HALLS will be decked, carols will be sung and mistletoe hung, as Tredegar House prepares for festive celebrations from times gone by.

This Christmas, escape the fraught festive treadmill of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and traffic gridlock and immerse yourself in the traditional Christmas experience of yesteryear at National Trust places near you.

Switch off from the commercial grind and check out the Trust’s jam-packed calendar of festive events taking place at Tredegar House, which have been designed to help people escape the hustle and bustle of the 21st-century high-street and enjoy a more relaxed Christmas experience.

At Tredegar House visitors can expect a Dickensian extravaganza with ‘A Christmas Carol’ themed activities every weekend throughout December. Visitors will be able to help traditionally-dressed volunteers make Christmas pudding in the mansion’s kitchens and get creative with a spot of pomander crafting. Dickens was one of the most prominent Victorians to blueprint traditional Christmas celebrations and the 17th century house will be decorated in a style reminiscent of the way he has influenced the festive period.

The courtyard that surrounds the manor house will be filled with craft, food and drink stalls and will be the perfect place to pick up any last minute Christmas presents. Father Christmas himself will also be popping by to deliver presents to little ones so make sure you visit his festooned grotto to see him this December.

Less than half an hour away at Dyffryn Gardens in the Vale of Glamorgan and just a short hop from Cardiff city centre’s hectic high-street, visitors can not only expect the house and gardens to be dressed to festive perfection, but can really get into the spirit at a series of carol concerts taking place throughout the month (4, 11 and 18 December, 7pm). Singing is optional but with mince pies and mulled wine and the beautifully decorated Great Hall as the backdrop, it will be enough to put even the biggest Scrooge among us in the Christmas mood.

Justin Albert, Director National Trust Wales said: "Christmas traditions are a huge part of what makes the festive period so special and we know how much they mean to families across Wales. This year, we wanted to create a calendar of events that would re-ignite the true magic of Christmas and give people the chance to enjoy a Christmas experience of times gone by. It’s so easy to get caught in the hustle and bustle of manic high streets and endless parties and it’s important to remember to take time out for you and your family to reengage with the true meaning of Christmas – whatever that means to you. Enjoy a crisp winter walk, make your own Christmas decorations or take part in a Christmas carol concert. It’s certainly a gentler yuletide experience with National Trust Wales.”

For more information about National Trust Wales events, visit http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/days-out