Outdoor Activities

Delamere Forest

Delamere Forest, Linmere, Delamere, Northwich, Cheshire, CW8 2JD

Delamere Forest is Cheshire's largest area of woodland and is a place for families to let off steam, escape the crowds and find peace in the heart of the forest. Delamere is also a haven for wildlife including the beautiful small tortoiseshell butterfly, greater spotted woodpecker, white faced darter dragonfly, green woodpecker, siskin and southern hawker dragonfly. At Blakemere lake there are nesting black headed gulls that you will be able to see and hear. There is plenty of parking and the home cooking available at the Delamere Cafe makes it a great place to finish after a long or short walk. Click here.

Go Ape at Delamere Forest
Location: CW8 2HZ (Just off the B5152) Tel 0845 643 9314
Go Ape is a high wire forest adventure course of ropes bridges, Tarzan swings and zip slides up to almost 35 feet above the forest floor set within the beautiful Delamere Forest, just 5 miles away from The Courtyard. Ideal for friends, families and corporate groups, Go Ape provides approximately three hours of fun, laughter and adventure, as well as an exciting way to explore and enjoy the forest. Stay at The Courtyard and receive a 20% discount.
Check website for age and height restrictions along with opening times. Click here.

Catton Hall Outdoor Pursuits Centre
Location: Bradley Lane, Frodsham, Cheshire WA6 7EX Tel 01928 788295
Catton Hall Shooting Ground specialises in outdoor adventure activities. Located in over 200 acres of stunning Cheshire countryside and within easy reach of Manchester, Chester and Liverpool, Catton Hall is the ideal location for businesses throughout the North West seeking a venue to host corporate days, teambuilding events and conferences.
Catton Hall offers a variety of events and packages including activities such as clay shooting, paintball, quad biking, falconry and archery, available as either single event packages or part of multi-activity days. Catton Hall Shooting Lodge offers a unique and exclusive venue for your conference, meeting, seminar or presentation. Click here.

Cycling
The Courtyard makes an excellent base for cyclists to discover the area. Either bring your own and we can store your cycles for you or, alternatively, we can arrange cycles for hire which can also be delivered for you to The Courtyard.
From The Courtyard there are miles of safe, off road, cycling on Helsby and Frodsham Marshes which link into the National Cycle Network Route 5, Frodsham nearby is the start of The Sandstone Trail with 34 miles of dramatic Cheshire countryside leading to Whitchurch. Delamere Forest, itself, is a beautiful area to cycle, ideal for families, with lots of different routes where cycles can be hired.
With a variety of terrain nearby to The Courtyard there is something suitable for everybody. Don't forget, with The Courtyard just being two minutes from Helsby and Frodsham railway stations (Manchester Piccadilly-Chester-Llandudno line) you can arrive by train, bring your cycle with you or collect one from here! Couldn't be simpler!

Walking

Both The Courtyard Helsby and The Courtyard Frodsham are ideally placed for many interesting walks in the stunning North Cheshire countryside.

The Sandstone Trail – Frodsham to Whitchurch (34 miles): The Courtyard Frodsham is a few yards from the start of the famous Sandstone Trail which follows across some of the most dramatic scenery of the Cheshire plains rising over the sandstone ridge to Whitchurch promising panoramic views over Wales and the Cheshire Plain at every turn. This 34 mile/55 km walk runs roughly north-south along Cheshire's wooded sandstone ridge. Along the way is the ancient Delamere Forest, six Iron Age hill forts, the medieval Beeston Castle high on its crag with stunning views across seven counties, Peckforton Castle which is a striking Victorian copy of a Norman castle, comfortable inns, meres and mosses, and plenty of wildlife too. The super fit can complete the trail in one go over 12 or so hours but most people will do stages over two to three days! It’s a lovely walk that's suitable for all the family.

The Longster Trail – Helsby Hill to Chester via Barrow (9 miles): The Longster Trail starts just a few yards from The Courtyard Helsby and is a 16km/10 mile route starting from Helsby Hill via Barrow to Chester. A leaflet describing the entire route is published by the Mid Cheshire Footpath Society and is available from local outlets. It is shown on Explorers 266 & 267 maps.

The North Cheshire Way – Willaston to Lyme Park (70 miles): The Courtyard Helsby is set close to the lea of Helsby Hill which is the site of a medieval iron age fort and forms part of the North Cheshire Way, a 110km/70 mile walkers' route across the north of the county, from Willaston in the west to Lyme Park in the east. It provides a link between the Wirral Way, Sandstone Trail and Gritstone Trail. A full colour 100 page guide is published by the Mid Cheshire Footpath Society. The route is indicated by black/yellow waymark discs bearing the letters 'NCW'. The route will be shown on future editions of the OS Explorer maps. More information on the route on Explorers 266, 267 & 268.

Helsby Hill & Woodhouse Hill, Frodsham: Just a few hundred yards from The Courtyard Helsby is Helsby Hill which, along with Woodhouse Hill at Frodsham  were significant hill forts during the Iron Age and the two most important sandstone outcrops in the North of England. Today they are ideal for climbing and real favourites of 'crag rats'.
Approached from below or above Helsby Hill has three main buttresses with over 140 routes ranging from UK Grade 2 - 6a+. Latitude, Longitude: 53.27377, -2.76188

Sailing
Manley Mere Sail Sports & Adventure Trail
Location: Manley Road, Manley, WA6 0PE Tel 01928 740243
Manley Mere Sail Sports and Adventure Trails has a 40 acre fresh water lake perfect for dingy sailing, windsurfing and canoeing. This is a great venue and offers the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) courses for sailing and windsurfing. Special courses are run throughout the summer ideal for children who want to learn.

Horse Riding

Willington Hall Riding Centre, Willington, Tarporley, Cheshire. CW6 0NA Tel 01829 751920

A BHS Approved Riding School since 1993 their aim has been simple: to provide adults and children with the opportunity to be taught to ride safely, correctly and enjoyably on beautiful horses & ponies.