From low-lying plains to towering peaks, Cheshire has a bit of everything.
If you want to spend time outdoors, you’ve come to the right place. Cheshire offers everything from the grassy lowlands of the Cheshire Gap to the hills of mountains of the Peak District, which stretches up toward the Pennines. There are also plenty of cultural sites in the county, from the country house of Arley Hall, which you may recognise as a Peaky Blinders filming location, to Minerva's Shrine, a second-century Roman shrine in a sandstone quarry. It's also a great place for camping and glamping, with area Hipcamps offering everything from canvas tents to cosy shepherd huts.
On the opposite side of the border with Wales, the Clwydian Range And Dee Valley AONB draws in visitors with its mix of peaks and valleys, meadows and woodlands. It's popular for walking, kayaking, and cycling, while archaeology fans will appreciate the area's half-dozen-odd hillforts that date back to the Iron Age. Stop at the visitor centre at Loggerheads Country Park to get orientated.
Head a bit deeper into Wales and you’ll soon find yourself at one of its most important attractions: Snowdonia National Park, also known as Eyri National Park. Snowdonia draws in millions of visitors every year with its towering peaks and deep valleys, but at 823 square miles—and with 74 miles of coastline—Snowdonia has plenty of room for everyone.
If you’d rather head north, the Forest of Bowland AONB makes a great option. Along with miles of rocking and cycling routes, you'll find a mix of lakes and rivers—perfect for trout and salmon fishing—and ample opportunities for birding and wildlife watching. Dark skies, free of light pollution, make this forest an excellent spot for stargazing.
If you want to spend outdoors, summer is the best time to do it, when the weather in and around Cheshire is generally warm and dry enough for camping and outdoor recreation. The city of Chester, Cheshire’s main urban hub, also has plenty on in the summer months, from the annual Royal Horticultural Society Flower Show in Tatton Park to open-air film screenings.