There’s an incredible treehouse staycation location in the north of England, nestled in around woods and mountains.
The huge treehouse comes complete with all sorts of luxuries, from a slide down in to the games room to a hot tub on the wooden deck.
The Silva Treehouse is tucked away in a beautiful location between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales.
And although it’s got plenty of home comforts, it’s the trimmings that make it so special, The Hoot reports.
Outdoor pizza oven. Games room. Slides. Mountain views. Hot tub. This is a seriously cool cosy retreat.
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Wake up and watch the clouds fly over mountains, make a splash in the hot tub or grab a drink at the bar: this is the only treehouse any child or grown up will want to spend their weekend.
After fifteen years of growth and renovation, the treehouse hosts three bedrooms, a sitting room, kitchen, bathroom and an extended outdoor bbq area, as well as a hot tub and slide-in games room.
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The huge treehouse can comfortably sit six guests over three bedrooms: two king-size and one double where children and grown ups can unwind after a day of exploration.
All ages will be able to embrace the activities thoughtfully included by the host in the games room.
To gain entry, take the slide (yes, slide) down to the space complete with with hammocks, a ping pong table and a zip down bar.
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Cooking can be as simple as using the kitchen facilites, but when stargazing and al fresco dining with the treehouse’s a pizza oven, barbecue and fire pit is an option, why wouldn’t you embrace your natural surroundings?
Located within a short distance of a working farm, the only noise you will hear is the morning crows and squarks of animals nearby.
The owners carefully chose the location based on its immersion in nature, especially wildlife spotting. Incredibly, Lucy and Grant’s tireless work has created the woods, wildflower areas, hedgerows and ponds where biodiversity now thrives.
Keep an eye out for brown hares, roe deer and kestrels, and an ear for tawny and barn owls hunting at dusk.
Located on Maughanby Farm, Little Salkeld in Penrith, the Silva Treehouse is just over two hours from Leeds city centre by car or a three hour train journey.
Plans approved for new safari lodges at Chester Zoo where visitors wake up next to giraffes
Emily Sergeant
You could soon be able to stay overnight in a safari lodge, and wake up to see giraffes and other animals roaming freely.
That’s right… it’s finally happening.
It’s been a very long time coming, but this week – after several years of waiting following plans first being hinted at in 2019, and revised plans then being unveiled back in June 2022 – Chester Zoo has now been given the highly-anticipated green light to build dozens of savannah-style lodges on a plot of its land that’s currently not being actively-used.
A total of 51 lodges have been approved by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning department as part of the ‘Grasslands’ development – with some of them set to overlook a lake, while others overlook an enclosure with free-roaming giraffes.
As mentioned, similar proposals to those that’ve been green-lit this week had been approved in 2019, but they had to be put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Plans have been approved to build dozens of new overnight safari lodges at Chester Zoo / Credit: Chester Zoo
Revised plans were then submitted in 2022 for 63 lodges, but this was later reduced to 51.
On top of the reduction to 51 lodges last year, a number of changes also had to be made to the design of the development’s welcome building to make it “simpler” in response to rising costs, according to reports by CheshireLive and BBC News.
The approved plans include four types of lodges, all with a design based on traditional timber African safari lodges.
Alongside the 51 lodges, the Council’s planners have also approved a two-storey reception building with a bar and restaurant, an orientation lodge, and the groundworks for the all-important creation of a lake the development’s set to overlook.
Visitors will be able to wake up too see giraffes and other animals roaming freely / Credit: Chester Zoo
Given that the development is proposed for Green Belt land, this means it can only be built on if special circumstances are demonstrated, and other considerations also had to be taken into account by the Council’s planning committee too, such as the contribution the zoo makes to the local economy, and the benefits it provides to education and global conservation initiatives.
But the planners’ report stated that all those requirements had been met in the latest proposals submitted by the zoo.
“Taken together, it is considered that these considerations outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and amount to very special circumstances,” the report stated.
It then concluded that: “On balance, subject to the conditions set out below and taking into account the provisions of the development plan and all other material planning considerations, it is recommended that planning permission be granted”.
A timeline for works, and predicted project completion dates are set to be announced in due course, so keep your eyes peeled.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
Travel & Tourism
Travel advice issued ahead of ‘really busy’ weekend with Barry Manilow and Manchester City playing next door to each other
Daisy Jackson
The new Co-op Live arena will really be put to its first big travel test this weekend when it welcomes Barry Manilow on the same day that Manchester City are playing next door.
Travel advice has now been issued ahead of what’s set to be a ‘really busy’ Sunday in the city.
Tens of thousands of people will travel to and from the neighbouring venues of Co-op Live and the Etihad Stadium for the two huge events.
TfGM has warned people to ‘leave plenty of time’ for travelling to either Barry Manilow’s gig, or to see Manchester City potentially scooping another Premier League title against West Ham.
It’s advised to use public transport and active travel to get to either venue, with parking at Co-op Live already sold out and a strict residents parking scheme in operation in the surrounding area.
And of course, ticket-holders for Barry Manilow do have free Metrolink tram travel included with their event ticket.
The free tram travel is valid for four hours before and after the show, and can also be used on post-event shuttle buses from Co-op Live back to the city centre.
As for Manchester City fans, a double tram service will be running between town and Etihad Campus before and after the match, and there’ll be a bespoke shuttle bus service to the city centre and 17 supporters’ bus services around Greater Manchester.
Credit: Unsplash, Jonny GiosCredit: Publicity pictureTravel advice has been issued as Barry Manilow and Manchester City events take place in neighbouring venues on the same day.
If City do claim their fourth Premier League title, the buses will leave later, at 7.15pm.
Public transport will be extremely busy before and after the events (and there’ll be some crossover with thousands of footy fans leaving the area as thousands of gig-goers arrive).
One of the most straight-forward ways to get to the area is just to walk, if you’re able to, with a new walking route laid out that takes around 35 minutes from town.
The step-free, well-lit, interactive walking route (also marked on maps as ‘CityLink’) is clearly signposted from Piccadilly Station and through the Ancoats and New Islington areas, with new light and art installations along the route.
Helpers will be on hand to support people as they make their way to and from the events.
Danny Vaughan, Chief Network Officer at TfGM, said: “We’re expecting it to be a really busy Sunday with Barry Manilow in town and Manchester City on the brink of a fourth consecutive Premier League title – that’s why we’ve worked with partners on plans to ensure our transport network is as robust as possible on the day.
“We want everyone to have a great time and, would encourage those off to the Etihad or Co-op Live to use public transport for their journeys, or consider walking, cycling or wheeling as the best way to get to and from their destination.
“Planning and preparation for events such as this is done in great detail and there will be plenty of staff on hand to help and support people making their way to and from their destination.
“Enhanced bus and tram services will be in place and we will also be monitoring the network and providing up to date travel information so people’s journeys run as smoothly as possible.”