What to do in and around Chester in September?
Replies: 20 - Last Post: Aug 26, 2012 10:40 AM Last Post By: Tryfan
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What to do in and around Chester in September?
Hi,my girlfriend is going to be a visiting vet at Chester Zoo during September. I am on leave from my job for the whole month and I would like to ask you for suggestions on what there is to see/do in and around Chester during September. We would be free every Saturday and Sunday and would certainly be able also to manage shorter trips in the evenings on weekdays.
We should be extremely grateful for any and all advice you could give us if you are a local or have already visited the region and had a enjoyable experience.
Many thanks in advance.
Raphael
1
It may be a bit close to your girlfriends field of work but the Blue Planet Aquarium isn't far away and is really good. Liverpool is less than an hour away on the train aswell (You can easily have a night out there from Chester, just don't miss the last train home!). Check out also if there are any horse racing meets while you are there, Chester race course is right next to the city centre and is a very pleasant way to spend a few hours, I'm not even a horse racing fan. Manchester is also not that far away on the train. Delamere Forest is a nice place to spend an afternoon aswell, you can drive or get a train from Chester.2
loads of wonderful walking and places to see in the area. OK, very late summer but just pick your day. Clwydian Range, Ruthin, Denbigh all worth seeing and walking - get yourself up Moel Famau!Chester itself is a lovely city. You can also head south towards Shrewsbury or Oswestry, again lots to see and do round those places.
join the national trust too if you like historic houses and wonderful gardens.
3
As 2 said actually, I didn't even think of the stately homes and other National Trust sites! Speke Hall, Quarry Bank Mill at Styal, Rufford Old Hall, Lyme Park. Loads more, check out the National Trust website.Regarding the season, it is late summer but at least for the last 5 years the weather is nicer in September than it is in July or August. It tends to rain less and be less humid, clearer bluer skies aswell. Thats from someone who has spent most of their 37 years in Liverpool. Ha ha.
Also the football season has kicked off then. You may struggle for tickets to a league game but you could get to Anfield for a weekday evening kick off in a European game. I only suggest Liverpool (Who are my team) because we are only in the Europa League which will be easier to get tickets for than Manchester United in the Champions league.
4
Hi....Chester (Deva) is a magical little city.
There is a very good bus and train service to much of North Wales and Merseyside (including Liverpool).
The city itself is easy to do in a day.
The Cathedral and Roman wall are just two of its many big attractions.
The River Dee right in the city centre, flows in two directions at the same time.... A sight to see.
Little Roddee, Chesters racecourse, is the oldest in the world - and one of the smallest.
A day trip to Llangollen in North Wales is a nice excursion.
It's about half an hour by car - or there are buses.
There is also a train service to Ruabon and Wrexham. From there, local buses are frequent to Llangollen.
Chirk (also on the rail route), has one of Wales's finest castles....
http://www.chirk.com/castle.html
Chirk (Y Waun) is a border town between Wales and England (Bronygarth and Weston Rhyn).
It has both a rail viaduct and canal aquaduct running next to each other....
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatpicturegalleries/8295778/Great-British-railway-journeys.html?image=6
One side of both bridges is in Wales, the other side is in England.
A day trip to both Liverpool and Manchester are nice - and its a quick journey to both.
Two quite different cities, but both great places.
That's just a few lines from me. Hope everything goes really well.
5
how could I forget Llangollen!! Steam train (even if you don't want to do a trip, get on to the station to see, hear and smell it - admission to the station is free unless it is a 'Day Out With Thomas'). If you are feeling fit, walk up to Dinas Bran (Crow Castle) for staggering views.as mentioned there are the Chirk aqueducts, as well as the wonderful castle and its grounds. There's also the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Llangollen which is the high one with canal boats and a footpath going across, stunning views as long as you don't have vertigo.
A bit further south, head down the Severn Valley from Oswestry to Welshpool, stopping at the limekiln sites near Llanymynech; lovely walking here too. And then there's Powis Castle as well which is just as beautifully set as Chirk.
6
The Llangollen Steam railway - full size gauge as well ! !Like you say, the smell is something else.
Wonder how it figures on cost per mile, over the world's most expensive trains.
It aint cheap for the short trip.
9
Capesthorne Hall (http://www.capesthorne.com/) and Gawsworth Hall (http://www.gawsworthhall.com/) near Alderley Edge are also lovely properties to visit. Don't forget Beeston Castle (http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/beeston-castle-and-woodland-park/) and if you want the real experience, perhaps spend a night at Peckforton Castle just down the road (http://www.peckfortoncastle.co.uk/). Another lovely house is Dorfold Hall (http://www.hha.org.uk/Property/575/Dorfold-Hall), near Nantwich which as a town is worth a visit in itself. There's also the secret bunker at Hack Green, a 10-15 minute drive out of Nantwich (http://www.hackgreen.co.uk/).A quirky suggestion is to travel to Mow Cop, between Congleton and Crewe (http://www.mowcop.info/). You'd have to drive there, and the last part of the drive is VERY steep, but the views from Mow Cop are stupendous, especially on a clear day. On top of Mow Cop is a folly that was built by the owners of Rode Hall about 4 miles away as a talking point for visitors. It's free to visit, and there are some lovely walks in the vicinity.
If you are into train spotting, Crewe Station is the place to be. One of the busiest in the UK. Otherwise Crewe is an absolutely forgettable place in itself, but Sandbach just up the road (6 miles) has the two Saxon crosses in the market place that are worth seeing.
10
The castles around the North Wales coast are excellent, particularly Conwy and Caernarfon. Also Snowdonia has some fantastic walking, climbing and mountain biking.11
You might wanna check this site out too....http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/days-out/wales/
It has some offers that'll probably work out cheaper than private excursions.
12
Ah well, as I here anyway may I also throw my hat in with the Llangollen suggestion. Spent three months once working in the Youth hostel there and the climb up Dinas Bran for the fab views is worth it (many times!).Well, obv there is Liverpool FC but on alternate weekends Everton FC also play home games, may be easier to get tickets. I guess Wigan not too far away! Would definitely get tickets whoever they are playing.
13
Dinas Bran is cool, deffo check that out. Everton of course are another option in the city of Liverpool, you'd have to be twisted to watch them though, ha ha. Only kidding.ADVERTISEMENT
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