We’re trying to do more walking and outdoorsy stuff in 2026, and whether it’s here in Greater Manchester, Cheshire, or somewhere else nearby in the North West, we intend to lap up as much natural splendour as we can.
It goes without saying that we’re unbelievably lucky to have both the Peak and the Lake District not too far from us, but we’ll admit that sometimes we want something close by, super easy and family-friendly.
Now, that’s not to say that there isn’t plenty of that in both the Peaks and the Lakes, but when our mates asked us to come along on a slightly hungover but frosty and super picturesque morning, a key condition we expressed was that it needed to be very low difficulty.
All that being said, we’d argue you might not get a better balance of accessible and enjoyable than the Whitemoor Trail up in Delamere Forest.
Credit: The Manc Group
For starters, that level of ease begins with how you get there; put simply, not only is it less than an hour’s drive away in the car, but it’s just over a 40-minute train ride to Delamere Station, which drops you not too far from the Forest itself – especially if you’re already gearing up for a day of walking.
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You can even get the bus there, if you so wish.
Ran by Forestry England, it’s a fairly popular local attraction, as you’ll see upon arrival at the car park, but the art is in figuring out which route you want to take through the stunning hills, nature reserve and expansive treeline.
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Trust us, it’s in finding these lesser-tread trails and preferred paths that you end up finding some of the most beautiful vistas, glimpses of the native wildlife, and the most serene, sometimes impossibly quiet spots at times.
Of course, there are still plenty of people about on the site, in particular on the weekends, but it doesn’t take long to find your own slice of solace and let the outside world slowly fall away and disappear into the periphery. Go and seek your own quiet moment – you won’t regret it.
Soon, all you’ll see is the incredible landscape around you, the forest continuing to unfold in front of you
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It goes without saying that wandering through the woods is obviously some of the cleanest oxygen you might ever suck into your lungs, but it felt like the biggest breath of fresh air for our brains, too.
We can all be guilty of spending far too long sat it front of screens, staying inside – especially when it’s cold and wet out (as it often is in this region) – but we were definitely very pleased with ourselves for getting out of bed to soak in this simple morning splendour.
Of course, it doesn’t matter how early you get there, so long as you do, as the various parts of Delamere Forest each have their own special little bit of magic.
For instance, for those looking to keep the little ones engaged, there’s an official Gruffalo Trail: a beginner’s level walk with minimal elevation but plenty of hand-carved statues of the classic children’s characters.
Credit: The Manc
You’ll pass everything from almost perfectly still lakes and ponds, connecting up with Black Lake and Blakemere, as well as all types of trunks and foliage stretching far into the main Delamere Circular and well beyond that.
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Whether you want to walk it, trail run, cycle, or even go off-road and sample the different kinds of terrain, this place offers great versatility, so while it’s a perfect entry-level ramble, you can spice things up if you want to make it more of a challenge.
Finally, once you’ve checked off everything you want to see, you can take a well-earned rest at the Forest cafe and stop to get a pretty picture of any and all precious pups who’ve definitely earned a nap on the way home.
As for you lot, reward yourselves however you see fit, but please make sure to try out Whitemoor Trail and Delamere Forest: the experience won’t let you down, no matter the season.
And if you fancy getting out in the hills with even more of a spring in your step, why not try dipping your toes into trail running this year?
Manor House Hotel & Spa – The magical garden spa near Manchester with TWO swim-up bars
Daisy Jackson
There’s an increasing number of garden spas popping up around the UK, where you can soak and relax out in the open air.
But a lot of them are missing the key ingredient – the gardens.
That’s what makes Manor House Hotel & Spa over in Cheshire so special. It feels like it’s been built as garden first, spa second, in the way that pools and hot tubs seem to have been slotted in between established trees and flower beds and shrubs.
It’s like stumbling onto the set of a romantic period drama, but with state-of-the-art spa facilities concealed into the grounds. I’m half expecting a sopping wet Colin Firth to emerge from a hot tub.
And although the square footage of the garden spa is relatively small, it’s this clever landscaping that makes it feel like a never-ending maze where every turn reveals a new place to lie down.
There are covered, swinging beds in a herb garden. A sauna concealed as a potting shed. Private bookable hot tubs behind a hedge.
And then the real whimsy – the secret garden. Opened just last year, this corner of the spa is home to a blisteringly turquoise heated pool, surrounded by charming sage green ‘sheds’ (which are actually a series of cosy indoor relaxation pods).
The Secret GardenOne of two cold plunge poolsThe relaxation sheds in the secret gardenA huge heated poolThe Secret Garden’s sauna
There’s a second swim-up bar here, because why stop at one, a cold plunge pool with spring flowers wrapped around it, a lawn for sunbathing if you’re lucky, and a traditional Finnish sauna overlooking it all.
It doesn’t stop there – weave along the footpaths and you’ll come across a sunken, circular hydrotherapy pool, a cosy summer house with noise-cancelling headphones you can plug in to, a gently heated panoramic laconium, hammocks, squishy sunbeds, swing seats, and so much more.
The adjective that keeps coming to mind is ‘pretty’, but that almost feels too flippant for how gorgeous the spa garden is.
And you might think with it being an outdoor garden spa that it would be a waste of time in bad weather – but you’re wrong.
Manor House has built subtle shelters which look more like garden pagodas over a lot of the facilities here, including part of the main pool and swim-up bar, and most of the double lounge beds.
The main pool and swim-up barThe Potting Shed saunaA classic cold plunge tubThe hydrotherapy pool
But even beyond that, your classic spa facilities like the saunas and salt steam chamber have been constructed in out-buildings, safe from the infamous North West weather, AND there’s a sizeable indoor pool, sauna and steam room back inside the main hotel building.
The metal cold plunge tub is exposed to the elements – but if you’re being brave enough to dunk in this, a little drizzle is the least of your worries.
They’ve got an enormous list of treatments on offer here, whether you want to be scrubbed and rubbed into a new person, or give your skin a real boost with a facial. Once you’re done with your treatment, Manor House has built a cosy relaxation lounge, where you can pull the curtains across your own private booth to sip a cup of herbal tea and unwind.
Private relaxation booths for post-treatmentMezze lunchDinner in the StablesBreakfast the next dayThe Salt ShedDrinks from The Bothy Bar, a swim-up bar in the secret gardenThe indoor poolThe Stables restaurantBedroomsCovered beds in the herb garden
Alongside all that relaxing, a typical spa package at Manor House may include an afternoon tea, a brunch, or a mezze platter lunch, with a glass of fizz served to you in the Pool House.
And if you go for the overnight, you’ll be sinking into a huge plush bed, full from a refined British gastropub dinner in the hotel’s cosy restaurant space, The Stables.
Manor House is currently running a full Spring Renewal Spa Escape, for the ultimate taste of everything that’s on offer while the gardens are in full bloom.
The Manor House Spring Renewal Spa Escape package
An overnight hotel stay
A 60-minute Collagen Renewal Ritual (a soothing, exfoliating back massage, followed by a luxurious collagen facial)
Full access to the spa, with 18 spa experiences, on both days of your stay
A delicious three-course dinner in the Stables restaurant
Chester Zoo named UK’s best zoo for third year in a row with record number of ‘excellent’ ratings
Emily Sergeant
It’s official… Chester Zoo has been named to best zoo in the UK for 2026.
While everyone in and around Greater Manchester and the North West may already be familiar with just how brilliant the UK’s biggest charity zoo is, you may remember that, for the past two years running now, it has been officially named the UK’s best zoo thanks to tens of thousands of positive TripAdvisor reviews.
And now, the zoo has managed to retain that respectable title for the third year in a row, as the world’s biggest travel guidance platform has, once again, named Chester Zoo as the best-rated zoo to visit in the UK this year.
It’s even more of a cause for celebration this year, as the zoo has claimed a record 11,666 ‘excellent’ ratings for the first time.
Chester Zoo has been named the best zoo in the UK for 2026 / Credit: Chester Zoo
Based on millions of online reviews, the updated ranking puts the beloved Cheshire-based attraction ahead of the country’s other zoos after earning consistently good feedback from its visitors.
Not only has the zoo’s strong focus on conservation and unforgettable visitor experiences made it the best in our country, but this has also earned it a place among Europe’s elite too – with the new listings placing it in the top 10 best zoos or aquariums in the continent.
“We’re over the moon to be named the UK’s top zoo by TripAdvisor,” commented Jamie Christon, who is the CEO of Chester Zoo.
“This recognition is built entirely on genuine reviews from our visitors, and that means the world to us. I’m very proud of everyone who makes our national conservation zoo such a special place.
“Every visit to Chester Zoo directly supports our vital conservation work, both here at home and around the world, and the past year alone is a reminder of just how much that work matters.
“We’ve developed the world’s first vaccine for a deadly virus that threatens Asian elephants globally, we’ve officially pulled a tiny species of snail back from the brink of extinction, and right here on our doorstep we’ve been planting thousands of new trees to create important new woodland habitat.
Danny Jones -
24th January 2026 
