Visit Chester and Cheshire - The WordNurse's guide...

I have been asked by the lovely team at Visit Chester and Cheshire - http://www.visitchesterandcheshire.co.uk/ - to write a visitors’ guide to Chester and Cheshire.

I wasn’t born in Chester, but I moved ‘up north’ when I was 10 years old and I have always classed it as home. And the many thousands of visitors who flock to Chester each year can’t fail but to agree that it’s an absolutely stunningly beautiful city.

Steeped in history and heritage, and with an abundance of boutiques, individual and unusual shops, and an array of high street names there’s something to suit all tastes. And that’s not taking into consideration the many bars, coffee shops, brasseries, and restaurants (including a few Michelin stars thrown in for good measure) to help revive the sprits and sate those appetites after all that Deva-exploration.

There’s always so much happening in Chester and I love it.

The Shell Chester Literature Festival…

Being a copywriter, I make my living from words. So I’m particularly excited about Chester’s forthcoming literature festival. The Shell Chester Literature Festival will be running from 18th to 31st October 2010 and already the line-up of top literary stars and onscreen names is highly impressive.

From Alexei Sayle talking about ‘Stalin at my homework: a memoir’, to Justine Picardie talking about ‘Coco Chanel: The legend and the life’, to Alistair Campbell talking about ‘Prelude to Power’… the list of big names is endless. And that’s not to mention all the up and coming new writers showcasing their works in ‘Bitesize @ Lunchtimes’. At 1pm every day from Monday 18th to Thursday 28th October, why not pop along to the Forum Studio Theatre or St. Mary’s Centre to see these shining new stars.

But be sure to check out www.chesterfestivals.co.uk first to see who’s on when and where.

Did you know Cheshire has its very own peak district?

I didn’t, but I do now. Cheshire’s Peak District is a vast area of natural beauty – 100 square miles to be precise – and ranges from Biddulph’s moorlands in the south, right up to Lyme Park and Disley in the north.

So if you’re craving fresh air and a taste of the ‘great outdoors’, why not pay this amazing area a visit. With breathtaking hills, plains, peaks, views, dramatic scenery, historic houses, beautiful gardens, cultural attractions, events, and quaint market towns it’s the perfect way to relax, unwind, and escape the rat race. There’s something for everyone: from walkers to horse riders to cyclists. And with some wonderful pubs and restaurants on the way… hmmm, say no more!