On the Cycleway, with good views, glorious gardens, refreshments. What more could you want?

On the Cycleway, offering a quiet spot in sheltered gardens.

Pretty gardens and refreshments are on offer at Arley Hall, a short detour off the Cycleway.

About 3 miles off the Cycleway, in a quiet wooded valley just a mile or so from all things modern at Manchester Airport, there's a fascinating place that'll transport you back to the turn of the century - the turn of the 18th to the 19th century, that is.

The cycleway passes a couple of miles to the south of this estate, with a huge deer park surrounding an 18th century house with a mixture of formal and informal gardens.

There's an entrance to Tatton Park just south of Rostherne, very close to the Cycleway. Deer, farm animals, gardens, ice cream and most of Cheshire are here at the weekends, but there's plenty of space for all.

About 4-5 miles east of the Cycleway, this 15-acre garden is Victorian, but never dull. Go round the world here - from Italy to Egypt, China to a Scottish glen, and back to Cheshire - along intriguing paths and through dark tunnels, with surprises around every corner.

Worth a detour if you have the time and inclination to explore the six-acre display gardens. These are a delight and inspiration as they consist of many designs from RHS Chelsea Flower Show and other mini-gardens with ideas to take home for patio, cottage, kitchen and water gardens, amongst others.

A short detour from the Cycleway leads you here to marvel at the national collection of water lilies (in the summer) and enjoy the shelter of the Palms Tropical Oasis with its Koi carp, parrots, ponds and piranhas (all year round).

Close to the Cycleway, these romantic grounds and gardens surround a fairy tale castle built in 1801-4. There's also a rare breeds animal centre with a children's corner.

Near to the Cycleway, Rode Hall boasts a Repton landscape of lake and woodland, plus terraced rock garden, grotto, and a kitchen garden presided over by Kelvin Archer, famed giant gooseberry grower.

A bit of a detour to this garden, and limited opening hours.

A canal towpath detour from the Cycleway gives a traffic-free route to these delightful gardens.

Very close to the Cycleway with plenty to amuse all in the family.

A strenuous detour from the Cycleway, but well worth the energy if you're into Himalayan horticulture.

Almost on the Cycleway, the grounds of the hall are integral to Gawsworth village.

Quite a detour from the Cycleway, but viewing the huge telescope close up is quite an experience.

Quite a detour, but mostly on a traffic-free route, takes you to this magnificent mansion set in a deer park of moorland, woodland and grassland.

A ride along main roads brings you to this pretty hall and gardens.

A short detour from the cycleway along lanes and then an unavoidable bit of main road, but it's worth it to see this superb black and white Tudor mansion. Even if you can't make it during opening hours, make the detour because there's a good view from the entrance.