Country and lakeside walks, playgrounds, picnics, places to explore – all on your doorstep

Hollingworth Lake Country Park

11 More Image(s) In Gallery

Hollingworth Lake Country Park is the ideal place for a family day out, ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​there's lots to do for you and the family throughout the year, country, lakeside and woodland walks, two playgrounds, lots of places for picnics, and exploring.

For the more adventurous there are lots of footpaths and guided walks to take further away from the lake.

When Rochdale Online visited over the weekend there were children pond dipping, exploring the woods, cycling, using scooters, running and walking. Daffodils were just beginning to flower, and the trees were beginning to show their new leaves.

Lane Foot Petting Farm was also very busy with visiting families, this small petting farm has miniature horses, sheep, goats, pigs and chickens, which are all rescued. Visitors can park in the Lake Visitors Centre Car Park and walk to the farm (in the opposite direction from the Lake) through the wildflower/picnic meadow, over the wooden bridge and then follow the stream through three kissing gates (single pushchair and wheelchair access).

The Visitor Centre is just off Rakewood Road and has a permanent exhibition of local wildlife and heritage, a gallery of artists work, information desk, small shop, cafe, toilets, and free-to-use mobility scooter hire (booking required).

There is a playground near the Visitors Centre, and a more adventurous ‘assault’ type course at the back of the lake, just off Rakewood Road, which is built to encourage the youngest, through to the not so young, to get around without touching the ground.

The path round the lake is suitable for prams and wheelchairs, enabling all age groups and abilities to enjoy the area and at the back of the lake there is the Pavilion Café.

There is a variety of water fowl on the lake with small hide at the south west corner which overlooks a natural area where boats and water sports are excluded.

The lake is stocked with coarse fish, including bream, carp, tench, roach and perch. There's no close season but there are restrictions on where you can fish. Fishing permits are available from the visitor centre.

Sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and rowing equipment is available for hire to suitably qualified or experienced individuals or groups.

Rowing boats are available for hire on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from April-September and on weekday afternoons throughout the school summer holidays.