28th and 29th. What better way to honour our patron saint than a climb up the Abbey Craig and a visit to this emblem of our nationhood? For more details on this and events throughout Scotland, see: http://www.scotland.org/whats-on/st-andrews-days-out/