Delamere, Cheshire
Hatchmere is a thirteen hectare reserve on the northern edge of Delamere Forest, run by Cheshire Wildlife Trust, and it is a different sort of place to the forest itself: open water, fen carr and dry woodland instead of conifer rows and a car park machine. The mere sits right beside the road, so you get a proper view of it before you have walked anywhere.
Great crested grebes nest here, along with reed bunting and willow warbler in the common reed and lesser reedmace. Up to thirteen species of dragonfly and damselfly have been recorded over the water, including the scarce hairy dragonfly, which makes a warm afternoon in June a genuinely good bug hunt. Heather, bilberry, cotton grass and sphagnum moss cover the drier ground.
It is free and open at any hour, and it has nothing else at all. No car park, no toilets, no cafe, no play equipment. Parking is on the road, and the Trust are direct about not blocking driveways and about the Carriers Inn car park being for customers. Pair it with Delamere Forest ten minutes down the road. On its own it does not justify the drive.
Worth knowing: Deep boggy pools are hidden in the vegetation either side of the paths. Keep everyone on the footpath and off the edge of the mere.
Seasonal: Dragonflies over the mere, May to September. Check before travelling.
Looking for more days out in Delamere?
Cheshire's biggest forest, set up properly for families: the Gruffalo sculptures still stand along the trail, 2026's new Room on the Broom activity trail runs from the visitor centre, and the whole loop is pram-friendly. Go Ape overhead for older kids.
Zip wires and treetop crossings through the tallest pines in Delamere Forest. The junior course takes them from six; the big course is a genuine test of nerve.
A giant inflatable obstacle course floating on a Cheshire lake: 50 minutes of climbing, sliding and falling in. Brilliant for confident swimmers aged 6 and up, no use at all for anyone smaller.