Country Living Guide: North West by Peter Long (From Warrington Guardian)

Country Living Guide: North West by Peter Long

THE ninth of 10 new Country Living Guides features the attractions of the north west - where to go and to stay, what to see and to do, where to eat and where to buy.

The guide is profusely illustrated with maps and comprehensive directions to enable readers to make the most of the many special assets contained within our part of the country.

Peter Long, an Oxford classics graduate, has compiled the guide and he provides a wealth of information for anyone wishing to soak in or to use our beautiful countryside to best effect.

Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cumbria and the Isle of Man are the areas covered in depth and National Trust and English heritage properties are included along with historic churches, museums, galleries etc. A whole host of pleasant country walks are detailed and there is lots of information on towns and villages across the region.

Peter compares the shape of Cheshire to a teapot with Wirral providing the spout. Certainly within its confines there's a heady brew well worth drinking in.

One thing that visitors won't get to see is our Cheshire Cat, says Peter, but he accepts that it might well have its origins as a carving on the wall of the former chapel at Brimstage Hall. Warrington's connection with Lewis Carroll, who included the cat in his Alice in Wonderland, is featured and it's nice that the River of Life is given a special mention.

* Country Living Guide to Rural England: The North West by Peter Long from Travel Publishing of 71, Apollo House, Calleva Park, Aldermaston, Berkshire, costs £9.99 in softback.