Cheshire

This brand new title in Bradt's acclaimed UK regional series is the only full guide to Cheshire, a county known for its abundance of black and white timbered buildings and which was put firmly on the map in the 1980s thanks to then-resident stars Posh and Becks. Cheshire confounds expectations, from the Cheshire Plain to the hills and moors of the Pennines and Peak District in the east and sandstone ridges in the west, not to mention the Wirral Peninsula, flanked by the major estuaries of the Rivers Mersey and Dee flowing into the Irish Sea. This is a largely a rural landscape, a an area of farm shops, forests and falconries; meres, marinas and marshes. There is industrial and scientific heritage, too, from Bronze-Age mining sites to the internationally important astronomical observatory and mighty Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank. With this new Bradt guide, discover all of this and more: the county town of Chester - declared the fifth prettiest in Europe in 2015 by USA Today - with its fascinating Roman history; ruins of ancient castles; and reminders of the salt and silk industries of the past. Cheshire also offers a network of canals, perfect for waterside strolls or pootling along in a narrowboat, while Bradt's Slow Cheshire also details information for walkers and cyclists. Military historians may know Cheshire as the location of the largest US Army Air Force airfield outside the US during World War Two (visiting celebrities who came to entertain the troops included Bob Hope and Glenn Miller), while Peover Hall was requisitioned as the HQ for General George Patton, who based himself there while preparing for the D-Day landings. Also included in this guide are grand stately homes, engaging museums, attractions and events. Local food and drink is covered, along with all types of accommodation, from farm stays and self-catering cottages to guesthouses and hotels. With direct flights for the US to Manchester nearby, it is now easier to visit this unique county than ever before, and with Bradt's Slow Cheshire you will have all the information needed for a successful trip.