12 Days of Christmas - day 9: Experience Gifts
Why not do something a bit different this Christmas and give an experience as a gift? From white water rafting through to glass-blowing we find some of the best.
We’re celebrating the run up to Christmas a little early with our very own 12 Days of Christmas Gift Guide. Throughout November, we’ll be uploading a selection of gifts for everyone from gardeners to lovers of food, pet owners to families, in order to help you find perfect presents tailored to your loved ones’ interests.
For day nine, we look at experience gift ideas:
Wedgewood have been producing distinctive pottery for over 250 years and are synonymous with quality and craftmanship. Their pottery experience day is an ideal gift for the hands-on creative. Make your own pot under the expert guidance of a Wedgewood master craftsperson. The day includes lunch and a tour of the museum.
White Water Rafting Session: £64 
The White Water Rafting Experience is a gift for those who enjoy a challenge in the great outdoors. You can choose from three venues where you will experience the thrill and adventure of white water rafting, looked after by a qualified instructor.
National Gardens Scheme (NGS) Yellow Book Gift Voucher: £9.99
The National Gardens Scheme is a charity that facilitates the opening of hundreds of private gardens across the country. Their annual handbook comes out in February. The Yellow Book gift voucher allows the recipient to receive the guide hot of the press. Perfect for gardeners, this is a gift that lasts the whole year while supporting the work of this great charity due to celebrate its 85th birthday in 2012.
Beginner’s Blacksmithing Course: £300 
Peat Oberon’s blacksmithing course in Stockton-on-Tees would be the perfect gift for anyone interestedin traditional skills. In Peat’s workshop you will be doing practical ironwork right from the start, honing your skills to make three beautiful items to take home.
Spend a day with Shepherds, Camilla and Roly, on their conservation farm in Oxfordshire. Depending on the season you may be delivering a lamb or fencing fields. This is a truly unique gift, perfect for those keen to get up close and personal with those who live and work in the countryside.
Winter evenings are made for snuggling up around the fire and telling stories so why not learn from the best at the Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh? This gift is ideal for the chatterbox in the family who can learn to turn their talents to good use.
Tea is one of the world’s oldest known beverages and Tregothan is one of the best places to learn about it. Deep in Cornwall they have their own tea plantation from which they make their own range of teas. The masterclass aims to inform you all about the glories of tea and includes lunch, afternoon tea, and a copy of Jane Pettigrew’s book Tea Classified. Being the nation of tea-lovers we all are, this gift should find many grateful recipients.
National Trust Membership: £37.88
The perfect gift for someone who wants to get out and explore all the UK has to offer, National Trust membership also supports the valuable work the National Trust does in preserving the British landscape.
Learn to make a range of breads at River Cottage HQ. Ranging from sourdough through to doughnuts, this course ensures the recipient will be unlikely to eat shop-bought bread again. The day includes a tractor ride and lunch.
With packs for under 8s, 8-12 year-olds, and teenagers you can inspire a young person you know with nature by buying them a year’s membership with the RSPB. Membership includes a member’s pack, choice of a free gift, regular magazines and entry to over 100 nature reserves.
Tasting Tour of Glyndwr Vineyard: from £17
For the wine-lover, a gift of a tasting tour at Wales oldest established and family run vineyard would surely be a dream come true. Sample some of the Glyndwr wines while learning about the history and practice of viticulture.
Horse Portrait with Matthew Seed: from £100
Matthew Seed is an experienced photographer, used to working with horses. He aims to create a bondwith horse and owner to create a distinctive image. This is a gift that provides a memorable keepsake and a stunning testament to the day of the photoshoot.
Glass-blowing Day, National Glass Centre: £190
Spend a day learning the traditional craft of glass-blowing at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland. This is an unusual gift for the creative craftperson. They will learn to gather glass from the furnace and how to shape and form it into their own glass objects. The day includes a two-course lunch.
Keep your eyes peeled for more great Christmas ideas coming soon, or read previous Christmas gift lists by clicking the links below:
And don't miss the December issue of Countryfile Magazine, on sale 16 November, where we've chosen our favourite countryside Christmas presents - from a traditional sledge to an entire veg patch you can give as a gift.
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