Little Budworth Country Park
First impressions of Little Budworth Country Park are dominated by woodland but amongst the trees there is a mosaic of lowland heath, ponds and boggy mires. Paths meander through tranquil woodland and open glades providing a gentle walk whatever the time of year.
Lowland heath is a very important habitat which is now rare in Cheshire. Look closely amongst the heather and you may see tiny white flowers of heath bedstraw or yellow tormentil.
Green tiger beetles scurry across the bare ground and if you’re very lucky you may catch a glimpse of a grass snake or a common lizard sunbathing. Boggy places are home to sphagnum moss and the amazing sundews that catch flies to supplement their diet.
Whatever time of year there is something special to see or hear at Little Budworth. In spring the air is full of birdsong as the trees burst into life. Summer is a time to sit quietly and watch the spectacular aerobatics of dragonflies around the pond while the heathland is at its best in the autumn. Winter brings its own magic and a special sense of wilderness.
Facilities
There are toilets in Coach Road car park.
There are pubs in Little Budworth, Eaton and Cotebrook. The garden centre at the northern end of Coach Road has an eating area and The Coffee Shop in Cotebrook provides meals daily, except non-holiday Mondays.
Location
By car follow the signs from the A49 or A54 for Oulton Park.
Accessibility
The Heathland Trail is a 2.7km/11/2mile waymarked trail around the park which is mostly flat.
Exploring further afield
There is an excellent network of public rights of way for you to explore the countryside around Little Budworth. Rights of way are shown on Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 267, Northwich and Delamere Forest.