Have you seen The Holiday? I have. Fifteen times. Mostly against my will. It’s my wife’s favourite Christmas film, making it an annual fixture in our household. But this year, she’s been more interested in watching That Christmas, a new family-friendly Netflix animation about a particularly chaotic 25 December in a seaside village. Without giving too much away, the mayhem ends with everyone gleefully plunging into the sea for a festive dip as the credits roll.
Now, I’ve never done a The Holiday-style Christmas house swap before, so I can’t comment on its effectiveness as a form of seasonal escapism. The sea swim part, however, is something I can vouch for.
In my experience, the best way to tune out the chaos (or just work off a few pigs in blankets) is to get outside and earn some endorphins. For me, this tends to take the shape of early morning bike rides, which are particularly pleasant when the roads are free from the usual weekday traffic. Yes, it can be a chilly affair, but with the right winter cycling clobber, you can stave off the frostbite long enough to work up a sweat.
Walking is another tried-and-tested winner. It can be anything from a post-lunch stroll with the family to lacing up your walking boots (I recently reviewed a few of the best pairs for the Filter) and heading for the hills. The important thing is that it gets you out of your sofa crater and away from the cheese and crackers for long enough to get a lungful or two of fresh air.
Winter is a surprisingly pleasant time of year for a hike, but there are a few other things you’ll need if you’re venturing into the wilderness. As well as a good pair of boots, you may also want to think about investing in a waterproof jacket (I reviewed men’s jackets; Sian Lewis put women’s jackets through their paces) – winter walks can be crisp and fresh, but they can also be wet. Why not also take a look at my guide to autumn hiking essentials for some more advice on what to pack? And don’t forget socks – see below for our top picks.
Last but not least, I’m yet to find a yuletide hangover cure more effective than plopping myself into the North Sea on Boxing Day and letting the cold water work its magic on my Baileys-marinated body. If you’re tempted to take the plunge, here’s a roundup of the best UK swims. But don’t forget to pack a swimsuit, a hat, a hot-water bottle (this little beauty is a Filter favourite) and a changing robe to warm you up, post-swim. In fact, you can find some excellent options in our guide to Christmas gifts for swimmers.
This week’s picks
Gourmet gifts for foodies: 23 edible Christmas presents, from posh tinned fish to chutney
15 of the best men’s coats for winter – from puffers and parkas to trenches
The best whiskies: 10 tried and tested tipples, from scotch and single malt to blended and bourbon
Editor’s pick
A last-minute gift needn’t be an epic fail, or a pair of windscreen wiper blades from the service station (you’ve all seen that episode of Friends, haven’t you?). In fact, your lack of forward planning might turn into one of the more thoughtful gifts you give this year.
From a cinema subscription to a National Art Pass, a coffee delivery to a foodie gift card, we’ve hand-picked the best presents you can buy at the 11th hour, and deliver to an inbox near you in seconds. They’ll never know you (nearly) forgot.
Hannah Booth
Editor, the Filter
In case you missed it …
A Christmas gift as old as time, socks needn’t be something our loved ones dread receiving. We’ve rounded up 57 of the best pairs to give this year, from sheer socks for a NYE party to a pair of Manchester-themed socks that raise money for charity.
Whether it’s the life-changing alpaca bed socks, a personalised pair to wear post-cold-water-dip or the most comfortable hiking socks we’ve ever worn, we love them all. And we had no idea just how passionate the Filter team were about socks until we wrote this piece!
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