Art Holiday Travel and Vacation information for Cheshire

With a history dating back at least 4000 years, Cheshire is a county that captures the very essence of England.In the peace and beauty of Cheshire's countryside, there are always secrets to be discovered.
They could be the sudden view across glorious summer landscapes from a wooded hillside path; the vivid colours of autumn leaves in one of Cheshire's world-class country gardens; fine local food served on a winter's day in a warm and welcoming ancient Inn; or the magnificent sweep of a championship golf course in the clear sunshine of spring. Almost every part of Cheshire boasts its own example of horticultural excellence, whether they be woodland gardens, rich in wildflowers and birdsong; deep tumbling borders hugging the sides of castles; or springtime orchards framing medieval buildings with bloom.
Plenty of very varied interest, also unusual and attractive scenery and villages - and not too touristy; Chester itself is glorious Chester has beautifully restored and preserved medieval buildings, a partly Roman city wall, plenty of interesting places to visit from a first-class zoo to an unusual broadcasting museum, and a good deal of life. The city's tourist information department couldn't be more helpful. From the wide range of other enjoyable places to visit we'd particularly pick out Catalyst in Widnes (the chemicals industry coming to life in a way that enthrals children), romantic Peckforton Castle (fun, too), the Styal industrial heritage site (gearing up for steam again, thanks to a Lottery grant), Jodrell Bank (far more than just radio telescope now - even a fine arboretum), Tatton Park at Knutsford (stately home, lovely grounds, working historic farm), Lyme Park near Disley, and on a smaller scale the entertaining and friendly Mouldsworth motor museum (not just cars).Other very rewarding places include the boat museum at Ellesmere Port, Tabley Hall, a vivid re-creation of medieval monastic life in Runcorn, the botanic gardens at Neston, Britain's most spectacular garden centre at Bridgemere, and a fine clutch of grand houses and grounds (notably Arley Hall at Northwich, Little Moreton Hall at Scholar Green, and Gawsworth Hall). Cheshire's countryside is well worth exploring, with charming thatched and timbered villages, and a picturesque mix of steep wooded castle-topped sandstone hills and rich sheltered valleys in the west with altogether more rugged Peak District scenery in the east and North-east - small steep stone-walled pastures, shaggy sheep, deep twisty valleys, austere moorland. The central plain of rich farmland is well broken up by woods and hedges, with lush parkland, leafy lanes, a profusion of meres or lakes, and splendid black and white timbered buildings. Throughout the county, an intricate network of canals takes in some of the most interesting countryside, with well kept towpaths. Away from the wild steep moors of the east, Cheshire's towns, villages and countryside leave a deep impression of well looked-after solid comfort, which can give visitors a pleasantly pampered feeling. The modern industrial heartland is largely concentrated within a fairly self-contained and therefore easily avoidable area by the Mersey, with chemical works at Northwich and engineering around Crewe. Macclesfield and Bollington have made the most of their mill-town past, with good walkways past their surprisingly handsome industrial buildings set into tortuously steep hillsides.