Catholic Youth Retreat Centre - Alton Castle — Attraction in Staffordshire Moorlands

Another piece of architectural bravura by Augustus Northcote Welby Pugin. Perched on the edge of a precipitous hillside overlooking the Churnet Valley this embodiment of Pugins Gothic revivalist architecture has a hint of the Germanic in its appearance, when seen from below on the road that crosses the old Chunet Valley railway. The Castle itself is not open to visitors as it is occupied by the Kenelm Youth Trust, an activity centre for young people across the Archdiocese of Birmingham. It is however possible to enter the Church of St John, nearby, Another of Pugins churches. Another of Pugins buildings is a gatehouse to the Alton Towers Estate, which is situated on the road leading to Farley leaving Alton. Below that is Alton Station now owned and preserved by the Landmark Trust. Not a Pugin building, it is nonetheless a fine piece of Italiante Victorian railway...

I stayed here with NCS and the room I stayed in was slowly falling apart. First of all, the room was dirty, there was a used tissue on top of the wardrobe and used, dusty cotton buds around. The bathroom door didn’t shut so we had to barricade it with a stall (considering there was four people staying there), the room was tiny, not suitable for two bunk beds in there. Never mind the amount of times I and my friend managed to smack our heads on the bunks because they were so low down. The floor tiles were warped in the bathroom and last but not least, the shower head fell off while my friend was using it and hit him on the head. Despite this, the views are really nice and the venue itself is amazing, thus the three...

I went with my school on 11.09.19 to the 13.09.19 and it was amazing the rooms were in great condition we our own sinks in our room and most of the rooms were spacious I already miss Alton castle and it’s the Wednesday (a week after) going there. I would recommend any young or older kids going here, if you go on the coach make sure the children go to the bathroom and have something to entertain themselves with. I miss Siân she Flick,Becca,Liam and Lucas were my faveeee. It was a really special retreat for James( the programme leader)bc it was his last ever retreat as he was getting married in the church. Overall I...