Hollingworth Lake Country Park in Littleborough is an award-winning tourist destination, built originally as the main water source for the Rochdale Canal but was later developed as a tourist resort in the 1860s.
This much-loved beauty spot offers a wide range of facilities for all ages, making it the ideal place for everyone to enjoy the great outdoors.
Soak in the stunning scenery; have a picnic; do watersports; discover wildlife in the nature reserve or just enjoy a relaxing walk around the picturesque lake
Parks and gardens - information and advice
Visitor Centre
The Visitor Centre, toilets and cafe at Hollingworth Lake will be closed from Monday, 13 September 2021 as work begins redeveloping the site into a new RSPCA animal welfare centre. It's due to reopen early 2022. Alternative lake visitor information will be provided.
The existing visitor centre shop and exhibition area will be permanently closed and redesigned to provide animal welfare facilities to enable the RSPCA to continue to provide animal care and rehoming services across the borough of Rochdale and wider area.
The 250-space car park, nature reserve and playground will remain open.
New facilities will include:
- Self-contained accommodation for park rangers
- Modern public toilets accessible for public and general use (available late 2021).
- A larger dog-friendly café (available late 2021).
- Meeting room - bookable for community groups and schools.
- Provision of an outdoor events, community engagement and educational space
More about Hollingworth Lake:
- Car parks at Hollingworth Lake (external link)
- Walking routes around Hollingworth Lake (external link)
- Activity centre at Hollingworth Lake (external link)
From M62 J21: Take first left onto A640. At traffic lights turn right, then at mini roundabout turn left up Kiln Lane. Up the hill, turn left just before the Gallows pub onto B6225. Go to the end of the road, turn right and Hollingworth Lake is at the top of the hill, on the right hand side. For the Country Park Visitor Centre, continue along the lake frontage and turn right at The Wine Press into Rakewood Road. The Visitor Centre is signposted on the left.
From Smithy Bridge or Littleborough rail stations: Follow the main road uphill for 10 minutes to the Lake. Buses 452, 455, & 456 from Rochdale bus station, 452 & 455 from Littleborough.
* Hollingworth Lake itself is always open.
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