Castles and Historic Houses of Cheshire

After breakfast, this morning we head south westwards to Beeston Castle, sitting supremely atop a rocky crag. Beeston Castle is set in one of the most dramatic locations of any medieval castle in England and when the weather is crisp and clear you can see all the way from the Pennines to the Welsh mountains. With a rich 4000-year history, a replica Bronze Age roundhouse and a 40-acre woodland there is something for everyone to enjoy and explore.

This afternoon we travel to Peover Hall, an Elizabethan house and hidden gem that boasts a captivating history and is today still a family home. The hall’s history dates back to 1585 when it was first built by Sir Randle Mainwaring. During World War II Peover was requisitioned as the HQ for General George Patton of the United States 3rd Army to prepare for the D-Day landings in 1944. It was also the site of a POW camp. The house today has delightful oak panelling, a long gallery and has been filled with furniture that has connection to Peover and the Mainwarings. After a tour of the hall, enjoy some free time before we head back to the hotel for the evening.

Breakfast is at leisure this morning. We then head to the Georgian country house, Rode Hall. On closer inspection as one approaches it becomes clear that Rode Hall is in fact two houses in one. The substantial, porticoed building is a later second house that has been attached the smaller, now wisteria-clad first house. The first west facing house was built between 1705 – 1707 by Roger Wilbraham’s son Randle. The second house was then completed in 1752 and was much more imposing than the first, the latter of which then became the service wing. During Rode Hall’s long history, it played a key part in more recent times serving as a military hospital during the First World War.

Our second historic house today is Capesthorne Hall, a family-owned stately home nestled in over 100-acres of picturesque Cheshire countryside, with three lakes and beautiful formal gardens. The residents of Capesthorne Hall and their ancestors have lived at the site since Domesday times. The current house was constructed in stunning Jacobean architecture between 1719 and 1732 and replaced an earlier house which stood on the site of the column in the park. We will have a guided tour of this Grade II listed Hall, the gardens and chapel. After the visit, we will head to our hotel for the evening.

After breakfast at leisure, we head to Tatton Park. Set in 1000 acres of beautiful sweeping parklands, the 18^th century mansion is home to a treasure trove of collections gathered by the Egerton family. As we take a ‘Hidden Treasures Tour’ we are lucky enough to see some of the precious artefacts that are not normally on public display. As we wind our way through the opulent state rooms and the fascinating servants’ quarters, we can take a glimpse into eras past. After some time to explore the fragrant formal gardens, we can indulge in  a quintessential afternoon tea in the Gardeners Cottage. We return the hotel for the remainder of the afternoon at leisure before dinner this evening in the restaurant.

This morning after breakfast we head to Congleton where we find Little Moreton Hall. This Timber-framed building curled around a scenic moat has somehow defied logic for some 500 years. As we head inside we are instantly transported back in time as we explore this chaotic house and discover what day-to-day Tudor life was like. Outside in the gardens we see a collection of herbs and vegetables the Tudors would have utilised in their everyday cooking and medicines, all surrounding a central Elizabethan-style knot garden. After some time to explore we leave Cheshire and journey southwards, returning to our original joining points.