Have a break in the picturesque Cheshire
The ancient county is very famous for its attractive towns and picturesque villages. Cheshire offers a wide range of beautiful gardens and hiking trails. An area of great scenic beauty!
Crabwall Manor House is set in its own eleven acres of mature garden and woodland, just 4 miles from the centre of the city of Chester. The south-facing terrace area is the perfect place to sit and enjoy an alfresco drink or meal. The award winning Conservatory Restaurant serves delicious English cuisine and an extensive wine list.
This lovely country house hotel offers 48 individually designed luxury bedrooms, all with private bathrooms. Enjoy the excellent facilities of the Leisure Club equipped with swimming pool, gym, aerobic studio, spa and sauna.
Day 1: Arrival
Mini-cruise from Rotterdam or Zeebrugge to Hull. Alternatively flight to Liverpool or Manchester.
Day 2: Grosvenor Park in Chester
Breakfast at Hotel. Grosvenor Park is a classical, 19th century designed park with a typical Victorian layout, which is renowned as one of the best in the northwest. On the waterfront of the River Dee towards the weir and the Old Dee Bridge a footpath lined with trees takes you to a romantic boat hire. Take a boat-trip and enjoy the views to the magnificent houses and do not miss to visit 'Earl's Eye’ - in former times a Roman fort.
Day 3: Sandstone Trail - Castle and pub
Today you will start with the Raw-Head walking tour. The SandstoneTrail takes you for 3 to 4 hours through woods on Bulkeley Hill with majestic silver birch and sweet chestnut (ca. 6 miles / 9 km). Have a break at the Pheasant Pub where you can enjoy the spectacular view and the medieval ruin of Beeston Castle which stands on a rocky summit 500 feet (152 m) above the Cheshire plain. Visit the the ice-cream & tea-rooms at Tattenhall, before you return to the hotel.
Day 4: Edge - Peak District National Park - Lyme
Have a break at the 'Edge' - soft red sandstone which reaches 525 feet (160 m) above the surrounding land with stunning views over Cheshire, Peak District and Manchester. You will pass stone-walls, old barns and sheep-runs on your circular route close to Macclesfield (3-4 hours).
Shutlingsloe is the second highest peak in the county with an elevation of 1,660 feet (506 m) and commands excellent views over Cheshire. On your way back to your hotel you have to stop at Lyme Park, a medieval deer-park with an imposing stone mansion.
Day 5: Utkinton Hall and Tirley Garth
Today you will pass the ancient manor house of Utkinton Hall and the peaceful Cheshire village that gave the Hall its name. Your next stop is Tirley Garth. Dating from 1906 to 1912, this beautiful Edwardian garden is set in the grounds of the spectacular red sandstone house. The magnificent location of this estate, deep in the Cheshire countryside, offers an impressive panorama over the Cheshire Plain and beyond to the Welsh mountains.
Your next visit will be the spectacular twelfth century ruins of Norton Priory with its medieval monastic herb garden which captures an essence of the site’s past use (5 miles / 8 km).
Day 6: Snowdonia National Park - Bodnant Garden
Pen-y-Pass is your starting point for a 4 hour walking tour today (7,5 miles / 12 km). The glorious view down into the valley and the mountain range of Wales will deeply impress you. Follow the line of the Snowdon Mountain Railway (a narrow gauge rack railway) for 328 yards (300 m) and you have reached the peak. From there, follow the Miners Track sign until you reach the shore of Llyn Llydaw where you will see ruins of the work of miners.
The town Conwy is renowned for its medieval Castle and almost complete town walls, with a picturesque harbour overlooking the estuary of the River Conwy. Bodnant Garden, situated not far from Conwy, is a beautiful garden and one of the most popular in North Wales.
Day 7: Liverpool and The Beatles
Located within Liverpool's historic Albert Dock (World Cultural Heritage), the Beatles Story is a unique visitor attraction that will 'transport' you on an enlightening and atmospheric journey into the life, times, culture and music of the Beatles.
Afterwards we recommend to explore Liverpool - the birth place of the 'Fab Four'- on a vintage 1960s coach identical to the coach used in the 1967 film 'Magical Mystery Tour'. The tour includes Beatles homes, schools, birthplaces, Penny Lane, Strawberry Field and many other interesting sites.
Day 8: Return journey
Continue your journey home by ferry or by plane.