Castlefield Viaduct in Manchester, the lush National Trust site built up on a disused railway viaduct, has announced plans of night time activity this winter.
The beautiful parkin the sky will be inviting visitors to see the urban green space by nightfall.
There’ll be a free Lantern Lates series where the park will transform into a ‘magical, sparkling grotto’.
Visitors can climb up to Castlefield Viaduct, the huge industrial landmark that has views right across Manchester city centre, and savour the winter wonderland created for the coming season.
It’s before the National Trust project closes for a few weeks in the new year for work to refresh the gardens for spring and summer.
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The viaduct itself has been abandoned since 1969, until the charity revealed plans to turn it into a sky park similar to New York’s High Line.
The temporary urban garden has attracted thousands of visitors and the National Trust is now fundraising to secure a permanent future for the project, which is currently closing in September 2024.
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Along with the Lantern Lates series, Castlefield Viaduct’s other night time events will include a Winter Garden Tour, where guides will explain the stories behind winter plants like holly, ivy and mistletoe.
Castlefield Viaduct has a series of night time events including a Lantern Lates light trail. Credit: David Bewick/National Trust.
And at the end of it all there’ll be a Cosy Corner, a relaxing spot with books, boardgames and crafts.
The Cosy Corner will be built at the far end of the Castlefield Viaduct park, where huge windows look across the overgrown and untouched section of the old railway bridge.
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Castlefield Viaduct is the ideal spot to escape all the madness of the silly season and non-stop parties going on in the city below.
It’s open all the way through winter until Saturday 2 January (except Christmas Day and Boxing Day), with free entry. You can book morning tours on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, or take a wander after 12.30pm on those days or any time on Wednesdays, weekends and bank holidays.
Lantern Lates at Castlefield Viaduct
17 November 2023 – 1 January 2024, 3.30pm – 5pm | Free – Drop-in
As the nights draw in Castlefield Viaduct transforms into a magical, sparkling grotto.
From 3.30pm to 5pm every day, drop in to wander along the light trail and visit the garden in the sky in a different way. It’s the perfect time for a moment of rest above the busy city, take in Greater Manchester’s 21st century skyline and maybe even spot a bat or two.
Get out of the busy city streets and join Castlefield Viaduct for a tour around some festive flora.
Nature has long associations with this time of the year from holly and ivy to mistletoe and chestnuts. Your guide will tell you the stories behind some of the winter plants on the viaduct and introduce the beauty of winter in the garden.
11 December 2023 – 1 January 2024, daily | Free – Drop-in
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Warm up and chill out… After a walk through the winter garden take some time out in the Castlefield Viaduct Cosy Corner.
This December the visitor building will be transformed into a relaxing spot with books, board games and easy crafts plus the spectacular views of the wild viaduct and Castlefield below. Take a break from the rush, settle in with a good read or simply watch nature go by.
The viaduct is a temporary project from the National Trust and due to permanently close after summer 2024. To help secure a future for the project and help the garden grow, you can make a donation or give one as a gift? Click here to give direct to Castlefield Viaduct.
Featured image: David Bewick/National Trust
Travel & Tourism
You can live out your cowboy dreams on this northern wagon staycation
Thomas Melia
There’s a staycation in Yorkshire that’s perfect if you were one of those kids obsessed with cowboy hats, horses, and yelling ‘YEEHAW’ in your parents’ faces.
We all know that Haworth is home to some fantastic food, breathtaking views, and fascinating history – and is now housing a 19th century style wagon.
Called Pondenrosa, the American-style covered wagon sleeps two with a king-sized bed and a campfire, making it a great opportunity for couples to trial out glamping together.
This old-timey staycation isn’t stripped back all the way to the days of the Wild West as guests will be provided with a luxury that cowboys never had – an electric blanket.
You can even try your hand at campfire cooking with the retreat offering some complimentary beans to warm your soul.
If you’re no good at cooking or just want someone else to do it for you, Haworth’s main street is only a five minute drive away hosting some proper pub grub to delight your taste buds with.
There’s even a pub called the Wuthering Heights within walking distance a nod to the area’s connection to the Brontes.
You can live out your cowboy dreams on this northern wagon staycation / Credit: Canopy and Stars
After treating yourself to the best home-comfort meals in town, why not stroll along the cobbled street and pop into some local vendors supplying everything from sweets, chocolates and intricate handmade gifts.
It’s not surprising that this cosy West Yorkshire village is inheriting another piece of history, after all it was once the residence of literary greats the Brontës who took great pride in the natural landscape.
It’s not only literary works that Haworth is esteemed for, this small village is bustling with lots of arts and culture with BBC’s ‘Peaky Blinders’ and Channel 5’s ‘All Creature’s Great & Small’ filmed in the Yorkshire dales.
For any keen-eyed music fans, Pink Floyd filmed parts of their 1982 movie musical ‘The Wall’ in Haworth and the surrounding areas such as Keighley – only a 14 minute drive away.
Pondenrosa is a staycation in Yorkshire where you can stay overnight in a wagon / Credit: Canopy and Stars
You’re also only a short trip away from beautiful Hebden Bridge.
However you and the cowboys will have one thing in common – no phone signal, giving you a chance to fully unwind. Sometimes we all need a little digital detox.
So whether you want a chilled holiday or one packed full of mini adventures, why not do it in style… cowboy style.
Stays at Pondenrosa start from just £95 a night, and you can find out more and book your trip here.
Featured Image – Canopy and Stars
Travel & Tourism
You can take your dog to loads of staycation spots for FREE with this limited-time offer
Emily Sergeant
A dog is a human’s best friend, and what better way to have your companion on holiday with you than for free.
Want to go on holiday but always too soft to say no to those puppy-dog eyes? Well look no further, because Hoseasons has found you the perfect solution.
Keswick Lodge Retreat, which is situated in the heart of the Lake District, is home to lots of green spaces and walking routes, making it ideal for animal lovers and the perfect getaway for families with dogs, especially as it’s now one of the locations where Hoseasons is offering furry friends the chance to come along for free.
This Hoseasons park has dozens of lodges taking part in this doggy deal, and plenty of these plots even have a hot tub.
This means you can treat yourself to a spa day with an on-site bath, sauna and a relaxation room – and, of course, there’s a dog wash room too.
You can take your dog to loads of staycation spots for free with this limited-time offer / Credit: Supplied
If you book your next staycation between 3 September and 30 September for a holiday ranging from 6 September 2024 to 31 March 2025, you can bring your dog along for no extra cost (at selected locations).
Looking to go elsewhere though? Luckily, there are over 300 participating Hoseasons sites offering free dog places, meaning your furry friend won’t miss out on any of the fun.
Dogs are always welcome at Hoseasons sites. Whether it’s a lodge, park, or cottage getaway you’re looking for, there are more than 12,000 holiday spots that are dog-friendly, so you can take on the world together.
If you’re after some time without the family pet, the holiday company also has everything you need, as there are plenty of spots to choose from across the country with over 30,000 retreats and destinations in England, Scotland, and Wales.
So go on all you dog parents, why not treat your children and your four-legged children to a holiday that won’t break the bank?
Daisy Jackson -
6th December 2023 
