I love this hidden spot along the Walls, just yards from my childhood home in Water Tower Street. When we lived there, we had no idea that this ‘wonky’ brickwork existed – a remnant of the original Roman Wall. It was only after the canalside park was created on the former warehouse site that this fascinating bit of walling was revealed.

Maria, Arts & Festivals Team

I moved to Chester just as lockdown one started, so had little opportunity to explore. Once lockdown ended, my first trip into the Cheshire countryside took me to the National Trust property at Alderley Edge where the Wizard Walk provided stunning views.

Sally, Chester

Overton Hill has a special place in my story. It is where my grandparents, nurse Minnie-May and wounded soldier Tom, met, at the Frodsham Auxiliary Military Hospital, during World War 1. They did their courting there and later settled in Kingsley. I love to walk in their footsteps.

Sue Parry, Upton Library, Chester

The image was taken recently from the top of Bickerton Hill and Iron Age hill Fort looking out over Cheshire. You can certainly understand what a great location this would have been for the settlers during the Iron Age.

Ian, Chester

Chester is my home town. It’s all too easy to become complacent and miss the beauty as we undertake our busy day to day lives. Every now and again I stop to drink in the history and appreciate how lucky we Cestrians really are.

Tim Olsen, Bickerton

During summers and a gap year between College and University I worked with my father as an Architectural assistant. Wet lunches in the Albion talking design, dry days wandering the City. Often stopping in the market for cheese, bread, fruit… then sitting in the Cathedral’s Cloister Garden. These were the ‘Danny Champion of the World’ moments of my childhood.

Ian, Newton, Chester

I walked 5km every day in February, part of a fundraising effort following the Northwich Floods. The River Weaver is a favourite walk and I have seen some beautiful sunsets. Getting out in the fresh air, appreciating my surroundings and the wildlife makes a huge difference to my wellbeing. We are so fortunate to have easy access to such beautiful Cheshire countryside.

Sarah, Senior Librarian Cheshire Education Library Service

This view from New Brighton beach has become a new favourite of mine. My parents and I have spent many hours sat on a wall here during lockdown, sipping coffee, having a chat, watching the world go by. We are all living with my lovely Dad's dementia and being by the coast, particularly at New Brighton, brings him much contentment.

Elaine, New Brighton

It’s special because it's where our horses live.

Fiona, Libraries team

One of Alfie in the woods near Vale Royal Abbey.

Emma from Northwich Library

At 343 feet this is quite a climb but the views are breath-taking and it’s wonderfully peaceful here. There are various ways to climb up here for different fitness levels. A great place for a good walk and a rewarding sit down with a picnic to sit back and relax to admire the views of the Cheshire Plain, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Beautiful.

Paulette at Ellesmere Port Library

These trees are an easily recognisable landmark across Bickerton and Harthill and have deep sentiment to all those who live in the vicinity. On summer evenings, the sun drops behind them, reminiscent of a Japanese painting.

Tim Olsen, Bickerton

The hill often gets covered in mist early in the morning, and the trees emerge like wraiths as you wander along the paths.

Tim Olsen, Bickerton

I walk up towards the bandstand and the suspension bridge and then either go through Grosvenor Park and see the squirrels and come out near St Werburgh’s Church or I cut through the steep steps and you come out by the amphitheatre and then I head back to work.

Matthew, Locality Librarian for the Chester area

Summer 2020, early evening at my favourite beach. I can walk here from my house and feel very lucky to have access to the coast, especially during the pandemic when we have been so limited in where we can go.

Sally, Lead Librarian, Northwich, Winsford and Rural Areas

Just up the road from my home is this view of Beeston Crag. Even in the midst of winter it has an attraction. Taken on 9 February 2021.

Leslie, Tarporley

The light came streaming through the canopy of the old oak, leaving dappled patterns on the ground.

Tim Olsen, Bickerton

When I was first looking to move to Northwich I fell in love with this building. I got a unit at The Northwich Antique centre – opposite the building – and was excited I would be able to look at the building every day. In April 2017 I moved house and when I looked the building was gone. I was so disappointed but happy I had taken the image.

Anne, Northwich

My favourite times are spent exploring the area with a wrapped packed lunch in my rucksack, a flask of brew just ready for taking a breather at that perfect spot, an OS map in hand and my trusty canine Alfie at my heels eager to explore new routes.

Emma at Northwich Library

I woke to the light shining through my bedroom window, and rose to see the sun shining through the large oak across the field. The beauty took my breath away.

Tim Olsen, Bickerton

This is Rivacre Country Valley Park. It’s right on my doorstep and it’s beauty has kept me sane during many a day in lockdown.

Anne at Ellesmere Port Library

One of my favourite spots, the Macclesfield Canal runs from Marple in Cheshire to Hall Green on the Trent & Mersey Canal. Noted for its fine stone bridges, it is the perfect place for a winter or summer stroll to spot kingfishers darting along the water.

Caitlin, Public Sector Transformation Team, Cheshire East Council

This lovely long path just outside Chester City Centre is known locally as Duke's Drive. It was originally the carriage drive to the Duke of Westminster's Eaton Hall estate near Eccleston. Now it is a beautiful, leafy walk, bike ride or run right on Cestrians' doorstep. This photo was taken on one of my many runs along the route on a beautiful sunny spring day.

Liz, West Cheshire Museums

Ellesmere Port – not all urban industry. A short walk out of town brings you out into another world that is countryside and peace – Dunkirk Lane. A lovely stroll along here provides peace and tranquillity without venturing too far away.

Angus, Ellesmere Port

This is a little hidden wood alongside the River Weaver overlooking Northwich and Carey Park, called Furey Woods, I have heard many accounts of how it got its name, the one I like, the site is a former landfill, Brunner Mond or ICI used to tip the ashes from the furnaces and the hot ash ran down making it look like the hillside is on fire.

Denise from Northwich Library

As a Geordie who has lived in Chester for 22 years, I only discovered Old Pale last summer after the first lockdown. It was a special moment as I got to see my mum for the first time in nine months and we walked up to the top together. The views were stunning, and it reminded me that there would be good times again.

Helen, Locality Librarian for Neston and Rural areas

This butterfly was on a sapling in Delamere Forest for over 7 years. It's a hair tie that I found back in 2013 when walking our dog & just for fun slotted it onto a growing shoot. Every year or so when I go down the path, I check that it is still there & remember our old pet Bertie Dog (a lazy Westie who didn't like walking!)

Liz, Admin Officer, West Cheshire Museums

Further down the path (see previous picture) I know that I will come to a splendid view over Hatchmere Lake. I went down the path this morning and was sad to find that the butterfly is no longer there.... Perhaps I was looking at the wrong tree, or perhaps someone else has spotted the butterfly & has sent it on its way.

Liz, Admin Officer, West Cheshire Museums

This path takes me to where adventures begin

Where friendly smiles welcome me in

Contentedly lost in space and time

A Tardis for my fractured mind

Gill from Blacon Library

A beautiful spot with views of 3 castles, majestic oaks and sheep grazed fields.

Lisa from Upton Library

The railway viaduct over the River Weaver at Dutton between Frodsham and Sutton Weaver. This viaduct carries the West Coast main railway line. The sandstone structure looks well in the autumn light. Taken on 12 November 2020.

Leslie, Tarporley

This wooded area runs behind houses in Great Sutton, Ellesmere Port and is my little hidden gem in the town. I take the dog there regularly and often have it to myself. The woods run along the back of houses all through the area around me and it is a lovely walk. A bit of paradise hidden in plain sight right on my doorstep.

Paulette at Ellesmere Port Library

A walk along the river Mersey when the Hawthorn trees are in blossom is such a beautiful place to be, in fact all the seasons does it for me, and all this beauty is only three mile from Warrington town for us to see.

Tony, Woolston, Warrington

Early, frosty morning Waverton looking across to St Peter’s Church. Should the late 19th century pyramidal tower be photoshopped away? Yes, definitely! John Douglas designed myriad Cheshire churches amongst other things.

Phil, Waverton

Once upon a spinning wheel, many spindles ago, the world stopped turning for a year or so.

The girl took to wandering and loved to explore the green lanes and byways close to her door.

She savoured the old names of woodlands she crossed, the spinney, the rough, the garth and the moss.

In covert, common, waste and gorse, she built strongholds of calm on forested floors.

Kate Harland

Sunset on the lake
Down beyond the woodland
The magic setting golden sun
On the still lakes shining waters

Magenta clouds spread like curtains
As they passed the lighted sky
I could almost hear them rustle
As the daylight bid goodbye

If I lived forever
This vision will awake
Memory will leave me never
Of that sunset on the lake

From ‘Sunset on the Lake’ by Jude Kyrie

Sara at Ellesmere Port Library

Newchurch Common is a calm, peaceful oasis just off the Whitegate Way that runs between Winsford and Cuddington. It is a haven for birds. I can spend hours gazing across the water, leaving cares and worries behind, looking at the reflections in the water and how the colour of the water varies with the light quality and the changing seasons.

Claire from Sandiway Library

Whenever I’m working in Chester on my lunchbreak I love to walk down to the River via Bridge Street – it doesn’t matter what the weather’s like (it was a rainy autumn day when I took these pictures) of course it’s better when it’s sunny and you can buy an ice cream from one of the little kiosks.

Matthew, Locality Librarian for the Chester area

In the furthest eastern corner of the Diocese of Chester lies Chadkirk, once home to the Northumbrian missionary St. Chad.

A place of outstanding natural beauty and home to curious and inquisitive wildlife, it is for many, (me included), a much-needed haven of calm, peace and tranquillity.

Richard Hall – Development Officer

The beautiful mere, country fields and charming woods at Marbury Country Park are a great place to unwind and enjoy the uplifting power of nature. It is also a chance to investigate local history with the remains of a former stately home. Dog lovers and ramblers alike revel in the delights this Cheshire jewel has to offer whatever the season.

Fiona, Library Service

A rare day out in summer 2020. A place of peace and tranquillity in a chaotic time.

Sally, Lead Librarian, Northwich, Winsford and Rural Areas

I walk down the lane most days and love to watch the seasons change and it reminds me of the Robert Frost poem ‘Dust of Snow’.

Dust of Snow
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.

Jill at Northwich Library

Frosty Lockdown Walk
The morning air stirs the senses and wakes the world,
Trees, fields, sky,
Rooks, sheep and distant traffic,
Icy breath and toasty toes.
The sun beams through the trees,
Not long now for the glistening frosty carpet to reveal its day time glow.
Plump buds remind that spring will come and this long dark winter will go.

Councillor Louise Gittins – Leader of the Council

As soon as I saw this tree I thought as I often do ‘wow plants are so good at surviving in difficult conditions.’ From where I was it was unclear whether the sandstone had eroded back to where the tree is or whether the tree has grown on the edge. I guess its story is a cliff hanger!

Louise at Storyhouse

During the first lockdown the weather was brilliant and I cycled a lot around Chester. On one of these trips I rode my bike along the river Dee and passed these modern pieces of art. They can be found right behind the Chesterbank Business Park on the river walk.

Maike at Storyhouse

Castle Park was one the first places I got to know when we moved to Frodsham, and I have watched it change with the seasons for nearly seven years now. My new-found love of bird-watching flourishes here, with nuthatches, redwings, song thrushes, and woodpeckers all regularly spotted.

Heather Vernon – Local Studies Librarian

View from Bickerton Hill - to me, this is a place of solitude, a place to wander free, a place to escape and lose myself in the sights and sounds of the natural world.

Cari Roberts from Storyhouse Library

Christleton Duck Pond is the best place to visit if you want a relaxing time with peaceful thoughts away from the stresses and strains of life.

Annette at Storyhouse

This pond is near my house. It's in Great Sutton and is at the top of my road. It’s a little haven and a place that my dog Maggie loved as well as myself. She's gone over Rainbow Bridge now but I always refer to the pond as my Maggie's pond.

Ellen at Ellesmere Port Library

This is just one of the beautiful views in Great Barrow, looking over to the Welsh Mountains and also views of Peckforton Castle and Beeston Castle. Just one of my regular walks I do with my dog Alfie. For me it gives me the feel good factor and makes you appreciate what is on your doorstep, especially during the struggles of lockdown.

Jane from the Cheshire West Mobile Library

This view is important to me because it reminds me of my dear mum, she loved the tree and often commented how beautiful it looked specially at sunrise. The photo was taken on a very frosty morning, after the sun had come up, but whilst it was still casting an orange glow across the field.

Liz, West Cheshire Museums

I only moved to Northwich 4 years ago and had never heard of the area and certainly never heard of the Anderton boat lift. It has now become my almost favourite place to visit – I love the contrasts in old and new. My grandson has been visiting with me since he was two years old and he always asks me Grandma can we go to the boat lift.

Anne, Northwich

The Meadows, Chester, taken from Barrel Well Hill, Friday 22nd January 2021.
I was cycling through Boughton, what I saw astounded me. I had never seen flooding like this before on the meadows. I had to capture it.

Mike, Boughton

This is the view from Bickerton/Larkton Hill over the village of Brown Knowl. A lovely walk to get up to the top and spectacular views over the countryside towards the Wirral and Wales.

Janet at Sandiway Library

Taken from Kitty's Stone on Bickerton Hill early one morning as the cloud inversion started to clear, giving views to Harthill as the clouds gave way to fields.

Tim Olsen, Bickerton

Birch trees amongst the snow on Bickerton Hill.

Tim Olsen, Bickerton