The National Trust site of Hare Hill in Alderley, Nr Macclesfield is a tranquil wooded garden, surrounded by historic parkland, with a delightful walled garden at its heart. It was construction as a country estate in the 18th century, then finally the National Trust took over the ownership in 1977.
The site features spectacular white perennial borders, a pergola and wire horse sculptures within the rose beds. There is also a woodland garden with many rhododendrons and azaleas, and pond areas with rustic wooden bridges to walk across. The surrounding parkland offers a permissive path to Alderley Edge, open at the same time as the garden.
Top Info
🌼 Small walled gardens and woodland
📅 Open Feb - Oct
⏰ Open Wed - Sun 10.30am - 5pm
🍃 Nature Backpack for children
👶 Paths are pushchair friendly
🍦Coffee, snacks and ice cream available from entrance
🚗 Free Car Park
🚻 Toilets
📖 Second hand book shop
🐕 Dogs welcome, on a short lead in the Parkland only which is outside of the main site
🐕 No Dogs allowed apart from assistant dogs in the wooded garden and walled garden.
🌎 Alderley, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 4PY
Hare Hill is a sweet little place for a gentle walk around and to sit and relax inside the walled garden.
During the summer months the gardens are filled with pots of tulips, foxgloves, and summer boarders of colour where ever you look. The highlight of the walled garden has to be their white pergola laden with beautiful wisteria. It is quite striking and looks gorgeous. You can take the path below it and sit on a bench hidden away in the wall and look out to the garden and pass the time people watching.
Wooded Garden
Outside the walled gardens are paths that lead you around the woodland. Along the paths are beautiful rhododendrons. In every shade of white, pink and purple these bushes are in full bloom in May so well worth a visit.
Pond Life
In the wooden garden there is the pond area with 3 rustic wooden bridges that cross over. These make an exciting adventure for children but be careful by the open water.
Pushchair Friendly
The paths are suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. They are wide and flat. There is a couple of sets of steps but there are alternative flat routes to miss the steps so you dont really miss seeing anywhere.
Family Fun in the Garden
There is a natural play area, this was mainly dens which have been made from the natural materials of the wood. A couple of mud kitchens and a hobby horse to encourage imaginative play. Sadly the swing was out of action on our visit.
Borrow a Backpack
You can borrow a free kids’ nature pack from the entrance building. These include a pair of small binoculars, a large wooden magnifying glass, and a fact sheet of wildlife to look out for.
My daughter borrowed one of these for our visit and enjoyed using the equipment to get a closer look at nature.
Extra Activities
As with any National Trust site they put on extra events and activities during school holidays. They do an Easter Egg hunt in April and children's yoga classes in the summer.
Bird Spotting
The Bird Hide at Hare Hill is a quiet and peaceful place to sit, do a spot of bird watching and listen to the chirps and chatterings of the many winged wonders of the woodlands. There is a Bird Guide on the wall to help you identify some familiar favourites and maybe some you are yet to discover....
Food & Drink
Make the most of your day by bringing a picnic: there are lots of benches throughout Hare Hill or you can bring a blanket and find a spot on the lawn in the Walled Garden.
Hot drinks, chocolate bars and ice creams are sold at the entrance but there is nothing else available.
Price of Visiting Hare Hill?
Hare Hill is free to visit if you are National Trust members. The prices for non-members (May 2024) is £9 for adults and £4.50 for kids.
🌳To find out about more of the North West National Trust sites including Quarry Bank and Tatton Park click here to see the full list of sites
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