The Mere at Ellesmere

The Mere at Ellesmere is a beautiful lake with formal Victorian gardens and historic parkland on the edge of the medieval market town of Ellesmere. The Mere-side promenade, gardens and Boathouse Visitor Centre have recently been restored to their former glory thanks to funding assistance from Big Lottery and Heritage Lottery Parks for people and the European Regional Development Fund.

Winter Opening Hours (1st November to 31st March)

Visitor Information Centre and Gift Shop

Open every day except Wednesdays, 11.00am to 3.30pm

Boathouse Restaurant

Open every day except Wednesdays, 10.00am to 5.00pm.

Facilities at the Mere

Facilities

• Visitor Information Centre
• Restaurant see opening times
• Gift Shop
• Play area
• Toilets / disabled toilets
• Ample Parking
• All ability trail
• Dog walking permitted

There is lots to see and do at the Mere, whatever your age or interest. Take a stroll along the promenade, watch wildlife on the water, explore Castlefields and Garden Terraces, learn fascinating stories about local history or venture a short distance to the Llangollen Canal with its historic wharf and the medieval streets of Ellesmere.

Places to visit at the Mere

Boathouse Visitor Centre, Restaurant and Gift Shop

Central to the promenade is the Boathouse Visitor Centre and Restaurant, a restored timber ‘roadhouse’ which has been serving refreshments continuously since the 1930s.

Inside the Visitor Centre you can learn fascinating facts about The Mere in the ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ and watch live, close-up pictures of wildlife on the water through our interactive cameras or browse in the Gift Shop.

The beautiful Boathouse Restaurant, with its idyllic setting overlooking The Mere is a great place to enjoy an appetising range of light lunches, home cooked meals, and delicious cakes for you to start or end your visit.

All food is prepared in our kitchens by our chefs using fresh ingredients, much of which is sourced locally from Shropshire farms.

The Promenade

A great place to watch the wildlife or just watch the world go by. If you do feed the birds please use grain, as bread causes malnutrition or even starvation. Grain packs are for sale inside the Boathouse Visitor Centre and Kiosk. Feeding birds over the water rather than on land helps to keep the promenade clean.

Castlefields and the Garden Terraces

Castlefields was once overlooked by a Norman castle. Climb the wildflower meadow banks to the garden terraces, a zig-zag of wooded walkways with wonderful elevated views across the water!

Victorian Gardens and Playground

Cremorne Gardens on the shore of the Mere is a former private pleasure ground, and a great place for a picnic! Look out for the Giant Redwood Trees, loved by the Victorians because of their impressive size!

At the far end of the gardens is the Childrens' Play Area.

Woodland Walk to The Crimps

Follow this all-ability trail through Cremorne Gardens and round the shore of the Mere through magnificent avenues of chestnut and beech.

Look back at stunning views across the Mere to St Mary’s Church from the tiny beach known as The Crimps. Warning, maybe muddy in wet conditions!

Activities at the Mere

Wildlife Watch

The Mere at Ellesmere is the largest of the Shropshire Meres and attracts many different water birds, including winter migrants such as Goldeneye and Goosander.

Moscow Island has its own resident Heron colony and in spring and early summer you can see live close-up images of the wildlife from inside the Visitor Centre from cameras fixed in trees on the Island.

Fishing

Fishing is available on the Mere with day tickets purchased from the Boathouse Visitor Centre. For more information on fishing follow the link 'Where can I fish in Shropshire'

Walking the Llangollen Canal towpath and medieval streets of Ellesmere

The Llangollen branch, marina and wharf are a short walk from The Boathouse Visitor Centre, or maybe you want to head off into the rolling Shropshire Countryside. Pick up a Walks Leaflet from the Boathouse Visitor Centre.

Cycling

Cyclists can also enjoy regional cycle route 31 Oswestry to Whitchurch passes through Ellesmere. Select the link on this page for a downloadable map of the route.

Steam boat & Rowboat Hire

Please note that Steam Boat trips and Rowboat Hire are currently closed for the season.

If you or your organisation would like to hold a public event on this site please contact us

Location:

North Shropshire, Grid ref - SJ 405347 (for a map showing the location of the site click the link on this page)

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