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As the urban population grew and unspoilt open spaces became rarer, Reddish Vale became a popular spot for day-trippers from far around. The occupants of 'Nine Cottages' and 'Strines Cottages' were said to have done "a roaring trade supplying jugs of water and pots of tea to the trippers".

In "A Reddish Tyke", Ted Duncan that in his youth,

  "Reddish Vale was a favourite spot for picnics. Under the viaduct arches was Strines Cottages, or Sanbache's tearooms as we know it...On bank holidays Reddish Vale would be crowded. People used to come from Gorton, Stockport and Levenshulme on the trams and then walk down to the Vale."

The Vale was also renowned for its botanical interest.

  "During the last century (the 19th) Reddish Vale was noted as a source of rare and interesting wild flowers and was a favourite haunt of the 'hand-loom weaver botanists' referred to in Mrs Gaskell's 'Mary Barton' ".

Ted Duncan also recalls that

  " The Vale was completely unspoilt and wild flowers bloomed in abundance... To people who came from Gorton... it was paradise".

   More than a century before the Country Park was created, Reddish Vale was already a much-loved place for a day out.