Marbury Country Park
At Marbury Country Park you can wander along the mere with splendid views over the water to the church at Great Budworth, or explore the arboretum and community orchard. Children will enjoy the play area, close to the picnic area. Many of the features of the Country Park, including the lime avenues and the arboretum, are a legacy of the days when Marbury was a grand estate. The last hall, built in the 1850s, was a fine looking house modelled on the French chateau at Fontainebleau, with an imposing carriage drive entrance.
Marbury Country Park lies in the heart of Northwich Community Woodlands where former industrial land is gradually being transformed to create a rich and green environment stretching from Marbury to Northwich.
Accessibility
There is a well-surfaced network of paths around the park. Many of these, particularly around the more formal areas of the park, are suitable for prams and wheelchairs. There are also plenty of seats along the way.
Car park opening times are:
9.00am - 8.00pm in summer (1st April - 30th September)
9.00am - 5.00pm in winter (1st October - 31st March)
There is a fee for car parking - pay at the meter. It would be useful to bring change with you.
Please note that the entrance to the country park is off a bend of Marbury Road between Comberbach and Anderton where the road dips into a wooded area. Approach and leave with caution.
The Permanent Courses
Walk from the car park towards the Ranger's Cabin where you will find the toilets and the start/finish post for the courses.
| Course | Controls | Length | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short | 7 | 1.5k | Easy |
| Medium | 8 | 2.7k | Harder |
| Long | 13 | 3.5k | Difficult |
| Short Wheelchair | 6 | 0.9k | |
| Long Wheelchair | 8 | 1.6k |
Controls
You are looking for metal posts with red & white rings painted on them. Each post will also have a painted letter to identify it. With each letter, there is a number which should be copied into the correct box on your control card, to prove that you have found the post.
Map
The map has been specially drawn by members of Deeside Orienteering Club and the courses planned in accordance with normal orienteering practice. However, as it is not possible to keep a constant eye on the area, users must accept that neither the Club cannot be held responsible for any accidents, injuries, loss or damage.
You are reminded that the areas shown as out of bounds on the map must not be entered, and the several boundaries shown must not be climbed.
What to Wear?
Normal outdoor clothes and footwear are fine for the short & medium courses but be aware that the paths can be muddy.
If you are going to tackle the long course, sturdy shoes or trail shoes and full leg cover are recommended as it will be wet underfoot in places and you will encounter undergrowth including brambles.
| Marbury Country Park | £1.00 |
| Marbury Country Park | £1.00 |
You can purchase and download the map and control card directly from this site or you can buy hard copies of the map pack locally at Comberbach Post Office. It may be an idea to telephone (01606 891 316) first to check that they have maps in stock.
The park sits within the Northwich Woodlands, an area of 350 hectares of parkland to explore and discover. Its network of surfaced paths provides many routes accessible to all and appeals to a variety of users including horse riders, cyclists, nature lovers and families.
The park also links in with the North Cheshire Way and a number of national cycling routes.
Biking the Backroads is a gentle bike ride of 20km/13 miles around the lanes of Anderton and Great Budworth.
A few minutes down the road, you can visit and go on the Anderton Boat Lift (get a preview here) which lifts boats and barges the 50 feet from the River Weaver to the Trent & Mersey Canal. There is a Visitor Centre, coffee shop & play area and you'll find several pubs nearby.