A rare landscape blanketed in purple heather where wild Welsh ponies once roamed is just a drive away from Manchester in the depths of Cheshire. Bickerton Hill is one of few remaining lowland heaths in the region and boasts stunning views across the Cheshire Plain and beyond to the Dee Valley and Welsh mountains.
The place of rugged tranquility, at almost 300 acres, is owned by the National Trust. It has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its lowland heath plants and wildlife.
In addition to the SSSI, the area includes Hether Wood, which is a Site of Biological Importance and a place for quiet walks in amongst the sweet chestnut, birch, oak, rowan, and beech trees. It's also a butterfly haven, where a wide variety including gatekeeper, red admiral, speckled wood, and tortoiseshell can be spotted.
