Alderley Edge (National Trust)
A red sandstone ridge with pine and beech woods, old mine workings and views to the Peak District. The Wizard's Wander is a 1 mile easy loop, there is a tea room by the car park, and walking is free. Parking is not.
Parks & outdoors Wilmslow & Styal
Parks & outdoors in Wilmslow & Styal
Playgrounds, country parks, woodland trails and nature reserves. Most of these cost nothing.
3 in Wilmslow & Styal3 free3 suit under-5s
Wilmslow's free outdoor spaces each do one job well. The Carrs Park is 71 acres of riverside parkland with a play area, tennis courts and an outdoor gym, and a flat path along the River Bollin that runs all the way to Quarry Bank at Styal; parking at Chancel Lane is paid. Lindow Common, on the western edge of town, is lowland heath around Black Lake, an SSSI and Local Nature Reserve. A surfaced path takes a pushchair round, which is unusual for a heath, but there is no cafe, no toilet and no play equipment.
Alderley Edge is the National Trust option: a red sandstone ridge with pine and beech woods, old mine workings and views to the Peak District. The Wizard's Wander is an easy 1 mile loop and there is a tea room by the car park. Walking is free, parking is £5 for four hours. For a swing go to the Carrs, for a cup of tea go to the Edge.
Parks & outdoors in Wilmslow & Styal
Lindow Common and Black Lake
Lowland heath on the western edge of Wilmslow, an SSSI and Local Nature Reserve with Black Lake in the middle. A surfaced path takes a pushchair round, which is unusual for a heath. No cafe, no toilet, no play equipment.
The Carrs Park
71 acres of riverside parkland on the edge of Wilmslow: play area, tennis courts, outdoor gym, and a flat path along the River Bollin that runs all the way to Quarry Bank at Styal. The best free walk-to-somewhere in this corner of Cheshire.
Parks & outdoors elsewhere in the North West
Walton Hall & Gardens
The reliable default: gardens, a children's zoo, a big playground and plenty of room to run. Pay for parking, nothing else.
Risley Moss
A raised peat bog nature reserve at Birchwood with woodland trails, bird hides and a visitor centre with toilets. Free, close and short enough for little legs, but closed on Fridays.
Sherdley Park
St Helens' biggest park. Play areas, open space and a walled garden, and it costs nothing.
Dream, Sutton Manor
A 20-metre white head rising out of a reclaimed colliery, with woodland trails around it. Genuinely strange and memorable for kids, and a short walk rather than a hike.
Sankey Valley Park
A green corridor of canal towpath and parkland running from St Helens down towards Warrington. Flat, traffic-free and ideal if the bikes or scooters are coming.
Speke Hall
A Tudor hall with woodland walks, a maze and a natural play area in the grounds. Free if you have National Trust membership, and the indoor house is a good rain fallback.
What’s on near you, every Friday
One email a week: what is on this weekend within a sensible drive, and the places worth booking before they go.