Travel Information

Located in the scenic Alyn Valley in the Wrexham area, Alyn Waters is surrounded by woodland, grassland and riverside walks. Here you can also find a a Visitor Centre with exhibitions on the history and wildlife of the Park, and a  café for that well needed cup of tea and cake, and a shop to purchase those holiday gifts! Throughout the year the country Park holds events and activities, for children and adults, so check their programme to see what is happening during your visit. This is an excellent venue for a picnic or an opportunity to stretch those legs with a good brisk walk or cycle ride. Follow the paths running from the Visitor Centre for 2 miles across the park along the cycle way and Sculpture Trail.  There are some exciting sculptures to view along the way. There is also an excellent adventure playground that the children will really enjoy. The park has 6 sign-posted, easy to use trails of different gradients and distances. If you are counting calories you can walk them away on professionally surveyed routes that have been measured to show how many calories are used to walk them. Leaflets are available from the Visitor Centre, and to download, to help you choose a suitable route. Or you could try the specially designed Trim Trail which contains a selection of different simple exercise equipment. There is even balance and co-ordination equipment especially suitable for the young. Find Alyn Waters just 3 miles North of Wrexham between Gwersyllt, Bradley and Llay. Take the A541 Wrexham to Mold road just outside Gwersyllt and look out for the brown and white signs.  Alternatively, to reach the Llay-side in your Cheshire Motorhome Hire, take the B5425 to Llay from Wrexham and before you drive into the village of Llay look out for the brown and white signs. For more information click the blue text below.

Alyn Waters Country Park
Mold Road
Gwersyllt
Wrexham
LL11 4AG

Tel: 01978 763140

In the old Anson Colliery site houses the Anson Engine Museum offering visitors the history of the Internal Combustion Engine. Learn how engines affected the social and national history of Poynton.

The Anson Engine Museum
Anson Road
Poynton
Cheshire
SK12 1TD UK

Telephone: +44 (0)1625 874 426

Astbury Mere Country Park is located in what was once a sand quarry. Follow the signs for Sandy lane off the A34. There is plenty of open space here and it is an ideal location for a family picnic. The town centre of Congleton is within ten minutes walking distance. Alternatively the Country Park has paths that link into the local countryside.  With over 2km (1.2 miles) of all weather paths, an easy access trail, educational services and an orienteering course you can stay within the boundaries of the park and still get plenty of exercise! The park has spectacular views over the lake which is Astbury Mere. There is also a visitor centre which is open daily from 9.00am – 5.00pm and has displays on the park and local information. The car park (free in 2011) is accessible for minibuses and there are two designated disabled bays by the start of the route. The car park is open 9am-5pm and longer in the summer. If you are on holiday in the Congleton area in your Northern England Motorhome Hire this may be a good place to stop and take a break on your journey. For more information click the blue text below.

Astbury Mere Country Park
Sandy Lane
Congleton
Cheshire
CW12 4FP

Telephone: 01260 297237 (Visitor Centre)

Approached by foot along a steep bridge to the castle entrance this certainly adds to the excitement of entering this ‘Castle of the Rock’. It’s situated at the top of this steep hill and from its lookout view point to will experience a real treat. On a clear fine day you will have the most spectacular views imaginable!  You should be able to see eight counties in clear fine weather. From the Pennines to the welsh mountains the landscape will be spread like a carpet before you! Well worth the visit to this castle in Taporley Cheshire. The view is not the only thing worth a visit here. The castle sits proudly surrounded by forty acres of woodland. There are plenty of wildlife and nature trails to explore and plenty of places for family picnics. There is also a shop with an exhibition on site. To get to the castle drive eleven miles south east of Chester. Beeston Castle is located down a minor road off the A49. There is a car park fee and also an entrance fee to the Castle itself. Managed by English Heritage this is a stunning place that should be included in your Midlands Motorhome Hire trip. For more information click the blue text below.

Beeston Castle
Chapel Lane
Beeston
Tarporley
Cheshire
CW6 9TX

Tel: 01829 260464

If you are touring Cheshire in a motorhome then the Blue Planet Aquarium is a great place to spend the day.

Take a break from the road and explore the depths of the ocean at Blue Planet, which boasts one of the world’s largest underwater viewing tunnels.

Visitors can explore coastal, lake and river environments from around the world, from the rocky shorelines of the UK to the Coral Bay on the Indian ocean, there are literally hundreds of different fish species to discover.

For the more adventurous, a shark dive can even be arrange.

Cheshire Oaks
Ellesmere Port
Cheshire
CH65 9LF
Telephone: +44 (0)151 357 8804

With over fifty acres of woodland, heath land, wildflower meadow and wetland areas, plus a 15 acre lake, there is everything for the wildlife enthusiast here. It has abundant bird life and you can find Great and Lesser spotted woodpeckers, nuthatch, treecreepers, kingfisher, heron, great crested grebe, goldfinch and much more here. Remember to pack binoculars and relax in this stunningly beautiful place. To get to the reserve find Davenport Lane, just south of the A54, mid-way between Holmes Chapel and Congleton. Follow the brown tourist sign. The Nature Reserve operates a Pay and Display car parking system for all visitors. Make sure that you have the correct change for the ticket machine as the machine does not give change. Find the current charges on the website by clicking the blue text on the address below. Brereton Heath also has a good visitor centre, which includes a visitor information room, toilets. The park is open for 8.45am, and closes at 5 p.m. during the winter, and 8.30pm during British Summer Time. For Cheshire Motorhome Hire visitors who would love a walk in a quiet beautiful location this is well worth a visit.

Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve
Brereton Heath
Brereton
Cheshire East
CW11

A day out at Chester Zoo is a treat for all the family and is said to be the best Zoo in the U.K. You find will over 400 different types of animals housed here including some of the planets most endangered species. Indeed, more than half of the species within the zoo are at risk. The zoo conducts charitable work by supporting some 150 field projects around the world which help both through conservation and the education of indigenous people. The zoo has a long and illustrious history and was the life long passion of George Mottershead who from childhood wanted to own a zoo where there were no bars on the cages and where the animals had ample space to live in. He fulfilled his ambition in 1930 when he started his venture at Oakfield Manor his new family home. Since then the Zoo has developed in every sense and now has a Zoofari Monorail as well as a water bus. It’s the perfect way to get a different perspective of the zoo or even to rest your feet for a while. There are also plenty of play areas dotted around the site where children can have a run around or you can enjoy a picnic. There is also a wide variety of food available in several different cafes and restaurants. All food is carefully sourced from local suppliers where possible and care is taken to ensure that no ingredients are contradictory to the zoos conservation work. To get to Chester Zoo in your Cheshire Motorhome Hire follow the brown tourism signs as you approach Chester. You will find plenty of free parking facilities on site. For further information please click on the blue link below.

Chester Zoo.
Upton-by-Chester,
Chester,
CH2 1LH.

Telephone: 01244 380280

Cholmondeley Castle was built between 1801 and 1804 and designed by local Cheshire architect William Turner under the instruction to create ‘an old gothic castle’. The 1st Marques wanted to make his status known and how better than to build a palatial modern castle for himself and his family. Subsequently the stunning gardens were created around the house and are said by many to be amongst the most romantic gardens ever seen. Amongst the most memorable features is the gorgeous temple water garden with its lake full of koi carp and its wonderful waterside planting. If you are traveling with your dog, then the woodland walk will certainly be enjoyed by your four legged friend, there is a magnificent variety of bulbs and from the top of the hill there is a spectacular view towards the Welsh hills. The children will definitely enjoy a visit to the farm centre where there is a host of friendly creatures including pygmy goats and ponies as well as more unusual animals such as longhorn cattle, alpacas and llamas. The tea rooms at Cholmondeley Castle are a very popular attraction and produce a host of delightful meals and snacks, so don’t miss out on a quick bite whilst you are there. Before paying the castle a visit in your Cheshire motorhome rental it is worth checking on line to see if there are any special events taking place at Cholmondeley. For further information, please click on the blue link below.

Cholmondeley Castle
Malpas
Cheshire
SY14 8AH

Tel: 01829 720383

Ellesmere Port Boat Museum offers a wide selection of exhibits. It has the UK’s largest collection of floating canal boats.

Gawsworth Hall is a delightful Tudor manor house situated in the lovely Cheshire country side. The house is rightly regarded as one of the finest black and white Cheshire timber framed houses and has an interesting and romantic history to go with it. The house was built between 1480 and 1600 and today has a U shaped plan although it is originally thought to have been a quadrangle. Originally the home of the Fittons, their most famous family member was Mary Fitton, maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth I, her sparkling career at the court ended in disgrace and a stint in the tower of London following an affair and pregnancy by with the Duke of Pembroke. Scandal associated with the house did not end here, in 1712 there was a famous duel in Hyde Park between two claimants on the estate, The Duke of Hamilton and Lord Mohun, it left both the combatants dead and the house remained with the Gerard family of Lord Mohun until it was eventually bought by the Earl of Harrington. On a visit to the house you will gain a thorough insight into this fascinating history all within the embrace of a home loved and lived in today by the Richardson family. There are 30 acres of lovely grounds including a tilting (jousting) ground where knights of old would have practiced their battle skills and the gardens are delightful to stroll around. The orchard tea rooms are run by the family and in the summer refreshments can be taken outside in the orchard which is full of song birds. You will find the house in your Cheshire motorhome hire situated on the A536 south of Macclesfield. For further information on events taking place at the house or for opening times, please click the blue link below.

Gawsworth Hall
Church Lane
Gawsworth
Cheshire
SK11 9RN
Telephone: 01260 223456

Drive to Grappenhall in Cheshire to visit this historic garden. Located on Witherwin Avenue, near the roundabout on Lumb Brook Road, entrance to the garden is free. The garden is also open daily from 1.00p.m. till 4.00p.m. There is a guided tour every Sunday at 2.00p.m. Parking is available in the public car park on Stansfield Drive. The garden and original house (now demolished) was originally built by Thomas Parr who was born in 1792. The Parr family had banking interests in Warrington. Thomas gradually amassed an estate of around 150 acres. He then built the house in the centre of the land. It had spectacular views over the parkland and Appleton Park.  He added the formal gardens which surrounded the house on three sides and made an attractive setting with lawns, terraces and a bowling green. The family owned the property for a number of generations until it was sold in 1951, for £7,500, to the British Transport Commission. It was sold on again. The house declined and was eventually demolished. The gardens remain and are a real joy for garden lovers to view. If you are in Cheshire it is worth enjoying the fresh air and a walk around these splendid surroundings whilst on your Northern England Motorhome Hire holiday. Click the blue text below for more information.

Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden
Witherwin Avenue
Grappenhall
Warrington
Cheshire
WA4 3DS

Tel. 01925 213638

No longer a secret, this declassified nuclear bunker is the stuff of James Bond films. It is not a film though; it was a reality for the United Kingdom and was operational.  Hack Green Bunker had responsibilities from the north in Cumbria to the south of Cheshire. From here a Regional Commissioner could govern this region. The bunker was purchased from the MOD for millions and over a period of five years a vast underground contained unit was built to enable 135 civil servants to survive a sustained nuclear attack. Here they would have sheltered in a completely self supported environment with air conditioning, nuclear fallout filter rooms. The bunker was intended to provide safety from thermo nuclear weapons and inter-continental ballistic missiles that were expected from Russia. This secret place is certainly worth a visit and will set you thinking about the past and ‘what could have been’. The bunker is located just off the A530 Whitchurch Road just a thirty minute drive from Chester and close to Nantwich.  If you are on holiday in Cheshire, in your Cheshire Motorhome Hire, this is well worth a visit. For more information on the bunker and how to get there, click the blue text below.

Hack Green Nuclear Bunker
Nantwich
Cheshire
CW5 8BL

Tel: 01270 629219/01270 623353

Hat Works is the UK’s only museum dedicated solely to the hatting industry, hats and headwear.

Hat Works Museum
Wellington Mill
Wellington Road
South Stockport
Cheshire
SK3 0EU
Tel: 0845 8330975

Whilst exploring Cheshire in a motorhome, why not take a trip to Lyme Hall and Park. Lyme Hall began life as a Tudor house until it was adapted by an architect in the 18th century into an Italianate Palace. Lyme Park offers a beautiful Victorian garden filled with roses. There is also an extensive deer park, moorland and woodland estate.

Lyme Hall and Park is probaby best known as the location where Elizabeth first meets Mr Darcy by the lake in the 1995 TV adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejuduce.
Lyme Park
Disley
Stockport
Cheshire
SK12 2NR
Telephone: 01663 762023

Nantwich is a lovely town to visit at any time of the year with many timber framed attractive houses and shops. The town has always had a strong connection with the food industry having been renown in the 10th Century as a salt producing centre. Nantwich was the most important salt town and probably the second most important settlement in the county after Chester .By the 14th century, the town held a weekly cattle market and currently there is a thriving farmers’ market held on the last Saturday of every month. As well as its gourmet food the town is renowned for its floral displays and regularly wins awards in the Britain in Bloom competition. The riverside location provides superb walking opportunities with wide well maintained paths suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. It also has one of the finest medieval churches in Britain. During the September Food Festival the town comes alive with a carnival atmosphere. Street entertainers, displays and Cooking Demonstrations, will feature the best local chefs from Cheshire’s restaurants hotels and gastro pubs. In the Civic Centre as the Mornflake Food Hall there will be 100 exhibition stalls.  They are also planning to add to this in 2011 by providing an additional food hall marquee in the town. The Nantwich Food Festival is much more than food its about all round family entertainment! Travelling in your Holiday Motorhome Hire, finding Nantwich is not difficult  as it is well signposted from all directions. If coming from the M6 leave at junction 16 and follow the A500 west direct to Nantwich (15 minutes).

Nantwich
Cheshire
England
CW5

If you love gardens and old property, the combination at Little Moreton Hall will be irresistible. This is a truly beautiful place to visit with its own moat and a cobbled courtyard at the entrance to the Hall. The Hall itself holds a great deal to marvel at, from the building itself to some remarkable wall-paintings inside. In Tudor times the house occupants would have been busy keeping everything working well and one can imagine the generations that followed, all busy on its upkeep. July 16th will be a special day for gardeners as you wander around the pretty Knot Garden. Colourful tales of both the Moreton family and this iconic building will be revealed to you by their tour guides. There will also be a chance to buy delicious home-baked local food and a visit their shop to complete to day. At the end of your visit to the Hall, return to your Cheshire Motorhome Hire to drive on and see more interesting sights as part of your Motorhome Hire Holiday. Little Moreton Hall is owned by the National Trust. For more information on Little Moreton Hall click the blue text.

Little Moreton Hall
Newcastle Road
Congleton
Cheshire
CW12 4SD

A campsite for adults only, no children allowed, Netherwood Touring Site ensures a quiet holiday stop over. Netherwood Touring Site has all the usual facilities, hot showers with hairdryers (a must for us ladies!), electric hook ups and chemical waste disposal etc. It is very handy for visiting Chester as it is only 2 ½ miles south-east of Chester city centre. Chester is a very beautiful mediaeval walled city, situated on the River Dee.  Located on the A41 Whitchurch Road on a 2-acre field, set behind the handsome Netherwood House, the camp site is in a countryside setting. The camp site is right next to the Shropshire Union . If you are traveling from the north on the M56 take Junction 15 onto the M53. Drive to the end of the M53 and take junction A51 which is sign posted Chester. At the roundabout take the third exit onto the A41 and then at the traffic lights turn left towards Witchurch. Turn left again at the next roundabout. Pass ‘The Cheshire Cat’ and one mile take a left turn into the site entrance. If you pass the BP Petrol Station you have gone too far! If you are on your way to a welsh holiday, in your Northern England Motorhome Hire, this is an ideal break in your journey with a chance to visit historic Chester Town. The site is not open all year round so for opening times, prices for pitches and further information click on the blue text for Netherwood Touring Site.

Netherwood House
Whitchurch Road
Chester
CH3 6AF
Cheshire

Tel: (01244) 335583

If you are a keen bird watcher or just love wildlife then this is an interesting place to visit.  Take your binnoculars! The reserve is noted for its diverse range of habitats and it is a wildlife haven. There are easy to follow paths will take you to the ponds, wildflower meadows, and the woodland. This is a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is not the best place to take younger children as the reserve is specifically sensitive to disturbance. Visitors must keep to the footpaths, keep quiet, with no games or unauthorized activities taking place. This is not the place for children to run about and play. The advantage of this is that nature and wildlife flourish in this sensitive habitat. You can get to nearly every part of the reserve on the footpaths. Those paths shown in continuous yellow on the reserve site plan are safe to walk along. Keep to these paths and do not stray. Follow diversion instructions should you come across them during your visit because the site is undergoing continuous improvement work. To get to the reserve in your Birmingham Airport Motorhome Hire, drive from Warrington along the Manchester road and take the (A57) out of Woolston. Go straight across both M6 roundabouts for a approximately mile. Continue past the transport café. About 400 yards on the left turn for the visitor centre, 120 yards further along on the left is the car park.For further information click the blue text below.

Rixton Claypits Nature Reserve
Moat Lane
Warrington
WA3 6EE

Telephone: 0161 777 9726

Sir Richard and Lady Baker Wilbraham own this impressive house and it has been in their family since since 1669. English Heritage supported the family in 1980 when a serious outbreak of dry rot was detected. The family agreed to open to the public and restoration work took place over a period of seven years. Since then visitors have flocked to this beautiful hall to view the paintings, fine Gillow furniture and collections of fine porcelain and ceramics. The porcelain collection is of the highest standard with pieces collected by the family over a number of generations. Restoration of this prestgious house is still ongoing. The gardens are a particular delight as they are grade 11 listed and famed for the snowdrop walks that can be viewed from January till march. There is a great deal to see in these formal gardens the rest of the year too. No visit to a stately home is complete without a visit to a fine tea room. The Rode Tea Room is just that and has on offer cream teas and homemade cakes and of course excellent tea or coffee etc. They also hold farmers markets here at specific times of the month giving you the chance to buy fresh local ingredients and local homemade foods.If you are on your holiday driving your mototorhome or campervan hire north through cheshire and want to plan in a stop that will interest your family, then this hall is likely to fit the bill! For details of opening times, admission prices and what is on offer here, click the blue text below.

Rode Hall
Scholar Green
Cheshire ST7 3QP

Telephone: 01270 873237

Housing local artists and a varied collection.

Stockport art Gallery
Greek street
Stockport
Cheshire

Old Northwich Union Workhouse building is now the home of Weaver Hall Museum and workhouse. It was previously called the ‘Salt Museum’ but was renamed in 2010. There is a great deal to see and explore here and your tour of the building is likely to start with an introductory film. You will see a Victorian Workhouse Schoolroom which is austere and rather harsh looking compared to the magnificent surroundings in the Board of Guardians Meeting Room. The workhouse was the last resort for Cheshire families who had fallen on to hard times. It was a grim place with a hard work routine and a poor diet. There is also an exhibition which gives insight into life in a Cheshire Market town during war and peace time. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this place is the gallery upstairs that shows how salt was such an important factor to local people since the Bronze Age. The people in this area have been mining Salt for over two thousand Years, often with dramatic subsidence to local areas in Northwich and Winsford. The salt industry has been a source of models and interesting artifacts and many are exhibited at this museum. An interesting place to take the family, if the weather is poor and a trip indoors is called for. Alternatively if you are interested in learning more about local history and life in Victorian times, then this is the place to go to in your Cheshire Motorhome Hire. For more information click the blue text below.

The Weaver Hall Museum and Workhouse
162 London Road
Northwich
Cheshire
CW9 8AB

Tel: 01606 271640

2pm on Saturday 30th June 2007
Travel in your motor home to watch or participate in this amazing event. Get more information on their website.

The World Worm Charming Championships
Willaston County Primary School
Willaston
Nantwich
Cheshire
England

Victoria Park is located in Widnes and parking is roadside on the Buxton Road. Once parked up expect to find 12 acres of glorious parkland to ramble in. There a childrens Play area, Pavilion, Toilets an Aviary, bowling green, and a football pitch. The main thing that is so enjoyable here is the scenic space presented in the grasslands and flower beds. The park was donated to the town by Francis Brocklehurst and named after Queen Victoria. The park was originally opened in 1894 and on a sunny day it is a lovely place for a family picnic. There are also a large number of events held here during the summer months and throughout the year. From pop concerts to full orchestral classical concerts, vintage car rallies, Victoria Park has been the venue. If you are traveling in your Cheshire Motorhome Hire it is worth stretching your legs for a break at Victoria Park. For more details click the blue text below.

Victoria Park
Buxton Road
Widnes
Macclesfield
Cheshire