The Tar Bar'l Festival, Allendale, Northumberland

If you like your celebrations tinged with a bit of derring-do, head for the normally unassuming village of Allendale. Here you'll find 45 "guisers" – hereditary barrel bearers – doing their bit for pagan tradition by roaming the streets carrying on their heads great whisky barrels filled to the brim with burning tar. The test of strength and courage ends in spectacular fashion as the guisers ceremonially toss their barrels onto the mighty Baal bonfire to welcome in the new year. And they do all it all in fancy dress. Of course.
• bit.ly/tpE50N

All manor of ghosts at Knighton Gorges, near Newchurch, Isle of Wight

On New Year's Eve 1915, writer Ethel Hargrove and a friend stood at the site of Knighton Gorges, once one of the island's grandest manor houses, watching a phantom house with lights blazing from its windows. Ethereal party guests in 18th-century costume were arriving and "a full tenor voice lustily gave forth 'God rest you, merrie gentlemen". Further New Year's Eve sightings ensued and now a crowd gathers annually by the stone gateposts (themselves thought to be visited by unexplained stone creatures) in expectation of the apparition. The house had a violent history of suicide, madness and murder (former owners include one of Thomas à Becket's killers), so do drop a nip of brandy in your coffee flask.
• Read the full story at horrormasters.com/Text/a4073.pdf

Fancy dress in Bideford, Devon

Grab that Teletubbies costume and make your way to the quay at Bideford, where you'll be joined by thousands of fancily dressed revellers. There's an outdoor road show from 6pm to ensure everyone gets their groove on, and at midnight the bells of St Mary's church ring in the new year and set off a spectacular firework display. Partygoers used to try to run across the 13th-century Long Bridge before the sound of the final chime died away but nowadays they merely crack open some more fizz. And who can blame them? If you can't get to Bideford, similar West Country shenanigans take place in Dartmouth, Looe and St Ives.
• beautiful-devon.co.uk/bideford.htm

Red Hot Highland Fling, Inverness

Tagged as a northern rival to the goings-on in Edinburgh, the Red Hot Highland Fling claims to be Scotland's Biggest Free Hogmanay Party. Kicking off at 8pm in the Northern Meeting Park Arena and hosted by comedian Craig Hill, the family-friendly show features four bands, including the highly rated Highland music/rock crossover combo Wolfstone and the Isle of Tiree's "12-legged party waiting to happen", Skerryvore. As you might expect, midnight is greeted with a dazzling firework display. And to get in "you don't need a ticket, just a smile".
• bit.ly/vuxDXP

Comrie Flambeaux Procession, Perth and Kinross

The origins of the ancient flambeaux procession through this lovely little village on the edge of the Highlands are pleasingly obscure. At midnight, the flambeaux – mighty birch poles topped with tarred rags – are lit and paraded behind a pipe band, while a phalanx of locals in fancy dress follows on. After some prize-giving in Melville Square the torches are pitched from Dalginross bridge into the river Earn, thus casting evil spirits from the village. This is also a sign for "first footing" to commence – it wouldn't be Hogmanay otherwise, would it?
• bit.ly/spWUCX

Hogmanay Street Party, Dornoch, Sutherland

They like a good old knees-up in Dornoch, way up in frosty Sutherland. Billed as a family event, the Hogmanay Street Party gets going at 10.30pm in the town square with a ceilidh band, a pipe band and plenty of food and drink, followed by fireworks at midnight. The cathedral, castle and courthouse are lit up, and the new year is welcomed in by a lone piper on the castle battlements. And if that doesn't send a shiver up your spine, ye've nae heart, mon.
• bit.ly/tiLe2O

Fireballs Festival, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

Are Stonehaven's fireballs ancient pagan charms created to encourage the sun to shine? Or ceremonial fires lit to purify the soul and drive out witchery? Or both? Street entertainers kick things off at 11pm, then at midnight around 50 participants take to the High Street, swinging their flaming fireballs – homemade contraptions of solid fuel and chicken wire – round their heads. Fireworks then light up the skies and a party in the town square gets going. Just don't forget to put something old over your glad rags – watchers often take home little burn holes in their clothing as souvenirs of their night.
• stonehavenfireballs.co.uk

Nos Galan Races, Mountain Ash, Rhondda

Each New Year's Eve the people of Mountain Ash in the Cynon Valley, commemorate the exploits of 18th-century runner Guto Nyth Brân by organising 5km races around the town. To add spice, a famous sportsperson – whose identity is a strictly guarded secret until the day – joins in the running. Street entertainments start at 4.30pm, just before the children's races. The mystery guest then lights a beacon, the fireworks begin and the races for elite and fun runners start. Proceedings are over by 8.30pm, leaving you plenty of time for reviving leg massages before midnight. To run, register online until 11am on 30 December or in person on the day from 3.30pm to 6.30pm.
• nosgalan.co.uk

Tudor Square Party, Tenby, Pembrokeshire

This pretty seaside resort falls largely dormant in winter but bursts back into life on New Year's Eve. The town's Tudor Square fills with thousands of revellers ready for the countdown to midnight, which begins a full half-hour before the witching hour (though happily no one is expected to count off all 1800 seconds). Fireworks then rend the sky and the party continues into the night. And if that sounds a wee bit raucous there's a firework display on the beach just three miles away in Saundersfoot to which everyone's invited to bring a wholesome picnic.
• bit.ly/vddNZT

Calennig Celebrations, Cardiff

The Welsh equivalent of Hogmanay, Calennig (literally "first day of the month") is always celebrated with brio in Cardiff. This year, there'll be free live music in the Civic Centre from 9pm, followed by a firework show befitting of a capital city. Meanwhile, for really hardy/foolhardy parents, there's a family funfair open from noon until (gulp) 1am. But for a really novel way of seeing in the new year, book yourself a midnight slot at the open-air ice rink (£9 for 75 mins). Then take one of the free buses that run on selected routes around the city until 2.30am. Canlyniadau (result)!
• bit.ly/u5tV63