Shepherd's huts near Warrington with wifi provided

At first glance, Warrington may not appear like a compelling outdoorsy destination. But this town on the River Mersey between Liverpool and Manchester is well situated for reaching some attractive nature nearby. The Mersey Way offers a pleasant walking route to Liverpool, while Sankey Valley Park and Walton Hall have leafy parklands to explore. Meanwhile the Cheshire Ring Canal, together with its towpath, provide one of England’s best narrowboating routes, alongside gentle countryside rambling and pedalling. Further afield, the Delamere Forest, one-time hunting ground of the Earls of Chester, sequesters lots of woodsy walking, cycling, and horse-riding routes. Head south to Marbury Country Park or choose a private campsite for the nearest scenic camping.

The Cheshire Ring of six interconnecting canals, all navigable by narrowboat, prove this part of Northwest England is not all big, built-up areas. Skirting the southern edge of Warrington (and linking up with big cities like Manchester and Macclesfield), it features lots of lovely countryside in between. Campers can boat the 97-mile route (allow a week) or walk and cycle along the towpath.

July and August (the school holiday season) is when the countryside around Warrington gets busiest with campers—but March, April and May boast the lowest rainfall. Neighbourhood Weekender, a music festival held in May, is one of the most famous events in Warrington. May is also a good month to visit nearby Manchester for the Manchester Jazz Festival, and Delamere Forest also hosts its own regular music events.