Gibbet Mill Woodbank

Gibbet Mill is in Woodbank, which is a bit of countryside near Chester. It's an old windmill. It really is from about 1610. We think it's one of the oldest around.

It sleeps six. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms. It's got a four star rating, but honestly, the star is for the history and how it's set up inside, not for luxury. It's a windmill, so the main feature is the stairs. They're spiral, they're open-tread, and there are a lot of them. It's four floors up to the main bedroom.

Because of the shape, the walls curve and the ceilings are low in places. You get used to it. The main bedroom is right at the top under the old sail framework, with big views over the fields. There's a little balcony up there.

Downstairs, the kitchen is modern and works fine. The only table is a breakfast bar there. The sitting room has a glass panel in the floor so you can look down into the kitchen, which is a bit different.

There's a garden you can use. A public footpath goes right past it, so you can start a walk from the door. There's a pub that does food you can walk to. The village of Saughall is close for shops.

Chester is about five miles away. That's where you go for everything: the zoo, the racecourse, proper shops. Chester Zoo is a big day out. North Wales and the coast are about a half hour drive if you fancy that. The National Trust has a few places nearby, like Dudmaston.

For facilities: it's detached, there's parking, WiFi, a washing machine, dishwasher, and bedding is included. You can bring up to two dogs.

Useful link for planning walks: Cheshire West council pages have local footpath maps.