Waterslide, Soller Port, Mallorca, Spain.

What an odd site to see in such a famously affluent tourist area of Mallorca, the Port of Soller is visited by many holiday makers in peak season due to its charm and allure… When I visited though, admittedly in the ‘rainy season’ of Mallorca, the sea front looked less than spectacular with this carcass of fun plonked right between one open and one empty hotel.  The economic decline has even affected areas like this, it seems.  I climbed the slide from the pool right to the very top – the structure was still extremely secure leaving me to question the reasons why this waterslide had been left to decay, enjoyment now lost in the rubble.

Cuesta Vinas derelict holiday camp, Valor, Spain.

This is definitely one of the weirdest places that I have stumbled across; and I am almost certain that I am the only person to ever photograph this eerie site, located about an hours’ hike down into the Cuesta Vinas valley.  What had looked like tents from a distance, turned out to be an abandoned holiday home park, which looked as though it had never, quite, been opened; yet some of the beds were made.  In one of the chalets the curtain had been torn up into tiny little bits and stuffed into a photo frame, in others everything was smashed up.  Although each chalet was laid out ready, the camp surely couldn’t have been used before as there were no pathways, or gardens around them; unless it was some kind of weird detention camp!

Whilst there it felt like a man with a wooden leg and a shotgun could creek out of the next door at any moment, ready to pry his way into your fears.

However, when I asked my host family about the place, they said that actually the land had been bought by a group of nuns who had plans to turn it into a holiday camp for children, however, they had run out of money and not asked permission and so it was shut down in the midst of it coming together.

Although, it is said, that occasionally a nun will stay in the house nearby overnight the rest of the plot lies eerily forgotten, void of meaning and lost in the rubble.

OAP’s Retreat, Hotel, Cuesta Vinas, Valor, Spain.

Cuesta Vinas is a valley close to Valor, a small village with a population close to 700 high in the Alpujarras.  This particular valley used to be popular particularly amongst Spanish old age pensioners, who, thanks to the government would get 1 weeks paid holiday per year.   Unfortunately, the reach of such pension plans is now much rarer; and thus, I found this hostel/motel-like building situated as you enter the windy path into the valley.  The grape vines, palm trees and empty pool hinted at the former glory of this retreat, that is now lost in the rubble.

Seaton Heights Motel, Devon.

Seaton Heights Hotel and leisure center must have gone into recession around 2011. I used to attend secondary school nearby however was not at an age to appreciate the beauty of a derelict site.  I recently visited the area still to find an interesting exploration: the remains of the hotel rooms themselves seem sturdy; the only damage being from vandals smashing the glass in – it led me to wonder what lay behind each locked door.  Much to my dismay, however I was unable to find a way in to any of the bedrooms, nor the main inside area of the hotel.  The leisure center was much easier to access and once inside the eerie emptiness of a sports hall seemed slightly disturbing.  As I climbed some rickety stairs I noticed a squash court, solarium and an astonishing amount of smashed mugs – why?! Oh, and a porn magazine – a relic of times when teenage boys would scour rubble for images which are now shoved into our faces upon the net.  It was weird.  I walked around a corner to come only 2 meters away from a bird of prey half the size of me; it quickly flew away.  I did notice however that it had been perched upon what looked like a number of WW2 shelters; locked up but kept well preserved unlike much of that era which was indeed, lost in the rubble.  Internet searches come up with promises of projects such as this one however whether they will go ahead in the financial state of the country at the moment is kind of unbelievable. We’ll see.

Salston Manor, Devon.

Salston Manor is a grade II listed building, it was previously a hotel however the owners sold the building in 2008 and the new owner doesn’t seem to have made any progress on his initial plans to turn the building into a 76 roomed care home with beneficial community links.  The local councils have tried to lobby Roger Young (the owner) into starting his project  as soon as possible so not to lose some of the character that the building has; and so not to incur more costs.  When I visited in Summer of 2012 however, there was still no evidence of action.  The manor house has around 30 grand bedrooms, with wallpapered function rooms and large wooden floors throughout.  My favourite part of the building though had to be the abandoned indoor pool area, where splashing sounds could still be heard as they ricocheted off the walls, laughs forever lost in the rubble.