Astbury Mere Blog

Nature Watch – The park wakes up in spring

Jul 5, 2021 | Environment

Margaret, one of our trustees, took a look around the park during the spring. These is what she saw: “During lockdown, we've all seen more closely the gradual changing of the seasons with the first tentative snowdrops, the catkins and the pussy willow. The Park...

AMCP Footpath Improvements

Apr 15, 2021 | News

The Park has been extremely popular during Covid_19 and the additional strain on the path, coupled with natural erosion to its surface, has led to the path needing new drains and resurfacing. The path from Astbury Street into AMCP was well worn and in need repair. ...

Trustees & Volunteers Needed at Astbury Mere Congleton

Mar 24, 2021 | News

Trustees Wanted Outdoor parks and similar places to meet have never been more valuable to the community than now. If you would like to do something new and community-based this year, why not volunteer to help Astbury Mere Country Park’s Board of Trustees. Ideally,...

Co-op Local Community Fund Support Astbury Mere!

Feb 1, 2021 | Events, News

We’re delighted Astbury Mere Country Park has been selected to take part in the Co-op Local Community Fund, all CO-OP members need to do is select Astbury Mere as the cause they would like to support! Local stores in our community are: Business Store Name Store Post...

Walking during periods of social distancing

Jan 10, 2021 | Environment, News

The outbreak of COVID-19 has turned many people's world's upside down, social distancing, furlough, homeschooling, working from home etc are all terms and practises we have had to get used to over the last year! But it is as important as ever that we do what we can...

Keeping the country side safe during COVID-19

Jan 8, 2021 | News

Get the latest information from GOV.UK about coronavirus. If you're planning on spending time in your local countryside for your daily exercise, please enjoy green spaces safely and remember to: Stick to designated pathways Keep dogs under effective control...

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Get in Touch

Astbury Mere Trust is always looking to improve the park so please get in contact if you have any feedback, questions or ideas!

For events and organisations who use the park please contact the providers directly, contact details on the What's On Page.

Astbury Mere Country Park

4.5

Based on 1214 reviews

review us on

Karen lowe

15:49 11 Nov 22

Lovely large lake to walk around. Dog-friendly, with lots of bins, lovely bonus, and nice benches all around to take a rest, and admire the veiw.
Paths all on the flat, so good for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
Lots of areas for the dogs to run.
Very welcoming café for a nice hot chocolate, or latte to warm you up after a chilly walk. Selection of snacks, and a couple of covered areas to sit, which is nice.
Just 50p to park for 4hrs which is fabulous.
Lovely place to visit.

John Livesey

21:23 10 Nov 22

Lovely for a short stroll if you’re near Congleton. Car park is good and there’s a cafe on site. Very popular with walkers and joggers. Lots of furry friends too. Recommended.

Peter Croxton

11:59 04 Sep 22

It's a pleasant walk round the lake, with a lovely little coffee bar adjacent to the carpark. Parking costs only 50p, so very reasonable. A field for children to play makes it an ideal place for young families.

Kevin Richards

10:14 10 Aug 22

A beautiful location, with a coffee shop that has outside seating.
The coffee is good quality and they have pleasant staff.
The walk around Astbury is just enough for most middle aged or older walkers...Or if you are feeling a tad more enthusiastic you can go and explore or participate in kayaking/canoeing at the top end of the park.
Recommended to those of all ages....and dog friendly.

Matthew Plummer

07:24 09 Aug 22

What a jewel in the Cheshire countryside! V.secluded you would not know it us there from the road or town.
One of the many sand removal sites, now a country park.
Home to the Congleton Park run 9am every Saturday morning.
Also home to Peak pursuits using the lake for outdoor watersports and to the Indian restaurant Nobano.
Strangely, water rights have been purchased Stoke-On-Trent anglers.
Has 3 story town houses which look over the lake.
Footpath which is well maintained round the full lake, coffee outlet at the visitor center.
V.relaxing not too busy.

Lynn Higgins

20:51 14 Jul 22

There is a car park which is larger enough to take a number of cars. It costs 50p for 4 hours. The Park is open from 9am to dusk except Christmas day. The park has a visitor centre. There are a number of seats around the country park. There are different trails to follow. The Park has a lake. You can walk around the lake it is approximately 1 miles and is wheelchair friendly. Dogs are welcome. There are activities that take place in the park these are listed on the website. On the lake a number of water sport activities can take placed. These can be booked via Astbury Water Sports Centre which has a building opposite the lake.

Lee Schofield

05:52 14 Jul 22

This is one of those spots that is a little off the beaten track so easily missed. Cheap parking and a little place for snacks, drinks and ice-cream on site too. The walk around the mere will take 30 mins to over an hour depending on you (and your dog). A little gem of a place to spend a couple of hours..

Mohammed Nagim

14:26 13 Jul 22

No cycling paths very poor signage to indicate this the direction we came in from only to be interrupted by some fat bloke standing in our way reiterating there was no cycling, nothing remotely interesting around the lake felt really empty and boring however the coffee shop was actually quite good. Overall I’d recommend Westport Lake ahead of this a lot more on offer in terms of nature and very welcoming public.

Anne Hewitt (Betty Moggins)

14:42 01 Jul 22

Lovely park, confused why there where signs all over saying not to go in or near water then a sign saying birds nesting.
Shame the benches on the footpaths around the lake haven't had the bushes/trees clipped back so you can sit and enjoy the lake view.
Is a lovely clean and pleasant park and accessible on my scooter.

Rob Knight

19:45 16 Jun 22

Beautiful walk,with coffee shop and ice creams etc...dogs welcome ,and fishing available if your in the club .

Ian Read

07:43 24 May 22

I thought this place was ok. Large car park. Large lake. I was there 07.00am it was quiet I only explored the immediate car park area which seemed a bit plain. So will come again and explore further afield. Facilities seemed ok.

John Shakespeare

14:25 01 May 22

Very nice area to walk. Several different walks. Cafe on site. Only draw back parking is not free. Although its cheap.

R P

15:07 21 Apr 22

Beautiful place, with a few different walks you can choose either stick to the lake or go up in the woods, you can even walk to the canal from here without being on a road at all. There is a path in the woods that leads you to the fol hollow path that goes all the way to the canal. This country park is also only 10min walk from the town centre

Patricia Lewis

21:54 12 Apr 22

Love going here. Changes are unfortunate. Cycling family, now only children, no adults. Dogs on leads, that's a laugh, many dogs let off leads as soon as they are on the path. Not all of them.

Patti Pinto

11:54 02 Apr 22

Fantastic well-used country park, on Congleton's doorstep.
Great for wildlife, well-being, walking, watching the waterbirds.
There is pram-fit, dogfather, walking groups, fun- run, activities on the mere (sailing, canoeing etc), angling (for members)
Car park, 50p/4 hours

Ken Bithell

13:58 30 Mar 22

Easy to find..hard standing car park..well looked after..50p for 4 hours car stay..lovely friendly cafe which is card only..a knowledgeable visitors centre .easy distance from Congleton town centre..various distance walks..good for all walking..dog friendly

John Weir

20:38 23 Mar 22

Real nice 1 mile wall around the mere. Footpaths in good condition. Plenty of benches to stop and take in the views.
Car parking cost is 50p for 4 hours.

Christopher Taylor

12:19 13 Mar 22

Love it here. Nice and flat for a walk around just about a mile all the way round.

Jeanette Jackson

18:59 16 Jan 22

Fantastic place for All the family. Went with our grandson whos very curious about everything. Our dog loves to play ball there.we usually get a drink & a snack too.

Allan West

13:26 14 Jan 22

Lovely place. We had a refreshing walk around the Mere. Nice scenery and facilities were good.
Great way to blow out those cobwebs and get some fresh air. Parking fees are 50p for 4 hrs.

W Mewmew (MewMew)

12:55 12 Dec 21

For the location, being near a large town, it is ok. However, it's pretty crowded on a weekend afternoon. Parking can be a nightmare.

Personally, I prefer Brereton Heath as it's more rural, wooded and has better walks.

Sandy Wright

10:48 27 Sep 21

Lovely walk around the mere. Pleanty of benches to rest. Wild life abundant.

Manda Moo

14:43 09 Sep 21

Lovely park. 1 mile lap around the perimeter. Beautiful. And they host park run every Saturday at 9am.

Martin Fox

19:33 03 Sep 21

Beautiful place for a walk on your own or your family and dogs. Plenty of dog bins. Stunning views, fishing and water sports. Coffee shop also on site and cheap parking

Diane Burnett

22:17 01 Sep 21

First time visitor. A lovely place not massively busy my 12 year d really loved walking around the lake with the dog. Toilets nice and clean and a lovely little cafe for hot and cold drinks and snacks and icecream. Cafe only takes card and you will need either 50p or a pound for the carpark. £1.00 all day parking is a bargain. There was a lovely little craft Market on when we went.

Sue Pearson

05:00 03 Aug 21

Lovely walk around the lake and watching the younger members of the family paddle board. Perfect afternoon was had by all.

Ursula Price

07:12 09 Jul 21

Great for wheel chair users or anyone with mobility problems. It's lovely and flat and not a big distance to walk and enjoy. We love it. Great for a coffee or ice cream at the little cafe. 👍

Ian Hignett

13:16 29 Jun 21

Beautiful lake with flat accessible circular trail around it plus some steeper paths for the more adventurous / able. Plenty of parking, minimal charge but it helps with the upkeep. Great coffee bar / ice cream counter and clean accessible toilets

Jean Mckay

17:56 20 Jun 21

The hotel itself is very nice, clean and comfortable and the staff were friendly. Unfortunately the area outside is very unkempt and so the approach to the hotel isn't very nice. It is a service area which just isn't looked after and a simple tidy up would make all the difference

Melissa Booth

10:20 02 Jun 21

Lovely walk with great scenery, plenty of benches to rest around the lake and a large grass area for picnics. Parking is only 50p for 4 hours. There are public toilets and a little cafe. Overall great day out.

Tj Mean

17:42 13 Apr 21

Beautiful place to walk around. Parking was just 50p for 4 hours which was plenty. Nice little coffee shop serving what you would expect and plenty of bins. You can tell they look after the park here

John Hunter

17:15 12 Apr 21

Lovely park. The path around the mere is almost exactly a mile. Perfect for an exercise routine. Parking. Visitor centre. Cafe. Perfect.

shahzada nawaz

00:33 11 Apr 21

Beautiful place for a day out. Very nice picnic area. Parking can be an issue on a busy day but it is cheap. Clean toilet on site. Good day out with kids and nice even circular path around the reservoir. Definitely recommend to check out.

Mick Jackson

20:50 07 Apr 21

Been tidied up since I last visited. Nice place for a gentle walk. Access good,flat, level surface to walk on. Car parking 50 p for up to 4 hours. £1 all day. That's a good deal as green spaces local to us are ratcheting up parking fees. Indian restaurant and a café on site . Hopefully we can use them normally soon. Fishing and water sports on site.

Emma Harrington

06:43 07 Apr 21

Great country park, flat path all the way round the lake. The route is about 1 mile. There are other paths and trails through woodland too. Very well kept. There are benches to. Parking is very good and the fee is 50p. This is a well used country park by fishermen, runners and walkers. Gets busy, particularly at weekends.

Nicki Mayers

13:49 05 Apr 21

Lovely wide, well-kept paths. Plenty of open space and benches and a great little cafe selling a good selection of drinks and snacks

Steve Whitehurst

15:00 03 Apr 21

Lovely walk round the lake. Good paths. Approx 1 mile round no hills ideal for walkers or wheelchairs.

Diane Welch

14:51 27 Mar 21

First visit and definitely won't be the last. I can see that it could get very busy when the nice weather comes along.

Talia Lyndsay

09:47 27 Mar 21

Lovely place to walk or cycle round. If you're walking I'd recommend the Isabella Plantation or avoiding the road- far more to be seen off the beaten track.

Debi Scott

23:07 09 Mar 21

Beautiful place, limited parking but it's usually enough, just especially busy just now. Very reasonable charge for parking and it goes towards the upkeep of the park. Coffee shop on site also toilets ( currently closed ?)

stefankaz53

14:01 03 Mar 21

Has a good cafe on site, get a hot drink and food. The park itself is a comfortable walk round about half a mile.

Gareth Houghton

08:18 28 Feb 21

1 mile loop walk around the mere.
Limited parking available, its 50p and contributes to the upkeep of the park yet visitors insist on parking on the residential road outside causing traffic problems.
Small takeaway on site for got and cold drinks.
Dog water provided looked like it was straight from the mere and when asked for fresh was met a frosty response.
Not much social distancing or walking in families going on.
At the moment its 1 star, will revisit in the new world.

Michael Hughes

20:14 26 Feb 21

Great place for a short walk (1 mile), and some fresh air.
Good facilities, and parking is only 50p!!

Richard Williams

13:00 22 Jan 21

Lovely flat circular walk around the mere. Benches to enjoy the views and fresh Coffee from the Cafe in the main car park.

James Challinor

13:22 05 Dec 20

Lovely place to walk your dog or go for a run. The footpath is mostly wide all the way round so it is easy for people to pass without getting too close. Car parking is £0.50 minimum, cash only.

Dave Larson

10:20 18 Oct 20

A really nice place for a short walk. It’s just over a mile round the mere on wheelchair friendly paths and at 50p parking for four hours, it’s reasonable to park. It’s dog friendly, with areas for them to be off the lead, with plenty of dog waste bins. They even have a small area for dogs to paddle or swim if your dog like water.

Iain Nash

21:42 14 Sep 20

A great place to walk dogs or play with the kids or push a pram or just go for a stroll. Stick to the flat path round the mere or climb the steps and walk through the woods.

Most of the lakeside is set aside for anglers but there's one dedicated spot for dogs and if you rent a boat or a kayak from the boating club, you can picnic on their grassy slope and even feed the ducks.

There's plenty of open space to throw balls for dogs or have a kickabout or just to sit and chill. Its a pretty spot and within spitting distance of the town centre of Congleton.

Just beware, it gets busy in the car park on nice days and the toilets are currently shut due to covid19.

20:48 14 Sep 20

A great place for a short stroll or a walk with (or without!) the kids through the woods or to push a pram around... with plenty of open space for a friendly kickabout or a picnic. Within walking distance of Congleton town centre this place is it great local resource and a lovely place to just spend some time.

A good place to walk a dog too. Most owners seem to be quite respectful and don't hang their poo bags in the trees

The ground around the Lake itself is owned by a local angling society so I assume it is great for fishing and there's a very handy boating centre which will rent out kayaks and other vessels.

Not a great place to feed the ducks with kids unless you are renting a boat as the only land you can get to by the water is either dedicated to dogs (so you won't find ducks there) or owned by the boat club.

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