Where We Going Mummy? Get a spring in your step with these child-friendly reservoir walks

Get a spring in your step with these child-friendly (and by that I mean relatively short!) reservoir walks. We have some lovely patches of water to wander around in the Rochdale Borough, and as the weather gets warmer and nature starts awakening this is the perfect time to go exploring with your little adventurers…

HOLLINGWORTH LAKE

• Pay and display car parks off Rakewood Road (OL15 0AQ), Hollingworth Road (OL15 0AZ) and Lake Bank (OL15 0DQ)

• Pram friendly

• Places to eat

• Toilets

Probably the most child friendly of the local reservoirs (yes it’s actually a reservoir and not a natural lake) is Hollingworth Lake. This is because, in addition to a 2 mile circular path which is nice and flat, you will find a couple of playgrounds, numerous eateries and even an amusement arcade. For the more adventurous amongst us it is also the home of Hollingworth Lake Water Activity Centre, where you can hire paddleboards, try windsurfing or just go for a sail on a boat.

WATERGROVE RESERVOIR

• Free car park at the top of Ramsden Road (OL12 9NJ)

• Not one for wheels

• Places to picnic, but no cafe

• No toilets

The paths around Watergrove are a little harder to navigate, with some hills, cobbles, steps and bridges, but that just makes the walk more fun! There is a 2.5 mile route around the reservoir, but you will also find additional paths where you can discover ruins and spot deer. It is such a peaceful setting, the views are glorious and there are opportunities to get close to the shoreline and skim stones.

GREENBOOTH RESERVOIR

• The official car park is on Forsyth Lane (OL12 7TL), but it's a narrow track to get there and the car park can get crowded so you could park in Norden village itself, grab a bite to eat at The Bridge Chippy or Catherine's Cafe and walk to the reservoir. Please be mindful of residents when parking.

• Some segments are pram-friendly, but not all

• No toilets or cafe (but lovely places in Norden village)

For a longer walk why not try visiting Greenbooth? This site is actually made up of four separate reservoirs - Greenbooth itself, but also Naden Lower, Naden Middle and Naden Higher. There are various ways you can meander around these reservoirs, some which are pram friendly, but some which are not so much. You will get some spectacular views over to Manchester and of the giant wind turbines, and could even come across a waterfall cascading into Fordoe Brook.

COWM RESERVOIR

• Car park outside the Water Ski Academy on Back Cowm Lane (OL12 8BE)

• Pram friendly

• Sometimes a pop-up drink outlet

• No toilets

This is a lovely circular trail of just over 1 mile, which traces the banks of the water. On the water there are obviously lots of ducks and geese to spot, but you will also often see a jet ski speeding along! In addition, there are lovely views over to Brown Wardle hill and up to the quarries.

A little further afield there are some equally as lovely reservoirs to discover…

BAITINGS RESERVOIR

• Heading towards Ripponden on the A58 Halifax Road there is a small car park just after the reservoir on the right (HX6 4LR)

• Pram friendly

• No toilets, but sometimes an ice cream van.

This remains a firm favourite of ours, and not only because it is only 1.5 miles long! The path is smooth, goes through some woodland and crosses a very impressive dam, with lovely views of the Ryburn Valley (where there is another reservoir you could explore if you’re feeling adventurous).

SCAMMONDEN WATER

• There are a choice of car parks, including a large one on Low Platt Lane (HD3 3FR) and a smaller one on New Lane

• I have taken a pram around, but it was a bit of a work-out!

• No café or toilets, but sometimes an ice cream van

The route around Scammonden Water is about 4 miles long, but the kids can be kept entertained by discovering sculptures along the way and doing some serious truck spotting on the M62 (which you walk right past). Do not be put off by the proximity of the motorway, it is still a very peaceful and pretty place, but the walk does involve some hills, so is possibly not for the youngest of explorers.

WITHENS CLOUGH RESERVOIR

• There is a small free car park at the top of Rudd Lane, on Withens New Road (HX7 5TD)

• Not one for prams

• No facilities

For what feels like a walk in the wilderness why not try Withens Clough? This involves a 1.5 mile route close to the water’s edge, where you can often find a “beach” and definitely throw some stones. The paths are mostly not surfaced, but that simply adds to the wilderness feel, as does the extensive view over the moorland and up towards the Stoodley Pike monument (which you can also walk up to if you’re feeling energetic!).

PENNINGTON FLASH

• There is a pay and display car park at WN7 3PA

• Wheel friendly

• The Hide Coffee House offers food and fabulous milkshakes

• Toilets

Another patch of water we sometimes walk round is Pennington Flash… well I say "round", but you don’t actually go all the way round the lake but instead meander around the nature reserve, finding different paths and peeking into bird hides. You can also get up onto the tow path for Leeds and Liverpool canal, which can extend your walk nicely. By the car park is a fabulous playground with a nature theme - clamber across the reeds, climb up into the tree house and rock upon a swan!