The Ealees Valley and Hollingworth Lake, Rochdale

Key Information:

Start: Littleborough Station, OL15 8AR

End: Smithy Bridge Station, Littleborough OL15 0DX

Distance: 3.7 miles / 6.0 km

Height gain: 171 feet / 52 metres

Grade: Leisurely

Approximate time: 2 hours

Terrain: A mainly level route; pavements, quiet roads and wide tracks, some of which are roughly surfaced and can be muddy or damp after wet weather. A few steps and swing gates but no stiles. The only real ascent is at the very end on the gentle uphill walk to Smithy Bridge Station. 

Accessibility: Because of the varied surfaces and the steps over the canal near the start, the full route is not suitable for wheelchair users but should be fine for most others, including families with pushchairs. However, the circuit of Hollingworth Lake itself is level and step-free and – at least for the first half – on hard-surfaced paths. There are also accessible parking spaces at toilets at Lake Bank Car Park, and at the Pavilion Café along the way. For details, see the GM Ringway Hollingworth Lake Short Adventure.

Facilities: Refreshments (with toilets available to all) at the visitor centre before the lake shore, the Wine Press Bar and restaurant just off route, the Pavilion Café (with public toilets) part-way around the lake, The Beach (pub with food), and cafes and restaurants on Lake Bank towards the end of the walk.

Public Transport: Frequent trains from Manchester Victoria via Rochdale to Littleborough. Coming from Manchester, simply purchase a return ticket from Manchester (or your local station) to Littleborough, which can be used for the return journey from Smithy Bridge. A day return ticket will enable you to break your journey at Rochdale. From Rochdale Station, it’s a ten-minute downhill walk to the town centre and the glorious Rochdale Town Hall – but uphill on the way back! Alternatively, you can catch a tram from the station to the Rochdale Town Centre Stop at no extra cost if you have a rail ticket. To plan your journey, visit here. 

Parking: If you need to travel by car, there are 36 spaces at Littleborough Station Car Park or on streets nearby. At the end of the walk, simply take the train for one stop from Smithy Bridge back to Littleborough or catch one of the buses from Lake Bank.

1. From platform 2 at Littleborough Station, go down the steps and turn left through the subway to reach Canal Street. Turn left, cross at the crossing point, and turn left past the car park along the Rochdale Canal.

2. Soon cross the canal via the footbridge by the lock and follow the path that turns right behind houses.

3. Emerge onto a road, cross, and keep ahead along the narrow Ealees Road, watching for occasional vehicles, with a metal fence to your right.

4. Continue along what becomes a private road (but public footpath) past cottages on a winding route under overhanging trees. Remain on the quiet road with a tinkling brook to your right.

5. In 600m, where the road bears left by a wooden fence, turn right across a side-stream and keep right along the well-made path again with the brook to your right.

6. Pass three swing gates and follow the main path as it curves right across the brook. Pass a grassy picnic area then keep ahead past the car park (with a small play area at the far end) to reach Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre, with toilets, a friendly café, and ice cream bar.

7. Continue ahead to arrive on the shore of Hollingworth Lake, where – a short way to the right – you can divert to The Wine Press, a bar and restaurant with gorgeous views from its inside and outside tables over the lake.

8. To continue, turn left along Rakewood Road, watching out for vehicles. In 600m or so, keep right at the fork to pass another play area and continue along the lakeside path.

9. Follow the path around a pretty inlet, with good views of water birds, to arrive at the Pavilion Café with its stunning watery views all around.

10. Now simply continue along the less well-made lakeshore path, which can be damp and uneven in places, but still with lovely views over the lake.

11. Pass The Beach, a large pub serving food, to arrive at the busy road, Lake Bank.

At this point, you’ve completed the main waterside walk, but why not turn right to enjoy the popular facilities? These include Mr Thomas’s Fish and Chip Restaurant, The Olive & Pickle Café and Kitchen, the Lake Lounge, the Riva Italian, Wallis’ Kitchen, Parlour and Arcade, and (with public toilets) the Lakeside Café by the water activity centre.

12. When you’re ready to finish the walk, simply head back to the junction by The Beach Pub and turn right up Smithybridge Road. Keep ahead at the mini-roundabout and in 500 metres you’ll arrive at Smithy Bridge Station for your train to Rochdale and Manchester.