Already renowned for an abundance of black and white timbered buildings, Cheshire was put firmly on the map in the 2000s thanks to then-resident stars David and Victoria Beckham.

The county confounds expectations with its surprisingly varied and dramatic landscapes, ranging from the Cheshire Plain to the wild hills and windswept moors of the Pennines and Peak District in the east, and the upstanding sandstone ridges of the west – not to mention the moody coastal marshes of the Wirral Peninsula, flanked by the major estuaries of the rivers Mersey and Dee, which flow into the Irish Sea.

Home to Premier League footballers it may be, but this is also a largely rural landscape that abounds in farm shops and forests, and meres and marinas.

Alongside pretty lowland villages lies ample industrial, cultural and scientific heritage, ranging from Bronze Age mining sites and medieval castles to Victorian mills and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jodrell Bank, home of the mighty Lovell Telescope.

Then there’s the county town of Chester with its fascinating Roman history, unique double-decker medieval shopping arcades and the most complete city walls in Britain.

Delve deeper into local culture by visiting engaging museums, grand stately homes and formal gardens; by exploring literary connections to Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll and Elizabeth Gaskell; or by gawping at the World Worm Charming Championship (held annually in Willaston).

Recuperate by indulging in local artisan food at one of many spruced-up village inns (including Britain’s 2023 Pub of the Year), then lay your head in country-house hotels, characterful B&Bs or self-catering estate cottages. Or, for a truly slow experience, profit from Cheshire’s canal network, which is perfect for waterside strolls or pootling along in a narrowboat.

Whatever floats your particular vessel, this updated Bradt Cheshire Guide guides your way.