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Travel & Tourism

You can rent your own ski chalet-style lodge – with an Irish pub in the garden

AND a tiki bar.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 20th April 2025
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Nothing screams Alpine Lodge quite like a game of darts in an Irish pub, eh? And at this staycation you can have that apres-ski combo for yourself.

Oh, and your own Irish pub in the garden is just the beginning – if you rent this lodge you also get your own Tiki Bar too.

Chalet du Lac is a boutique home themed around the ski chalets of Val D’Isere in the French Alps, including oak-clad walls, sheepskin throws, and retro ski paraphernalia on the walls.

With five bedrooms for up to 10 guests, and a beautiful kitchen-living room area complete with log burning fireplace, the insides are impressive in their own right.

But the outside will really knock your socks off… even without those snowy Alpine views.

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Chalet du Lac overlooks Rudyard Lake on the edge of the Peak District National Park, from a sunny south-facing terrace.

That terrace is also home to a private sunken hot tub so you can soak in those views while having a soak of your own.

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Chalet du Lac comes with its own Irish pub. Credit: Airbnb
Chalet du Lac comes with its own Irish pub. Credit: Airbnb
It also has a Tiki bar
It also has a Tiki bar
It also has a Tiki bar
It also has a Tiki bar
Hot tub at Chalet du Lac
Hot tub at Chalet du Lac

And to the rear of the property you’ve got your own Tiki Bar, decorated with multicoloured festoon lighting, bright flowers and both indoor and outdoor seating.

As if one novelty themed bar wasn’t enough, there’s also an Irish bar inspired by Dublin’s legendary Temple Bar.

The sizeable space is kitted out with everything from Guinness barrels to a huge TV screen, plus a pool table, dartboard and log burner.

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You’ll also have access to your own wood-fired pizza oven.

Guests can make the most of their position near the lake – the property also has a kayak for exploring the water, with direct access to the lake.

You can find out more about Chalet du Lac and book a stay HERE.

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Featured image: Airbnb

Travel & Tourism

Social media beauty spots and selfies blamed for record rise in mountain rescue callouts

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Mountain Rescue call-outs have risen for young people - and social media may be to blame
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There’s been a record rise in the number of young people needing help from mountain rescue teams – and social media has been blamed for luring unprepared people into potentially dangerous situations.

As well as these viral beauty spots – such as Mam Tor – the rise in call-outs has also been attributed to ‘poor-quality map apps’ which can stop functioning when in areas with poor phone service.

According to an exclusive report in The Guardian, it’s now tourists under the age of 24 who are most likely to need mountain rescue’s assistance while out walking.

The data provided by Ordnance Survey said that the number of call-outs from this age group has almost doubled between 2019 and 2024.

Overall rescues increased by 24% over a similar period.

A spokesman for Mountain Rescue said that young people are drawn to places like the Lake District after seeing images on social media, but are often not dressed or equipped properly for the conditions.

Nick Giles said people are often ‘too reliant on mobile phones’ and unprepared for the changes in weather and terrain that come with hiking.

Mike Park, chief executive of Mountain Rescue England and Wales, told The Guardian: “We know from incident reports that more and more people are tempted into risky locations by Instagram posts and the navigation apps being used aren’t always suitable for an outdoor environment.

“Add to that a tendency to follow popular routes online without knowing the hazards and context, and it’s not surprising that those likely to be relying most on their phones are the ones getting into difficulties.”

Before you head out on any hike or walk, you should make sure you’re prepared and equipped – see Mountain Rescue’s tips HERE.

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Featured image: Keswick Mountain Rescue

Travel & Tourism

A brand-new immersive ‘walking theatre’ and XR experience has landed in Greater Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones Walking theatre XR experience Trafford Palazzo
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We hear the word immersive thrown around a lot these days, but if the notion of walking through some of your favourite fantasy and sci-fi worlds in a state-of-the-art XR tour doesn’t fit the definition, we don’t know what does.

Get ready to pull on a headset and be dropped into a different universe, Mancs.

This is Immersia XR: an industry-leading immersive entertainment and XR (extended reality) experience has just been unveiled right here in Greater Manchester.

Anyone for a ride on a magic carpet?

Credit: The Manc Group
Credit: Immersia XR (supplied)

Immersia XR specialises in what they call ‘Walking XR Theatre – a new term for a new kind of experience’, and boasts big plaudits across the board, with an average Google rating of 4.8 from dozens of reviews already.

Having just made its Manchester debut to the public at Trafford Palazzo (located right next to 0161’s famous Trafford Centre) this summer, the new addition brings cutting-edge technology blended with iconic family-favourite tales in an “unforgettable walk-through format.”

A lucky few have been treated to our first time, including us here at The Manc, and you’ll have to take our word for it when we tell you it’s a truly incredible experience.

It’s the first of its kind in the UK and Europe, and although there are other similar VR and AR offerings around the region, you won’t find anything quite like ‘walking theatre’ and this free-roam experience.

Credit: Supplied

As you can see above, there are a number of experiences to be enjoyed right from the off, including two modes inspired by childhood classics, Alice in Wonderland and Tales of Aladdin.

Ever fancied trying your hand as an astronaut and walking on the surface of the moon as you look back at the Earth below? Course you have! No training involved in this one, either.

Take that, Katy Perry, you can keep your short-lived Blue Origin nonsense to yourself.

Immersia XR’s ambition doesn’t stop there, though, as they are also preparing to introduce the exciting new ‘Terracotta Army’ experience in the near future.

Here’s a glimpse at how it looks inside the goggles:

Already open to the public and running up until Sunday, 6 July 2025, Immersia XR is fun for all ages, with kid-friendly zones and accessible narratives built into the experience.

Best of all, there are actually very few bells and whistles; no screens, no controllers – it’s just you walking through the story of your choice.

Immersia XR’s founder, Ian Xiang, said: “We’re not just launching a new attraction—we’re pioneering the future of storytelling. Walking XR Theatre is where cinema, theatre, and technology converge to create magic. You don’t just watch the story—you walk through it.”

Tickets are on sale now, with adult prices starting from only £17, children (ages 3–15) from just £12, and family tickets (2 adults, 2 kids) from £54. Great value for money.

Concession tickets are also available for students and over-65s, priced from £16, and group bookings of 10 or more receive 10% off. You can even get 20% off all ticket types with the early bird code: PRESS20. You can grab yours HERE.

Credit: Supplied/The Manc Group

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Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)

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