One of the county’s biggest Christmas events is set to open in just a matter of days.

The festive light trail at Bedgebury National Pinetum, near Goudhurst, returns for another year of illuminations.

The trail is open from Friday, November 18 and will run on select dates until Monday, January 2. You can book tickets online here.

The after-dark trail winds through the countryside park and features incredible installations such as sparkling light tunnels, colourful Christmas trees and flickering flames.

There will also be decorations such as giant hanging baubles, seasonal sounds playing throughout the woodlands and a chance for children to wave to Father Christmas along the way.

Visitors can admire more than a million twinkling lights at this year’s event, which returned last year after being cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The route is around 1.33 miles and should take around 90 minutes to complete.

Visitors will follow a circular trail to see the larger-than-life illuminations, which passes the Bedgebury Café. The café will be open during the event and offering spiced winter warmers, hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows.

The trail is suitable for the whole family, and dogs are also welcome. The trail is outdoors and does have some uneven surfaces, but there is a fully accessible route with a mixture of hard standing, tarmac footpaths and only one steep incline with assistance if needed.

Christmas at Bedgebury is the first of two light trails to open in the county this month.

The following week, on Friday, November 25, the Christmas at Leeds Castle trail, near Maidstone, will open to visitors for the first time.

The new trail is approximately 1.5 miles and features a fire garden and tunnels of light in the castle grounds.