This site is located approximately 5 miles from the world famous Roman walled/Medieval shopping rows city of Chester. It is very easy to access from the nearby M53, please see the Site Arrival Video.
The site is level and has 100 pitches of which 89 are hardstanding. The site is open all year round. Booking ahead is strongly recommended as this site tends to be busy at most times of the year. The Reception block provides the essential basics and has a well-stocked information room of leaflets and points of interest. It is advisable to check with Reception when you visit to see if there are any discounted attraction tickets available at the time. There is a secure dog walking area to the left of the site entrance. On site there are the usual service points and a generous sized toilet block, with dishwashing, laundry and disabled standard facilities. It should be noted that there is no late-night arrival facility at this site. It is open to members and non-members and tent pitches are available. There is a children’s play area available.
It should be noted that due to the proximity of the motorway, some road noise is unavoidable.
Wi-Fi is available on site and is rated as Bronze by the Club. TV reception is noted as good. Mobile telephone signal, dependent upon your provider, has very good coverage.
There is an almost endless list of things to do, whether it is a dry or wet day. For this review, it has been limited to an area of approximately 5 miles from the site.
The nearest supermarket is Sainsbury’s, which includes a petrol station and is sited next door to the McArthur Glen Cheshire Oaks Outlet village.
Transport links are good, although if you are venturing into Chester with a car, it is far better to use the Chester Zoo Park & Ride, which is about 3 miles from the site. Parking in Chester is very limited and highly expensive. It is also possible to walk from the site, about 10 minutes, onto the McArthur Glen Outlet Village and catch either a No1 or X8, (correct at the time of writing) bus into Chester. You need to check that you are at the Chester bound bus stop side. www.stagecoachbus.com (http://www.stagecoachbus.com/)
For ideas of what to do, where to eat, shop etc, in the city of Chester, the best place to start is www.visitcheshire.com (http://www.visitcheshire.com/) A few places of note are the Roman City Walls, Medieval Shopping Rows, Chester City Cathedral, Roman Amphitheatre, River Dee and the oldest racecourse in the country at Chester Roodee.
Nearer to the site are several pubs/restaurants, all within easy level walking. The nearest is the Rake Pub, (https://www.hungryhorse.co.uk/pubs/cheshire/rake/) which you pass as you drive to the site turning, this pub does allow dogs. Slightly further on from the site, on the main road, are The Harvester (https://www.harvester.co.uk/restaurants/northwest/harvesterstanneyoakslittlestanney) and Old Home Farm ( https://www.oldhallfarmpub.co.uk/) , the latter of which offers a carvery.
There are also numerous fast food, cafes and restaurants within the Cheshire Oaks, Outlet Village and are all within walking distance of the site.
World-famous Chester Zoo (www.chesterzoo.org) is close by the site and adjacent to the Park & Ride mentioned earlier. You should allow at least a full day to get around all that the attraction has to offer.
For those people who enjoy shopping, you are very well catered for with the McArthur Glen Outlet Village (https://www.mcarthurglen.com/en/outlets/uk/designer-outlet-cheshire-oaks/)
Again, due to parking constraints and if it is a bank holiday, very lengthy queues are routine; it is highly advisable that you walk there. Dogs are allowed on leads to walk round the site and sit in the many outside catering areas but are not allowed in the shops or restaurants.
For good family fun, the nearby Blue Planet Aquarium (https://www.blueplanetaquarium.com/) offers a range of activities, based around marine life and the oceans.
Further on from the Blue Planet Aquarium, past Marks & Spencer is the Coliseum Shopping & Entertainment Area (https://www.coliseumshoppingpark.com/) This includes the multi-screen Vue Cinema, Ten-Pin Bowling and Crazy Golf.
There is a public swimming pool available nearby Marks & Spencer’s at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village (https://www.brioleisure.org/centres/ellesmere-port-sports-village)
Slightly further afield is the Ellesmere Port Waterways Museum, a museum, café/shop and you are able on certain days to take a ride on a canal boat. There is ample free parking right by the Manchester Ship Canal and if you are lucky, you may see a ship sail past. You will need to check as to whether dogs are allowed as it can vary. It is recommended that you take binoculars as you will have a good view to the skyline of Liverpool and across the water to John Lennon, Liverpool Airport. www.canalrivertrust.org.uk
For those who enjoy walking and or cycling, there are a good number of walks and cycle routes nearby, including the possibility of walking along the canal to the museum.