Five Wacky events to warm you up on a Winter's evening

Hatherleigh Flaming Barrels - Local men pull at speed a sledge through the Devon town, containing three flaming tar barrels. The ritual, to rid the town of evil spirits, is run twice on the Saturday after November 5th. If you miss the first run at the ungodly hour of 5am, there is a second run later in the evening, as part of the town’s carnival.

Tar Barrels – Throughout Bonfire night, local men, women and children carry and run through the streets various sizes of burning tar barrels around the town of Otter St Mary  -it's a lot safer than it sounds. Action starts at 4pm and goes on until Midnight for the grand finale. Probably one of craziest spectacles you will find anywhere in the world!

Stonehaven Fireballs – A far more relaxed fire tradition, held every New Years Eve in Stonehaven, Scotland. Over 40 Locals swing flaming fireballs around the body as they parade up and down the high street, before tossing what remains of their fireball into the sea !

World’s Biggest Liar Contest – An evening of tall tales in a cosy country pub, that sits alongside England’s tallest mountain. A 'Tatty hot' (whats that you ask?) provides warmth for the body before the ears get a good workout for the rest of the night.

Haxey Hood – Perfect way to blow away any lingering hangover from New Year. Held every January 6th (unless it’s a Sunday), four rival pubs from two villages, compete in a derivative of rugby, battling to sway the hood (a piece of cloth) into their own pub, to score the all-important goal. To make the game sound even more strange, it is officiated by twelve boggins and a fool (so what does that make everyone else?). Be careful if you take part, and don’t expect an early exit – the game has often continued long into the night!

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