| Hollingworth Lake |
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The Lake was originally built (Yes, its man made and was finished in 1801 and in use from 1805) to supply water to the Rochdale canal which is located less than 1 mile away. This was done to belay the fears of local mill owners that the canal would take water away from the local rivers, as most of the mills in the area at the time where powered using water wheels. The lake holds an estimated 92 million cubic feet or 2,605,149 cubic meters and covers 130 acres.
These days the lake is more a place of leisure than a working item. The lake is used for variety of water sports such as canoeing and sailing, it is reputed that Captain Webb used the lake to get some practice before his cross channel swim. I do not know if this is true but they say it is the coldest water in England!  As well as the water activities, which are best left to the brave, the Hollingworth Lake Country park facility is home to a vast network of path and woodland walks, which stretch out away from the lake towards Littleborough and Milnrow, the nearest towns. The lake itself has a path which runs around its perimeter which can also be easily walked. This is about 2.25 miles round trip and is nearly all flat so can be enjoyed by all ages and fitness levels.
In summer the lakes cruise boat the Lady Alice is in operation which ferries customers from one side to the other should you feel sufficiently lazy. If you’re going to walk around the lake there is a visitor’s centre around the back, and this also doubles as a café. Behind this is a children’s playground. Walking around the park is a joy and if you go anti-clockwise round the lake you will come to the wildlife area of the lake about 2/3 of the way round where you can see a variety of animals but mainly birds. I am told by those in the know about birds that the lake is an excellent place for bird spotting at certain times of the year. As well as birds but depending on what time of day you visit you might see rabbits and even foxes.
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