Walking around the tranquil water of Shakerley Mere it looks at first glance like the picture perfect rural escape in the midst of Cheshire. You could forget all about the hum drum of modern life as you walk along the scenic trail next to the lake - if not for the constant hum of motors whizzing right past its edge on one of the UK's busiest motorways.
For Shakerley Mere is situated right next to the M6 - between it's hectic junctions 19 at Knutsford and 18 at Holmes Chapel. Thousands of motorists will thunder past this spot every day without perhaps realising the tranquil beauty that lies just beyond the hard shoulder.
The mere itself is a former sand quarry that was flooded when work there ended during the 1960s, and gifted to the council to become a country park next to the M6 which had just opened. In an unusual geographic quirk, on the other side of the M6 is the larger private fishing lake of Dovemere too.
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Shakerley Mere is completely free to access to the public though, and has become a well-used walking spot teeming with wildlife. The country park is located in the Allostock area, near Northwich and Holmes Chapel, writes Cheshire Live.
Tourist board Visit Cheshire describe it as the perfect "pit stop" for both visitors and residents of the county and it handily has an acclaimed pub close to the entrance - The Three Greyhounds which has won awards for being dog friendly. For those who do fancy a break from driving on the M6, the spot is located roughly between the two junctions of 18 and 19 - and then accessed just off the main A50 between Holmes Chapel and Knutsford.
On its official website, Visit Cheshire says: "It's the perfect place to enjoy a pleasant stroll around the lake, a picnic or a walk with your four legged friend. Its home to many species of wildlife and is popular with anglers and bird watchers alike.
"In the lake you will find carp, bream, perch and roach. The mere is also home to cormorants, black headed gulls, great crested grebes, heron, oystercatchers and kingfishers.
"The mere itself is circled by a footpath which is nice and flat for pushchairs, wheelchairs and accessible for people with walking difficulties. There are also benches situated around the mere for those who need a rest or pit stop to take in the beauty of the lake."
The circular trail around the lake is approximately one mile, making it ideal for families and dog walkers looking for a short jaunt around the whole mere which is wheelchair and pram accessible. There are also plenty of benches and picnic tables where you can take a break to enjoy the view of the lakes, although some of these are a little worse for wear.
And the peace isn't always complete with the constant drone of the M6 always in the background with the motorway running right along the mere's eastern edge. It does, however, mean the site is easy to get to for drivers, with a decent amount of parking space.
It is served by two free car parks - one off Northwich Road and the other off Middlewich Road - which are just a 10-minute drive from junction 18 of the M6 and around 15 minutes from junction 19.
Small platforms are also dotted around the mere on which walkers can stand for a few seconds to take in the beauty of the lake while watching the ducks swim by. And these also make for perfect fishing spots.
The water itself is leased by Lymm Angling Cub from which daily permits are available. According to the organisation, the 17-acre lake is popular with specimen carp anglers 'due to the excellent head of large carp it contains'.
Day tickets can be purchased on the club's website. It costs £5 for one rod, £10 for two and £15 for three. There are both 24-hour and 48-hour tickets available.
In the larger car park off Northwich Road sits the semi-derelict toilet building. On first look it appears to be boarded up and disused but, according to the Cheshire West and Chester Council website, the disabled toilet is still usable but a Radar key is required.
A sign placed just outside the run-down building points customers towards the nearby Three Greyhounds Inn for a 'pint and delicious meal'. And for animal lovers, the pub is indeed 'dog-friendly', having once been named by the Daily Telegraph as one of UK's most dog-friendly pubs.
The pub is mere steps away from the mere, just over the crossroads. It serves a selection of drinks, including craft ales sourced from local micro-breweries.
For the walkers famished after their wander around the mere, the menu offers a selection of traditional pub meals. It is supported by local farms, including providing the pub's potatoes, fresh chips, free range eggs, meat and game, cheeses and ice creams.
And for the walkers or fishing folk accompanied by their four-legged friends, there is a dedicated dog menu. This even includes dog beers that can be bought in a can or bottle.
For the hungry hounds, there is a selection of snacks to enjoy. There are dog fries, dog burger and chips, dog chicken and chips and dog fish and chips.
The pub's website describes it as having a 'knack' for looking after pet dogs 'like real guests'. It says: "Having Shakerley Mere right next door is ideal, as the dogs can arrive at the pub hungry and thirsty, after a good walk around the mere.
"We have our very own ‘old Port barrel’ for ‘help yourself water’, plenty of dog bowls about the pub, our Dog Menu features Craft Dog Beer from Belgium by the bottle or can, bar dog nibbles, free biscuits, ‘Dog Fries’ and our chefs even cook little fresh Porky sausages for your pooch.
"Add to this our lovely large garden and you have dog heaven. The dog may even buy you a pint too."
The Three Greyhounds Inn is open midday to 10.30pm from Sunday to Tuesday and midday to 11pm from Wednesday to Saturday.
Shakerley Mere is open all year, off Middlewich Road, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 7DB.
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