Day One
Arrive today and settle you and your horse into your accommodation. You will be staying in a luxury self-catering lodge located close to Delamere Forest on a private livery yard. This tranquil and peaceful location is ideal for horse lovers, walkers, cyclists, and bird watchers with the forest close by. The cabin is absolutely first class and is appointed to the highest quality, it is also pet friendly. There are 3 double bedrooms, a very spacious living area with log burner, fully fitted kitchen and a 'smart' satellite TV and private garden. Your horse will be stabled with the option of a private paddock for grazing. You will have use of the tack room for secure storage and the outdoor all weather arena and jumps.
The attractive villages of Delamere, Kingsley and Tarporley are a short drive away and Chester is just 10 - 15 minutes by car. This evening you can eat in, or there are a host of local restaurants and pubs to choose from, all just a few minutes drive away.
Day Two
This morning you might like to make use of the onsite arena and show jumps, or even arrange for an instructor to come and give you a private lesson, either at the yard or the nearby cross country course Kelsall Hill Farm Ride where you can have a XC or show jumping lesson. You could also box/trailer your horse to Delamere Forest where you will find endless off road tracks which run for miles upon miles. Alternitively you could hack to our other cross country course, The Gallops. The course runs for 3½ miles through the heart of the Cheshire countryside. There are over 30 optional jumps including a large water jump, a ditch and numerous other tyre, birch and log jumps. There are also hill climbs, a woodland path and spectacular views towards Beeston and Peckforton castle.
Dining in the pretty local village of Tarporley never fails to impress, there are a number of great restaurants and pubs including Cristiano’s which is one of the best Italian restaurants in Cheshire and The Swan Hotel which is renowned for tasty pub food.
Day Three
Today is your final day and the decision is yours as to how you spend it. For those coming as non riders you may like to hire a mountain bike in the forest where it is ideal for cycling. There are plenty of trails around the forest and maps are available from the information centre. If you are looking for something more relaxing the village of Tarporley has a wide selection of shops where you can enjoy some retail therapy.
The luxury lodge sleeps 6 in 3 ensuite double bedrooms (choice of twin / double beds in each room). Prices are based on a full cabin, there is no reduction for smaller groups. We can offer short breaks for 2 nights from the 1st October - 1st July. In peak season the minimum stay is 3 nights (Friday to Monday), but we can also offer a 4 night stay (Monday to Friday) and a 1 week stay (Friday changeover). See prices below:
2 nights self catering in low season (1 Oct - 1 July) £140pp
3 nights self catering (Fri - Mon) £175pp
4 nights self catering (Mon - Fri) £225pp
1 week self catering (Friday changeover) £370pp
Non-rider prices available upon request.
Here are some more suggestions to fill your time:
The forest also has a 'Go Ape' course which is a high wire forest adventure of ropes bridges, Tarzan swings and zip slides up to almost 35 feet above the forest floor. This is a great way to get the adrenalin pumping, have fun and explore the forest, (booking is essential). For the less adventurous why not take a trip to the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet Village. The Outlet Village has lots of shops to choose from and many designer brands at reduced prices plus the biggest M&S in the world.
Don't forget to set aside some time to visit The Old Fire Station Chocolate Shop in Tarporley this is the perfect destination if you fancy afternoon tea. There is a variety of sandwiches, cakes and drinks, not forgetting the wonderful handmade truffles. Charles, who runs the Chocolate Shop, is the third generation of his family to be involved in the confectionery industry.
Before you leave we recommend a visit to the historic city of Chester. Its unique black and white Tudor-style shopping rows draw visitors from around the globe, as well as the Chester Arch Clock; Chester’s best known landmark and the second most photographed clock in the World after ‘Big Ben.’ Tours around the city are available either on foot around the city walls or on the sightseeing bus. Alternatively, you may like to take a boat trip down the River Dee.
There is so much to see and do you may have to return for a second visit!
If you like the idea of a horse riding holiday in Cheshire but are unable to bring your own horse, have a look at our sister site Equestrian Escapes. We can also offer tuition, hacking and XC.