The Vale is full of walks of varying lengths in Tiviot Dale and Woodhall Fields at the lower end, and around the Visitor Centre and Mill Ponds at the northern end. There are walkers’ and cycle trail guides available at the Visitor Centre and a network of bridleways that link with horse trails in the Goyt Valley, Saddleworth and Longdendale.

Reddish Vale also makes an excellent base for school visits with a developing education programme tied in with the science and geography curricula for Key Stages 1 and 2.

The Visitor Centre is found next to the old mill lodges that once formed part of an industrial complex. They now provide a valuable habitat for resident wildlife and are also an essential stopping-off point for migrating waterfowl. The lodges also provide one on the few open waters for public fishing in Stockport.

Facilities & features

• Butterfly Conservation Park near the Visitor Centre


• Wildlife Garden and organic allotment


• Bridleways and cycle trails


• Angling


• School field trips


• Visitor Centre and WCs


• Trans-Pennine Trail, Midshires Way, Tame Valley Way


• Woodland, grassland and riverside walks


• Orienteering course


• Electric scooter for hire for the disabled

History

Reddish Vale Country Park was opened in 1985.

The Visitor Centre is sited on a former industrial complex. The Butterfly Park was created on the site of a calico printing works that was supplied with water from the river via the mill ponds and reservoirs. One of the reservoirs was where the car park now stands, and the other survives as a site of biological importance next to the Butterfly Park.

The railway viaduct built in 1875 dominates the northern Vale. The cottages for the construction workers were near the mill ponds but have long since disappeared, and in 2003 attempts were made to excavate the former Strines Farm between the river and Brinnington.

The lower Vale has been reclaimed from a waste tip on the land of the medieval Wood Hall. The weir formed part of the engineering works to supply power to local mills.

Local Involvement

Reddish Vale Green Gym (part of BTCV) welcomes new volunteers to join in its conservation work on Friday and Saturday mornings.

Where to find us

Address: Reddish Vale Visitor Centre, Mill Lane, Reddish, Stockport SK5 7HE

Buses: to and from Stockport Town Centre, numbers 7, 203, 319

Car parking: Visitor Centre, Tiviot Dale (off Tiviot Way A626 adjacent to M60 junction 27), Woodhall Fields (off Reddish Road B6167), Hollow End, Brinnington.

Opening hours: The country park is open 365 days a year.

Visitor Centre opening hours vary depending on the season, but is open every weekend.
Night fishing is not permitted.