What We Do
Chester Great Outdoors Club has members who have a wide range of experience in outdoor activities and there is something for everyone. It is the involvement of our members who help to make the Club a fun and welcoming group of active people.
Day Walks
There is excellent hill walking in Cheshire, North Wales, the Peak District and Shropshire so we tend to head for these areas. Our day walks are graded from Easy, Intermediate or Hard depending on the terrain, distance and weather. We usually try to end up at a pub or tearoom at the end of the day to keep our energy levels up!
Cycling and biking activities
Most of our cycling is road biking although we do have some off-road events and routes suitable for hybrids. Where we go can range from Cheshire, North Wales, the Wirral and Shropshire. Rides are graded as Easy, Intermediate or Hard depending on the distance, terrain and the leader. Our cyclists know of many tearooms and pubs to provide refreshment en-route. Some club members get together to take part in biking Sportif events.
Evening Walks
From May to the end of August we have mid-week pub walks. We go to some lovely areas in Cheshire, the Wirral and North Wales for a couple of hours walking then chatting over a pint at the end. A great chance to meet friends mid-week and unwind. Evening walks, when we are often the only people around when the sun sets, are a peaceful way to end the day.
Evening Biking
From May to the end of August, we have mid-week bike rides with route options around Cheshire, Delamere Forest, the Wirral and into North Wales. These mid-week bike rides can make a refreshing and often energetic break from work, cycling with friends. Pubs and ice cream refreshments are popular if time allows.
Weekends Away
Club weekends give us an opportunity to go further afield to the Lake District, Wales, Yorkshire Dales, Derbyshire and even to southern Scotland. We have regular trips to some locations such as Barmouth for a long weekend. Our Christmas weekends are especially fun with a walk, returning to mulled wine, mince pies and fancy dress themed party after a hearty meal.
Weekends are often in remote but fantastic walking and cycling countryside, usually in bunkhouses. These can be basic, so getting along with others is important. However, chatting around a wood burning stove, eating and drinking after a day out, watching the sun set or the stars twinkling in dark skies over a beautiful landscape, is a wonderful way to get away from daily life.
Holidays - Scotland
Every year we have a week in Scotland usually on the west coast and sometimes inland in the Cairngorms. The accommodation is in chalet style accommodation on one site often in stunningly beautiful locations. Being on one site we can easily socialise, with 3 to 4 club members each sharing chalet. This gives us the opportunity to do a range of activities such as long mountain days out, biking, kayaking with local companies, relaxing on a beach, spotting dolphins, eagles, deer and otters and some wild swimming. Being together in the evenings and planning our next day’s adventures is a great way to relax.
Holidays - other
Over the years club members have organised holidays to Cornwall, Pembrokeshire, Majorca for cycling, Poland hut to hut holiday and alpine trips to the Dolomites. If one of our members is willing to organise a trip, it can be almost anywhere in the UK or Europe.
Social events are determined by whatever our club members want to organise so it could be a BBQ, group meal out, wine or beer tasting at a local venue or treasure hunt.
Other outdoor activities we tend to arrange with specialists and over the years we have had water sports days, canyoning, kayaking, visiting caves or mines and various winter days in historical Liverpool. Some club members take part in biking Sportif events
Social Events and Outdoor Activities