I went ice skating at Nottingham's Winter Wonderland and instantly felt Christmassy

It was a dreary and miserable setting as I walked up through the city centre to Nottingham's winter wonderland, yet when I arrived the colours of the market managed to stir up a sense of my Christmas spirit.

As it's the first weekend of Nottingham's coveted Winter Wonderland I decided to try out the prolific ice skating rink that I haven't walked past since I was a child.

So while the expectations were nostalgically high, I wasn't entirely disappointed when I reached the Old Market Square as the atmosphere awakened the Christmas spirit that has significantly dwindled with age.

The prospect of trying out the Sky Skate was a exciting one to me, as last time I visited the "Wonderland" it was merely a collection of wooden huts and flat rink.

I was then streamlined through the queue, handed my boots and off I went round the small but fairly busy ice rink that is on the door step of the changing room.

If I wasn't dodging fallen children I was waving my arms frantically to keep balance as I awkwardly waddled around the rink. It's fair to say all those ice skating lessons I did as a kid have not paid off - but at least they proved that I could stay standing on the ice.

Of course my balance wasn't exactly helped by the fact that the drizzle had lightly coated the rink, as was clearly evident by the soaked teenagers who had spent more time on the floor than gliding effortlessly across the ice.

There was a real mix of people visiting the rink, as I saw groups of young adult men attempt the rink after a few pints (they had made their way from the nearby Ice Bar straight onto the ice), perfectly juxtaposed next to some speed skaters who were racing around the 400m Sky Skate.

Apart from the few merry men and the wannabe speed skaters, there were a number of families trying to coax their little ones around the rink without a fall. While the skate aid penguins were proving mostly effective I saw a few unhappy young children lying facedown as they waited for rescue from the readily available staff.

I have to say I enjoyed my brief spin around the perimeter, yet I don't think I'll be rushing back to experience a wobbly view of the Market Square, but I think that just comes down to my inherent lack of balance.

I did enjoy the live music that occasionally broke through my inner dialogue screaming at me to stay up, as a live band overlooked the market playing festive tunes and serranding the patrons of the altitude bar.

So as I wobbled around I started to get into the flow of it, but decided to get out while I still had my dignity and a dry set of clohes.

I have to say hearing the festive songs and seeing people enjoy the swarms of the market did awaken the Christmas spirit in me. It was the first time I've felt Christmassy this year, as reporting doesn't usually merit many festive activities.

All in all, the experience was user friendly, enjoyable (the more proficient you are the better), and a great way to enjoy the start of the festive season all at the price of £14.50.

In total, there's three skating options now with the main rink, a separate children's rink and aerial Sky Skate. The organisers say the Winter Wonderland is 'one of the best' the country has to offer, with the market boasting a new and improved observation wheel.