Travel & Tourism

Alport Castles – The incredible Peak District lakeside walk with a jaw-dropping spectacle on the route 

We bring you *drama*, with the help of our brilliant pal GetLostMCR

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 26th November 2023

There’s no end of impressive sights to be found around Greater Manchester, whether you’re into ravines that look like Lord of the Rings settings or incredible skyscrapers that tower over the city centre. 

But there’s one particular hike in the Peak District that’s so impressive it will take your breath away (and we don’t just mean from the effort of walking uphill). 

The Alport Castles walk takes in everything from geological formations to massive lakes to manmade structures.

One of which is the Derwent Dam, a massive structure that towers 34m overhead and is flanked by twin Victorian-Gothic towers at either end. 

If you catch it when the water cascades over it, you’ll witness a spectacle like no other. 

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Building the dam in the early 1900s was such an intense and laborious process that an entire town was built here to house the 1000-odd workers involved in its construction. 

A specially created railway was also built to bring the enormous stones it’s made from to the valley from the Bole Hill quarries. 

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But as well as being a mighty sight to behold, the Derwent Dam holds historical significance from the purpose it served during World War Two. 

The 617 Squadron used the dam to practice their low-level flying, in preparation for the Dam Busters raid against the Germans. The dam has a lot of similarity to the German dams and is now adorned with a commemorative plaque. 

The view from the top of Derwent Dam from the Alport Castles walk.
The view from the top of Derwent Dam from the Alport Castles walk. Credit: GetLostMCR
The Alport Castles route includes beautiful woodland.
The Alport Castles route includes beautiful woodland. Credit: GetLostMCR
Alport Castles in the Peak District. Credit: GetLost MCR

Occasionally, legendary planes like the Lancaster Bomber will still fly overhead to mark the work of the 617 Squadron. 

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The dam stands at one end of the Derwent Reservoir and was constructed to keep up with the huge demand for water from the booming industries in Sheffield, Nottingham and Leicester.

There’s so much water in this part of the Peak District, it’s been referred to as the Lake District of the Peaks.

If you’re eager to get out for some brisk winter fresh air, our pal GetLostMCR has pulled together the most perfect walk, which takes in lakes, views, woodland, and that iconic dam.

The nine mile route is named after Alport Castles, another feature you’ll pass on your way round.

It’s not actually a castle, but rather a tumble of boulders caused by what’s said to be the largest landslip in Britain – it doesn’t take much imagination to see how this geological feature resembles a castle.

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GetLostMCR’s circular route starts at Fairholmes Car Park and Visitor Centre and you’ll get to visit the best of Derwent Reservoir, Derwent Valley Woodlands, Rowlee Pasture and Alport Castles.

The good-to-knows

Car Parks

  • The route starts at Fairholmes Car Park. The car park does fill up quickly on weekends, so advice is to visit off-peak where possible.
  • Start: Fairholmes Car Park, Bamford, Hope Valley, S33 0AQ
  • Toilet facilities at Fairholmes Visitor Centre
  • Bicycle Hire – Derwent Valley is a great place to explore cycling trails

Cafes

There’s a refreshment kiosk at the car park, which is open everyday 8am until 6pm (later if there is demand), selling takeaway drinks, snacks and hot food.

Pubs

  • Ladybower Inn (7 min drive from visitor centre)
  • Yorkshire Bridge Inn (8 min drive from visitor centre)

The route

  • Distance: 9 miles
  • Duration: Approx. 3 hours
  • Elevation: 1,100 feet
  • Difficulty: Moderate, gradual ascents
  • Navigation: Follow the route step by step here

Public transport

Manchester Piccadilly > Sheffield (50 mins). From here take a bus to Fairholmes Car Park, a stop on several bus routes.

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Featured image: GetLostMCR

Travel & Tourism

Olicana Park – The log cabins near Manchester that capture apres-ski magic all year round

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Roaring fires, bubbling hot tubs, stunning views, and even pairs of skis strapped to the walls – but this isn’t the French alps… it’s Yorkshire. 

Olicana Park is a beautiful holiday park right on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, just an hour’s drive from Greater Manchester.

Here, scattered around the banks of the River Wharfe, you’ll find a collection of luxury wooden cabins, traditional cottages, and classic static caravans.

But for us, it really is all about those cabins, which capture all the best bits of the apres-ski culture loved by snow-worshippers, all year round.

In winter, you can whack on your own log burger and cosy up on the sofas with a glass of red wine and a good book, while in summer you can throw open the bi-fold doors and sit out with a cocktail on your own gigantic roof terrace.

Each cabin has its own theme that plays in around the tasteful decor, which usually involves incredible wooden beams and stone floors.

The one our friends at The Hoot stayed in had an apres-ski theme, from the subtle (vintage wooden skis and piste markers used as wall art) to the clever (an old chair lift that had been turned into patio furniture).

The luxury apres-ski cabin at Olicana Park
The luxury apres-ski cabin at Olicana Park
A sauna inside the cabin
A sauna inside the cabin
The view from your own terrace
The view from your own terrace

There’s a huge hot tub perched on your own private decking too, where you can soak in the warm water while watching the river burble past at the end of your own driveway.

Upstairs in this particular cabin were two enormous double bedrooms with modern en suite bathrooms, one of which also had an enormous terrace attached with a view down to the river.

And then – wait for it – the cabin also came with its own sauna. Talk about luxury.

If you can’t tear yourself away from your own space, each cabin has a kitchen that’s perfectly kitted out with everything you need to whip up a tasty tea (or, if you’re like us, a cheese board for dinner).

Lunch dishes at Hamilton's the on-site restaurant at Olicana Park
Lunch dishes at Hamilton’s the on-site restaurant at Olicana Park
Breakfast at Hamilton's the on-site restaurant at Olicana Park
Breakfast at Hamilton’s the on-site restaurant at Olicana Park

But if you do venture out, there’s an on-site restaurant called Hamilton’s, where you can dig in to fresh salads, gyros, and burgers, and when you come back in the next morning you can feast on a menu of banging breakfasts and brunches.

Olicana Park actually used to be a traditional caravan park, but has been given some serious TLC since the new owners took over in 2016.

It was this team who decided to split the park into zones, with four cottages in one, five luxury cabins in another, and 29 static caravans in the third.

The cottages and cabins were all refurbished or constructed from scratch using British suppliers and local tradesmen.

The living rooms in an Olicana Park cabin. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
The living rooms in an Olicana Park cabin. Credit: The Hoot Leeds

It’s just a short stroll from Addingham village, and that’s only a short bus from the bustling town of Ilkley, which itself is only a short train ride from Leeds.

That means excellent pubs, restaurants and cafes within easy reach, as well as gorgeous countryside walks like a riverside amble to Bolton Abbey.

Surrounded by a plethora of long walks and country pubs, Olicana Park really is a perfect gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, and if you’re looking for something to kick off holiday season then we couldn’t recommend it more.

You can get 10% off your June holiday at Olicana Park with the code “THEHOOT”.

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Featured image: The Hoot Leeds

Travel & Tourism

Whitworth Locke hotel review: This historic Manchester building is home to one of the city’s most beautiful hotels

Abbie Bartlett Abbie Bartlett

Set in a beautiful 19th Century building in Manchester’s civic quarter, Whitworth Locke aparthotel is right in the middle of all the action.

As someone who works in Manchester but lives over in Leeds, this hotel couldn’t be more ideal for me. Less than 10 minutes from both Piccadilly and Oxford road train stations and St Peter’s Square Metrolink station, the ease of getting to the hotel set off my stay to a flying start.

While the beauty of the building is astonishing, it’s almost one of those hidden gems you might miss if you weren’t looking.

Nestled in between the two sides of the building a stunning conservatory marks the main entrance with comfy seating outside I imagine to be an absolute sun trap when Manchester’s weather decides to be kind to us.

As you walk through the glass-roofed bar to get to reception you literally can’t help but be in awe. New York architects, Grzywinski+Pons, embraced the cotton mills’ original features and designed a space to show off bricks and pillars but softened them with pastel paints.

A stunning conservatory marks the main entrance. Image: Whitworth Locke
the glass-roofed bar with cobbled floors. Image: Whitworth Locke

The bar area has an inside-outside feel, cobbled floors and covered in plants with light beaming in from all angles. Even if I wasn’t spending the night, I could see myself spending the afternoon enjoying some cocktails in this space.

I immediately had a cheery welcome as I approached the reception to check in, which I think really does make all the difference. I was asked about my day, if I needed any help finding my way around Manchester (actually incredibly useful for someone who gets lost as much as I do) and talked through all of the hotel amenities.

The hotel hosts a large gym, perfect for yoga, which is free to use over your stay but I opted out as I wouldn’t have the time. There’s also a lovely coffee shop, Foundation Coffee, serving breakfasts, toasties and of course a lovely cup of joe.

The main attraction though, in my eyes, is the free to use co-working space which takes up a huge part of the ground floor. Happily being used by throughout my visit, the Wi-Fi was great, the seats were comfy and although it was busy, it was nice and quiet.

A large seating and working area.
Comfortable king-sized beds.

Now let’s get onto the rooms, I had the privilege of trying out one of the suites and what a treat it was. Rooms are decorated with blush pink and pastel green with brass finishes, very chic and brings almost a holiday feeling even on a rainy day in Manchester.

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It’s not all about style though, there’s a fully-equipped kitchen with a huge fridge, lovely comfortable king-sized beds and loads of space to unpack your things. An added touch that really made me feel special was the hand written note hoping I enjoy my stay along with a bottle of red wine and chocolates. Safe to say, you know the way to my heart Whitworth Locke.

Kitchen space with table and chairs and larger TV.
The fully-equipped kitchen.
Hand-written note with bottle of red wine.
My handwritten note and bottle of wine.

Overall, I woke up feeling very refreshed from a good night’s sleep and even more so after a long waterfall shower. It was really easy to check out, they even looked after my luggage for the day, and with the great location I was out and on a train to my first meeting of the day with pure ease.

The moment we’ve all been waiting for, let’s talk money. Double rooms are from £99 in low season, and from £199 in high. Competitively I think it is good value for money, the facilities and location matched with the service and cleanliness there isn’t really anything I could knock.

If you’re after a really central Manchester stay with a lovely team and a super cool aesthetic, you won’t go wrong with this one. Book your stay here.

Featured image: The Manc Group

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