Visitors to Trelissick are invited to enter into the festive spirit, as an army of staff and volunteers have created a magical atmosphere in the classical mansion and gardens with colourful decorations, bright illuminations and plenty to see and do.

Christmas at Trelissick is done on a large scale as 40 Christmas trees, a few over 18 foot high, as well as a number of 200-year-old trees in the garden, are illuminated with hundreds of metres of twinkling fairy lights in every colour. The result is a place full of cheer where people can come for a relaxed time with friends and family to kick-start their celebrations

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and during the week leading up to Christmas, visitors can walk around after dusk and see the house adorned with decorations and smell the mince pies warming in the agar. There’s late night shopping in the gift shop and gallery, a pop-up bookshop and craft stalls the stable-yard and mulled wine to help visitors feel truly festive as they gather round the Christmas tree and join in the traditional carols.

Father Christmas and his reindeer will be once again flying in for their annual visit and making a home in the stable-yard between 11am and 5pm each day of opening. There is a new twist to this year’s visit, as Father Christmas will be telling the tale of The Lost Christmas Present to his young audience. Details of times, prices and tickets are all available online.

For those wishing to get creative for Christmas, award-winning florist Anna Sawle is showing how to make a festive wreath on December 15 and natural foliage swags on December 16, from 10am until 2pm. Booking available online.

Viv Henley, visitor experience manager at Trelissick, said: "It’s a magical feeling when everywhere is lit up. The garden and house really come alive. Celebrations such as this let people experience Trelissick in a whole new way and help support ongoing conservation work on the property. As a charity, the National Trust would be unable to care for somewhere like Trelissick without the help of its supporters, members and volunteers."