NIGHT! tr avel report ALTON TOWERS

Welcoming - Be Chosen, the scaremaze that gave us a little preview last Halloween of what was in store when the park’s new rollercoaster The Wicker Man opened earlier this year.

The queues for the Wicker Man were as lengthy as you might have expected last weekend, and it’ll quite rightly be a popular ride over the Scarefest period, especially as later opening times for the rest of the month mean you can ride in dark. The Wicker Man really comes to life when the sun goes down and the fire and wood theme shines in the evening autumn mists.

The Wicker Man brings Alton Towers’ major rides to seven, and it’s a splendid addition to what was already a spectacular line-up with the aforementioned classic Nemesis, Galactica, Thirteen, Rita, Oblivion and The Smiler. Even if you’ve managed to ride the ‘big six’ in a day before, there’s now a new challenge to ride the ‘big seven.’..

There are a couple of other scaremazes making a comeback this year - the Altonville Mine Tours is still helping you uncover The Legend Of The Skin Snatchers, and Sub Species: End Games is still terrifying people in the Towers themselves.

All those mazes require participants to be at least 15 (and for good reason), but there is more than ever going on for families, too.

The House Of Monsters familyfriendly maze is back, and updated for this year, and a new CBeebies Land Monster Ball is bringing all your favourite spooky characters to life.

Add in the Alton Ancestors, who wander round the park giving impromptu dace shows and gently scaring the wits out of people, and you have a top day out.

It’s a genuinely special place when Halloween comes around, and I’d really make the most of it by staying over - you need to be there after dark to make the most of the rides at night, and who wants to drive all the way home after all that?

The two fabulous on-site hotels are great options for visitors, with lots going on to keep guests occupied as they try to get their heart-rate down after an exhilarating day of terrifying mazes and first-class rides.