3 days in Chester with older parents

Three unhurried days built around a few good stops, so there is always time for a second pot of tea. Day one keeps the driving short. Speke Hall, a National Trust house, is just 2.6 miles from lunch at The Coffee House, which holds a 5/5 food hygiene rating. The National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port is a further 6.1 miles on. Day three is just as compact: Old Hawarden Castle, lunch at the Offas Dyke Hotel (also rated 5/5 for hygiene) and Buckley Library add up to only 5.6 miles of driving in total.

Two legs are longer: 26.8 miles to Quarry Bank Mill on day two and 36.2 miles to Hawarden on day three. Those mornings are best started without hurry. If you are arriving by train, Chester is the station to aim for. For a base, Henlle Hall Cottages near Oswestry sleeps 4, with parking and a hot tub, and is 1.3 miles from Gobowen station.