New outdoor adventure course coming to Hollingworth Lake

The planned design of the adventure course at Hollingworth Lake

A new woodlands adventure course for youngsters will be built next to a popular beauty spot in Littleborough.

Hollingworth Lake will get a nets course, suspended two metres in the air which will give children a chance to ‘climb, roll, bounce and play’ to their heart’s content, now planning permission has been approved. Rochdale Council’s plan would see ‘under-utilised’ land next to Pavilion café transformed into the new nets course for children from six-year-olds and upwards.

The country park, which attracts thousands of visitors each year, has recently welcomed an RSPCA Centre, a sensory garden and a café. The target market is families, school children, young families and youth groups. The facility will also cater for SEND pupils, planning documents confirm.

Planning papers highlighted that the development will be an above-ground nets course not high ropes, which are higher and require participants to be secured and clipped onto the course.

As well as the nets course, activities will also be provided under the structure at ground level. The council believes this new adventure course would provide a new visitor experience for the growing number of people being drawn to Hollingworth Lake.

The intention is to combine the adventure area with the outdoor education and forest skills learning within the country park.

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and cooperation at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Hollingworth Lake is one of our borough’s most loved attractions, with its beauty and tranquillity drawing thousands of locals and tourists every year.

“As one of the jewels in our crown, we’re continually working to invest in and improve this spectacular area and this new attraction will be a fantastic asset.

“It will provide a brand-new adventure experience for children aged 2 – 16, and enable them to interact with nature in a unique and exhilarating way.

“In addition to our other new facilities, including the RSPCA Centre, the sensory garden and the Woodlands café, which all opened at the lake recently, it will further cement this area’s status as a truly noteworthy visitor attraction.”

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter