Marbury Camp and Lodge

Marbury Camp and Lodge is situated near to Wrenbury Marina and Whitchurch Marina where longboats can be hired for day trips or long relaxing weekends.

Essential Info:

• Distance: 3-5 miles
• Cost: £££
• For more info : Visit ​https://www.wrenburymill.com/

Shopping your thing? If you just need to pick up something for tea, look no further than the local Wrenbury Village General Store and Post Office. They sell all the usual goods together with breakfast rolls and coffee (rushed morning essentials). If you are looking for general superstores, we have a Lidl, Sainsburys and Tesco nearby in Whitchurch.

If you are looking for a day out shopping, we would recommend one of the following:

• Whitchurch (3 miles) – Local medieval market town. Markets on Friday and Artisan Markets once a month. Plenty to see and places to eat. We particularly recommend Benjamins Deli for lunch or Etzio’s Italian Cafe….yum!
• Nantwich (8 miles) – Local Roman market town. Traditional Market held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Farmers’ Market held of the last Saturday of the month. There are also a number of specialist markets such as the Antique Market and Artisan Markets on different days. Check out the Nantwich Town Council website for more information. Recommend The Crown Hotel Bar and Grill for Sunday Lunch.
• Crewe (14 miles) – Local city and transport hub. Can find anything and everything here.

Can’t resist a glass of bubbly (not the bath variety) and a scone (or twelve), look no further than:

• McDonald Hill Valley Hotel (3 miles); or
• Alderford Lake Cafe (5 miles).

Smacking your balls as hard as you can whilst wearing trousers made of used tea towels more your thing, check out McDonald Hill Valley Hotel. They also have a full gymnasium, sauna, steam room and spa facilities.

Essential Info:

• Distance: 3 miles
• Cost: ££
• For more info : Visit ​http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/macdonald-hill-valley-spa-hotel-golf

Whether your a seasoned bank-raider or a newbie looking to try clay pigeon shooting, we recommend Mickley Hall Shooting School and Range.

Essential Info:

• Distance: 4 miles
• Cost: ££
• For more info : https://mickleyhall.com/

There’s a few walks in about about the site. Here’s a few:

1. Around the site in 15 mins – Want to stretch your legs, wander around the old Oak tree and checkout the wildlife in the long grass, then you don’t have to go far.
2. Around the bar in 30 mins – Head right out of the site, to the end of the road, under the railway bridge, right again, then as far as you can into Wrenbury. Turn left and you’ll find the Cotton Arms and the Dusty Miller. Alternatively, Head left out of the site, to the end of the road, right after the railway bridge, then keep walking until you reach the Swan at Marbury.
3. Around the bar in my favourite pub in 40 mins – Head right out of the site, to the end of the road, under the railway bridge, right again, first right, to the end of the road, right again, then walk for 20 mins and you’ll hit Aston and the Bhurtpore Inn.
4. Around a lake in 30 mins – Head to Alderford Lake at SY13 3JQ for a nice walk and a coffee.
5. Around Bickerton Hill in 60 mins – Head to one of the car parks 20 mins drive away at SY14 8LN off Goldford Lane or SY14 8LH off Old Coach Road for a stunning walk on part of the Sandstone trail. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/alderley-edge-and-cheshire-countryside/features/explore-the-diverse-landscape-of-bickerton-hill
6. Around Marbury Mere in 100 mins –  Head into Marbury village (left out the gate, to the end of the road, right after the railway bridge, then down into the village. Start at the Village Hall on School Lane just behind the pub (Swan at Marbury). https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/alderley-edge-and-cheshire-countryside/features/explore-the-diverse-landscape-of-bickerton-hill

Here’s also a local walk map courtesy of the Swan at Marbury.

DOWNLOAD THE WALKING MAP HERE

Want to get wet, cold and annoy pondlife, we’ve got just the thing for you:

• Cool Acres Fishery (4 miles) – Check out http://www.cooleacresfishery.co.uk/ for more information.
• Blakemere Fishery (2 miles) – Check out http://www.blakemere-leisure.co.uk for more information.

• Villa Farm, Broughall, Whitchurch, SY13 4AE (no website) 01948 663016

If you fancy a balloon ride, Virgin Balloons operate from Whitchurch Rugby Ground, less than 5 miles away.
Check out https://www.virginballoonflights.co.uk for more information.

Alternatively, if you fancy strapping yourself to a professional lunatic and jumping from a perfectly good aeroplane, check out Tilstock Skydive at http://www.skydivetilstock.co.uk/

• Cholmondeley Castle
• Beeston Castle (9 miles)
• Combermere Abbey (1 mile) – https://combermereabbey.co.uk/
• Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker (4 miles)
• St Margaret’s Grade II Lister Church, Wrenbury (2 miles)
• Whitchurch Medieval Market Town including the Whitchurch
• Heritage Centre and St Alkmunds Georgian Church (4 miles)
• Nantwich Roman Market Town (8 miles)

We recommend:

• T​he Swan at Marbury – British Cuisine (2.3 miles) – Recently refurbished local village pub; less than 5-minute drive; or reachable within walking distance (30-minutes) of the site. Nice to sit outside with a glass of wine – www.swanatmarbury.co.uk
• The Cotton Arms – British Cuisine (2.1 miles) – Real traditional pub within walking (45-minutes) distance of the site, albeit further than the Swan – www.cottonarmswrenbury.co.uk
• The Dusty Miller – British Cuisine (2.2 miles) – We’d call this a ‘chain’ pub as it’s owned by Robinsons, but we’ve had some good meals here and the setting on the canal is beautiful. Also does breakfast…
• The Bhurtpore Inn – British and Indian Cuisine and Cheshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2018 and South Cheshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2017 & 2018 (2.6 miles) – Dave’s favourite, combining more real ale than you could try in a week, roaring fires and some of the best curries for miles around – www.bhurtpore.co.uk
• The Cholmondeley Arms – British Cuisine and Gin Specialist (5.5 miles) – Em’s personal favourite. Bit more of a fancy pub, but the food is well priced and exquisite. Definitely recommend the sharing platters and any one of the 365 gins on offer (can book organised gin tasting masterclass … what better way to spend an afternoon) – www.cholmondeleyarms.co.uk
• Etzio’s – Italian Cuisine – Whitchurch Town (4.1 miles) best pizzas and wine for miles around. Highly recommended.
• Spice Heaven – Indian Cuisine (3.8 miles) – Literally the best ‘curry house’ we’ve had and offers a ‘tenner a head’ buffet certain nights of the week. Never fails.
• Benjamins Deli and Cafe – British Cuisine (4 miles) – Want something healthy for lunch and/or a nice breakfast or brunch, we definitely recommend this one. Salads, wines, panninis, coffees, cheese, beer, bread, you name it, they do it. Where do you think we get the hampers from?
• Simply Thai – Thai Cuisine (4.4 miles) – Bit pricey, but well worth the money. Recommend the massaman curry. Yum!
• Willeymoor Lock Tavern – British Cuisine (5.8 miles) – Very moderately priced traditional pub on the canal. Good selection of beers too.

Want to arrange a corporate event and can’t be arsed to cost something up? We’ll have a look for you.

An example activity day could include:

• Arrival on site
• Landrover off road experience in the morning
• Buffet lunch
• Clay pigeon shooting in the afternoon
• Pub dinner
• Camping in tepees
• Breakfast on site
• Kayaking
• Transport included and fees can be collected individually

Swimming (indoor and outdoor) and watersports

Whitchurch Swimming Pool offers indoor swimming within 4 miles of the site. If you are brave enough (and own a wet suit) we recommend Alderford Lake for open air swimming less than 5 miles away. They periodically offer SUP, kayak and canoe hire.

​If you have your own SUP, boat or kayak, you can paddle there as well. We also like the River Dee at Chester (30 mins) and Llangollen (40 mins). TNR in Llangollen also offer rafting, kayaking, canoeing and a multitude of other fun activities. https://www.tnroutdoors.co.uk/

We also recommend Dee River Kayaking which caters for newbies up to advanced level. Book here https://www.deeriverkayaking.com/book-online

If you would like some private canoe or kayak instruction, we can arrange that too! Just ask.” 

Want to learn to ride a horse, we recommend Springbank Riding School a mere 3 miles from the site.

• Taylor Private Hire: 07397 269723
• Dell’s Taxi: 07745 724594.
• Silverlink Taxi: 07775 765948
• Acorn Taxi : 01948 665540
• ShropShah Taxis: 07397 014782