BeWILDerwood Cheshire crowned the county's top large attraction

Deep in the south Cheshire countryside, beside the grounds of Cholmondeley Castle near Malpas, there is a forest full of treehouses, wobbly bridges and curious creatures. BeWILDerwood Cheshire has now been officially named the county's best large day out.

The 70-acre woodland adventure park won Large Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Visit Cheshire Tourism Awards 2026, finishing ahead of a strong field that included Chester Zoo, which was highly commended in the same category.

Judges commended BeWILDerwood's high standards of cleanliness and maintenance, its inclusive range of activities and equipment for families, and its commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism.

It is not the park's first moment in the spotlight. At the Marketing Cheshire Tourism Awards 2025, BeWILDerwood won Best Tourism Marketing Project of the Year for its Twiggle Tots discounted ticket promotion, aimed at families with the very youngest explorers.

The Cheshire park is the sister to the original BeWILDerwood in Norfolk and was developed as a multimillion-pound investment in the area. Rather than rides and screens, the emphasis is on outdoor, imaginative play, with children encouraged to climb, slide, balance and explore in a woodland setting inspired by the BeWILDerwood stories. It is the kind of place where parents are as likely to be found clambering across a rope bridge as their children, and where a day in the fresh air tends to end with tired, happy families heading back to the car.

Its location is a bonus. Cholmondeley Castle and its gardens sit next door, and the wider area, with Malpas, Tattenhall and the Peckforton Hills nearby, makes it easy to turn a visit into a full weekend in rural Cheshire. The castle grounds also host events through the year, including Deva Fest, which itself won Best Event or Festival at the 2025 Marketing Cheshire Tourism Awards.

The award was one of several for south Cheshire on the night, with Overwater Marina near Audlem named Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year and Cheshire Boutique Barns in Nantwich taking Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year. Together, they make a strong case for south Cheshire as one of the region's most rewarding corners for a family break.

BeWILDerwood Cheshire is at Cholmondeley, near Malpas. Opening times and tickets are at bewilderwood.co.uk.