There’s little my kids love more than getting completely covered in mud while playing on equipment that looks like it should have been decommissioned by Health and Safety a decade or three ago.
And Manley Mere’s adventure trail is pretty much this – and a lot of it.
The whole premise is a very muddy trail with lots of obstacles and equipment. But it’s not like neatly polished and bright coloured playground equipment. Far from it. It looks like equipment made from old industrial kit and it honestly looks unsafe! It isn’t of course, when used according to the instructions. But it has that look of an appealing level of danger and that’s one of the reasons, I have no doubt, that my children love it here so much.
Climbing nets, huge free fall slides, swings, dodgy bridges over the river and even a seesaw that dips one side into a muddy pond – there’s so much here.
Let’s look at the facts.
Manley Mere Adventure Trail in a Nutshell
| What is it? | It’s essentially a large outdoor adventure playground but with raft riding, high ropes and an obstacle course as opposed to just your usual run of the mill playground stuff. |
| Where is it? | Cheshire (WA6 0PE) |
| Getting there | Difficult with public transport. Plenty of parking for cars though |
| Price | £14.50 – free for under 5s and over 60s |
| Extra Costs | NA |
| Food and Drink Options | There’s a restaurant on site but it’s not really a casul sandwhich type of place. There’s a kiosk at the trail entry which does ice cream |
| The Best Bits | It’s so much fun. The kids loves the see saw that dips one side in the water. The zip lines across the park are also a hit |
| The Worst Bits | The changing rooms are outdoor huts – so it’s freezing getting changed. But just be prepared for it – especially if you go outside of the summer months |
Manley Mere Review – What’s It Like?
Want the short version? In a nutshell, this is a 10/10 day according to my sons.
We’ve been four times now and every single time they absolutely love it.
You absolutely WILL need changes of clothes for the kids (and maybe the adults too). If it has been wet, then you’ll be muddy from early doors. If it’s been really dry, you do have the option to escape a lot of the mud. But if your kids are anything like mine, that probably won’t happen.
Here are some snaps:
Amongst the “attractions” for my sons is the big mud pond. Straight in. All of the,. Every single time.
There are several tightrope style obstacles around the trail. They’re high enough to feel challenging enough for the kids and a bit scary, but not so high that you’ll experience anything other than a bruise or two and a very muddy bum if you fall.
The scramble net follows the muddy pond. So this is usually tackled by my sons when they’re soaking wet through and wearing half of the mud in Cheshire.
There are lots of tyre based “attractions” and tyre swings around the site.
My youngest is never as happy as he is when he’s covered in mud. He’s autistic and loves to be outside. This is one of the greatest days out for him!
More tightroping.
Is Manley Mere Good Value for Money?
The photos above show the tiniest part of what is there. Add to that human hamster wheels, free fall slides, bridges and play equipment everywhere you turn, and I think it really is good value yes.
I’ve never been anywhere else quite like it (the Crocky Trail isn’t quite like this).
Tips for Manley Mere
Personally, after the first time I visited, I stuck with making packed lunches. Worth the extra effort not to have to go into the restaurant. After diving through mud for hours, the last thing I want the kids doing is sitting down in a pretty “nice” restaurant. I usually want a quick takeaway sandwich. Packed lunches work well for us.
Definitely don’t forget the change of clothes and take an overhead towel too. The changing rooms are outdoor huts and they’re freezing!! So you’ll want to be quick and an overhead thick towel will help keep the cold off.
Don’t be afraid to go in wet weather. The muddier the better for most kids, I reckon!
We love it. And I’ll no doubt be back again!
