Riverside, Chester

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The River Dee travels through Wales and England and forms part of the boundry between the two countries.The river flows through Chester and is very poular with locals and tourists especially during thr summer months when many people take to the river on rowing boats and boat tours were you can take a daytime or evening cruise down the river.
The river banks have plenty of benches to sit and relax and there are plenty of pubs and cafe's to visit as well.

boat tours start at £12.50 for adults and £2.50 for kids with Chester city cruise.

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If the weather allows it the River side is a lovely place to sit and watch the world go by. There is a great Ice Cream Kiosk as well as a Pub Restaurant, along the river there are plenty of benches to sit on where you can eat your packed lunch as we did.
Various boats leave from here on short cruises up the River.

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The fantastic riverside walk alongside the River Dee was opened in the 19th Century. Here you can stop for a snack and a drink at one of the cafe's, just sit and watch the World go by. Or if you're feeling more energetic there are a wide range of boats available for hire or you can take a boat trip up river to soak up your surroundings. Also, evey Sunday during the summer months you'll be able to catch a concert at the Edwardian Bandstand - a perfect way to while away the hours.

The banks of the River Dee offer lots of lovely seating and views of the river, boats and ducks. There is an ice cream kiosk which serves lovely '99 flakes, but beware the large ones, they really mean large!

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If you follow the city wall tour eventually you will come to the River Dee.
You can take a cruise, rowing boat or just watch the world go by.
There are small huts along the River selling refreshments, ice creams, coffees ect.
Along the other side of the road there are Bistros, restuarants and snack bars.

Fancy a mini cruise along the River Dee in what looks like a Mississipi showboat. The Mark Twain and the Lady Diana.

There is the City River Cruise which lasts 30 minutes and costs £6.00.
The Ironbridge Cruise which lasts 2 hours and passes through the estate (Eaton) of the Duke and Duchess of Westminster (I think he is the second richest person in the UK).
Or you can buy a bus and boat ticket which includes the hop on tour bus and the 30 minute cruise and that costs £13.50

The cruises are available April - October daily 11am - 5pm
November - March, weekends only 11am-4pm

The boats are also available for hire for private functions and there are evening themed cruises you can book for.

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One can enjoy a lovely hour or two on the River Dee aboard one of these tour boats. Narrated tours provide much historical insight on this old city.

The River Dee at Chester is a favorite place for rowing crews to train, because it has a nearly mile-long straight stretch nearby--very unusual, and perfect for all-out, hard rowing.

Another interesting spot lies along the banks. Among the row of houses is a patch of land that is completely overgrown with trees, shrubs, bushes, and weeds. No one has ever built on it. According to the narrator, this is where accused witches were tried in the Dark Ages. They were dunked into the river. Any who drowned were acquitted; those who floated were convicted and burned at the stake. So to this day, the spot is considered cursed.

This barbaric practice was common in Europe for centuries. York, Edinburgh, and other historic cities have similar places and stories.

The Groves, Chester's riverside promenade. Walk along the riverside.
There are refreshment kiosks, pubs and landing stages from where boats depart for cruises up the Dee and from where rowing- and motorboats can be hired.

The Old Dee Bridge, comprising seven unequal arches and built- much as we see it today- about the year 1387, on the site of a succession of earlier wooden bridges and a pre-Roman fording place.
The bridge is mentioned as part of Chester's entry in the Doomsday Book:

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The Old Dee Bridge is, indeed, very old. It was built in 1387. It has seven arches all of unequal dimensions. It was built over the site of a Roman ford.