Little Budworth

Little Budworth itself has few hotels of its own, but its location in central Cheshire puts a good range of options within easy striking distance. The village's two pubs, the Red Lion and the Egerton Arms, both offer simple, characterful rooms if you want to stay right at the heart of things, waking up across the lane from St Peter's Church. For more choice, the market town of Tarporley just a few minutes south has a selection of inns and small hotels along its Georgian high street, while Northwich and Winsford offer a wider spread of budget and business-style hotels. Chester, around 30 minutes away, brings the full range of city-centre hotels, from budget chains to boutique stays in the historic centre, and makes a good base if you want to combine a night in Little Budworth's countryside with some city sightseeing, shopping and the cathedral and Roman walls. Wherever you choose to stay, the sandstone ridge, Delamere Forest and Oulton Park circuit are all within a short drive, so it's easy to build a stay around walking, motorsport or simply exploring quiet Cheshire villages.

Little Budworth rewards slow exploring more than a checklist of sights, but there's plenty within easy reach to fill a weekend.

• Little Budworth Common Country Park — a Site of Special Scientific Interest and one of the finest remaining stretches of lowland heath in Cheshire, with waymarked trails through heather, birch woodland and boggy mires home to sundews, dragonflies and grass snakes.
• Oulton Park — the internationally renowned motor racing circuit laid out through former parkland, hosting British Touring Cars, superbike and historic racing meetings throughout the season, with the old lake and estate woodland still visible from the track.
• Delamere Forest — Cheshire's largest area of woodland a short drive away, with waymarked walking and cycling trails, a visitor centre, Blakemere Moss and plenty of space to properly stretch your legs.
• St Peter's Church — the village's parish church, parts of which date back centuries, sitting opposite the Red Lion at the historic heart of the village.
• Cheshire sandstone ridge walking — Little Budworth lies close to the sandstone trail that threads south towards Beeston and Peckforton castles, giving longer-distance walkers a route across some of the county's most distinctive high ground.
• Tarporley — the handsome market village a couple of miles south, worth a visit for its independent shops, cafes and Georgian high street.

The village punches well above its weight for somewhere so small, with two historic inns facing off across the lane by the church. The Red Lion, a former coaching inn with licensees recorded since 1797, sits opposite St Peter's Church and offers a beer garden and bowling green alongside its bar and rooms. A short walk away, the Egerton Arms is an independent free house known for its low-ceilinged, quirky interior and a kitchen turning out seasonal, locally sourced food with a rustic Italian influence alongside pub classics. For a wider choice of cafes, restaurants and shops, Tarporley's high street is only a few minutes' drive south.

Little Budworth sits on a rare pocket of Cheshire heathland, and that sandy, free-draining sandstone terrain makes the surrounding countryside a pleasant, if compact, base for a camping trip. As with anywhere in England, wild camping without the landowner's express permission is illegal, so pitching up on Little Budworth Common or in Delamere Forest without prior arrangement is not an option; instead, look to the licensed campsites and glamping sites scattered across this part of Cheshire, many making the most of the same heath and forest scenery that draws walkers to the area. The heathland setting means well-drained pitches even after rain, though the mix of open heath and dense woodland close by can mean sheltered and exposed spots sit only a short walk apart, so it's worth checking a site's specific setting before booking.

Late spring through summer is the best season to camp here, when the heather and gorse on Little Budworth Common are at their most colourful, evenings are long enough for a walk into Delamere Forest after pitching up, and the ponds on the common come alive with dragonflies. Race weekends at Oulton Park can bring a surge of demand for nearby camping and caravan pitches, so campers wanting a quieter stay may prefer to check the circuit's calendar before choosing dates. Autumn offers rich colour in the forest and cooler, quieter nights for those who prefer their camping without a crowd.

For those who'd rather skip the tent, glamping options in the wider area range from bell tents and shepherd's huts to fully equipped pods, giving easier access to this stretch of Cheshire's sandstone country without sacrificing home comforts. Whatever the choice, the combination of heathland, forest and a couple of proper village pubs within walking or short driving distance makes this a rewarding, low-key corner of Cheshire to pitch up in.