Page 48 - Real Rochdale Issue 10 Summer 2021

Take a walk at EALEES At bridge 52, leave the canal towpath and head
left, crossing over the canal via the bridge onto
the footpath signposted ‘Hollingworth Lake’.

As you cross the bridge and start to climb the
only hill on this walk, turn round and take in the
view over Littleborough and Wardle.

This path can be muddy and when you reach
the top, the path takes you through a gate into
a farmyard. Keep going straight on along Heald
Lane and this will bring you out at the lake.
The bridge over Ealees Brook

Cross the bridge over Ealees Brook, continue
along the path keeping the brook on your left
the whole time until you get to New Pastures at
Foot Lane Farm. New Pastures is dedicated to
the rehabilitation, retraining and re-homing of
retired and injured racehorses.

Take the left path around the the farm, still
keeping the brook on your left, then go down the
tree-lined lane which is called Ealees.

Rochdale Canal at Durn
If you like to walk near water, listening to birdsong, this easy walk is for you.
Pauline Journeaux takes us on a 2.5 mile circular route from Hollingworth Lake Visitors Turn left and follow Lake Bank road round the
Centre, past Cleggs Wood to Ealees and Durn, then along Rochdale Canal to Brown lake, past the Wine Press, onto Rakewood Road
Brow Hill and Hollingworth Lake, a relatively flat walk along easy footpaths. Some of and back to Hollingworth Lake Visitors Centre
the paths can be muddy and go through farmland, so boots are advised and please keep where you started.
dogs on a lead.
If you wanted to extend the walk, you could turn
Hollingworth Lake is a man-made lake originally built in 1800 as the main water source right on Lake Bank Road and go round the lake
for the Rochdale Canal, but developed into a tourist resort from the 1860s, and became before finishing at the Visitors Centre.
known as the Weighver’s Seaport. Tourism was helped by the arrival of the railway in
1839, which brought day-trippers and weekend visitors. Rochdale Council developed The walk took us around an hour and a half at a
the area into Hollingworth Lake Country Park in 1974. Ealees brisk pace, but you can take it at a more leisurely
pace and enjoy the babbling brook, listen to and
Starting at Hollingworth Lake At the end of Ealees lane there is a row of old watch the birds, and appreciate the peace and
Visitors Centre, head for the cottages with a converted old barn; keep this quiet of this relaxing walk.
far left corner of the car park on your right and turn right onto West View (a
(away from the lake) and take residential street).
the lane on the left known
as Weighvers Way, down to Follow the street to the first turning on your left,
Ealees Pond and picnic area. Egerton Street, walk down and cross over Halifax
Road to Durn Locks on Rochdale Canal.
Take the left-hand path,
keeping the pond and picnic At the locks get onto the towpath and head
benches on your right. The under the Halifax Road bridge you just crossed,
brook is quite shallow here keeping the canal on your left. Walk along the
and if you have children with canal and under the new road bridge by the
you they can paddle with Waterside Bar & Restaurant until you reach
Take the left-hand path wellingtons on. bridge 52. Bridge 52 on the Rochdale Canal
REAL ROCHDALE - SUMMER 2021 48 49 REAL ROCHDALE - SUMMER 2021