Cheshire - West
The Anderton Boat Lift at Northwich
Cheshire West combined with Chester is one of three unitary authorities for Cheshire.
Ellesmere Port, Frodsham, Northwich, Winsford and Malpas are the principal towns within the area. This part of Cheshire has a wealth of industrial heritage sites that sprang from the natural rich salt deposits and an extensive network of waterways that developed to provide the necessary transportion of raw materials and goods for the industry.
In addition it offers visitors, world renowned gardens to visit and opportunities to view varied craft work of the local area and beyond.
It also has some beautiful countryside and some excellent accessible trails both within the county's largest area of woodland at the Delamare Forest and along the Wirral Way.
Shopmobility:-
There are shopmobility schemes at Ellesmere Port, Northwich and Winsford.
Ellesmere Port ( CH65 0AP ) operates from Mercer Walk off of Whitby Road
Monday to Friday each week from 8.30am - 3.00pm telephone 0151 355 1420
Northwich ( CW9 5AS ) operates from the Information Centre in the Arcade off of Chester Way:-
Monday to Friday each week 9.30am - 4.00pm telephone : 01606 353525
Winsford (
CW7 2AS
) operates from the Dingle Centre in the High Street :-
Monday to Friday each week 9.30am - 3.00pm telephone
01606 557550
For attractions to visit please read on and for accessible places to stay in the area please scroll to the bottom of the page
Visitor Attractions
National Waterways Museum - Ellesmere Port
The main exhibition hall
The National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port is located by the Manchester Ship Canal and the river Mersey and houses a large collection of working boats. There is also a wealth of canal memorabilia and interpretation panels detailing waterways life in the old Victorian buildings.
Looking across the docks at the museum
General access around the site is good however it is important to bear in mind that the museum is a heritage site and some areas such as the Porter House Row cottages retain their cobbled pathing and front steps. Access to the top floor of the main exhibition area in the Island Warehouse is via a large lift.
There is a cafe, shop and designated toilets on site.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their website please click here
Ness Botanical Gardens
The new path ways at Ness
Ness Gardens were created by Arthur Kilpin Bulley who started work on the site in 1898. His belief that plants from the far east could be grown successfully in the UK sponsoring plant hunting trips to the Himalayas and China and resulted in the introduction of hundreds of new species. Many of the gathered seeds were germinated by his plant and seed company Bees Ltd. His daughter Lois presented the gardens to the University of Liverpool in 1948 several years after his death.
A display of colchiums in one of the woodland borders
The gardens at Ness are a tribute to his expertise and in recent years have undergone extensive refurbishment to improve access for all visitors. General access around the paths is good with some inclines and a small proportion of the gardens such as the water garden are limited to visitors with good walking ability.
Four manual wheelchairs and several motorised buggies are available to loan. There is a shop, a small plant nursery and an excellent restaurant adjacent to the entrance.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their website please click here
Anderton Boat Lift
The Anderton Boat Lift
The Anderton Boat Lift which was built in 1875 and improved in 1908 operated until 1983 when severe corrosion was discovered. The lift was designed and built to provide a means for barges to be lifted down the steep incline from the Trent and Mersey Canal to the River Weaver below. In 2002 after major refurbishment work had been completed it was opened as a Visitor Centre for the public.
A model in the exhibition area showing how the lift works
The visitor centre, which has been specifically designed to be inclusive for all visitors, is on two floors, with the cafe and shop on the upper floor and an exhibition on the lower floor.
There is wheelchair access down to the quay for the boat trip, from the lower floor. The zig-zagged path takes visitors past a viewing point and picnic area. Wheelchair users and visitors with limited ambulant ability can access the boat via a ramp and hydraulic platform lift.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their website please click here
Weaver Hall Museum and Workhouse
Weaver Hall Museum and Workhouse
The Museum is situated in London Road in Northwich and is housed in a former workhouse belonging to the Northwich Union. As well as exhibits detailing the history of salt production in the area there is a wealth of information showing what life would have been like for paupers who lived in the workhouse.
Exhibit showing salt production
General accessibility around the museum is good with ramped access to the introductory video and a lift to the upper floor. There is a designated toilet, small shop and light snacks and drinks are available.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their website please click here
Delamare Forest Visitor Centre
Linmere Visitor Centre, Delamare Forest
The Forest covers 950 hectares, it is the largest wooded area in Cheshire and is managed by the Forestry Commission. Linmere Visitor Centre approximately five minutes away from Delamare railway station. There is a picnic area, designated toilets, a small shop with information, maps and books and a cafe.
Part of the trail around Blakemere Moss
From here there are a network of trails through the forest including an easier access circular trail. For those visitors who able there is cycle hire and the Go Ape aerial ropewalk experience.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their website please click here
Blakemere Craft Centre
The entrance to the courtyard shops at Blakemere
The Craft Centre is situated at Sandiway adjacent to the A49/A556 crossroads. There is a good selection of craft and gift shops, a small gallery, a pottery and a plant centre. It is also home to Cheshire Waterlife and Falconry Centre with falconry displays in the summer months.
The Paddocks Restaurant and Coffee Shop
There is plenty of designated parking, toilets and good access to the restaurant which serves meals as well as snacks.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their website please click here
Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre
Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre
The Shire Horse Centre is situated near Tarporley approximately 10 miles from Chester. It is home to the internationally renowned Cotebrook Shire Horse Stud with up to 30 stallions, mares and foals on site. As well as the horses, visitors can see a variety of domesticated and wild animals and birds.
A mare and her foal in the fields at Cotebrook
There is also a cafe, picnic area and a shop. The farm covers 50 acres and some of the horses are grazed in the fields and the paths to these are uneven and can be muddy. Manual wheelchair users will need the assistance of an extremely able pusher to see the whole site. However for those who cannot attempt this there is still plenty to see around the farmyard and exhibition area including a video about Cotebrook and the horses.
For more details about accessibility at Cotebrook and a link to their website please click here
Cheshire Candle Workshops
One of the many displays of gifts and candles
Cheshire Candle Workshops are situated at Burwardsley nearTattenhall and as well as perusing the extensive range of candles and gift ware, visitors who wish to can try the candle dipping 'hands - on' experience.
Trying out the 'hands-on' experience of candle dipping
There are also candle carving demonstrations, a collection of working old 'penny arcade' slot machines and a cafe. Internal access around the workshops is via ramps with a stair lift to the top sales floor.
The workshops are signposted from the A49 and the A41. Telephone 01829 770401
For more detailed accessibility information please click here
Stretton Water Mill
Stretton Water Mill
Stretton is a working mill set in beautiful Cheshire countryside only 10 miles from Chester. Parts of today's mill date from 1630 and visitors are given an extremely informative guided tour by the Millers.
Inside the mill
Tours for groups with specific needs can be arranged with prior notice. This is a heritage site and access is limited however there is access to the ground floor of the mill via a ramp and for those who can transfer to the smaller dimensioned wheelchair kept on site there is also access to the upper floor of the mill. For those who cannot access the display area on the upper floor of the stables block there are laminated copies of all the interpretation panels on display kept on the ground floor.
There is also an excellent picnic area where visitors can enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their website please click here
There are also four trails included for Cheshire West on our accessible trails page :- Delamare Forest, The Wirral Way, Marbury Country Park and Farndon.
PLACES TO STAY
All accommodation included has been assessed by one of our wheelchair user researchers for accessibility. Please note however whilst we have tried to ensure that the accommodation included will meet most wheelchair users needs we strongly advise you to consult with each provider about your own specific requirements. For accommodation inspection gradings e.g. Diamond ratings, follow the links to each providers own website.
Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel
The entrance at the Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel
The Hotel is situated at Ledsham, 5 miles north of Chester on the A540. The hotel has one designated parking space (can be reserved), a level entrance, high level check-in counter and level access to the accessible ground floor room. Access to the dining area, the conservatory and the main bar is good.
The twin ground floor accessible room
There is right or left hand transfer to the twin beds and the tea/coffee making facilities, mirror and sockets are all at an accessible height for wheelchair users. Internal access inside the bedroom is limited for wheelchair users.
The en-suite shower/bathroom
The en-suite bathroom has a low level bath, grab rails and a wheel-in shower cubicle (fold down seat). Positioning of the bathroom furniture means that side transfer to the toilet is not possible and there is not room for wheelchair turning space in the shower area.
Also on site is the leisure complex, this has a ramped entrance and a small lift (wheelchair user only, no space for a companion) up to the gym. Access to the gym equipment is limited to wheelchair users who can transfer. The pool (no hoist) on the ground floor has an accessible changing room and a designated toilet in the corridor and good access to the bar.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their website please click here
Wall Hill Farm Guesthouse
The ramped entrance at Wall Hill Farm Guesthouse
The Guset House is situated in the village of Acton Bridge near Northwich approximately 18 miles (30 minutes) from Chester. One of the seven individually themed bedrooms is a twin room which is accessible for wheelchair users via an external ramp.
The Guest Lounge at Wall Hill
There are also two other ground floor rooms accessed via one step and one has an internal adjoining door to the accessible room. Guests also have use of the attractive lounge and dining room.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their website please click here
Manor Farm Self Catering Cottages
South Lawn Cottage at Manor Farm
Situated at Egerton on a former dairy farm and set in the Cheshire countryside with views to the Bickerton Hills just 13 miles from Chester are two self catering cottages (Dove and South Lawn). Each sleeps up to 4 people in a twin and double bedroom and has access to an attractive outside patio area overlooking fields.
A view from the gardens at Manor Farm
Manor Farm also offers B&B and there is one ground floor room which although not fully adapted might be suitable for friends and family who are not able to negotiate stairs. The property is ideally situated for touring North Wales and Shropshire as well as nearby Chester.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their website please click here