6 Fun Things to Do at Delamere Forest with Kids: Walking, Biking & More

If you’re anything like me, you’ll be on the hunt for days out that are guaranteed to tire out children, whilst not causing any strain on the finances! It’s one of the reasons that we invested in a Forestry England annual membership – and it’s also getting us to visit new places we wouldn’t normally consider. Places like Delamere Forest in Cheshire! It’s just another example of a Forestry England site that’s packed with activities for the whole family, whether you’re raising little explorers, wannabe mountain bikers, or children who think sliding down a zip line counts as cardio (to be fair, they’re not wrong).

Here are 6 brilliant things you can do at Delamere Forest with your crew:

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1. Walking Trails for All Ages

Delamere has a mix of walking routes, from gentle loops around Blakemere Moss to longer trails that weave through the trees.

• Family favourite: the Gruffalo Trail (around 1 mile) – manageable even with smaller legs and still gives that “big forest adventure” feeling.
• If you’ve got bigger children or fancy stretching your own legs, try the Blakemere Trail (about 4 miles).

👉 I’ve written before about why we love forest walks – you can check out our family walk at Delamere Forest Part 1 and Part 2.

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2. Family Biking

Bring your bikes (or hire them there) and head out on the dedicated cycling routes.

• The Hunger Hill Trail and Whitemoor Trail is traffic-free, mostly flat, and brilliant for children still mastering gears.
• For braver souls, the new blue graded mountain bike trails throw in some proper off-road fun.

The mountain bike trails (graded blue) are the first formal mountain biking facility at Delamere Forest, and work is still ongoing. We didn’t bring our bikes on our visit but we spotted one lovely flowy roller-filled section on one of our walks!

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3. Skills Area for Little Daredevils

There’s a purpose-built bike skills track tucked away near the main car park – perfect for children who want to practice jumps, balance beams, and berms without disappearing into the depths of the forest.
Bike skills parks and pump tracks are brilliant fun for all ages! If you don’t know what they are, check out my post about skills tracks and pump tracks here.

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4. Go Ape Adventure

For slightly bigger children (and adults who still think they’re invincible), Go Ape Delamere is a winner. Just a side note though, this isn’t included in the “Delamere Forest” experience, and comes with a hefty admission fee!

• There’s a junior version for younger children and a higher ropes course for teens and grown-ups.
• Expect wobbly bridges, Tarzan swings, and the inevitable “Mum, watch this!” as you pray silently that the harness does its job.

It’s not the cheapest option, but it’s definitely one they’ll remember.

👉 We were lucky enough to win tickets to Go Ape in Cannock Chase, check out what Go Ape is all about in this post!

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5. Disc Golf

Yes, disc golf is a thing – and yes, it’s just as fun (and ridiculous) as it sounds. At Delamere, you can hire a frisbee-like disc and try to get it into the metal baskets dotted around the course.
The children will throw it wildly off-course, you’ll pretend you’re not competitive, and someone will inevitably get it stuck in a tree. Great family fun and something a bit different!

Disc hire is available from the visitor centre (open 9.30am to 4.30pm): 

• £3.50 per disc or £12 for 4 discs
• Forestry England members: £3.00 per disc or £10.00 for 4 discs  

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6. Playground & Picnic Spots

If you’ve got younger children, the forest play area is an easy win. It’s right by the visitor centre, which means coffee for parents and climbing frames for the energetic ones – everyone’s happy.
There are also loads of picnic spots, so you can spread out a blanket and refuel. (Pro tip: pack more snacks than you think you need – they will be eaten before you’ve zipped the bag shut.) There is a cafe onsite (and toilets!) but we all know how these things add up, so for a cheap day out, pack that cool bag!!

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Final Thoughts

Delamere Forest really does have something for everyone – whether your children want to walk, ride, climb, swing, or throw frisbees into bushes. It’s one of those places you can go back to again and again and still find new corners to explore. As beautiful a place as it is, however, this isn’t for the more hardcore mountain bikers (yet! – who knows what plans might lie ahead!)

If you’ve got a Forestry England membership, even better – it covers parking (which is pretty pricey, at £12 for the day) and makes trips like this even more affordable (I wrote about why it’s worth it here).

So grab the wellies, pack the snacks, and head out – because as every parent knows, a day outdoors = a quiet car ride home. Bliss.