Littleborough and Hollingworth Lake

In an area most people visualise as rather industrialised this is a delightfully rural walk, with the bonus of lots of boating activity on the lake to entertain you, and a fascinating stretch of the Rochdale Canal.

Leave the car park by the back entrance along a good path. Bear right with the track, then turn left on a footpath, through a series of kissing gates beside a stream and over a stone slab bridge. Turn left, signposted Littleborough, and continue around the base of Cleggswood Hill on a metalled track, past the back of a factory. Just before a junction turn left on a footpath with an arrow sign.

This is by Littleborough Bottom Lock, number 48. Cross and turn left on the towpath. Follow this, crossing the road behind Littleborough station and picking up the towpath again on the far side. After 2 miles a group of buildings are on the far side of the canal, here turn left over the water on a stone bridge into the Clegg Village Conservation area. Turn left and follow the cobbled track for about a third of a mile to where a grass path turns diagonally right up the hill.

At the top is a break in the fence onto a path alongside gardens, then turn left between the houses by a footpath sign, and turn right on the road. Follow the road around to the left and at the T junction turn right to the main road, here turn right, cross and take the unmarked road left. After 300 yards turn left through an attractive stone arch: this leads to the edge of Hollingworth Lake where you turn right and follow the waterside round the lake back to the Visitor Centre.

Getting there

Parking: You can park at the Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre in Littleborough.