Hare Hill
Over Alderley, near Macclesfield, Cheshire
A National Trust woodland garden at Over Alderley in Cheshire, known for its rhododendrons, more than 50 hollies and a walled garden with a pergola and wire sculptures.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit Hare Hill?
Hare Hill is a small, peaceful National Trust garden that rewards a slow walk. The wooded garden holds more than 70 varieties of rhododendron, along with azaleas, hollies and hostas, and at its centre is a walled garden with a pergola and wire sculptures. It sits in the Cheshire countryside near Alderley Edge, and a permissive path leads from the garden up to the ridge of the Edge, so it pairs well with a longer walk.
The walled garden is planted with numerous climbers around a large lawn deliberately left without a centrepiece, which gives it a calm, open feel. Out in the woodland the stars are the hollies: more than 50 kinds, with silver and golden leaves and yellow and orange berries, including the rare Highclere holly. Rhododendron fans will notice that the Trust has replaced many of the common purple kind with more colourful and exotic varieties.
This is a good garden for ideas on long-season planting in a woodland setting. Early interest comes from snowdrops, daffodils, magnolia, skunk cabbage and a huge Clematis montana, then the rhododendrons and azaleas take over, followed by roses, lacecap hydrangeas and eucryphias later in the year. The holly collection shows how much variety a single evergreen can offer for winter structure, a useful lesson for any garden that looks bare after autumn.
What to see
- The walled garden, with its pergola, wire sculptures and climber-covered walls.
- More than 70 varieties of rhododendron through the woodland garden.
- A collection of over 50 hollies, including the rare Highclere holly.
- Early spring snowdrops, daffodils, magnolia and a huge Clematis montana.
- The permissive path from the garden to the ridge of Alderley Edge.
Hare Hill through the year
- spring
- Spring opens with snowdrops, daffodils, magnolia and skunk cabbage, then the rhododendrons and azaleas take over in late spring.
- summer
- Summer brings roses, lacecap hydrangeas and eucryphias, along with the climbers in the walled garden.
- autumn
- Autumn is when the hollies start to show their yellow and orange berries among silver and gold foliage.
- winter
- In winter the variegated hollies give the garden structure; the garden opens at advertised times, so check the National Trust site first.
The story behind the garden
Hare Hill Hall was built in about 1800 for William Hibbert of Birtles Hall and remodelled in the mid 19th century for the Brocklehurst family. The garden was owned by Colonel Charles Brocklehurst until his death in 1981. A great rhododendron enthusiast, he introduced them steadily from 1960 onwards, advised by the plantsman James Russell, and the climate and soil let them flourish.
The Georgian mansion was sold by the National Trust in 1978 to help finance the running of the garden, and today the house and its grounds are privately owned while the separate garden is in the Trust's care. Since then the Trust has broadened the planting, adding roses, lacecaps, eucryphias and hydrangeas to extend the visiting season beyond the spring flush.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Rhododendron and holly enthusiasts, and walkers who want to combine a quiet garden with a ramble up to Alderley Edge.
- Getting there
- Hare Hill is in the parish of Over Alderley, in the countryside between Alderley Edge and Macclesfield in Cheshire.
- Before you go
- The garden opens at advertised times and charges for admission. Check the National Trust website for current opening days, times and tickets before you set off.
Source: Wikipedia: Hare Hill
Questions about visiting Hare Hill
Is Hare Hill National Trust?
Yes, the garden at Hare Hill is cared for by the National Trust. The nearby house, Hare Hill Hall, is privately owned and not part of the visit; the Trust sold it in 1978 to help pay for the running of the garden.
What is Hare Hill known for?
Hare Hill is best known for its rhododendrons, with more than 70 varieties, and for a collection of over 50 hollies, including the rare Highclere holly. The walled garden with its pergola and wire sculptures is the centrepiece.
When is the best time to visit Hare Hill?
Late spring is the classic time, when the rhododendrons and azaleas flower. Earlier in spring there are snowdrops, daffodils and magnolia, and summer brings roses and hydrangeas, so the season is longer than many expect.
Can you walk from Hare Hill to Alderley Edge?
Yes. A permissive path leads from the garden to the ridge of Alderley Edge, so a garden visit can be combined with a longer countryside walk. Wear suitable footwear for woodland paths.
Garden features
Location
Over Alderley, near Macclesfield, Cheshire
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