Delamere Forest is a large wood in the village of Delamere in Cheshire, England. The woodland, which is managed by Forestry England, covers an area of 972 hectares (2,400 acres) making it the largest area of woodland in the county. It's a great place for families to explore on foot and bike. There are fun activities such as a Gruffalo trail plus a large cafe.
The forest is a brilliant destination for anyone who likes to walk, cycle and explore the great outdoors. It offers a variety of ways to explore for forest and is perfect for visitors of all ages and interests.
Walking: Stroll beneath the towering trees on well-maintained paths. There are options for leisurely walks or more challenging hikes.
Cycling: Ride along the undulating trails that weave through the forest, suitable for beginners and seasoned cyclists alike.
Family Fun: Keep an eye out for the Gruffalo and friends sculptures, a delightful treat for families with children.
Top Info
📅 Open every day except Christmas Day
🌞 Summer opening times: 8:00am to 8:00pm.
☁ Winter opening times: 8:00am to 5:00pm
🚻 Accessible toilet/ toilet
👩🦼 All-terrain mobility scooter hire
👶 Baby changing facilities
👶 Pushchair friendly
♿ Wheelchair friendly in dry weather
☕ Cafe
🍕 Pizza van
👶 Changing places
🚲 Cycle hire
🐕 Dogs allowed
❔ Information point
🥪 Picnic area
🖊 Visitor Centre https://www.forestryengland.uk/delamere-forest#whatsonlisting
All year round exploring:
Winter: Bundle up in boots and a coat to enjoy the crisp air and quiet beauty of the forest, with paths sheltered from the wind.
Spring/Summer: Appreciate the lush greenery and cool shade provided by the trees.
Autumn: Marvel at the vibrant burnt-orange hues of the leaves as the forest transforms.
It’s a year-round gem for those seeking fresh air, exercise, or simply a peaceful escape in nature!
Food & Drink
After your adventure, warm up or cool down with a drink or refuel at the on-site café.
The family run cafe serves a wide range of freshly made hot and cold food and drinks throughout the day. Locally sourced ingredients such as coffee roasted in Wirral and their very own wood-fired pizza van.
Delamere forest visitor centre
There is a large visitor centre with a cafe, information desk, large and clean toilet facilities including several family rooms, baby changing and changing places facilities too.
Paths
The paths are generally great – perfect if you’re taking someone in a wheelchair or a buggy. There definitely is a good mix for those wanting rougher terrain and those wanting it flat and easy.
Here are a couple of different walks we have completed
⛰️Old Pale Hill
The Old Pale Hill at Delamere Forest rises to a height of 176 meters and is situated to the south of the area of the forest. The hill forms the high point of the northern mass of the Mid Cheshire Ridge. It isn't a long walk but is a bit of a challenge as it is climbing a hill to get to the top. But if you want a view then you normally have to climb and in my opinion it is always worth it.
We park at the Free Car Park on Yeld Ln, Tarporley CW6 0TB when walking this route.
Here is my full review with route and details
🚶♂️ Blakemere Moss
Blakemere Moss is actually a reclaimed wetland area and, once upon a time, the whole of this part of Cheshire and over into part of Shropshire would have been covered in these meres and mosses.
There is a path that goes around the perimeter of the water. The walk is a flat 4.3km around, and the paths are wide and really well maintained.
🐻The Gruffalo Sculpture Orienteering Trail
You can pick up a Gruffalo orienteering leaflet with a certificate and map for just £1.50 although you can still enjoy the trail without the map.
The Gruffalo Sculpture trail at Delamere forest is a 1.6km circular walk in the forest. You can find large wooden sculptures of the characters from the Julia Donaldson book The Gruffalo. The sculptures are spaced out along the path and even shown on Google Maps if you want a bit of help. This is ideal for young families and really gets kids enjoying a walk.
Your starting point depends where you park. If you start from the visitors centre you head towards the forest and the start of the trail is clearly sign posted. There are little boards up next to each sculpture with a little fact to read.
The massive Gruffalo Structure is only half way round so don't think you have finished when you find him. There are some picnic benches at this spot so it's a great place to have a little rest and snack if you have little ones.
The sculptures are good fun and perfect to get some memorable photos with.
🐻 The Gruffalo Party Trail
The interactive family trail features all sorts of party-themed activities and games, along with fun facts to teach you about life in the forest for the Gruffalo and other creatures.
Follow the trail to help find the missing party items to give the Gruffalo a birthday to remember. Search for balloons, pine cones, apples and the Gruffalo himself, and complete fun activities and rubbings as you go along.
Get the party started with a Gruffalo Party Trail pack
Pick up your pack for just £4 from the visitor welcome point, packed with fun things to do on your party adventure and a special keepsake.
Inside you’ll find:
kraft bag to colour in
party headband to wear
party trail activity leaflet
stickers
pencil and crayon
keepsake sew-on Gruffalo Party patch
Go Ape
Go Ape Delamere Forest is home to four awesome outdoor activities for adventurers of all ages. Experience wobbly bridges, intricate crossings and an awesome zip wire finale.
🚗 Car Parking
🚗 Free Car Parks
• Yeld Ln, Tarporley CW6 0TB - great for walking Old Pale Hill
• Barnsbridge Car Park WA6 6NY - great for Blakemere Moss or Gruffalo Trail
• Gresty's Waste car park CW6 0SP - good for Old Pale Hill walk
• Main Visitor Centre car park - adjacent to the central facilities. With accessible parking spaces.
Up to 1 hour £3.50
Up to 2 hours £7.00
Up to 3 hours £9.50
All day £11.00
• Treetops Car Park - close to Delamere train station. It's only a 5 minute walk away from our visitor facilities.
Up to 1 hour £3.50
Up to 2 hours £7.00
Up to 3 hours £9.50
All day £11.00
• Whitefield Car Park is located off the B5152 and is the most suitable car park for horse-boxes due to its ample parking space. It has picnic facilities and is close to trails. This uses a different ANPR system to the main Visitor Centre Car Park, so in this car park please pay at the payment machines at the start of your visit. You can also use the RingGo* parking app at this car park.
Up to 1 hour £3.00
Up to 2 hours £5.50
All day £7.50
🚉 Visit via Train
Delamere train station is just a 5 minute walk from the visitor centre. With regular trains running between Chester and Manchester.
Visit December 2024
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