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Naughty or nice? Fife Christmas grotto offers choice of Santa or snowball-throwing Reindeerinch

The Scottish Deer Centre has pulled out all the stops to offer a Christmas experience with a difference.

Reindeerinc greets children at the Scottish Deer Centre.
Reindeerinc greets children at the Scottish Deer Centre. Image: Steve Brown/DC Thomson.

Visitors to a Fife Christmas grotto can choose which path to take – naughty or nice.

One takes youngsters along a Christmas tree-lined lane to meet Santa Claus beside a cosy fire.

And the other passes dead trees and a crashed sleigh to meet Reindeerinch, who pelts visitors with snowballs.

Scottish Deer Centre grotto features Santa and Reindeerinch
Who’s best: Santa or Reindeerinch? There’s only one way to find out… Image: Supplied by Scottish Deer Centre.

Reindeerinch is a parody of Christmas spoilsport The Grinch, played by Jim Carey in the 2000 move The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

And she is the brainchild of Scottish Deer Centre and Wildlife Park owner David Hamilton, who said children are loving meeting the ill-natured character.

“It’s all huge fun,” he said. “Do you want to walk down the Christmas tree path or the miserable path?”

‘Absolutely amazing’ feedback on Deer Centre Christmas grotto

It’s the third year in a row the Cupar attraction has offered a grotto.

However, it’s the first time Reindeerinch has made an appearance and tickets were snapped up almost immediately.

Tickets for Santa sold out in a day and a half, while Reindeerinch tickets disappeared within a fortnight.

Reindeerinch and her helpers welcome youngsters to the Scottish Deer Centre grotto
Reindeerinch and her helpers welcome youngsters to the Scottish Deer Centre grotto. Image: Steve Brown/DC Thomson.

David said: “Both offer the same grotto experience with the express train and the winter wonderland.

“We’ve introduced a giant inflatable snow globe and a children’s ride this year.

“It’s just some children meet Santa at the end and some meet Reindeerinch.

“The feedback has been absolutely amazing and it gives me an excuse to go even more wild next year to improve on it.”

Our photographer Steve Brown went along with his grandchildren to see what the fuss is about.

Santa greets Elidh (7), Toby (6) and Finnian (4) at the Scottish Deer Centre Christmas Grotto. Image: Steve Brown/DC Thomson.
Santa and his elf at the Scottish Deer Centre Christmas grotto
Santa and his elf.Image: Steve Brown/DC Thomson.
A giant piano keyboard leads the way to Santa and Reindeerich. Image: Steve Brown/DC Thomson.
Finnian enjoys a ride on a roundabout. Image: Steve Brown/DC Thomson.
Toasting marshmallows at story time. Image: Steve Brown/DC Thomson.
Brooke (11) and Freddie (7) from Newport in Santa's sleigh at the Scottish Deer Centre Christmas Grotto
Brooke (11) and Freddie (7) from Newport in Santa’s sleigh at the Scottish Deer Centre Christmas Grotto. Image: Steve Brown/DC Thomson.
Naughty Reindeerinch throws a snowball at visitors. Image: Supplied by Scottish Deer Centre.
Feeding the deer is part of the experience. Image: Steve Brown/DC Thomson.

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