If you play that word association game, starting with 'Cheshire' there are only two possible ways to go; 'cat' or 'cheese'. Well, forget the cat bit and let's talk cheese. Glorious soft pale cheese has been made in Cheshire for many hundreds of years - with milk from some of the best dairy herds in the country, fed on lush, rich grass.

But when it comes to great things to eat though there's a lot more to Cheshire than cheese. And now you don't have to go far to find them. Have a look at the new website tastecheshire.com when you have an idle moment and you'll see what I mean. Firstly it'll make your mouth water, and secondly it'll make you rush to book a break in the luxurious self-catering cottages at Combermere Abbey so that you can explore the county's gourmet experiences for yourself.

Tastecheshire has details of all the farmers' markets in the county and the sort of glorious produce you can find there, places to eat out - ranging from tea shops to high-end restaurants, foodie events and festivals, and even recipes to try, using Cheshire produce. It's all truly inspirational.

One of the Combermere Abbey cottages makes the ideal base for exploring north into Cheshire and south into Shropshire. There are special prices for 2012, and this year the mini and breaks are all priced the same for fifty weeks out of fifty two. The cottages themselves are beautifully and individually decorated and really are the last word in luxury. Click here for more details and availability. Now, I've got the Cheshire cheese - have you got the crackers?