Hollingworth Lake by Irene Podolanski

Hollingworth Lake at Littleborough, Lancashire

We had a run out to Hollingworth Lake at Littleborough last weekend, it is less than an hours drive from home so we set off at lunchtime just as the sun was beginning to brighten the day up.  We weren’t even sure if we wanted to stay over really but gave it a try anyway……

Take junction 21 from the M62 and within 2 miles you arrive at the lake.   It is a really nice little place, surrounded by Lancashire hills.  We were surprised to see restaurants, cafes, a fish and chip shop with a sit in café and a couple of gift shops and an amusement arcade, so no shortage of places to get a bite to eat etc.    We continued to Hollingworth Lake Caravan Park and found a nice flat pitch. The site consisted of 2 large fields with caravans and tents and a paddock where mostly campervans were parked up.  There were also neat rows of little holiday homes, some looking very pretty with hanging baskets, patios full of lovely plants and garden bric a brac (the kind you see in magazines and wonder who buys that?  Well now we know!).    The toilet block was clean and had coin operated showers with plenty of hot water.  The site had a small shop and horse riding was available on a nearby farm.

On our walk back to the lake we found the visitor centre (phone 01706 373421), café, car park and play area.  There was lots of information about the area, bus routes etc. and from here you could take many lovely walks. A little further along we came to The Wine Press, a large pub cum restaurant with plenty of tables outside, where bikers of all ages were having a drink, a chat and showing off their motorbikes, obviously very popular and the place to be seen.  Frequent buses to Rochdale and Littleborough stopped nearby.

The water was full of activity, 3 rowing boat crews raced like mad across the lake, with their coxswains bellowing out instructions.  Were they were in training for a boat race or did they just practice every Saturday, who knows?  People were messing about in yachts, rowing boats and dinghies although to what purpose it was not always clear.  A small group of young children at a birthday party, all in wet suits and safety helmets were having kayak instruction and trying it out for themselves.  Later they had a whale of a time being thrown in by their instructor who then rescued them, such fun and what a birthday treat they were really enjoying it. The Lady Alice pleasure boat ferried passengers around the lake for a small fee.  Onlookers were enjoying the sunny afternoon, taking a stroll with or without dogs or just sat watching other people having fun on the lake, children were paddling, feeding the ducks or scoffing ice cream and generally having a good time. 

I’d say Hollingworth Lake is well worth a visit for walking, riding, shopping, messing about in boats or just a spot of people watching – you can take your pick of whatever takes your fancy and be sure of an enjoyable time.  It may not be the Lake District but it has a lot to offer in a small space.

Irene Podolanski
October 2007

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