There’s nothing like disappearing into the countryside for a weekend, especially when it’s the Lake District, and especially when your escape is taking place in a multi-storey, luxury treehouse.
Three huge bedrooms, two bathrooms, a hot tub, a full kitchen, three balconies, a cosy lounge, and a slide that will zip you down to your very own den filled with games and a bar.
Welcome to Silva Treehouse, a beautiful bolthole near Penrith that might be one of the most well-designed pads we’ve ever been blessed to clap eyes upon.
The whole ‘digital detox’, screen-free movement has become a bit of a thing in recent years, with a whole company dedicated to making cabins where you lock your phones away for the weekend.
Silva Treehouse offers no such novelty lockbox – but one look out of those gigantic windows at the rolling countryside and you’ll drop your phone willingly.
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There’s no telly, no Wi-Fi. In fact, there’s only about four buttons in the entire building. It’s just a radio, a few board games and those staggering views, and you won’t want anything else.
From sitting on a plush sofa with the log burner kicking out heat, watching the sun set over the fields, to getting up early and watching deer and hare frolicking in the dawn mist, there’s way more to soothe your soul here that you could ever get from Netflix.
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The layout of the treehouse itself is remarkable. Guests head up a short flight of stairs to a huge deck, which is home to a large dining table and the hot tub.
The stunning views from the Silva Treehouse loungeThe master bedroom in the Lake District treehouseThe hot tub with countryside views
Inside on this level is an open-plan kitchen/dining room/living space, kitted out with all the equipment you need to keep yourself fed and not having to leave the house for days (the hosts also left us dozens of eggs from their chickens).
Up another short flight of stairs you’ll find the master bedroom, with a four-poster bed and its own whimsical balcony, plus the smallest (but still double) bedroom, where you’ll wake up to one of the best views in the place.
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Then in the very rafters of the treehouse is bedroom number three, a huge mezzanine space where you can sleep surrounded by wood.
This is a very grown-up and sophisticated treehouse, but whoever said that can’t be loads of fun too? This place has got all sorts of entertainment to help you switch off, relax, and be a bit silly too.
And that’s where the coolest feature comes in, accessed via the second deck – a metal slide that plummets you back down to ground level, and to your very own den.
A bar, a ping-pong table, a dart board, a fire pit (complete with marshmallows for toasting), a pizza oven, hammocks, an extra bathroom, and loads of seating too, all tucked down beneath the main accommodation.
The bar in the denThe den beneath Silva Treehouse
If you can get down that slide without squealing “Weeeeee!” and regressing back to your childhood, we don’t want to know you (there is a door if you don’t want to brave the slide).
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If you can tear yourself away, there’s prime countryside on your doorstep, from the Lake District itself to the SSSI of the River Eden, including sandstone caves, hidden waterfalls, mountain views and riverside strolls.
It’s taken the family behind Silva Treehouse 15 years to painstakingly construct it from homegrown timber amongst the trees, with the ambitious project growing bigger as the couple behind it, Lucy and Grant, had more ideas.
It’s really, really been worth the wait.
See more pictures below and book your stay with Canopy & Stars HERE.
Silva Treehouse in the Lake District
The firepit beside Silva TreehouseEnjoying the viewsSilva Treehouse has a slideThe smallest of the three bedroomsThe living room at Silva TreehouseThe balcony off the master bedroomThe wood-fired hot tub in actionThe mezzanine bedroomEnjoying the viewsA log burnerBathroomSilva Treehouse has a slideSilva TreehouseSilva Treehouse kitchenThose views again…The log burner in actionSilva Treehouse comes with binocularsLooking up at the balcony
Featured image: The Manc Group
Travel & Tourism
An iconic vintage train is set to pass through Greater Manchester this summer
Danny Jones
Calling all railway enthusiasts: another historic vintage locomotive is set to visit two Greater Manchester train stations this summer.
Whether you’re a passionate trainspotter or just a nearby resident curious to see what all the fuss is about, the cult favourite retro carriages will pass through the pair of Manc boroughs and surrounding areas early next month.
Despite an adjustment in the initial plans, locals will still be able to witness and board the train at multiple stops along the way in the Stockport (Reddish South station) and Rochdale areas.
So, if you consider yourself a bit of a ‘Francis Bourgeois’ figure, or a general public transport connoisseur, pay attention.
Designed by Sir Kenneth Granger and officially launched back in 1976, the fleet was named as such after the top speed of 125mph – simple as that.
Once again, it’s worth noting that the originally proposed route and stops have now been changed due to issues with Network Rail.
As a result of there currently being no standing approval to use the connection from Paignton to Bury on the East Lancs Railway line, they have been forced to change the start and terminus points.
Writing on the dedicated 125Group website, they say: “We are reviewing our options to start as close as possible to the advertised departure point, and it seems likely that Rochdale will become the start and finish point, with all other previous pick-ups retained.
“For those in the far south west, we are looking to see whether we can offer an Exeter to Paignton return – subject to availability of space. We will add this to the booking site shortly, although we may have to limit numbers sold until we are more certain of booking levels to Bristol and Exeter.”
Two 125s, including ‘The Mancunian Princess’, travelled through the SK region earlier this year.
They have reassured that the journey will still be going ahead and have simply advised those hoping to catch it to keep their eyes peeled on the website and their socials for the latest updates.
Kids’ tickets start from just a tenner, and standard passes for the full tour cost £99, with first-class the class option priced at £149 (there’s also a table for two supplement available for £50).
You can see the full map, find out more information, and grab your seats right HERE.
Bet the internet signal on this relic isn’t far off the current standard either, to be fair…
Andy Burnham extends Greater Manchester’s £2 bus fare cap across England
Emily Sergeant
Single bus fares are to be capped at £2 across England from next year, it has been announced.
Andy Burnham famously introduced this money-saving measure on the Bee Network here in Greater Manchester back in September 2022 when he was Mayor of the city region, and it’s proved to be a big success ever since, so it comes as no surprise that this would be something he would look to extend nationwide once he became Prime Minister.
It’s only his second full day in office, but in a bid to further help with the cost of living and give people the breathing space they need, Andy Burnham has now announced that millions of passengers nationwide will benefit from cheaper bus fares in 2027.
Backed by £400 million extra funding, the cap on fares will help millions of people across the country access affordable bus travel more easily.
The Government says this measure is aiming to ‘break down barriers to travel’.
For too long, people have said that cheaper transport isn't an option.
I don't accept that.
l've done it before and now I'm doing it again: a £2 cap on bus fares for millions across the country.
Currently, fares have been capped at £3 until the end of March 2027, but today’s move will stop prices jumping next spring and lower fares to £2 from January, as well as extending the cap until the end of 2027 to give local authorities more time to plan with confidence.
The bus fare cap comes alongside the first rail fare freeze in 30 years announced earlier this year, saving passengers £600 million, and commuters on some routes saving more than £300 a year.
Andy Burnham is extending Greater Manchester’s £2 bus fare cap across England / Credit: TfGM
“Good, affordable transport links are an essential,” commented Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
“But for too long people have said that cheaper transport isn’t an option. I don’t accept that. I’ve done it before and I will do it again now – a £2 cap on bus fares for millions across the country.
“Lower fares will help people get to where they need to, giving them breathing space to help with the cost of living. As I said on my first day in office, I will build a country for everyone, everywhere. That means more connected communities, better access to opportunities, and a lighter load on people’s lives.”
The Government will consult on ways to award extra planning powers to Mayors to give them the final say over decisions on public transport in their areas.
These greater powers will help make sure local leaders have the tools they need to meet the needs of local people, and the Government will be consulting on these measures to make sure that they are designed in the best interest of local communities.
Daisy Jackson -
19th March 2025 
