Not far away from you at all.
I can recommend the Cheshire Cycleway - well signposted & mostly pleasant little roads. A ride from Crewe towards Wrenbury & back is a fairly usual Sunday out for me. If that's a bit tame, you can always head towards Mow Cop, and keep telling yourself how flat Cheshire is
Quick Edit: If you've a bike that doesn't mind rough ground, RCN5 is worth a look too - easy to pick up at Sandbach & a nice ride into Middlewich. The towpath section there was closed last time I had a look (this April) but it goes to Chester, apparently.