The prosperous Northern county is house to fairly half-timber rural villages, superb Tudor mansions, an Industrial Revolution heritage, an intriguing Roman previous…and plenty of a footballer. The historic cathedral metropolis Chester is famously the jewel within the crown of the enticing county however discover additional afield and also you’ll discover some equally beautiful treasures. From my a few years of exploring England and spending time on this county, listed here are 15 of the very best and most stunning locations to go to in Cheshire…
Chester – an enthralling and enticing walled cathedral metropolis which is likely one of the finest locations to go to in Cheshire
For these lovers of Roman historical past, Chester is a deal with to not be missed and is unquestionably among the finest locations to go to in Cheshire. From its well-known Roman partitions to the biggest amphitheatre in Britain, Chester is surrounded by and constructed over Roman stays. Each locals and vacationers take pleasure in strolling alongside the Roman partitions to benefit from the surrounding vistas or taking a stroll out to Edgar’s Area alongside the River Dee to go to the 2nd-century shine devoted to Minerva.
Chester’s historical past will not be restricted to Roman instances; Chester Cathedral is a captivating potpourri of each spiritual type of structure over the past thousand years, together with in depth restorations performed in Victorian instances. Based as a Benedictine abbey in 1093, on the location of an earlier church which counted Girl Godiva as considered one of its benefactors, additions, and modifications through the years have led to what we see in the present day. The cathedral holds common occasions, corresponding to concert events and artwork exhibitions.
For a procuring or window-shopping expertise, don’t miss Chester Rows. There are first-floor passage-ways together with these picturesque half-timbered buildings, with one other arcade at avenue stage. There’s a lot to see and do in Chester that we might have written this text simply in regards to the city, however I’ll transfer on to some extra of Cheshire’s treasures.
Little Moreton Corridor – an iconic Tudor manor home which is likely one of the most stunning locations to go to in Cheshire
The market city of Congleton is a well-liked place to reside for individuals who work in Manchester and Liverpool and is a nice upmarket city. It’s most well-known for Little Moreton Hall, a wattle and daub manor home 4km from the city’s centre. This is a wonderful instance of a half-timbered Tudor manor home, surrounded by a moat.
The home may be very lopsided and it’s thought that it’s because the addition of a second-floor gallery was performed with insufficient strengthening of the supporting partitions, in addition to pure subsidence. A tour of the inside offers a vivid impression of what life was like in Tudor instances, as a lot of the authentic fittings stay.
Lyme Park – a lovely historic home well-known for being Mr. Darcy’s house
It is a superb and delightful place to go to in Cheshire. Situated South of the village of Disley, and bordering the Peak District is the magnificent corridor of Lyme Park. This massive property, the most important house in Cheshire, was constructed within the latter half of the sixteenth century and is immediately recognisable to anybody who watched the BBC Collection of “Pride and Prejudice” as Mr. Darcy’s house, Pemberley.
There are 15 acres of gardens that have been established pretty not too long ago, adjoining almost 1400 acres of deer park. Lyme Park is now owned by the Nationwide Belief and each the constructing and the grounds are open to the general public, however do e-book forward as it may get very busy.
Kerridge Hill and Wellington’s Victory – two Cheshire magnificence spots to discover
Near the Peak Ridge Nationwide Park is Kerridge Hill or Kerridge Ridge, as it’s also identified. There are a number of routes you could take to ascend the hill, from strolling alongside the Macclesfield Canal on the River Dean to a extra strenuous, however medium-grade stroll from Tegg’s Nose Country Park.
There are nice views of the Cheshire Plains, stretching so far as Manchester, and even glimpses of the Pennines on a transparent day. Look out for chiffchaffs and blackcaps in case you are a birder, in addition to among the species of grassland butterflies. The chief attraction on Kerridge hill, nonetheless, is a whimsical development referred to as White Nancy. This 18-foot folly was constructed to commemorate Wellington’s victory at Waterloo by John Gaskell Junior. It has an inside room, which has been blocked off and is the emblem for close by Bollington city.
Bollington – a reasonably village in Cheshire the encompassing countryside may be very stunning
Bollington or Kerridge are the closest locations to say in the event you plan to spend a while exploring Kerridge Hill and the close by Peak District and Macclesfield Canal. At first view, Bollington’s cotton mills will not be very inspiring, however they’ve been restored and transformed into residential housing. In its time, Bollington produced the very best Sea Island cotton, which was prized each by English and Belgian lacemakers.
Macclesfield Canal runs proper by way of the city, and you’ll stroll alongside the towpaths and even rent a narrowboat for the day. Like a lot of Cheshire, Bollington is rated as an excellent place to reside and is called the “Happy Valley” by its residents.
Alderley Edge – a picturesque village surrounded by excellent Cheshire countryside
Alderley has all the time been a favorite place to reside since Neolithic instances, and is house to soccer gamers, tv personalities and others who can afford it, and has eating places and outlets that cater to their tastes.
Nonetheless, the true enchantment of Alderley is the Edge, a sandstone escarpment that overlooks the village (an Edge is the native identify for an escarpment or highland). There are woodlands to stroll by way of and beautiful views at Stormy Level, a rocky outcrop, and the ominously named Satan’s Grave, an previous mine working within the rocks. Get there through the signposted Wizard’s Stroll.
Shining Tor – a stroll is a type of must-do hikes within the Peak District
Shining Tor is the best level in Cheshire, however within reason accessible through a stroll of about 6 kilometres. It’s a stunning spot to discover in Cheshire and right here you’ll be able to catch views on a transparent day from the Tor vary from Jodrell Financial institution’s telescopes to Snowdonia’s mountains.
There are some attention-grabbing detours alongside this route in addition to among the different walks, corresponding to St Joseph’s Shrine, a small memorial, the Grimshawes’ cemetery, and the unhappy stays of Errwood Hall. There’s a good present of rhododendrons close to the Errwood Corridor automotive park, which is nice even when the shrubs will not be in bloom.
Hare Hill – a stunning flower backyard to go to in Cheshire
Though there’s a superb and really stunning Georgian type mansion at Hare Hill, which is underneath personal possession, the primary attraction at Hare Hill is the backyard.
The late Charles Brocklehurst was a eager gardener and has left a backyard full of many types of rhododendrons and azaleas, in addition to a variety of different flowering vegetation, so that there’s a superb show at any season. There’s additionally an entry path that enables guests to climb as much as Kerridge Hill and White Nancy.
Delamere Forest – gives a surprising setting on your subsequent household journey in Cheshire
Within the Center Ages, a lot of Cheshire was lined by two forests, the Mara and Mondrum searching forests, which lined greater than 60 sq. miles. Whereas designated forests, they weren’t fully forested, and had some 60 settlements inside the space. Nonetheless agriculture inside the space was very restricted and restricted, and solely was allowed after 1215, though the Forest of Mara was solely deproclaimed in 1812. The remnant of Mara grew to become Delamere Forest in 1924.
It features a wetland referred to as Blakemere Moss, that was drained by Napoleonic prisoners of struggle and planted with bushes for the shipbuilding trade. Now, with a greater understanding of the significance of wetlands, it has been restored and is an efficient place to identify waterbirds corresponding to mallards and shorebirds. There are additionally peat bogs inside the forest, along with the Moss, hearkening again to the Ice Age, which fashioned these deposits and wetlands.
There are lots of nice bike paths and strolling paths which are clearly marked to comply with for a peaceable day within the Forest. A lot of the bushes are planted conifers, however there are beeches and oaks which fashioned a part of the unique woodland.
Lymm Dam Nature Reserve – a lovely and tranquil place to go to in Cheshire
Not removed from Warrington, and well-liked with its residents, is Lymm Dam Nature Reserve, which has gained a Inexperienced Flag Award. It’s a good venue for households and dog-friendly. It takes about an hour to stroll a circuit across the dam, you’ll be able to take a horse journey alongside a bridle path, or there are many shady locations and benches to sit down and picnic. Alternatively, you could find a chew to eat in fairly Lymm village.
There are fairly a number of nature retreats round Warrington, corresponding to Risley Moss, which is a peat lavatory, with chicken hides and details about the significance of peat bogs, and Rixton Clay Pits, which at the moment are full of water and likewise a great place to identify native wildlife.
Cholmondeley Citadel and the Gardens – a surprising Nineteenth-century fort gardens with lakeside walks
Whereas the Citadel was solely constructed within the Nineteenth century, the location on which it’s constructed and its surrounding grounds have been the house of the Cholmondely household for a whole lot of years. Though the first Lord, Robert, assumed the title round 1200, there have been in all probability earlier generations residing right here earlier than him.
The primary recorded constructing is the Chapel. Constructed round 1285, St Nicholas’ is open for visits when the gardens are open. The household occupied a succession of manor homes, which have been rebuilt, remodelled or demolished till the Citadel was constructed. It’s personal, as a result of the household nonetheless reside there, however the stunning gardens welcome guests.
The attractive gardens cowl 60 acres and have quite a few sights, aside from the vivid shows of flora. there are 2 water gardens, the Folly and the Temple, tranquil locations to sit down and calm down. The Rose Backyard was replanted in 2017 and leads into Lavinia Stroll, named after Girl Lavinia, who was a devoted gardener and answerable for a lot of the present-day spectacle. For individuals who take pleasure in one thing wilder, the Tower Hill stroll is within the adjoining woodlands, and canines are allowed there.
Teggs Nostril Nation Park – a lovely Meadow moor and woodland space nice strolling and biking
We talked about that there’s a stroll between stunning Tegg’s Nostril and Kerridge Hill, and Tegg’s Nostril Park is properly price a go to too. It has different terrain, from moorlands and meadows to woodlands and the hill. There are nice views throughout the plains, and presents the potential of many actions, from strolling and biking to taking a sledge down the snow-covered hills in winter.
The number of environments presents many several types of natural world. Look out for harebells within the meadows, gorse and heather within the moorlands and oaks, beech and mountain ash within the woodlands. There’s a good likelihood of recognizing woodpeckers and treecreepers within the woods and waterfowl on the 2 reservoirs.
Among the historical past of the place continues to be seen, together with a Bronze Age burial chamber and the gear used to crush sandstone extracted from the quarries.
Beeston Citadel – some of the dramatic ruins within the English landscapes 
Hills and mountains have all the time been necessary to our ancestors, who wanted to have the ability to defend themselves from assault. Beeston Citadel was constructed within the thirteenth century, however the crag on which it sits has been used since Neolithic instances. The fort, which is now in ruins, was considered one of a number of castles constructed by Ranulf de Blondeville when he returned from the Crusades. As a result of its strategic place, the fort had a tumultuous historical past, culminating in its partial demolition by Oliver Cromwell in 1646. There’s a legend that Richard II hid treasure someplace within the grounds, supposedly on the backside of the very deep properly inside the fort you could peer down.
The views from the beautiful fort are spectacular; each the Pennines and Snowdonia will be seen if the climate is evident. There are additionally paths by way of the woodlands surrounding the fort, that are nice to stroll alongside, the place you would possibly see foxes and rabbits. Nestled beneath the fort is the quaint village of Beeston and Tarporley, some 4km away can also be price a go to.
Tatton Park – one of many UK’s most full historic estates
The eighteenth-century Neo-Classical mansion at Tatton Park stands on the location of earlier properties on this sprawling property and was the house of the Egerton household, who owned it since 1598, possession being bequeathed to the Nationwide Belief by Sir Maurice Egerton, the final in line. The superb home is surrounded by 50 acres of gardens, which in flip are enclosed in 1000 acres of parklands. It may be visited by earlier association (this is applicable to the entire property) and provides a vivid impression of what it was wish to reside in such a superb mansion. It additionally homes in depth libraries and a wealthy assortment of work.
The attractive gardens and parklands supply the customer many choices, from the wetlands, categorized as a RAMSAR website, to the kitchen backyard. The Egerton household bestowed 300 years of effort and time cultivating the gardens and they don’t disappoint. In addition to the kitchen backyard, there’s a Japanese backyard, a maze primarily based on the format of the Hampton Courtroom Maze, a rose backyard, an Italian backyard and different treats.
There are an additional two uncommon breeds of sheep roaming the Deer Park. The Deer Park is house to each Crimson and Fallow deer and was laid out by eighteenth-century landscaper Humphrey Repton. The beautiful park is open and free to the general public to stroll, cycle and picnic. Those that love nature can discover the meres and ponds and woodlands. Wildlife corresponding to foxes and badgers are sometimes noticed, and the birdlife is different and prolific.
All in all, there’s something to enchant each considered one of all ages at Tatton Park, a Cheshire must-see.
Quarry Financial institution and the Styal Property – a working mill and an excellent attraction to discover in Cheshire
At first sight, it might sound unusual to checklist a cotton mill as a lovely place to go to in Cheshire. In actual fact, I checklist it right here largely as a result of it offers a captivating glimpse into the First Industrial Revolution and what life was like in the event you labored in a mill, contrasted with what life was like in the event you have been the mill-owner. It is a working cotton mill, which has been painstakingly restored, in addition to the encompassing lodging, each for employees and the house owners. Constructed subsequent to the River Bollin, which offered the water to drive the mill water wheels, considered one of which continues to be working, though the wheels have been step by step changed by steam combustion engines. This was a cotton mill, which obtained uncooked cotton shipped in to Liverpool and nonetheless produces cotton calico.
The homes which homed the employees have been restored and their simplicity will be in contrast with the Quarry Financial institution Home of the Gregs, with their gardens full of rhododendrons, and the restored greenhouse adjoining to the home.
Though Samuel Greg was concerned within the slave commerce, his millworkers have been handled pretty by the requirements of the day (which have been very low). Little one labour was used, however Samuel’s spouse Hannah, did her finest to enhance circumstances for the employees, beginning an infants’ college amongst different initiatives.
