The Stonehaven fireball ceremony, AberdeenshireWe start in Scotland with a classically mad Hogmanay celebration, so steeped in local lore that its origin remains shrouded in mystery. They slowly lurch all the way down the high street, before depositing their burning loads into Stonehaven harbour. Spinnaker tower, PortsmouthIf street level isn’t your style, Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower will help elevate your New Year’s above the crowd. Every year thousands of revellers across the Northern hemisphere gather on chilly, windswept beaches and charge together into the foaming brine. There are organised outings up and down the UK coast, but for its number-of-swimmers-to-population-of-town ratio, our nod goes to Saundersfoot in South Wales.

Source: Irish Examiner December 30, 2018 10:52 UTC