Hollingwood Lake - Close and Far
A lovely route with a bit of everything. Walk up babbling brooks and over moors, past a reservoir and canal. Take in views of Rochdale and meet some cows.
The Route
This route starts and at Littleborough Train Station. Here there are cafés, shops and amenities.
Heading Out
Immediately from the station, you head down a short stretch of the canal. Cross an old lock, with cobbled pavement and down a very green footpath. A flat, gentle intro to the route that lets you warm up.
You will then head down a long track past a stable. Interestingly, this stables is a horse "retirement home". Here, old racehorses rest and rehabilitate after their racing careers amongst green tracks and shaded paths.
Hollingwood Lake
From here you will head down a small stream. This stream is one of an uncountable group that feed into the huge lake. Crossing the bridge further down, you'll dip back into the woodland. Keep an eye out for water fowl in this area!
Heading down the road, you will come across the Hollingworth Visitor Area. This includes toilets, and a café. I recommend a stop here as these are the last toilets on the route.
Further down the road, you come out at Hollingworth. When you turn left, you'll have a great panorama around you. With the lake, with people enjoying water sports to your right, and rolling hills and meadows to your left. Follow this road for a couple kilometres and feel yourself entering the countryside as people become rarer, and the area greener.
Schofield Hall Hill
Heading further down the track, you will see the M62 viaduct ahead. A brutalist outpost juxtaposed by its settings. The track you head up will be a shallow climb.
Heading under the viaduct, you enter a lush valley with a brook in the bottom. Surprisingly sheltered from the noise of the M62, it's a peaceful stretch of the walk.
You will take a track that climbs steeply up the hill in this valley. This is the steepest section, but is almost all the elevation of the walk. Take your time, and enjoy the view as it transforms from the intimate and enclosed valley, to sprawling moors.
The Track
At the top of the hill, head over the bridge to cross the M62. I find this moment is surreal, to be deep in the countryside, with an ultimately thin streak of civilization cutting through it like a scar.
On the other side, you enter the track. You'll follow this farm track for several kilometres, loping through the moorland, with views over the cities and towns below, and the moors stretching off into the distance.
Enjoy this stretch, it's peaceful and generally easy going. Keep an eye out for ground nesting birds and small game, like rabbits and hares.
The Bridleway
After the track, you follow a road a short way and at the junction find a bridleway. This heads up the second hill of the journey. Though steep, it's short and manageable.
Follow this under the pylons and head down towards the road.
Heading Back
Now, you'll turn back down the road, and you're heading back into the town. It's a short section, and you'll be heading to the canal soon.
The Canal
Descending a lane past some large houses, you'll come out on the canal. From here, you follow the canal into Littleborough, where you started.
I was lucky enough to see a heron, and lots of other birds, such as Coots, Moorhens and tufted ducks. It's a nice flat walk back where you'll be bathed in sun on a good day. Popular with locals, you're sure to see some great dogs on your way too.
Image Gallery
A peaceful valley
The long path to wander
The greenest view
Getting to the start
Train
Littleborough is reachable from Manchester Victoria. It's a quick journey straight out through Rochdale. The trains are served fairly regularly, at least once an hour, and it's a fairly cheap return ticket.
Car
Driving out to Littleborough is an easy route. Parking there is easy, as the town is big enough, and popular enough, to have public pay and display car parks in the town.
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