Manley Mere - Sail Sports and Adventure Trail

Water sports and a decent walking trail - that's what Manley Mere delivers, just a couple of miles from Chester. The mere itself is the main event: a proper sailing venue where you can watch dinghies zipping about or, if you're qualified, get out on the water yourself. The adventure trail winds around the perimeter and through the surrounding woodland, which makes for a straightforward afternoon walk without demanding much in the way of fitness.

It's best suited to families with older kids who can manage a few miles on foot, or anyone keen on water sports looking for somewhere accessible near Chester. If you're after gentle riverside ambles, this won't blow your mind - the landscape is pleasant enough but hardly spectacular. Where it works well is as a half-day activity to break up a park holiday, especially if you're staying at Lloyds Meadow Glamping or The Ridgeway Country Holiday Park nearby.

Bring binoculars if you're into birdwatching; the water attracts decent numbers. The trail itself takes a couple of hours at a leisurely pace. Check ahead for sailing lessons or equipment hire if water-based activity appeals - details aren't widely advertised online, so ringing ahead beats turning up and finding it shut. The site sits within easy striking distance of Delamere Forest too, so you could combine this with a longer forest walk if you fancy making a proper day of it.