A new National Trust site visit for us, Speke Hall on the outskirts of Liverpool is about an hour from where we live. I took the plunge and decided to visit in Feb half term. The house was still closed having its winter clean but we could walk around the grounds and garden and view the house from the outside.
It has a gorgeous looking Tudor house with the classic black and white structure. Just by the house is an amazing hedge maze with wooden bridges and lookout posts. This really is the best maze I’ve been too. Me and the girls must have been in there for an hour, playing hide and seek.
Next to the maze is a newly refurbished play area. This is designed for younger children but it did look good and had a fence around to keep the kids safe from wandering off.
Then you can begin your woodland adventure with a sculpture play trail based on the local legend of giant John Middleton who was supposedly 9’3″ tall! It is even said that he slept with his feet sticking out of his bedroom window in nearby Hale village. You can try to spot him as you walk around.
Remember to look out for giant buttons, optical illusions and some larger than life vegetable musical instruments that you can play. The Giant Childe of Hale trail is about 1km long.
Back near the house there is a lovely cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. Also there was an ice cream vane serving up yummy ice cream from the well know Ice Cream Farm when we visited. This is also where you’ll find the toilets.
If you like exploring historic houses and gardens in Cheshire, check out our reviews of Walton Hall & Gardens and Arley Hall.