The area also includes Old Pale hill, the high point of the northern mass of the Mid Cheshire Ridge, and Blakemere Moss, a lake around 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) in length.

Delamere Forest is a popular recreational area that is used by approximately 750,000 visitors each year,[5] including walkers, cyclists, mountain bikers and horse riders.

The twin medieval Forests of Mara and Mondrem were created within the county palatine of Cheshire by the Norman Earls of Chester in the late 11th century.

[6] Covering more than 60 square miles (160 km2), the forest stretched from the Mersey in the north to Nantwich in the south, and from the Gowy in the west to the Weaver in the east.

[7] During the early Norman period, the penalties for killing game were blinding, mutilation or execution; although these punishments were gradually replaced by fines.

[8] The original forest was a predominantly oak-mixed woodland, but other species included elm, lime, yew, chestnut, ash, silver birch, hazel, willow and alder.

[19] Since 1968, the Forestry Commission has worked with successive local authorities (now Cheshire West and Chester) to promote recreational usage of the area.

[21] In 1996 as part of a landscape planning exercise for Delamere Forest a hydrological survey was commissioned to look at the feasibility of clear-felling the area that is now Blakemere Moss.

Following the success of the project, it was announced in January 2010 that a further 33 hectares (82 acres) of drained fenland at four sites in the Delamere Forest area would be rewatered as part of Natural England's "Wetland Vision" scheme.

[26][27] The nearest town is Frodsham, to the north-west; nearby settlements (anti-clockwise from the south) include Delamere, Cuddington, Norley, Kingsley, Mouldsworth and Kelsall.

[26][24] The Old Pale hill (176 metres; SJ543696) stands towards the south of the Forestry Commission-owned area; it forms the high point of the northern mass of the Mid Cheshire Ridge.

[3][11] The area provides a habitat for numerous woodland bird species, including nuthatches, treecreepers, common crossbills, Eurasian siskins, tawny owls and great spotted and green woodpeckers.

[26][32][33] Dragonflies such as the southern hawker can be seen in the wetland areas; the nationally scarce white-faced darter has been observed at several sites within the forest, including Black Lake.

[38][39][40][41][42] Little Budworth Common SSSI and the woodland around Abbotts Moss are considered to be among the closest modern representatives of the forest before human settlement in the area.

There are two easy-access circular trails which are suitable for wheelchair users and pushchairs; one starts at Barnsbridge Gates car park and leads to Blakemere Moss (0.75 miles (1.2 km) in length), the other explores Old Pale hill from the Linmere Visitor Centre.

[20][44] Britain's largest Go Ape facility opened in Delamere Forest in 2006; it includes numerous zip wires, Tarzan swings, tightropes and nets high in the treetops.

[48] Since 2003, the Old Pale area of the forest has served as a music venue, playing host to performers including Ian Brown, The Charlatans, Jools Holland, Status Quo, Sugababes, Paul Weller, The Zutons, Tears for Fears, Doves and Elbow.

[50] The Linmere Visitor Centre (SJ546703) has a covered picnic area, café, toilets (including disabled), and a cycle hire facility and shop.