Page 49 - Real Rochdale Issue 10 Summer 2021
P. 49

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
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