Sandiway

Sandiway sits on a ridge of high sandy ground at the northern edge of the Cheshire Plain, its name a plain description of the soil beneath it. Twinned administratively with neighbouring Cuddington since 1935, the village grew up along the old coaching road between Chester and Northwich, and its wide, tree-lined main road still carries that same route today as the A556. Handsome Victorian and Edwardian villas line several of its side streets, a legacy of the wealthy Manchester and Liverpool businessmen who settled here in the late nineteenth century, drawn by the fox hunting, the golf, and the fast railway links to the cities where they made their money.

What makes Sandiway special today is what lies right on its doorstep: Delamere Forest, the largest area of woodland in Cheshire at around 2,400 acres. This is all that survives of Mara and Mondrum, a Norman hunting forest that once stretched across much of the county, and it now offers walking, cycling and watersports within a few minutes of the village centre. Add in the Weaver Valley towns of Northwich and Winsford close by, a well-regarded golf course, and a genuinely excellent village pub, and Sandiway makes an easy, unhurried base for exploring this quieter corner of Cheshire.

Top things to do in Sandiway

Sandiway's biggest draw is right next door, but there is plenty more within easy reach for a few days away.

• Delamere Forest — Cheshire's largest forest, managed by Forestry England, with waymarked walking and cycling trails through pine and broadleaf woodland, plus a visitor centre and cafe near the main car park.
• Blakemere Moss — a striking flooded wetland within the forest, formed after a Victorian drainage scheme failed and the water returned; now an important habitat for wildfowl, with a boardwalk and viewing points around its edge.
• Go Ape Delamere — a high ropes and zip wire course strung through the forest canopy, with courses for both adults and children, plus segway sessions on the forest tracks.
• Sandiway Golf Club — an 18-hole heathland course dating from 1920, remodelled by Harry Colt in the 1920s, with tree-lined fairways and a welcoming clubhouse open to visitors.
• Northwich — a few minutes down the road, this old salt town has a lively riverside, the Lion Salt Works museum at nearby Marston, and one of only two working boat lifts in the country at Anderton, which raises and lowers boats bodily between the River Weaver and the Trent and Mersey Canal.
• Whitegate Way — a former railway line converted into a peaceful walking and cycling trail, running for several miles between Cuddington and Winsford through open Cheshire farmland.
• Winsford — home to the Winsford Flashes, a chain of flooded former salt-mining subsidence lakes now used for sailing, canoeing and birdwatching.

Getting to Sandiway

Sandiway sits directly on the A556, the main road linking the M6 at Northwich to Chester and the M56 at Frodsham, so arriving by car is straightforward from most directions. The village is around 20 minutes from Chester and 25 minutes from the outskirts of Manchester, depending on traffic. By train, the nearest station is Delamere, on the Chester to Manchester line, with the walk from there into Delamere Forest taking around ten minutes; Northwich station, a short drive or taxi ride away, has more frequent services. Manchester Airport is around 40 minutes away by car, making Sandiway a realistic option for visitors flying in as well as those touring the North West by road.

Best time to visit Sandiway

Delamere Forest changes considerably with the seasons, and each has its own appeal. Spring brings fresh green cover and quieter trails before the school holidays begin, while summer is best for watersports on the pools around Blakemere Moss and for the longest days on the golf course. Autumn is arguably the forest's finest season, with the mixed woodland turning gold and russet and the Moss at its most atmospheric in the morning mist. Winter is quieter still, with crisp, clear days good for walking and the chance of frost picking out the forest's older Scots pines, though some trails can turn muddy after rain, so sturdy footwear is worth packing whatever time of year you visit.

Where to stay in Sandiway

Accommodation in and around Sandiway tends towards comfortable, well-run country hotels and inns rather than large chains, reflecting the village's quiet, semi-rural character. Options range from traditional coaching inns with modernised rooms to purpose-built hotels just off the A556, many geared towards both leisure visitors heading into Delamere Forest and business travellers passing along the Chester to Manchester corridor. For those wanting to be closer to the water and the salt-town heritage, Northwich offers a wider spread of choice just a few minutes away, while Chester's much larger range of hotels is within easy reach for anyone wanting to combine a forest stay with a night or two in the city.

Food and drink in Sandiway

The village's best-known landmark is the Blue Cap, a handsome stone-built pub on Chester Road dating from 1716, originally known as the Sandiway Head Inn before being renamed in 1822 in honour of a celebrated local foxhound. It remains a popular stop for a proper Sunday lunch or an evening meal after a day in the forest. A little further along the same road, the Vale Royal Abbey Arms offers another solid choice for hearty British pub food, while the Delamere Forest visitor centre has its own cafe for walkers and cyclists wanting refreshments without leaving the woods. For a wider choice of restaurants and cafes, Northwich town centre is close by, with Chester's much larger dining scene within a short drive for anyone planning a bigger night out.