PICTURES: WinterWoodz on the Black Isle lights up Christmas for youngsters – with a direct line to Santa Claus

Children have been enjoying an enchanting Christmas experience in the Black Isle, with the thrill of a magic letterbox portal direct to Santa Claus.

The spellbinding colour and spectacle at WinterWoodz has been attracting droves of families and kids hoping that their good behaviour would be rewarded by Santa when the big day arrived.

Run by the Wildwoodz venue, deep in the forest near Fortrose, this is the sixth year of the ever-growing WinterWoodz experience where children pen their letter to Santa, then take a trip around illuminated woods with visiting elves in search of the magic postbox.

Along the way, they pass features such as sleigh traffic control and a sleigh runway, as well as reindeer and other delights.

Wildwoodz director David Elliott said: “Putting on Winterwoodz every year is a huge financial risk for a small family business and this year ticket sales started slow, probably due to the rising cost of living.

“The vibe since opening has been outstanding, our best yet. People are just throwing themselves into it for the kids!”

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.