REVIEW: Nutley Farm Christmas Lights and Reindeer Experience

Sponsored by Nutley Farm

We have just visited the Nutley Farm Christmas Lights and Reindeer Experience and I have to say we much preferred it to all of the other big Light Trails we have experienced across the country - and Team Total have visited a lot!

What we loved so much about it, is that it was in a rural farm (4 miles outside of Lulworth) with no other light pollution and it felt like you could have been in Lapland! The whole experience had a really warm and authentic feel about it rather than being expensive and flashy!

We were all really excited driving in to the farm and none of us knew what to expect but first impressions were really high; we were greeted by a very friendly Elf who explained the set-up and showed us to the car park which was just a few metres away from the reindeer and trail so it was so easy with the children and we didn't get too cold. There were no queues at all for anything so we headed straigh to the Elf stop to grab our instructions for the Elf Trail; a fun activity for the kids - and big kids - to count all of the Elves dotted throughout the trail and if you get it right you get a sticker (although the friendly Elf gave the kids a sticker each even though we were a few off!).

En-route to the light trail entrance you can stop by to see the Reindeer who were very keen to come and say Hello, you can buy Reindeer food for them there too and Nutley Farm are fundraising for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

We were wowed as soon as we entered the Illumination Trail, and the fact that it's on a remote farm really added something extra special. There's a vast number of different enchanting light displays with magical music as you go and there are lots of interactive ways for the kids to get involved with the big red buttons they can press to make the colours of the lights change on some of the features. There's lots of photo opportunities including an 'Insta Frame' and make sure you look up at the house behind the frame and you may catch Father Christmas waving at you from the window! There's even some mistletoe so you can have an excuse to embarrass the kids and have a kiss!

It was a cold night (-2) which added to the festive feel, but after the trail we were very ready to warm our cockles with some of the delicious hot food; pigs in blanket roll (the sausage from the farm was absolutely delicious; we're hoping we'll be able to go an pick up some packs in the future), the kids had sausage and chips and a hot chocolate. You can buy large marshmallows to toast on the fire by the Elf Hut and definitely helps to warm you up.

Unlike some other festive events around the country, you really don't feel like the prices have been over-inflated. At just £9.75 for an adult ticket and £5.50 for children over (under 3s are free!) it's an absolute bargain. We stayed for well over an hour and we left feeling like we'd made a really special family memory. 

Nutley Farm is located just 4 miles outside of Lulworth, 16 miles (30 minute drive) from Poole so it's not too far at all and the onsite parking makes it a really easy trip.

The Santa's Grotto experiences are fully booked but there are still tickets available for the Light Trail and Reindeer Experience so we really recommend you snap them up while you can. The trail will be running until 30th December. Click here for more info and tickets for the Nutley Farm Christmas Lights Experience.