Cheshire's largest woodland sits about 45 minutes' drive from Liverpool, and it packs a lot into its 2,400 acres. Delamere Forest is the kind of place where you can fill a whole day — or a whole weekend — without ever feeling rushed: waymarked hiking trails, two lakes, a treetop adventure park, Segway tours and even a cabin to sleep in.

The walks suit every energy level. The Doolittle Trail is a gentle, 2-mile, kid-friendly loop to the western edge of Blakemere Moss, marked in turquoise and doable in around 90 minutes through pine and chestnut woods. For proper lake scenery, the Blackmere Trail loops 4 miles around Blakemere Moss itself, tracing the shoreline for roughly two hours — the wetland draws birdwatchers, with species like Mediterranean gulls on the list. If you want a climb, the Old Pale Trail gains 354 feet over 2.3 miles to the highest point of the Cheshire Plain; pick a clear day and you can see Liverpool and beyond. Families with younger children might prefer the Whitefield Trail, a 1.5-mile multi-use route with a 0.5-mile shortcut and play areas built in.

Water is a big part of the appeal. Blakemere Moss, a flooded ancient wetland stretching about 0.62 miles, is the centrepiece, while smaller Black Lake is a dragonfly hotspot — bring a macro lens if that's your thing.

For adrenaline, head to the Go Ape operation in the forest. It runs tiered high-ropes courses: Treetop Adventure for ages 4 to 10, Adventure Plus for 6 to 12, and the five-section Treetop Challenge for adults. One-hour Segway tours are available too, though riders must be at least 10.

The forest also has a proper events calendar — live music, kids' outdoor programmes and running races ranging from 10k up to a 42k — so it's worth checking what's on before you go. If a day trip isn't enough, you can stay overnight in one of 67 cabins with one to five bedrooms, most with hot tubs.

Practically speaking: it's about an hour by car from Manchester, two from Sheffield, and reachable by public transport from Liverpool in a little over an hour. Early and late summer tend to offer England's most reliable weather for a mostly outdoor itinerary. And if you're basing yourself in Liverpool, Delamere makes an easy escape from the city — a less crowded alternative to the usual English countryside circuit, with none of the London-bound day-trip crowds.