This article was taken from a page on the Tameside Council website for research and reference purposes.
Werneth Low Country Park
‘To be kept forever as an open space’ – The Dedication of 1921
Spread across 80 hectares (200 acres) on the northern and western flanks of Werneth Low, the Country Park offers a calm, expansive landscape only 9.5 miles from Manchester’s busy centre. It’s a place where wildlife thrives and visitors find space to breathe. From the hilltop, sweeping views unfold across Manchester and out towards Liverpool, with the Pennines and even the distant Welsh mountains visible on clear days.
Getting to the Country Park
The nearest bus stop sits in Gee Cross on the A560, just below Hyde. From there, Baron Road winds up towards the Baron Fields entrance to the country park. As you approach from any direction, the brown-and-white signs will guide you the rest of the way.
Car Parks
There are three car parks in the country park: The first is at Lower Higham, the second at the Quarry and the third is at Windy Harbour.
Please drive with caution along the narrow lanes that go through and beside the country park.
View a map of the Country Park
A Brief History
In 1920, a public fundraising appeal raised £14,013, 14 shillings and 8 pence, enabling the War Memorial Committee of Hyde Borough Council to purchase Lower Higham Farm and all its land, protecting it for future generations as a living memorial to the 710 men from the district who died in the Great War of 1914–1918.
A year later, on the site known as Hackingknife, Hyde’s principal war memorial was built for £2,000 and unveiled on 25 June 1921. The land and farm remain in the care of the Hyde War Memorial Trust.
During the late 1970s, the former Greater Manchester Council, Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, and the Hyde War Memorial Trust worked together to create Werneth Low Country Park. The park was officially opened on 9 June 1980 by His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester. A joint management committee was formed to oversee its development and continues to guide its management today.
Take a Look at the Hyde War Memorial Trust website
Lower Higham Visitor Centre
Lower Higham Visitor Centre is managed by the Hyde War Memorial Trust and the present building dates back to the 17th Century once the farmhouse of Lower Higham Estate. Archaeological work in the area suggested a building of much earlier origin stood on the site.
Inside the visitor centre, there are displays and exhibitions, leaflets and publications. The Café is currently being run by volunteers from theHyde War Memorial Trust, and opening times can be found on their website Hyde WW1 Roll of Honour (hwmt.org)
Recreation in the Park
Recreation facilities available in Werneth Low Country Park include footpaths, horse riding and cycle routes, picnic areas, view finders, informal gardens, and at many locations seats are provided for visitors to rest and take time to appreciate this unique area.
The country park’s footpaths link with the wider network of rights of way in the surrounding countryside. The 40 mile Tameside Trail and the Trans Pennine Trail long distance route passes through the country park.
Wildlife in the Park
Werneth Low’s landscape holds a variety of habitats, each alive with wildlife. The flower‑filled hay meadows and stretches of dry heathland offer quiet beauty for those who enjoy plants or simply want to rest in nature. In autumn, the wooded cloughs deepen into rich colour, and in winter the Low becomes a wonderful place to watch wild geese on their annual migration. This is a park to experience all year round. During the bird‑nesting season (mid‑March to late July), visitors are asked to stay on the paths to help protect vulnerable wildlife.
More about Werneth Low here.
Please note: The above link is a website which was created as part of an educational project in Art & Design. Some material reflects student research at the time and may not include full referencing or copyright review. It is retained online for educational and archival purposes only.
Key Historical Sources
Hyde War Memorial Trust WW1 Roll of Honour
Tameside Council – Borough War Memorial (Werneth Low) Tameside Council-Borough War Memorial (Werneth Low)
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