Cheshire Gardens and the Cheshire Cycleway

6 or 7 nights - Moderate

Cheshire has some of the country's finest Gardens and the Cheshire Cycleway is a signposted cycle route looping around the county passing many of these. The cycleway follows quiet country lanes and explores the varied countryside of Cheshire from the Welsh border, over to the Dee estuary and across the gentle Cheshire plains.

This gardens cycling break follows much of the Cycleway, with some of our detours towards the end of the route. Visit fine houses and gardens like Ness Botanical Gardens overlooking the Dee Estuary with its collections of rhododendron and azaleas, one of the best known heather gardens in Britain, and collection of Himalayan and Chinese plants. The route also passes, Arley Hall and Gardens, Tatton Park, Gawsworth Hall, and Cholmondeley Castle Gardens which has many beautiful specimen trees, herbaceous borders, shrubberies, ponds and lakes. The highlight here is  the beautiful Temple Garden.

Start Days - Can start any day, but not all gardens may be open - contact us for full details. Best start days are Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays when all gardens Hare Hill are open.

Cycling distances - Under 25 miles a day so you have time to visit gardens along the way.

Accommodation: A mix of farms/guest houses/pubs/hotel. 

COST: Per person

Number of nights	Farm/guest house/pub
6	£555
7	£645
Single supp/night- depends on accommodation	£10- £25

Child Discounts - (Children sharing with 2 adults) Under 2 - free, under 4 -  80%, Under 12 - 50% and 12 to 16 - 25%

 

This cycling holiday includes -  Overnight  B & B accommodation Detailed routes, maps, background information Entrance to gardens at Ness, Arley or Tatton Hall, Gawsworth, Cholmondeley Quality bikes (discount available of you prefer to bring your own) Helmets and tool kit, puncture resistant tyres Luggage transfer & full support and back-up should you need help Car parking or transfer to and from nearest station  Nearest station - Chester

ITINERARY - 7 nights

Day 1 - Arrive in Chester from lunchtime. Stay in hotel in centre of Chester with leisure facilities including pool. We meet you when you arrive to deliver bikes and adjust them to make sure they are comfortable. Circular warm up ride around countryside on the outskirts of Chester (about 10 - 13 miles) or opportunity to look around Roman City of Chester.

Day 2 - Cycle through Chester, along the canal and then on to visit Ness Botanical Gardens, overlooking the Dee Estuary. The gardens contain the finest collection of rhododendron and azaleas in the Northwest, one of the best known heather gardens in Britain, and an outstanding collection of Himalayan and Chinese plants. They also have a magnificent herbaceous border, specimen shrubs and herb garden containing all the major culinary herbs. The rose garden shows how roses have developed since the late 1700s

From here through Parkgate and on to Wollaston for an overnight stay in pub. 20 miles

Day 3 - Today's route takes you through Delamere Forest and then on to Acton Bridge for an overnight stay at a comfortable farmhouse. 25 miles. Optional detours to Mount Pleasant Gardens 3 miles or Bluebell Cottage Gardens. 6 miles

Day 4 - Cycle past Marbury Country Park and through Great Budworth passing Westage Ice Cream Farm and then Arley Hall and Gardens reputedly some of the finest in Britain, with spectacular roses, herbaceous borders, flowering shrubs. From here the route goes through Rostherne, passing Tatton Hall, Gardens and Park and then to Mobberley for the next overnight stay. Choose to visit either Arley Hall or Tatton Hall and Gardens 20 miles

Day 5 - From Mobberley pass Nether Alderley Mill and climb onto Alderley Edge. Pass National Trust Gardens at Hare Hill, a spectacular early summer garden (optional visit - admission charge - NT members free) and onto the Cheshire Plain. Visit Gawsworth Hall and Gardens. From here the route skirts Congleton. Spend the night in a lovely pub at Astbury. 22 miles. Optional 5 mile detour to Quinta Arboreteum

Day 6 - Today there are no garden visits, just a gentle cycle ride through Hassal, over the canal and on to pretty black and white village of Barthomley. Then past Dagfields Craft and Antiques Centre to a quiet farmhouse near the canalside village of Audlem. 22 miles

Day 7 - From here visit the fascinating Hack Green Nuclear Bunker (underground bunker from the Cold War) and on through villages of Wrenbury and Marbury. Leave the cycleway here and visit Cholmondeley Castle Gardens. Another 2- 3 miles takes you to the comfortable Manor Farm where you spend the night.21 miles

Day 8 - Cycle back to Chester through Upper Burwardsley, Tattenhall Village and past the Ice Cream Farm.16 - 18 miles

ITINERARY - 6 nights - As itinerary above but misses out day 2

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