Canals, Castles and Chester
Nights: 2 or 3
Grading: Easy or Moderate
Description
A relaxing short cycling break. The gentle option is ideal for children and those wanting easy cycling with plenty of time to explore. The moderate holiday offers slightly longer distances exploring this interesting part of Cheshire.
Begin near Chester allowing opportunity to visit this Roman city at the start or end of your break. The route in and out of Chester is along the canal, so no traffic to negotiate! From Chester the route takes you through rolling farmland past pretty villages, canals and castles.
There are plenty of places to visit, including a Cheshire Cheese and Ice Cream Farm, Beeston Castle, a working Water Mill, antique shops and pretty villages like Tarporley and Bunbury. There are plenty of good pubs and cafes for lunch stops, including one of our favorites The Dysart Arms at Bunbury, with a lovely garden overlooking the church. Adding a fourth day takes you to Wrenbury on the Shropshire Union Canal and Cholmondeley Castle Gardens.
Cycling distances - Gentle 10-15 miles a day available. Moderate around 20 - 25 miles a day.
Accommodation
Farms/guest house, pubs, hotels or country house hotels. The Country House Hotels have recommended restaurants and on 1st night leisure facilities including pool.
Hotels - In Chester upgrade to hotel with leisure facilities and pool option (£10 per person). If parking required you may need to upgrade to this hotel as standard hotel has limited parking, particularly if starting on a weekend night.
We can offer a mix of accommodation on this route so you can sample a variety of accommodation.
Photo Gallery
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What's Included?
This cycling holiday includes -
- Overnight B & B accommodation
- Detailed routes, maps, background information
- Quality bikes (discount available if 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
Price (per person)
| Number of Nights | B&Bs/Farm | Inns/Hotels | Country House Hotel |
| 2 | £205 | £230 | £305 |
| 3 | £295 | £320 | £410 |
| Single supp/night | £10 -20 | £15 - 30 | £30 - 40 |
Discounts & Offers
Child Discounts - (Children sharing with 2 adults)
Under 2 - free
Under 4 - 80%
Under 12 - 50%
12 to 16 - 25%
Group Discounts - 10% for groups of 4 or more adults
Itinerary
This holiday is flexible and itineraries vary depending on accommodation and number of nights selected. This option based on three nights in hotels. Please phone to discuss details for your choices
Day 1 - Arrive at hotel from lunchtime. We meet you when you arrive to deliver bikes and adjust them to make sure they are comfortable. Circular cycle ride around countryside on the outskirts of Chester (about 10 - 13 miles) or if you are staying on outskirts of Chester a ride into the city along the canal (no traffic!) (about 10 - 11 miles). Opportunity to look around the Roman City of Chester.
Day 2 - Gentle route - Cycle out of Chester along the canal and through Hockenhull Platts nature reserve to Tarvin. From here pass close to Boot Inn at Willington (good lunch stop) and on to Little Budworth Country Park and village. From here you can do a short detour to the Shire Horse Centre and then on to the Georgian village of Tarporley to stay at the Swan Hotel. 16 miles
Moderate route - Cycle through Hockenhull Platts nature reserve to Tarvin. From here pass Boot Inn at Willington, Mount Pleasant Garden (not open every day) and continue on to explore Delamere Forest along gentle, traffic free cycle trails. From here route heads to Kelsall and on to Georgian village of Tarporley to stay at the Swan Hotel. 25 miles
Day 3 - Cycle to Beeston Castle, well worth a visit, with views across 8 counties on a clear day. Go through Bunbury village (small detour here takes you to working water mill and staircase locks on the canal. There is also the excellent Dysart Arms !. From here moderate route goes through canal village of Wrenbury and on to Cholmondeley Castle Gardens (only open Wed, Thurs, Sun and bank holidays). Gentle route misses Wrenbury. Stay at the Cholmondeley Arms. Moderate route 20 - 21 miles, gentle route 13 - 14 miles.
Day 4 - Cycle back to Chester through Burwardsley with option to detour to visit Candle Workshops or have coffee at Pheasant Inn. From here its downhill all the way to Tattenhall, past the Cheshire Cheese and Ice Cream Farm and on to Chester. The last part of the route follows the canal. We meet you back in Chester with you luggage and to collect the bikes. Main route with detour 19 miles, short route 16 - 17 miles.
What Others Say...
"Many thanks for a most memorable holiday break, and we shall look forward to doing something similar again in the not too distant future!"
Mr and Mrs M, Cheshire
Canals, Castles and Chester