17 great family days out a short drive away from May 17

For even more suggestions, go to visitcheshire.com.

1: Bewilderwood outdoor adventures

Cheshire is the location of the new BeWILDerwood, the award-winning forest of family outdoor adventures.

Just like the well-loved Norfolk original, BeWILDerwood Cheshire features treehouses, wobbly wires, slippery slopes, crocklebogs and more.

Visit cheshire.bewilderwood.co.uk.

2: Delamere Forest staycations

Forest Holidays has made it possible to stay beneath Delamere Forest’s canopy for the first time.

The are light-footprint cabins, including treehouses, with luxurious extras such as pizza ovens and hot tubs.

Go to forestholidays.co.uk.

Delamere Forst: paulbox

3: Port Sunlight fun

A little fun goes a long way when learning STEM subjects.

That’s the aim of SoapWorks at Port Sunlight, the historic village for the workers of William Lever’s Sunlight factory on Wirral.

At the playful new interactive experience – which will open the village’s schoolroom to the public for the first time – youngsters can learn all about the life-saving properties of that everyday essential, soap.

Visit portsunlightvillage.com.

Soap Works

4: Carden Park aerial adventure

A new aerial adventure, Vertigo at Carden, is opening at Carden Park, near Chester, on May 17.

Adrenaline-fuelled thrills are guaranteed for day visitors as well as hotel guests, with challenges including 10 mid-air obstacles, a 210-meter zipline, climbing wall, and a 10-metre free-fall drop into a giant stunt pillow.

Go to cardenpark.co.uk/vertigo-at-carden.

Vertigo at Carden Park

5: Hare Hill sights

The historic borders outside the walled garden at Hare Hill, near Macclesfield, have been recreated in line with the vision of its final owner, Colonel Charles Brockhurst (1904-1977).

Other sights to enjoy include magnificent displays of rhododendrons, magnolias and azaleas.

Visit nationaltrust.org.uk/hare-hill.

Hare Hill: Kate Picker National Trust

6: Chester Zoo 90th anniversary

Chester Zoo turns 90 this year with the opening of the new Latin American Wetland Aviary this spring, where visitors can see Caribbean flamingos and saffron finches, among other birds, and learn about efforts to conserve their numbers.

Plus Chester Zoo’s quest to be a zero-waste zoo by 2030 has inspired Love It For Longer, a sustainability spectacular, from June 11.

Go to chesterzoo.org.

Chester Zoo

Brand new events

7: Chester Cathedral model railway

Pete Waterman OBE and the builders of ‘Leamington Spa’ will present this summer’s must-see model railway event in the nave of Chester Cathedral, between July 17 and September 3.

“Making Tracks” will demonstrate the West Coast Mainline – a 74ft OO model featuring the work of local boy and world-renowned railway engineer Thomas Brassey.

Visit chestercathedral.com/event/making-tracks.

8: Tatton Park gardens and farm

Percy the Park Keeper is showing little ones around the gardens and rare breeds farm at Tatton Park, near Knutsford, until September 5, using a secret path and treasure hunt.

Along the way they’ll meet animal characters from Nick Butterworth’s popular children’s books, including Percy’s new friend Lucy the Calf.

Visit tattonpark.org.uk/events_at_tatton_park/a-year-of-percy-the-park-keeper.aspx.

Tatton Park

9: Lion Salt Works 'Magic of Maps'

The pandemic has made walking and going off the beaten track favourite activities.

Now, ‘Magic of Maps’ at Lion Salt Works aims to turn map-reading into a fun adventure for youngsters on June 2 and 3.

Go to visitcheshire.com/whats-on/the-magic-of-maps-p282831.

Family map reading

10: Dog run tour of Chester

Visitors holidaying with their four-legged friend can now limber up for a new 5K Dog Run Tour of the city with Tours Around Chester.

The tour guide will give a full history of Chester and the landmarks on the route, including the cathedral, racecourse and castle.

Humans will be rewarded with a reviving coffee, while dogs will get a bowl of refreshing water and a tasty treat.

Go to toursaroundchester.co.uk.

Tours around Cheshire

11: River Dee water activities

White-water kayaking on the Chester Weir in the heart of the city and paddleboarding with a view of the Chester Meadows, Old Dee Bridge and Roman Walls are two new waterborne tours now being offered by Dee River Kayaking.

Meanwhile, Chester Boat will be skippering new private picnic trips.

The perfect socially distanced day out, Picnic Boat Hire is for up to six passengers and the special sailing comes with optional afternoon tea and fizz (with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menus available).

Visit deeriverkayaking.com and/or www.chesterboat.co.uk.

Dee River Kayaking

12: Tatton Park forest bathing

Forest bathing is fast becoming a favourite way to re-connect with nature.

Now Tatton Park is offering visitors a step-by-step beginner’s guide to this popular pastime, beneath a canopy of some of the most treasured trees in its 50-acre gardens.

Go to tattonpark.org.uk.

Returning favourites

13: Family fun at Just So

Little imaginations meet outdoor arts in a full-on cultural explosion at the award-winning family festival Just So at Rode Hall, near Congleton, between August 10 and 22.

The creative whirl includes midnight feasts, stories and comedy, giant magpie puppets, a rainbow colour fight, and a circus with a scientific twist.

Visit justsofestival.org.uk.

Just so: Chrissie Wild

14: Grosvenor Park open-air theatre

Britain’s biggest and best open-air theatre returns in Chester’s Grosvenor Park with an extended season, between May 29 and August 30, featuring The Jungle Book, Pride and Prejudice, and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Go to grosvenorparkopenairtheatre.co.uk.

Open Air Theatre

15: Food festival at Tatton Park

The UK’s biggest food festival returns to Tatton Park this summer, between July 9 and 11, showcasing the best food and drink from the north west.

Tom Rhodes, the newly crowned winner of BBC’s MasterChef, will be cooking live, and there’ll be entertainment from Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Go to tattonpark.org.uk.

Foodies Festival

16: Hear the Barber of Seville at Clonter Opera

The Clonter Opera opens the doors of its rural theatre, near Swettenham, once more this spring and summer.

First up, “Jazz in June”, une 5, followed by a production of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville in July.

Visit clonter.org.

17: RHS Tatton Park

Celebrating colour, creativity, community and the positive power of plants and flowers, RHS Flower Show Tatton Park returns this summer.

There’ll be plenty of gardening inspiration in the Community Borders, innovative Back to Back Gardens, and creations by new talent at the RHS Young Designer Gardens.

Go to rhs.org.uk.