A Festive Break In Charming Cheshire

Itinerary

Description

Be enchanted by festive Cheshire’s finest houses, gardens and properties at the most magical time of the year. The county’s pastoral beauty takes on a different quality during the winter months, where the frosted heathlands create an unforgettable backdrop of seasonal splendour for us to explore the area’s highlights. We take a merry evening stroll through the grounds of Bolesworth Castle on a delightful Light Trail, examine the twinkling evergreens at grand Chester Cathedral’s Christmas Tree Festival and discover the majesty of Arley Hall and Lyme Park, some of Cheshire’s most celebrated historical homes, all dressed up for Christmas.

Itinerary

Excursion One – Chester Cathedral, Chester & Bolesworth Castle Light Trail

Today we travel to Chester where we enjoy a guided tour of Chester Cathedral during its annual Christmas Tree Festival, with more than 80 festive firs on display. Completed in the 16^th century, the cathedral underwent restoration works in the mid-19^th century where it was almost completely rebuilt in a more decorative Gothic style, with additions made to the stunning rib-vaulted ceiling, adorned with intricate gold-leaf filigree and images of the angels, as well as the remodelled crenelated towers and the refaced sandstone exterior.

Later we’re treated to a festive guided walking tour of Chester as we retrace the steps of our Roman and medieval visitors. We explore the numerous charms of the city with its fascinating history that spans the centuries, from the remains of its Roman Amphitheatre to the eye-catching medieval Rows that line its streets.

We continue on to Bolesworth Castle where we’re invited to celebrate the season on their sparkling Light Trail. Each year the castle grounds are transformed into a spectacular display of coloured lights and installations that glitter through the winter nights, winding their way through woodland and lakeside scenery, to create an unforgettably magical experience. There’s even a selection of rides and a Christmas Market featuring a wide range of stalls where you can find warming food and spiced drinks that complete the festive atmosphere.

Excursion Two – Arley Hall & Lyme Park 

This morning we make our way to Arley Hall which has been the much-loved home of Viscount Ashbrook and his forbears for over 550 years. We take in the house’s winter flower display featuring flora from the ground’s formal gardens, for a beautiful presentation that brings out the frost-tipped beauty of the season. The hall itself provides an inviting ambience with elaborate ceilings, oak-panelling, intricate stained glass and beautiful contents, giving us an intimate insight into life at the property and the history of the family.

Then we head to Lyme Park, a 1400-acre estate settled around the largest house in Cheshire and surrounded by sculpted gardens, herbaceous borders and parkland that is home to a herd of medieval red deer. The Regency-era mansion was built during an important time of renewal for the local area which also saw the grounds transform from rugged moorland to a specially designed landscape. The house holds a substantial number of National Trust artefacts that reveal the history of the area for us to discover. Here we can take the opportunity to stroll the grounds and enjoy the beautiful winter scenery of the Peak District or have a peaceful moment by the reflecting lake, where Mr Darcy met Miss Bennet in the BBC production of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice.

Bullets

• 3 nights at the 4-star Mercure Haydock Hotel, Haydock with dinner & breakfast
• Porterage where available
• Welcome drink
• After-dinner tea and coffee at the hotel
• Coach transfers to and from your excursions
• Visits to Chester Cathedral, Chester, Bolesworth Castle Light Trail and Christmas Market, Arley Hall & Lyme Park
• Guided tour of Chester Cathedral
• Guided walking tour of Chester
• Accompanied by a knowledgeable tour manager throughout

Search Bullets

• 3 nights at the 4-star Mercure Haydock Hotel, Haydock with dinner & breakfast
• Visits to Chester Cathedral, Chester, Bolesworth Castle Light Trail and Christmas Market, Arley Hall & Lyme Park
• Guided tour of Chester Cathedral
• Guided walking tour of Chester
• Accompanied by a knowledgeable tour manager throughout

Image

Image

Image

Image

Search Results Coach

Accommodation

Mercure Haydock

The 4-star Mercure Haydock Hotel is set in a traditional Georgian mansion-style building surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds in the quaint town of Haydock. The spacious rooms offer tea and coffee-making facilities, free Wi-Fi and a flat-screen TV. The hotel also features two restaurants, a bar, a fitness centre and an indoor heated swimming pool.