Feel free to have a wander up the steps to our Orchard where you can relax in the sun or do some star gazing at night (keep an eye out for the Barn Owls, we have several mating pairs in the area). You are welcome to utilise the benches and seating areas for a picnic, although for safety reasons please do not use the tree house. When in season feel free to sample the fruit or take some back home with you. You could walk, cycle or drive (just over a mile) to the local play area (with Climbing frame, Zip Wire, Swings, Slides and a Pump track) it’s near the school if you head up Picton Lane towards Mickle Trafford.​ If you were after a larger play area, just a few miles away in Hoole there is Alexandra park (a large park with extensive play areas).​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Chester

A Roman city situated on the River Dee. Well known for being one of the best preserved walled cities in Britain. Things to see include the Walls which form an almost complete circuit of the city as it was in the medieval era​ (almost 2 miles in circumference), the Rows (half black and white timbered galleries which create a second row of shops and are accessed by steps), the Amphitheatre, the Racecourse; home of​ Chester Races (www.chester-races.com) , Grosvenor Park and If you walk around the walls you will come across the ‘Eastgate Clock’​ which is said to be the most photographed clock in England after Big Ben! There is also a multi​ award winning Theatre, The Storyhouse (www.storyhouse.com)​ with library, restaurant and cinema so be sure to check out what shows are on before you arrive! A taxi directly in to the City Centre will cost approx £9.50 (King Kabs: 01244 34 34 34)

Chester Zoo ​(less than 3miles away)
One of the top attractions and the most visited zoo in the UK, Chester Zoo is definitely worth a visit!

​www.chesterzoo.org ​

Blue Planet Aquarium (Approx 3 miles away)
See Europe’s largest collection of sharks through their 71 metre underwater tunnel. You can even swim with them if you are feeling brave!​

www.blueplanetaquarium.com ​

Cheshire Oaks designer outlet​ and Coliseum Leisure park.
Approximately 3 miles away we have the UK’s largest designer outlet with over 145 boutiques, cafes and restaurants to choose from. Next door is the Coliseum shopping and leisure park, home to many high street shops along with a​ Cinema, Bowling, Adventure Golf and Trampoline park.​ Just up the road there is also the​ second largest Marks & Spencer’s store in the world, so if it’s shopping you like there’s plenty to keep you busy!

Quad Biking (less than 3 miles away).
Do you fancy going on a quad adventure? If so, head to Tile Farm in Guilden Sutton.
For more information visit:
www.tilefarmoffroad.com or call: 01244 300 321

The Club & Spa at Doubletree by Hilton Chester

If you are in need of some pampering, the Club and Spa is just a couple of miles down the road.

The Cheshire Ice Cream Farm, Tattenhall
The world’s largest family friendly ice cream parlour and adventure park, perfect for families, children and toddlers!
www.theicecreamfarm.co.uk ​

The National Waterways Museum (Ellesmere Port)
Less than 5 miles away from us and sitting where the Shropshire Union Canal meets the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey; the docks has been transformed in to a fantastic family day out.​ While you are there you could visit Charleys Ceramics and paint some pottery to take home as a memento from your trip.
www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/national-waterways-museum​

The Shropshire Union Canal runs through​ the small village of Stoak (If you turn right on to Picton lane and continue for approx. 1.5miles) so if you fancy a walk along the canal it can be accessed there.

Liverpool
Home of the Beetles, Liverpool Football Club, numerous Museums and Galleries, fabulous Architecture, the Mersey Ferry and much more… Just a 30 minute drive away and very accessible by train.

Sandstone Trail
The sandstone trail is a 55km walking path around Cheshire. It is one of the finest and most popular long distance walks in North West England. It has also been voted by ITV viewers as one of ‘Britain's favourite walks’ and starts in Frodsham (approx. 8.5 miles away). More information can be found at:
www.sandstonetrail.co.uk​

Helsby Hill
Less than 5 miles away and 450ft above the village, Helsby Hill is one of the notable landmarks in the area. If you park in Helsby Quarry Car Park there is an approx. 1 mile walk through woodland up to the summit, on a clear day, there are fabulous views over the Mersey Estuary, the City of Liverpool and in to Wales.

Flip Out Trampoline Park (3.5 miles away)
England’s biggest trampoline theme park is at Chester Gates Business Park, CH1 6LT. Suitable for all ages 6months +.
www.flipout.co.uk/locations/chester ​

Manley Mere Approx (3 miles away)

Beautiful lake surrounded by woodland offering Kayaking, open water swimming (in season) and power boating with an adventure trail and woodland strolls. There is even a lovely café on site too.

www.manleymere.co.uk​

West Kirby/New Brighton Beach
The Wirral has some fabulous beaches; both West Kirby and New Brighton are about a half hour drive away. West Kirby is an award winning beach, its only 300m long so can get busy on a warm day in the summer months. New Brighton is a great day out if you have little ones with you, It has ¾ mile of sandy beach with a drift wood pirate ship at the top end of the beach (The Black Pearl) for children to play around. A little further up from the Pirate ship there is Vale Park where you can walk up through the ‘fairy village’, visit the bandstand which hosts ‘Joy time’ (a children’s entertainment and music show, early afternoons in the summer holidays) and there is a café an play area in the park.

North Wales
A little further afield but still very accessible there is North Wales, where you will find some stunning coastlines, waterfalls and trails along with Conway Castle and Mount Snowdon. Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales with a number of walking routes up to the summit and even a train ride to the café at the top for those who don’t fancy the trek!

Our local swimming baths and leisure centre
If you fancy a swim, Ellesmere Port Sports Village is our local swimming pool and leisure centre (approx. 3miles away).
www.brioleisure.org/centres/ellesmere-port-sports-village​

Fancy a Bike ride?
We are situated on the Cheshire cycle way and not far from the ‘Greenway’ on Station lane, Mickle Trafford (approx. 1.5miles away). This is a traffic free route in to the city centre and then on to Deeside. www.itravelsmart.co.uk/cycle. There​ is also a local company that organises historic cycle tours around Chester, for more information visit: www.chestercycletours.co.uk    

Local Shops
There is a large Sainsburys supermarket less than 3 miles away (CH65 9HN) there is also an ATM, pharmacy and dry cleaners within the store and a fuel station next door.​ If its local produce you are after, Hoole is one of Chester’s most popular suburbs. It has a high street with many shops including a Butchers, Fishmongers, Bakery, Laundrette and hairdressers/barbers along with award winning restaurants bars and designer clothing shops. It also has a large park with a fabulous play area for the little ones.

Eating Out
We have a great selection of local pubs and restaurants to choose from. Our personal favourite would be the Chester Fields Country Pub and Restaurant approx 2 miles away. About the same distance away there is the Shrewsbury Arms and the Bunbury arms which are very nice too. For somewhere a little less formal but still within a two mile radius there is Meadow Lea Coffee shop and cafe or the Toby Carvery for an 'all you can eat' roast dinner. Slightly further afield you will find many more fabulous restaurants in Chester City Centre and at Cheshire Oaks.
If you would prefer a takeaway​ there is an award winning Fish and Chip shop (it has been voted one of the top 10 in the UK!) at Weston Grove, in Upton (www.fishandchipsatwestongrove.co.uk). There is also a choice of Chinese/Thai (www.thedunhamarms.co.uk) or Domino's that will deliver directly to the cottages and if its Indian you would prefer, the Indian Brasserie (151 Long lane, Upton) is a great choice but you would have to collect.

​If​ anything unforeseen should occur whether it would be a flat tyre or you need any recommendations on local services, please do not hesitate to contact us on: 07977788242 and we will do our best to advise/help out (we only live next door).

We hope you love Lower Farm Holiday Cottages as much as we do!

Kind​ regards,​

Matt, Rachel and Olivia​