It’s very easy to spend a day at Delamere, with cycling and mountain bike trails, walking trails and of course Gruffalo Orienteering! Also, from 2021 you’ll also be able to stay overnight, as Forest Holidays are building cabins in the ‘deep dark woods’. There’s parking available across several car parks and a visitors centre with ample customer facilities and a café. This is also where you can hire bikes if you so choose.
What to do and where to eat at Delamere Forest
So where to start if you’re in search of the Gruffalo sculpture at Delamare? The best routes to take by foot are the Blakemore and Linmere walking trails. If you’re exploring on wheels, the Whitemoor or Hunger cycling trails will take you to meet the famous creature with ‘terrible teeth in his terrible jaws’. Maps are available at a small cost from the visitors centre to keep you on track, the course itself is free. In our experience, setting off without a plan, resulted in a fabulous forest adventure through the tall trees, sliding down muddy inclines and building dens but no Gruffalo sighting, so the map is worth having!
If you’re seeking a forest adventure with more of a thrill then ‘Go Ape’ might suit you. From there you can take on the tree top challenge, tree top adventure and even Segway your way through the forest
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, you can either grab a bite to eat in the café on site, which serves up sandwiches and toasties, or take your own picnic as there are picnic areas dotted about the forest.
Check out the website for current opening times and necessary restrictions due to Coronavirus.
How to get to Delamere Forest
Delamere Forest is located approx. 25 miles from Manchester. From the A556 take the B51532 and Delamere forest is a mile and a half down the road. The forest is served by a train station so you can travel by train and enter the forest by foot if you’d rather.
Delamere Forest Parking & Prices
Entry is free to Delamere Forest but there is a parking charge. However for a family day out this is great value. Pricing varies by car park, check latest parking charges at Delamere Forest here.
