Rural Escape

Relax, unwind and escape to the Cheshire countryside. Mostly gentle and just occasionally very dramatic. Beautifully kept but with an untamed wild side. Easy to explore yet, in places, shrouded in mystery. In short, quite irresistible. Follow the canals and cycleways which weave theirway across the rolling green pastureland of the Cheshire Plain. See it all spread out before you from the rocky escarpments of Beeston, with its ancient castle, or Alderley Edge, riddled with  caves and laced with legends. Explore the Cheshire Peak District as it rises from the Plain to join the backbone of Britain, the Pennines and the Peak District National Park.

Settle into the simple pleasures of Cheshire’s village life. Browse around little independent shops of Lymm, Tarporley and others which sell everything from deliciously fresh local produce to bespoke interior design. Join the café society lifestyle of villages such as Alderley Edge and Stockton Heath, whose sophisticated bars and restaurants are enough to rival any fashionable European City!

Find your perfect country hotel, farmhouse bed & breakfast, cottage, canal boat or even castle – and retreat to Rural Cheshire.

The Wizard of Alderley Edge

Let your imagination run wild at Alderley Edge, a dramatic landscape ofwoodland, caves and rocky sandstone escarpment protected by the National Trust and steeped in folklore and legend. King Arthur and his men are said to sleep somewhere beneath the sandstone cliffs and there is a carving of a bearded face above a well next to which are carved the words “Drink of this and take thy fill, For the water falls by the wizard’s will”. Alan Garner’s book TheWeirdstone of Brasingamen is set at Alderley Edge and inspired by the wealth of local legend in this area. And when you’ve finished exploring, indulge in dinner at theWizard, or any one of the stylish restaurants in Alderley Edge village.

Alice’s Wonderland

In the village of Daresbury see if you can spot a caterpillar smoking a hookah in the stained glass windows of the church, and a Mad Hatterweather vane on top of the village school! This was where Lewis Carroll – whose real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson – grew up, while his fatherwas vicar of the parish church.

On your bike

Follow the Cheshire Cycleway on a 282 km journey through grand country estates and unspoilt villages, alongside canals, on country lanes, bridleways and cycle paths through the countryside. Or pop your bike on the train and head to the tiny railway station of Delamere, to explore the tracks and trails through Delamere Forest – brilliant fun for all the family.

discovercheshire.com

Plan your visit to Cheshire’s countryside, using the new Discovercheshire website. Using interactive mapping you can choose from a wide range of enjoyable walking, cycling and riding routes, that let you explore the hidden places of this beautiful county. You can print out maps and directions; find attractions to visit nearby; or discover somewhere locally where you can enjoy superb Cheshire food and drink. You can even book somewhere to stay, close to your chosen route. Easy to use, the site also provides information on the county’s many country parks and open spaces, as well as a wide range of local events.