Cheshire (Slow Travel)

Already renowned for an abundance of black and white timbered buildings, Cheshire was put firmly on the map in the 2000s thanks to then-resident stars David and Victoria Beckham. The county confounds expectations with its surprisingly varied and dramatic landscapes, ranging from the Cheshire Plain to the wild hills and windswept moors of the Pennines and Peak District in the east, and the upstanding sandstone ridges of the west – not to mention the moody coastal marshes of the Wirral Peninsula, flanked by the major estuaries of the rivers Mersey and Dee, which flow into the Irish Sea.

Then there’s the county town of Chester with its fascinating Roman history, unique double-decker medieval shopping arcades and the most complete city walls in Britain. Delve deeper into local culture by visiting engaging museums, grand stately homes and formal gardens; by exploring literary connections to Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll and Elizabeth Gaskell; or by gawping at the

Recuperate by indulging in local artisan food at one of many spruced-up village inns (including Britain’s 2023 Pub of the Year), then lay your head in country-house hotels, characterful B&Bs or self-catering estate cottages. Or, for a truly slow experience, profit from Cheshire’s canal network, which is perfect for waterside strolls or pootling along in a narrowboat. Whatever floats your particular vessel, Bradt’s Cheshire (Slow Travel) guides your way.