Hare Hill is a small National Trust site but don’t let its size put you off visiting. In fact with young children it’s size is a positive thing. It is a small woodland and beautiful walled garden in Cheshire. There is a walled garden in the centre which is well maintained. It’s the perfect place to let toddlers run around without fear of them running off. There’s even a second-hand book for sale area (with an honesty box), greenhouse and plants for sale area. There are a couple of ponds, a bee hive, a bird hide. There are also plenty of logs left around for kids to balance on. Find more great family days out North West here.
The walled garden is a lovely sheltered spot for a picnic. The garden in spring is beautiful but I am already planning on going back over the summer when different flowers will be in bloom.
We first visited with a group of friends mid-May and have returned twice since! Granted we only live a short drive away and are National Trust members. On our third visit, we took part in a half-term activity ‘Plant it, grow it, eat it” where my eldest enjoyed planting dried peas. We’ve also seen birds of prey there in October half-term.
A new addition for 2019 is explorer backpacks for children. My two love these little green rucksacks filled with things to help them enjoy nature and our visit. There’s a lovely large wooden magnifying glass, some mini binoculars, a nature fact and joke book (a gorgeous book from Nosy Crow and the National trust that you can buy here).
Our tips for visiting Hare Hill National Trust
- Picnics are welcomed. There are only a couple of picnic benches but there is a lovely flat lawn in the walled garden, perfect for putting down a picnic blanket.
- A map is available from the entry kiosk. This is useful for your first visit as despite being fairly small, there are various different paths and you don’t want to miss any of the hare’s.
- Nature explores rucksack is available free for hire from the entrance hut.
- Bikes, scooters and ball games are not allowed.
- Toilets and baby changing facilities are available behind the walled garden. There is also a secondhand book shop with an honesty box.
- There is no cafe. Some days there is a mobile coffee/ice cream van near the walled garden.
- There are 3 large ponds so stick to the paths and keep your children in sight.
- Hare hill closes from the end of October half term and usually reopens for February half term but check their website to confirm before you visit.
- If you want to do more walking then you can combine a walk around Hare hill with a longer walk to Alderley edge woods.
- Find out more about Alderley edge walks for families here.
Looking for more National Trusts to visit in The North West?
Find loads of different walks at 11 different National Trusts across the North West here – National Trust walks North West
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Disclosure – This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them I may get a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay. Looking for another National Trust to visit in the North West? Why not visit my post on Wray Castle.
Although a bit different from the other National Trust properties you hear about, Hare Hill looks like a lovely place to wile away a couple of hours with children in tow. Lots of lovely pictures included in this post also.
Thanks. It does seem very popular with families.
Hare Hill is such a beautiful place to explore – I loved wandering around the gardens. I combined it with a trip to the nearby NT site at Alderley Edge to make the most of my time in the area.
We love alderley edge woods too. Before we had kids we would walk from the woods to hare hill.
What a beautiful place to visit, gorgeous gardens. I love taking the kids to National Trust properties and seeing them enjoying themselves in the great outdoors.
National Trust sites are great for children.
That looks like another great NT site, that wisteria is fab. Love the rabbits too #CountryKids
It is a lovely site.
I actually meant the small size may put people off. I’ll go back and edit that. We love National Trust too.
It is lovely.
You’ve just reminded me, we’ve not booked it yet! I’m pleased you have enjoyed my Instagram photos this week. Places like this make it easy to capture beautiful photos.
Thank you. It’s pretty small for National Trust but still so much to do.
My eldest loves it here.
This looks like such a lovely place to visit. It is not too far away from us – I love a walled garden! Beautiful photos #countrykids
Me too. I didn’t realise you were local.
What a gorgeous place for a day out. My girls would love climbing those trees and the gardens look beautiful. I love the carved hares too. We picked up some free lettuce seeds last year at a National Trust site for our first “plant it, grow it, eat it” experience – the girls weren’t too keen on eating the lettuce but enjoyed seeing it grow! So lovely to have somewhere like this so close by and be able to visit regularly 🙂 #countrykids
It’s great to encourage gardening with kids and learn where food comes from.
I go to Cheshire every few months to see my friend and I hadn’t heard of this place – I’ll have to look it up – looks like a perfect spot for a picnic though #CountryKids
It’s a gorgeous place for a picnic