Christmas capers at Alton Towers

THE Staffordshire-based Resort will open its gates to provide exclusive and enchanting Santa Sleepovers from November 27th*, including the opportunity to meet the man himself, Father Christmas. 

The festivities will also include fun-packed family pantomime classic, Aladdin. As well as enjoying a tasty traditional Christmas dinner, guests will also be able to enjoy the unseasonal tropical temperatures of #AltonTowers Waterpark and exclusive access to the Resort’s rides and attractions.

*Santa Sleepovers will take place on 27th Nov, 4th Dec, 11th Dec, 17th to 23rd Dec 2016. Festive Breaks will also be available from 27th Dec 2016 to 3rd Jan 2017.

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Picture Credit: By Kelvinsong - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22965014

Get racing for Rotary

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL in Britain and Ireland continues its established partnership with #Ironman2016, with charity fundraising sports events in Dublin, Staffordshire, Bolton, South Pembrokeshire in Wales, and Wimbleball on Exmoor. 

The events are triathlons comprising swimming, cycling, and running, and are timed to run through the summer from June to September.

The partnership enables athletes and individuals to raise funds for good causes while taking part in a variety of activities. Competitors benefit from 'free entry' to the event or race, and they get a package comprising training and kit by pledging to raise a specific amount for charity.

#Rotarycharityfundraisers support local, regional, and national charities that come within five areas: 

• Children's hospices 
• Life education centres 
• Cancer charities 
• Air Ambulance 
• Services charities 

Fundraisers have the opportunity to nominate their own charity to receive a portion of the money they raise.

For full details, go to www.rotarycharityfundraisers.org/ironman_2016

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51520012@N05/7629399144">Ironman UK 5343</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)

Alton Towers to re-open ‘Smiler’ in three weeks

#ALTONTOWERS is to re-open the ‘Smiler’ rollercoaster in less than three weeks following last year's crash which left 16 people injured, five of them seriously.

The theme park’s owner – Merlin Entertainments – is facing a prosecution by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive over the accident.

Merlin Entertainments said the ride would reopen on March 19, in time for the Easter holidays.

Its own internal investigation revealed there was no mechanical or technical fault with the ride, and blamed the accident on human error.

It said a member of staff had overridden safety protocols to re-start the ride, causing a carriage packed with people to slam into a carriage that was stuck on the track.

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Alton Towers unveils world’s first VR rollercoaster

#ALTON TOWERS in Staffordshire claims its virtual-reality #rollercoaster ride #Galactica will be a ‘game-changer’. The ride will open in April in what the Merlin Entertainments venue describes as ‘a ground-breaking move set to revolutionize the world of theme parks’, and a ‘sensational world first’.

Visitors will ride in a prone position along a 918-yard long track to recreate the feeling of flying through outer space, while wearing a virtual reality headset.

Gill Riley, marketing director at Alton Towers, said: ‘Galactica uses ground-breaking technology to give riders a breathtaking and unique rollercoaster experience. Tim Peake captured the imagination of millions of Brits last year when he set off on his mission to the International Space Station – and now our visitors can become astronauts too. For two minutes, our guests will be transported into space. We believe Galactica showcases the future for theme parks around the world.’

The theme park will also open what is claimed to be the first rollercoaster restaurant in the UK.

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On show in Stoke

This year will see the opening of the £34 million World of Wedgwood attraction in Stoke-on-Trent, plus a major exhibition of Chinese ceramics.

The World of Wedgwood – opening on May 1 – will feature a hands-on factory tour visit the Wedgwood Museum, and dine in The Wedgwood Tearoom.

Ahead of the Curve will showcase trends in studio ceramics and glass art by leading Chinese artists. It opens at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery in March and runs to May 31.

www.visitstoke.co.uk
www.wedgwoodvisitorcentre.com/content/new-2015






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Picture Credit: "Statue of Josiah Wedgewood, Stoke-on-Trent, England" by stephen betteridge via Wikimedia Commons

Take a walk in the forest …

THE new long distance walking trail, the National Forest Way, will be launched on 17th May. 

The trail, which has been five years in the making, uses public rights of way and permissive paths to take walkers on a journey of discovery through the length and breadth of The National Forest.

The 75-mile trail extends from the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to Beacon Hill Country Park in Leicestershire, and can be walked west to east or east to west. The trail is divided into 12 stages with directional leaflets available for each stage. Walkers can dip in for a day, walk for the weekend or take on the whole 75 miles in one go.

Says Sophie Churchill, Chief Executive, National Forest Company: ‘It's suitable for experienced and new walkers alike, and is full of surprises. I “test walked” it and loved getting a sense of the whole of the forest – the varied and unexpected aspects of this transformed landscape, all framed by woodland. The trail leads through young and ancient woodlands, market towns and the industrial heritage of this changing landscape at the heart of the Midlands.’

www.nationalforestway.co.uk

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