Camping & Caravanning

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Cheshire

Lancashire


Other regions in Britain


Lancashire may no longer be the most densely populated county in Europe, now that it has lost ground to newly created metropolitan authorities. Yet in the south, at least, industrial towns are still more numerous than villages. Cheshire consists mainly of a rolling plain centred on the medieval walled city of Chester, as famous for its Rows, or arcaded streets, as for its Roman relics.

The largest single open space in the region is the Forest of Bowland northeast of Preston, southern gateway to which is Clitheroe in the Ribble Valley. Fell and moor rather than forest, Bowland is fine walking country with few human settlements. North of Chester is the Wirral Peninsula, ridge and vale country in the centre but wholly industrial on either side. Between Northwich and Chester is the small Delamere Forest, dotted with lakes. Elsewhere, apart from the Cheshire armlands, there is little but built up areas and industrialized moorland.

The coast of Lancashire is probably most scenic around Morecambe Bay, noted for its sunsets. Pleasant coastal resorts are Southport and Lytham St Annes, out of earshot of the funfairs and bingo halls of Blackpool, the pleasure ground for people living in the nearby industrial towns, with their staggered holidays or ‘wakes’. West of Bowland is Lancaster, topped by its magnificent castle (part prison), housing a superb collection of armorial bearings. The Lune flows south into Lancaster along the Trough of Bowland. West of the river is the only undeveloped corner of the Lancashire coast, a wooded district between Carnforth and Silverdale on the Cumbrian border, isolated behind its saltings at the edge of Morecambe Bay.

Other sights in the region are the castles of Chester, Hawarden and Beeston, and the country houses all, Bramhall, Tatton Park and Tabley Hall.

Most campsites in the region, often well equipped, are – like the town – grouped together rather than dispersed. So the choice is usually wide at the larger centres and resorts but non-existent elsewhere.

For full details of all parks listed on our website, see the latest edition of Camping Caravanning Britain. Priced at £8.50, the book is available from WHSmith, Waterstone's, Blackwell's and other bookshops; alternatively, to order a copy directly click here.

While every effort has been made to ensure that the information on this website is accurate and up-to-date, the publishers can accept no responsibility for errors or omissions. Always phone a park before visiting to check facilities and prices.