Manley Mere Wild Swimming

Manley Mere is a family-dug lake on a former dairy farm at Manley, Cheshire, WA6 0PE, between Chester and Warrington. Open-water sessions sit on the same water as the aquapark and adventure trail. Safety cover on the swim. Courses 250m, 500m and 750m, cut back in winter. You go because the North West has a NOWCA lake with a café and a £7.50 member swim, and because they will sell you a non-member go for £10. You also go knowing pleasure swimming the rest of the day is banned. The aquapark buoyancy-aid rule is for lake users, not a hint that you can jump in after lunch.

Getting in

NOWCA members: £7.50 a swim, children 8–15 £5, block of ten £70. Non-members £10 as a one-off. Members can turn up and pay as you go; they still recommend booking in heat, sun and holidays or you can be turned away. Waiver before you swim.

Summer grid on the official page: Saturday and Sunday 09:30–11:00. Thursday 08:30–10:00, except the last Thursday of the month. Tuesday evening 17:30–19:30. Last Thursday of the month is Swim & Supper 17:30–19:30 instead of the morning. Thursday nights were dropped for lack of interest. Holiday weeks may shift. Gates for the weekend mornings from 09:00. Check-in opens 30 minutes before water time; arrive earlier and parking is £3.

Minimum age 8, with an adult. Bright cap or tow float. Show the band at the car park. Free parking for swimmers during the session.

The swim

A dug farm lake, not a secret mere. 250 / 500 / 750m. Safety cover provided. Chameleon Café in the old milking parlour — hot food when they are not closed for a private function. Water temperature on the site widget was 19.6°C on 25 August 2026. That is a reading, not a promise. Winter they shorten the course.

The aquapark, adventure trail and guest day-passes are different products. Guest bands £5, 10:00–16:00, quieter periods only, and they do not include swimming. Car park £3 if you are just visiting the lake, £5 for larger vehicles.

Worth knowing

Unauthorised swimming is the thing they keep repeating, after “recent tragic incidents involving young people”. Children are not dropped here unsupervised. Named, booked, adult on site. No swimming outside the session times, including if you have a guest pass and the water looks inviting.

It is a busy family watersports site that happens to run a proper NOWCA swim. If you want a silent members’ quarry at dawn, this is the wrong Cheshire. If you want a marked loop, a café, and a band you can use at other NOWCA lakes, it is. Bring the bright hat. Do not treat the mere as a country-park beach.