Cycling

The Courtyard makes an excellent base for cyclists to discover the area. Either bring your own and we can store your cycles for you or alternatively we can arrange through our partner, Tracs-UK, which is based just 4 miles away in the heart of Delamere Forest, cycles for hire which can also be delivered for you to The Courtyard. Click HERE for Tracs-UK.

From The Courtyard there are miles of safe, off road, cycling on Helsby and Frodsham Marshes which link into the National Cycle Network Route 5, Frodsham nearby is the start of The Sandstone Trail with over 30 miles of dramatic Cheshire countryside leading to Whitchurch. Sandstone Trail

Delamere Forest, itself, is a beautiful area to cycle, ideal for families, with lots of different routes. If you're particularly keen at learning more about cycling and care for your cycle then our partner, Tracs-UK also offer courses to help improve your knowledge.

With a variety of terrain nearby to The Courtyard there is something suitable for everybody. Don't forget, with The Courtyard just being two minutes from Helsby Railway station (Manchester Piccadilly-Chester-Llanduno line) you can arrive by train, bring your cycle with you or collect one from here! Couldn't be simpler!

To find out more about cycle routes nearby check out Discover Cheshire

Rock Climbing

Just a few hundred yards from The Courtyard is Helsby Hill which, along with Woodhouse Hill at Frodsham just three miles away, are the two most important sandstone outcrops in the North of England, ideal for climbing and real favourites of 'crag rats'.

Approached from below or above Helsby Hill has three main buttresses with over 140 routes ranging from UK Grade 2 - 6a+.

Latitude, Longitude: 53.27377, -2.76188

Sailing

Three miles away at Frodsham is the River Weaver and home of Weaver Sailing Club. The river is non-tidal and the club arranges a regular programme of handicapped class dingy racing and hosts events for the Mersey Challenge Trophy. Water skiing is also popular and takes place all year round.

Another venue just four miles away is Manley Mere Sail Sports and Adventure Trails which has a 40 acre fresh water lake perfect for dingy sailing,windsurfing and canoing. This is a great venue and offers the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) courses for sailing and windsurfing. Special courses are run througout the summer ideal for children who want to learn. Manley Mere Sail & Ski

Walking

From The Courtyard you are ideally placed from many interesting walks. To find out more about walking routes close by click HERE. Frodsham, just three miles away is the start of the famous Sandstone Trail which follows across some of the most dramatic scenery of the Cheshire plains rising over the sandstone ridge to Whitchurch. Click HERE

The Courtyard is set close to the lea of Helsby Hill which is the the site of a medieval iron age fort and forms part of the North Cheshire Way, a 110km/70 mile walkers' route across the north of the county, from Willaston in the west to Lyme Park in the east. It provides a link between the Wirral Way, Sandstone Trail and Gritstone Trail. A full colour 100 page guide is published by the Mid Cheshire Footpath Society. The route is indicated by black/yellow waymark discs bearing the letters 'NCW'. The route will be shown on future editions of the OS Explorer maps. More information on the route on Explorers 266, 267 & 268.

The Longster Trail is a a 16km/10 mile route starting from Helsby Hill via Barrow to Chester. A leaflet describing the entire route is published by the Mid Cheshire Footpath Society and is available from local outlets. It is shown on Explorers 266 & 267.