Travel & Tourism

Ancoats toilet block turned into luxury Santorini-inspired apartment

This place is beautiful!

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 23rd June 2023

A former toilet block in on of Ancoats’ many mill buildings has been transformed into an ultra-luxury apartment inspired by Santorini.

With architectural arches, wooden furniture and soft whites everywhere, it will transport you straight to the Aegean sea.

The beautiful luxury serviced accommodation comes from The Jacksonheim Boutique, which is also behind several other destination-inspired apartments around the city.

There are flats themed around neighbourhoods like Williamsburg, Brooklyn and Manhattan in New York, as well as Scandi, Japanese and Chicago-influenced homes.

This latest property, known as Santorini Boutique, has taken shape in an old factory mill’s toilet block.

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It’s now a two-bedroom apartment that reflects the aesthetics of the Greek island.

Inside, there’s a purpose-built mezzanine level forming a sleeping nook, bespoke furniture, and stunning curved ceilings much like those found in Santorini itself.

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The Santorini Boutique apartment in Ancoats, Manchester.
The Santorini Boutique apartment in Ancoats, Manchester. Credit: Jacksonheim Boutique
The Santorini Boutique apartment in Ancoats, Manchester.
The Santorini Boutique apartment in Ancoats, Manchester.
The Santorini Boutique apartment in Ancoats, Manchester.

Jacksonheim Boutique says they want the home to be ‘a Mediterranean escape’ in the midst of Manchester’s gritty charm.

Amenities included when you rent the property include high-speed WiFi, Smart TV with Netflix and Prime, a full kitchen, and luxury toiletries.

Jacksonheim Boutique say: “At the heart of our design philosophy is drawing inspiration from our team’s travels and experiences.

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“After a colleague’s journey to Greece, we couldn’t resist incorporating elements that evoke the enchanting allure of the Mediterranean. Inspired by the sun-kissed landscapes of Santorini, we infused this urban oasis with a touch of Greek elegance, creating a harmonious fusion of cultures within these walls.”

The Santorini Boutique apartment in Ancoats is priced from around £166 per night and sleeps six guests.

You can find out more at www.jacksonheim.co.uk/apartments/santorini-boutique/.

Featured image: Jacksonheim Boutique

Travel & Tourism

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

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson A Peak District walk that includes Derwent Dam and Alport Castles

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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

How to get 55 days off work in 2024 using only 25 days of annual leave

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Whether you can believe it or not, we’ll be getting ready to say welcome in December by this time next week.

And that also means in won’t be long before 2024 arrives either.

2023 has been quite the year, and with the working world getting ready to wind down for the festive season, many are no doubt already looking ahead to the new year, and planning all the holidays and time off work they want to book.

Fancy making the most of it though? For those looking to play their cards right and hack the system a little bit, travel insurance price comparison platform PayingTooMuch has worked out a way to secure yourself a whopping 55 days off work using just 25 days of your annual leave allowance – and it’s pretty impressive.

With most full-time employees who work a five-day week having a minimum of 28 days (5.6 weeks) of paid annual leave each year, travel experts at the company have figured out how these people can effectively double their time off in 2024.

Here’s how it works.

There’s a way to get 55 days off in 2024 using only 25 days of annual leave / Credit: Behnam Norouzi | Marissa Grootes (via Unsplash)

January

Saturday 30 December 2023 to Sunday 7 January 2024 – To extend your new year celebrations, you’ll want to book four days off at the start of the year for a total of nine days off.  

Easter

Saturday 23 March to Sunday 7 April – With Good Friday falling on 29 March next year, you can enjoy a long Easter break of 16 days by only booking eight days off.   

May

Saturday 4 May to Monday 12 May or Saturday 25 May to Sunday 2 June – Thanks to the two bank holidays in May, there’s two ways for you to enjoy nine days off in a row by only using four days of annual leave. 

August

Saturday 24 August to Sunday 1 September – Here you can book just four days off in August to gain nine days off for a summer holiday.

December

Saturday 21 December 2024 to Tuesday 1 January 2025 – To end the year on a high and give yourself the chance to properly enjoy the festive period with family and friends, you can book five days of annual leave to gain 12 days off in total.

There’s also loads of health-boosting benefits about taking time off from work / Credit: Towfiqu Barbhuiya (via Unsplash)

PayingTooMuch also spoke to Wellbeing Coach Lorna Wilkins to explore the health-boosting benefits of going on holiday and taking time off from work.

“One of the key health benefits of going on holiday is that it reduces stress,” Lorna explains.

“Having a break from your daily routine can make you feel more relaxed and therefore improve your mental wellbeing.

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“A change of environment and getting away from the pressures of day-to-day life not only helps you to clear your mind but can also help to improve your sleep quality as you’ll be feeling more relaxed.”

Featured Image – Jose Losada (via Unsplash)

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