Campsites in Cheshire

The magnificent landscapes of the Cheshire Peak District which includes part of the splendid Peak District National Park make the region a particularly attractive destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Tease yourself with wonderful wild landscapes such as Macclesfield Forest, Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve and Tegg’s Nose Country Park, and then find a tamer beauty in the formal gardens of Cheshire’s great houses.

Don’t Miss

• Chester’s Roman heritage
• Quarry Bank
• Warrington Museum and Art Gallery
• Chester Zoo

Superb sightseeing

Lyme Park House offers visitors the chance to explore a grand mansion, extensive deer park and beautiful gardens. The superb Tatton Park is also a historical highlight of the area and encompasses a Tudor Old Hall, a Neo-Classical mansion, and a working farm that is home to rare breed farm animals. 

Arley Hall and Gardens is also well worth a visit, with a Victorian-Jacobean hall and lovely gardens providing excellent locations to wile away the hours in peace and quiet.  For views that are guaranteed to wow, a visit to Beeston Castle won’t disappoint.

Cheshire’s wealth of history and heritage has a museum for just about everything. The Silk Museums in Macclesfield provide fascinating insight into Macclesfield’s silk industry and the production of silk. Or, anyone who is engrossed by engines will love a visit to the Anson Engine Museum which is also home to a craft centre with monthly demonstrations in activities such as blacksmithing and woodturning. 

Quarry Bank allows visitors to step into the past to learn about the cotton industry, explore a reconstructed Apprentice House and Styal village where mill workers lived, and tip their hat at an eighteenth century liefstyle. To see the soldiers and weapons of days gone by head to Cheshire Military Museum, for a mobbing day out.

Best of all, the Warrington Museum and Art Gallery houses houses over 200,000 items in a building opened in 1857. In the past their exhibitions have featured work by Banksy, Tracey Emin and Sam Taylor-Wood, and there are genuine ancient Egyptian coffins inside.

Next, get to know the people of the area and life in the present day. The bustling town of Warrington offers beautiful green spaces, excellent shopping and the grand Walton Hall and Gardens to tempt visitors. Alternatively opt for exploring enticing villages such as Alderley Edge where King Arthur and his knights are reputed to sleep within the sandstone cliffs of the Alderley Edge escarpment. It’s home to magic myth and legend and has inspired the author Alan Garner.

But enough of the quaint villages, let’s hit the big leagues with the vibrant city of Chester. It boasts magnificent architecture such as Chester Cathedral, Britain’s biggest stone-built Roman Amphitheatre as well as Britain’s most complete city walls, all in very good repair. Before you leave, challenge yourself to walk the city walls or for a stroll of the banks of the city’s river. Stand under the Eastgate clock, showing the original entrance to the town when it was a Roman fortress, trod by hundreds of marching feet.

Cheshire has more than enough culinary delights to satisfy food lovers, with a variety of food markets, restaurants, cafés, pubs and farm shops to sample delicious local produce, while food trails lead foodies on delectable taste adventures.

Alternatively why not take a tour of the Robinsons Brewery and discover the intriguing process of brewing, from ingredient selection to sampling the finished product – after all, all that learning is hard work, and deserves refreshment!

River deep, mountain high

Anyone who is eager to get active in Cheshire will relish the broad range of entertaining activities that are on offer. Cheshire caters to cyclists of all ages and abilities, from families with young children looking for a relaxing way to spend a couple of hours to extreme cycling enthusiasts who want speed and technical challenges. Traffic-free routes such as the Biddulph Valley Way and the Wheelock Rail Trail and Salt Line provide tranquil explorations for cyclists looking to take things easy.

Mountain bikers looking for a tough but engaging ride can gear up for the Grit and Gears II route. If you have time to spare and are after a long-distance route, take in the sights on the Cheshire Cycleway  (National Cycle Network Route 70) which stretches for 176 miles through enticing villages, pretty fields and ridges.

Wheels are not the only way to see Cheshire, discovering the county on foot is half the fun. Easy walks can be enjoyed in locations such as the Stanney Woods Local Nature Reserve, the Weaver Parkway, as well as the beautiful Delamere Forest which is Cheshire’s biggest area of woodland.

Walkers who are keen to try harder routes have options such as the Bollington Circular Walk 3 which includes White Nancy a Grade II listed structure, as well as the long-distance Gritstone Trail which is divided into three sections and provides magnificent views of Cheshire’s beautiful landscapes. 

People who want to combine a love of the outdoors with a love of animals can get involved in falconry and horse-riding. There are several centres that offer falconry experiences and the opportunity to learn about a variety of birds of prey.

The choice of horse-riding routes is extensive, but if you’ve not quite got your riding feet yet, there are a number of riding centres that provide lessons for all levels of experience and guided hacks.

For people who are keen to test their aim, activities such as paintballing and archery are sure to hit the mark. Or if you’re more about leisure than firing off rounds, a golf session is sure to please.

If you like watersports, Cheshire will float your boat! From discovering canals on self-driven boat trips to sitting back and enjoying the scenery on guided cruises, there are plenty of fun boating excursions to choose from. Plus with other enticing activities such as canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing and diving, people can indulge in more than a splash of water-based entertainment.

Family excitement

Speed seekers who are keen for some careening can race down to TeamSport Warrington for action-packed go karting at the UK’s biggest indoor karting track. Alternatively for some laidback family fun the stunning Ness Botanic Gardens is a great place for exploring, enjoying picnics and getting close to nature in its many varied forms.

If animal antics are in order, then Chester Zoo is the place to go. This fantastic zoo is home to more than 400 different species of animals, a range of fun play areas and enchanting gardens.

Aimed at families with children aged 2 to 13 years old, a number of fun themed areas and exciting rides are on offer at Gullivers World theme park in Warrington.

For something a bit different that blends tasty delights and plenty of fun, Cheshire Farm Ice Cream combines delicious treats including over 40 different flavours of ice creams and sorbets with a range of child-friendly entertainments such as indoor and outdoor play areas, a games room and animal corner.

A trip to the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre provides lots of enticements for adults and kids alike, with interactive games and activities as well as the chance to see the massive Lovell Telescope, and is ideal for families who are eager for a day of discovery and learning about the universe in a fun and engaging environment.