Astbury Mere is a lake and open area in Congleton.
The country park has an area of 14 hectares and the lake covers 43 acres.
It’s open from 9:00 until dusk every day of the year, except Christmas Day. Admission is free of charge but parking is pay and display.
Taken from the Astbury Mere website –
“The lakeside path around Astbury Mere is suitable for pushchairs and independent wheelchairs. A pre-booked manual wheelchair is available from the Ranger Service.
Cross the car park and enter the site at the entrance by the noticeboard. Bear right and follow the lakeside path to complete a circuit of the lake. There is seating every 100m along the path. Allow about 40 minutes to walk the circular route around the mere.”
Facilities include a cafe (limited sweating indoors, seating outdoors or take away and enjoy on your walk) and toilets.
What local parents say –
“good with a pram”
“easy, safe walk with the kids”
Astbury Mere Country Park, Sandy Lane, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4FP
The Biddulph Valley Way follows the route of a disused railway and offers a lovely walk through beautiful countryside.
Parking information (taken from the ‘Walks for All in Cheshire East’ leaflet) – small lay-by on Brook Street by a telephone box, located between Tommy’s Lane and Brunswick Street. Alternatively, a small amount of parking is available along the track leading off Brook Street to the Way. Approximate postcode: CW12 1RG.
Local parents call the walk ‘ideal’ for pushchairs.
The Biddulph Valley Way is best accessed off the A54 Brook Street in Congleton.
The main loop is largely flat and pushchair friendly – you can veer off and explore the plentiful woodland if you have older kids with you, but this is naturally harder to navigate with a buggy.
The park is open by 8.45am each day, and closes at 5pm during the winter, and 8.30pm during British Summer Time.
There’s a large pay and display car park which cost us £2 for 3 hours last time we visited.
Facilities wise, there are toilets in the car park and plenty of room for a picnic (no cafe though). In high season there’s often an ice cream van in the carpark.
What local parents say –
“Great for all ages – easy to push the buggy and the older kids love the ducks and exploring the woods”
“A nice easy walk”
Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve, Davenport Lane, Brereton Heath Congleton, CW12 4SU
The short route (1.5 miles) is buggy friendly (although it is very hilly on places!) Its s great day out for families with loads of amenities – plenty of places to picnic, dens to play in, large cafe, toilets, shop and large play area with sand pit and ice cream kiosk. Plenty of parking in the pay and display car parks.
They usually put on seasonal trails too (Easter, Halloween, Christmas etc) – you collect clues at the shop, walk around solving them and claim your prize at the end.
Pathways are all tarmacked all the way around meaning they are suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs and bicycles.
What parents say –
“It really is a full day out, lots to do for all ages’
“The ground is largely flat so good for buggies, but there are a few hills to get up”
“The paths are very buggy friendly but be aware that it is hilly in places”
Meerbrook, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 8SW
A local parent put it better than we can (thank you!!)
“Poynton Pool is great for children and is buggy friendly.
There is a car park and a circular path or fields to run in. Lots of ducklings and lambs in the spring and an area with fallen trees/logs to climb on.”
London Road North, Poynton.
There is also a car park on South Park Drive.
If you want to take your own food, there are many benches and picnic tables around the lake.
