Tegg's Nose Country Park
A gritstone hill above Macclesfield with old quarry machinery to clamber round, a summit view across the whole Cheshire Plain and a good coffee shop at the bottom. Free apart from the pay and display car park.
Substation Macclesfield
- Cost
- Family day pass £50, under-18s £12.50
- Ages
- 5 to 17
- Where
- Macclesfield, Cheshire
- Weather
- Works in the rain
- Booking
- Book online
Substation Macclesfield is a bouldering centre in Hurdsfield, which means short climbing walls without ropes, landing on thick padded floor. It runs passes for kids and families, term-time and holiday clubs for 5 to 14s, and a cafe that does coffee, toasties and cake every day, plus pizza from 12 to 3.30 at weekends and bank holidays. There is a free private car park, and lockers and showers.
A day pass has no time limit. Adults pay £13.50, under-18s £12.50 and 0 to 5s £8, and a family pass for two adults and up to four children is £50 with shoes included. For first-timers the family introduction is a 30 minute lesson with a coach, priced at £38 on the home page and £50 on the family page, so check at booking. There is no minimum age.
The rules are what decide whether it works for you. Each adult can supervise two under-18s at most, and they must stay within reach, because a running child under someone falling off a wall is a real injury risk. The centre says plainly it is not a soft play. Fourteen to 17 year olds can take an assessment to climb unsupervised. Most people climb for one to two hours before their forearms give up.
What it costs: Day pass, no time limit: adult £13.50, under-18 or concession £12.50, 0 to 5s £8. Family day pass (2 adults, up to 4 under-18s) £50 with climbing shoes included. Family intro with a coach is listed at £38 on the home page and £49 to £50 on the Kids and Families page. Shoe hire is included for children 10 and under.
Know before you go
- The supervision rule is strict: one adult to every two under-18s, within reach at all times. With three children you need two adults climbing or spotting.
- Book the family introduction if nobody has bouldered before. It is a 30 minute lesson with a coach, then you stay all day on the same ticket.
- The building is not wheelchair accessible.
Worth knowing: No minimum age, but one adult per two under-18s, within reach.
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