Cheshire business owners welcome opening of Delamere Loop horse-riding circuit

Mar 6 2009 by Ben Coulbeck, Chester Chronicle

Following the grand opening of Delamere Loop, reporter BEN COULBECK looks at the potential benefits

Horse riders are expected to arrive in the county in their thousands to take advantage of the Delamere Loop.

The equestrian facility, sweeping across 22 miles of picturesque Cheshire countryside, will give horse enthusiasts the chance to take in some of Mid Cheshire’s most enjoyable and tranquil routes from Delamere Forest to Kelsall and Little Budworth.

Already there are an estimated 40,000 horses in the county, contributing about £200m to the local economy annually, but Cheshire’s tourism board believes that, by 2015, visitors to Cheshire, especially those visiting the Delamere Loop, will increase spending figures to £2bn.

Businesses situated on or close to the Loop have welcomed the opening in the hope many locals and visitors will be saddling up in 2009.

Visit Chester & Cheshire commercial director Barrie Kelly said: “The development and opening of the Delamere Loop is a fantastic boost for businesses and local riding enthusiasts and a real incentive for people outside the area to come and experience our diverse selection of bridleways while enjoying the beauty of the Cheshire countryside.”

Phil Latham, of the nearby Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre, said: “The Delamere Loop is a great addition to the area’s equestrian offering and will hopefully introduce new clients to our area and hopefully some of these will want to use our facilities.

“It’s possible that we may be able to attract new clients on the back of being able to offer riders a base from which they can use our facilities and also do the Loop.

“The Loop may benefit a whole range of businesses in the area from accommodation to pubs and garages.”

Diane Hall, who runs Akesmere Farm B&B, Chester Road, Little Budworth, hopes her five stables and seven bedrooms will be in constant use by visitors to the Loop.

“We are positioned right on the route so hopefully more people will come and stay here,” she said.

Summertrees Cafe, Tirley Lane, Kelsall, say that although the majority of their trade comes from ramblers, an increase in visitors on horseback would be more than welcome.

Owner Barbara Bates said: “I will be putting a sign up saying that horses are welcome. They could be tethered up and given a bucket of water while their riders enjoy a cream tea and some of our homemade hot and cold food.”

Amy Rushton, countryside access development team leader, said the opening of the Loop was a proud moment for her and the Rights of Way team which has been working on behalf of Cheshire County Council.

She said: “I have been working on this project for two years so to see it finally open and ready for horse riders to use is just fantastic. Whenever I drive past and see the Delamere Loop signs you think ‘we did that’.”

Such is Cheshire’s country- wide reputation for horse-riding facilities, a holiday firm in Tarporley that caters purely for equestrianism enthusiasts is enjoying huge increases in bookings.

Equestrian Escapes managing director Sarah Caplan said: “There are so many business opportunities for people to open up a stables or accommodation on the other side of the Loop.

“This year has been completely mad. Our bookings are 400% up on last year.

“We run a package which gives people horse riding on each day but also the opportunity to visit the other attractions.”