DELAMERE Forest has been named as one of the best in the country to explore this summer.
Described as “an absolute gem” by outdoor experts at Millets, the popular destination was one of four forests topping the table.
Kielder Forest, on the northern border of Northumberland, Haldon Forest Park, which covers 1,500 hectares across Haldon Hills near Exeter, and Thetford Forest, just north of Bury St Edmonds, round out the top four.
Delamere is known for its 'meres and mosses', a mosaic of bogs, marsh and fen wetlands, providing internationally important wetland habitats for many plants and animals (Forest Holidays)
Delamere Forest is easily accessible with its own train station and perfect for getting away from it all.
Made up of evergreens, open grasslands and wetlands, there promises to be something for everyone.
Delamere Forest provides many gentle forest roads and trails ideal for the less able or for families with children.
There’s the Blakemere trail, Linmere trail and Old Pale trail at Delamere.
There are dry sandstone paths, lots of mature trees to shade or shelter under and Blakemere Moss is an ideal lake for bird watchers.
In addition, Old Pale provides a superb walk with spectacular views extending as far as Liverpool's famous skyline of cathedrals and harbour buildings.
There are great bike trails, Go Ape and Segway riding as well Gruffalo trails which take you into “the deep dark wood”.
The Gruffalo party trail launched at Delamere Forest in January (Forestry England Crown copyright)
Horse riders are welcome to the forest and there’s a quiet carpark on the forest’s loop route for owners to park their trailers to see the forest from horseback.
The Delamere Forest Café is a large restaurant serving hot and cold food between 9am and 4pm every day, which stays open until 5pm each weekend.
There are plenty of picnic benches scattered throughout the forest if you want to enjoy al fresco pit stops.
Delamere also gives you the chance to holiday in the heart of the forest as cabins complete with underfloor heating, log burners and hot tubs are available to rent.
Delamere Forest's 66 woodland cabins are dotted among a mix of broadleaf and evergreen trees spreading over 2,400 acres on the Cheshire Plain (Forestry England)
Looked after by Forestry England, the four nature theme parks – Delamere Forest, Kielder Forest, Haldon Forest Park and Thetford Forest - have plenty to offer visitors.
They’re open all year round and a recent report shows everyone living in England is within a 60-minute drive of a Forestry England site with 88 per cent of people living less than 30 minutes away.
Delamere Forest: "an absolute gem" and named one of best in country
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here