Situated between south west Manchester and Liverpool, making it very commutable, Delamere Forest is a stunningly beautiful area that includes many desirable places to live.
It’s the largest forest in Cheshire, covering 972 hectares (2,400 acres), providing the backdrop for relaxing walks, family bike rides, or more adventurous mountain bike routes. It also supports a range of jobs in the timber industry, leisure, and tourism. The forest welcomes over 700,000 visitors a year, and over 6 million people live in the forest catchment (Delamere Forest Plan, 2016).
Let’s take a look at the benefits of living near Delamere Forest and check out house prices in the area.
Why live near Delamere Forest?
The forest boasts numerous visitor facilities including trails for all abilities, from forest roads and dry sandstone paths to outdoor adventure and bike routes. A new mountain bike trail is under construction and will be completed by spring 2023. Treetop adventure is offered by Go Ape! along with segway rides with a safari guide, zip lines, and swings. Of course, you don’t have to be an adrenaline junkie, there are many nature walks and opportunities for rest and relaxation by the lake. Bird watchers are well catered for and other activities include Nordic walking, orienteering courses, and horse riding.
The area includes Old Pale hill, the high point of the northern part of the Mid Cheshire Sandstone Ridge which provides a 360-degree bird’s eye view of seven counties. Spectacular views extending over the agricultural landscape to Liverpool’s famous skyline can also be seen from many parts of the forest. Managed by Forestry England, Delamere Forest falls within the Mersey Forest area and contains the medieval hunting forest known as Old Pool, plus several meres and mosses designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to their environmental importance.
Delamere means `forest of the lakes,’ and there are 34 hectares of open water and 93 hectares of open space including peat bodies, meres and mosses, providing homes to many species and plenty to interest nature lovers. The forest also includes Blakemere Moss Lake, Black Lake – a rare quaking bog that’s an SSSI – and Linmer Moss, also an SSSI due to its fenland habitat.
Delamere Forest consists of 623 hectares of commercial conifers, 202 hectares of mixed woodlands and broadleaf mature trees, 76 hectares of recreation land, and 70 hectares of tree nurseries. Management priorities include restoring the former ancient woodland sites and increasing biodiversity to make the forest more resilient to climate change, pests, and disease.
In terms of communications, a network of main roads runs through the forest, linking large towns and cities, and Delamere also has its very own train station with regular trains running to nearby towns and cities.
Visiting Delamere Forest
The Visitor Centre
This is the start point for most visits, giving you the opportunity to find out about all the trails. You can pick up a trail map to plan your route and organise bike hire. A range of bikes to suit all abilities, from families to enthusiasts, is available. The Delamere Forest cafe is also found here, and there are various picnic facilities nearby.
Delamere Forest concerts and events
The forest hosts a programme of events each year, and features the Forest Live Music series in June – Jack Savoretti, Madness, and Tom Grennan are all scheduled to play there in 2023 and tickets can now be booked. The annual Christmas at Delamere Forest event sees an illuminating trail through the forest and tunnels of light.
Forest cabins
If escaping into nature appeals to you, Forest Holidays offers 66 stunning forest cabins that can be booked for a weekend break or a longer holiday in the shady oasis of the forest centre; they have underfloor heating, outdoor kitchens, log burning stoves, outdoor hot tubs, and great views. If your aim is to escape the crowds, this lovely place could be what you’re looking for. A forest ranger can help you plan a programme of activities to help you make the most of the forest.
Timber sales
Forestry England puts sustainability first, and Delamere Forest grows and harvests trees sustainably, ensuring the protection of wildlife habitat. Timber is sold to the British timber market under the `Grown in Britain’ licensing scheme which helps pay for environmental benefits and public use of the forest. Forestry England’s forests meet the international standards of the Forest Stewardship Council and the UK Woodland Assurance Standard, approved by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification.
Membership
You can become a Delamere Forest member for £60 which entitles you to a parking pass that gives free parking all year round and several discounts and benefits. The car parks use number plate recognition technology.
Opening times
Delamere Forest is open all year round, from 8 am to 5 pm, and has ample parking space.
Car park information
There are plentiful car parking areas – to find the most suitable car park for you, the choice includes the Forest Centre car park, Whitefield car park, Treetops car park, Barnsbridge car park and the main car park.
The housing stock in and around Delamere Forest
There are several pretty villages surrounding the forest which command high property prices, along with larger towns close by, all offering a wide range of house types from mature and character properties to new builds.
Properties in Delamere sold for an average price of £347,090 over the last year, according to Rightmove figures. Semi-detached houses averaged £339,496, while detached houses averaged £392,650. Overall sold prices were down 30% on the previous year and 42% down on the 2009 peak figure of £596,667.
This table shows recent sold house prices in the Delamere Forest area:
| Property type | Sold price | Date |
| Terraced house | £215,000 £199,950 £145,000 | Oct 2021 June 2018 April 2014 |
| 2-bed semi-detached house | £285,000 £162,000 £78,000 | May 2022 June 2012 July 2000 |
| Semi-detached house | £491,000 £120,000 | January 2022 August 1999 |
| 3-bed detached house | £440,000 £410,000 | March 2017 May 2014 |
| 4-bed detached house | £415,000 £250,000 | June 2015 Jan 2011 |
| 5-bed detached house | £560,000 £115,000 | Sept 2021 August 1999 |
5 properties for sale in and around Delamere Forest:
Spectacular views across the Cheshire Plain can be enjoyed from this individual, contemporary house at Hollands Lane, Kelsall. Built to a high specification, it covers 4400 sq. ft and stands in attractive landscaped gardens. It has five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, a terrace for outdoor dining, a utility room, a cloakroom, a snug, and a double garage. An added bonus is that it’s within walking distance of the village. Gascoigne Halman are asking for offers of £1,375,000.
This detached house on Shakerley Close, Oakmere, stands in a quiet and sought-after area on an executive development. It’s a spacious family home with five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and two reception rooms, along with an integral double garage. Oakmere village is within a few minutes’ drive of Delamere Forest. Hinchliffe Holmes is seeking offers of £675,00.
If you want to live in the heart of Delamere Forest, this spacious three-storey house on Marley Crescent, Delamere, could fit the bill. Newly built by Laurus Homes, it has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a garage. It’s for sale with Hinchliffe Holmes priced at £480,000.
There’s great family accommodation in this extended semi-detached house on sought-after Stoney Lane, Delamere. It’s well-presented and has three bedrooms and one bathroom. There are views across farmland from the beautifully landscaped gardens, off-road parking and a detached garage. Hinchliffe Holmes are looking for offers of £355,000.
This 1256 sq. ft semi-detached townhouse on Chester Road, Oakmere, Northwich, has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, driveway parking, and rural views to the front. It’s for sale with Gascoigne Halman, priced at offers over £240,000.
Local knowledge
Do you live near Delamere Forest?
If so, do you think it’s a good location to buy a house in?
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References:
Delamere Forest Plan. 2016-2026. Forestry Commission England. [Online]. Available here. (Accessed 23rd December 2022)
