Sandbach

The Saxon Crosses stand like ancient sentinels on Sandbach's cobbled Market Square, their weathered stones having watched over this Cheshire market town for over a thousand years. These remarkable 7th-century monuments give the place its gravitas - though the rest of Sandbach feels refreshingly unshowy about its heritage.

Most visitors pass through on their way to somewhere flashier. Their loss. The town centre has that proper lived-in feel you get in places where locals actually shop and work rather than pose for Instagram. The weekly market still draws crowds, and the independent shops along the High Street haven't been entirely swamped by chains yet.

Rode Hall and Gardens makes for a lovely afternoon out, especially in spring when the rhododendrons are putting on their show. The Georgian mansion sits in 30 acres of parkland, and the kitchen garden produces vegetables that end up on some seriously good restaurant plates. Less grand but equally rewarding are the wooded walks around Brereton Pool - it's only a couple of miles northeast and perfect for clearing your head.

Golfers are spoilt here. Sandbach Golf Club offers 18 holes with views across the Cheshire Plain, while Malkins Bank Golf Course provides a different challenge entirely. Both courses stay open year-round, though you'll want waterproofs between November and March.

The M6 runs just east of town, making Sandbach dead easy to reach from Manchester or Birmingham. You're 20 minutes from Crewe by car, and the train station at nearby Alsager connects you to the main line. Staying at one of the holiday parks around Smallwood puts you right in the countryside but keeps Sandbach's amenities within easy reach - plus you're perfectly placed for day trips to the Potteries or deeper into rural Cheshire.