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The Alton Towers Gardens

The lake on the front lawn is currently being dredged by an amphibious vehicle that looks like it was built by Top Gear:


In other news, the pagoda and corkscrew fountains were running this morning for the first time since the dry spell, but have since stopped.
 
If anyone fancies joining me for a half-hour walk around the gardens (filmed on opening day) looking at any updates etc, then feel free to watch my video here :) 👍


From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-yhU11oDYo

Sorry to go off topic but what's the story of that van? Those aren't very safe, I never knew it was crashed, and I know a few older tradies that seriously got hurt driving them in low speed impacts like that one. Also I haven't see one in 20 years. That was probably the last one...
 
Sorry to go off topic but what's the story of that van? Those aren't very safe, I never knew it was crashed, and I know a few older tradies that seriously got hurt driving them in low speed impacts like that one. Also I haven't see one in 20 years. That was probably the last one...
Not sure what the story is with this particular van, but I remember seeing the estate workers at Towers driving around in them a couple of decades ago. They were probably pretty sweet for tootling around in across the estate. Obviously they decided to just use one of the last ones they had hanging around to add to the theme around Dark Forest. Someone else might know a bit more.
 
My last long walk was that top right walk at the start of the vid, great isn't it, feels a little bit naughty.
The original path came out right round the back of the big McDonalds (as was), then it got blocked around Rita time I think.
Another lovely vid thanks.
 
My last long walk was that top right walk at the start of the vid, great isn't it, feels a little bit naughty.
The original path came out right round the back of the big McDonalds (as was), then it got blocked around Rita time I think.
Another lovely vid thanks.
Yeah, that gate used to be quite regularly open going back quite a few years but then they obviously decided they didn't want people exploring too much so it's always been closed on my visits for what must be the last 7-10 years or something. It was nice of them to leave it open for a fresh walk around. Since the last time I had a walk over there some of the paths have been blocked off and earth moved around etc. I think I could probably have taken another path a bit wider around towards Thirteen/McDonalds but the path was less obvious this time and might have been a bit overgrown. Not totally sure.

Glad you enjoyed the vid :)
 
If I was ever going to wild camp in the place, it would be in those funny hollows half way round that path.
I think they may be quarry holes for all the stone walls and pathway edges.
That canal needs a few hundred hours work by volunteers dredging.
 
If I was ever going to wild camp in the place, it would be in those funny hollows half way round that path.
I think they may be quarry holes for all the stone walls and pathway edges.
That canal needs a few hundred hours work by volunteers dredging.
Yeah, decent shout on those hollows. Would make sense. At least they've cleared a bit of the cascade in the rock garden, that was good to see.
 
If anyone fancies joining me for a half-hour walk around the gardens (filmed on opening day) looking at any updates etc, then feel free to watch my video here :) 👍


From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-yhU11oDYo

Love the Gardens still one of the most under appreciated parts of the park and the variety of different types of Gardens to from Danish to Japanese style. And the variety of fountains to.

Anyone seen the smallest shell fountain working recently
 
Love the Gardens still one of the most under appreciated parts of the park and the variety of different types of Gardens to from Danish to Japanese style. And the variety of fountains to.

Anyone seen the smallest shell fountain working recently
You can see the little shell fountain working on the video. If it's the one next to the yew arches you're talking about 👍
 
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