We leave from our local departure points and drive south to Hull, where our ferry awaits for the overnight crossing to Rotterdam. Twin low-berth outside cabins. Dinner and breakfast on board ship.

We drive east to the German border and Dortmund, where we stop for a spot of retail therapy in one of Germany’s largest Christmas markets, where more than three hundred stalls are set up around a gigantic Christmas tree. We continue east to Paderborn and our base for three nights. Welcome Hotel Paderborn.

Paderborn is an historic, university city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It boasts an imperial palace and the Christmas Markets are set up below the towering cathedral, making this a perfect backdrop. There is much to admire here; arts and crafts from all over Germany, a huge Advent Calendar at the historic town hall and a living nativity scene to name but a few highlights. We travel to Soest, a charming small town of neat, half-timbered houses, where the Christmas markets come alive on the market square. We visit Bad Salzuflen, a wealthy, thermal spa resort and soak up the atmosphere of this delightful market, where festively decorated stands line the shopping precinct.

We return to the Dutch border and Breda, an old fortified city in North Brabant. We allow time to explore this charming spot, steeped in history, before a short journey to Rotterdam, where our ferry awaits for the overnight crossing to Hull. Twin low-berth outside cabins. Dinner and breakfast on board ship.

We return to Scotland late afternoon after a magical Christmas Market experience.