The Best Places to Visit in the Cheshire Countryside

Cheshire’s prosperous market towns and rural areas boast an appealing combination of heritage, landscapes, and attractions – with highlights including numerous scenic trails such as Sandstone Trail and Delamere Forest.

Sandstone ridges in Cheshire contain prehistoric burial grounds and Iron Age hill forts; silk production was once widespread; silk-weaver cottages can still be seen around Macclesfield.

Delamere

Cheshire countryside offers an abundance of natural beauty and wildlife, making Delamere Forest one of the premier spots to visit in Cheshire County. Offering numerous activities to occupy children of all ages and relaxing into its serene beauty are among the many draws of visiting.

Delamere Forest, once owned by the Earls of Chester and covering much of Chestershire county, now stands as an oasis for nature enthusiasts, hikers, bikers and horse riders. Additionally, Delamere offers various facilities like cafes and visitor centers and also features meadows and wetlands with numerous plant species that support them all.

This lovely circular trail begins from Delamere Rail Station and takes in Blakemere Moss as the heart of Delamere Woods. Suitable for all ages and may become quite muddy at times, make sure to bring wellies. Bring a map or use one provided by the forest service; the trails are well marked and provide ample opportunity for discovery!

Delamere Forest offers the ideal setting for picnics or relaxing by its lake. Its shaded woodlands are filled with birds and animals, while you may hear wind rustle through its trees. Furthermore, Delamere’s wetlands serve as important homes for rare wildlife like white faced darter dragonfly and siskin birds that have recently returned.

Delamere Forest offers the ideal place for couples seeking a romantic retreat. Its peaceful atmosphere will allow you to escape everyday stresses, while immersing yourself in its breathtaking natural beauty. Stay in one of Forest Holidays’ self-contained cabins; each comes complete with everything necessary for an enjoyable stay.

Arriving at the forest is simple thanks to its own train station and hourly bus services from Manchester and Chester. While bus journeys typically last nearly two and a half hours, train rides tend to take less time.

Tarporley

Tarporley is one of the most picturesque villages in Cheshire, situated off A49 just 20 minutes drive from Chester and approximately an hour’s journey from Manchester. Buses provide transportation; Delamere Station serves rail passengers. Tarporley boasts numerous shops, restaurants and pubs for you to choose from in its community.

Attractions to this town center include its bustling high street with its abundance of boutique shops and stores that showcase unique vintage aesthetics, offering something different than usual high street chains. Furthermore, it houses restaurants, schools (for all ages), estate agents and even a church!

Tarporley is best-known for being home to the Tarporley Hunt Club, founded in 1762 and one of the oldest-surviving societies of its type in England. Additionally, many historic buildings such as St Helen’s Church date back to this era; plus nearby Tarporley is perfect for hiking along its Sandstone Trail!

Tarporley may not have as many shops and restaurants as Chester, but its High Street boasts an attractive conservation area featuring 18th and 19th century buildings which now house boutique shops and stores.

Village attractions in Beeston also include Oulton Park motor racing circuit and 13th century Beeston Castle atop Peckforton Hills. Visitors may also visit Beeston market or boat on nearby canals before enjoying scenic walks through Delamere Forest.

Tarporley villagers take great pride in making their community as welcoming as possible for visitors, which makes their location in Cheshire’s countryside an ideal place for visitors to stay and discover its scenic wonders. Visitors come back again and again, which explains why residents welcome visitors as part of their community.

Beeston

Beeston Castle stands on a high rocky crag in Cheshire countryside and is one of the county’s most stunning historic sites. Built by Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester following his return from Crusades in 1220s, its remarkable natural defenses have been utilized from Neolithic times through Iron Age times – providing one of the county’s greatest historic landmarks.

Evidence of prehistoric occupation includes a well-preserved stone ring and moat that later expanded and strengthened to form a hillfort. Excavations of the moat revealed traces of Iron Age activity; finds such as molds for casting metal and crucibles used for smelting suggest that this area was an important centre for metalworking.

In the 13th century, Chester Castle fell behind its more important royal residence at Chester and references to prisoners suggesting its use as garrison or prison. In contrast, significant works at the castle between September 1303 and September 1304 cost PS109 2s 4 1/2d in total expenditures on repairs.

Beeston Castle had long been considered a stronghold of Royalist forces before succumbing to a 12-month Parliamentary siege by starvation, eventually surrendering itself. Following Parliamentary orders of demolition in 1646, its walls have since been carefully rebuilt.

Inner Bailey and Outer Ward Remain Standing along with Towers from its Curtain Wall

Legend holds that Richard II stashed away treasure at Beeston before fleeing England in 1399, with passages leading from a 370-foot deep castle well in its inner bailey housing the gold. Recent efforts using modern electronic equipment to probe this well have revealed three passages but no gold!

Goostrey

Goostrey is an attractive rural village situated south of Cheshire near Jodrell Bank Observatory and Lovell radio telescope, and home to local shops and facilities with a strong sense of community life. Although with the introduction of motor cars late during Queen Victoria’s reign and buses before and after World War One came new opportunities for residents seeking entertainment or shopping outside Goostrey proper; Goostrey still retains an abundant sense of local community life with numerous events taking place throughout the year.

Goostrey Rose Day, held annually on the last Saturday in June, is an extremely popular family-oriented event that includes parades, fancy dress costumes and scarecrow competitions. Additionally, this festival hosts the Gooseberry Show, which honors local traditions in cultivating gooseberries; winning entries are then displayed at Crown Inn pub. Finally, Goostrey village itself provides excellent connections to nearby towns and cities thanks to regular bus services running between it and Cheshire itself.

Goostrey residents enjoy access to an assortment of services and amenities, including a doctor’s surgery and pharmacy for primary healthcare access, providing them with convenient living. Furthermore, Goostrey boasts cozy cafes and restaurants serving delicious treats.

Village life offers visitors plenty of leisurely walks and recreational activities in lush countryside, providing visitors with ample opportunity for leisurely strolls and recreational pursuits. There are numerous parks located throughout the village that provide visitors with scenic backdrops for outdoor recreation; The Bog in the center of village provides an idyllic spot for picnicking as well as being an excellent setting for children’s playtime.

The name of this village derives from two Old English words, including “gostrel” and “gorst-treow,” both referencing bramble or gorse bushes. The village first made an appearance in 1086 in Domesday Book as Gostrel and Gorstre, although other places refer to it as Goldstraw.