The ultimate guide to local family days out

Catherine Aspinall, a local mum of two lively children and an equally energetic pug, shares her top family day out ideas, all with social distancing in mind. With a love for exploring and the outdoors, Catherine and her family are always out and about, having fun adventures in Rochdale & the North West. Follow on Facebook & Instagram @wherewegoingmummy

ALKRINGTON WOODS

M24 4EA Easiest access point- top of Hall Drive (Middleton)

Alkrington Woods has it all… tall trees to climb, lakes to throw stones in, dens to hide in, bridges to cross, makeshift swings to play on and a lovely looking mansion house to admire! Quite a lot of it is also pram and bike friendly, to make your life a bit easier (although not all of it is). At the minute there is also a dinosaur trail to follow, with 10 dinosaurs to find!

HEALEY STONES

Easiest access points- Road Lane (off Whitworth Rd) or top of Dewhirst Road (Syke)

Who knew there is a miniature Stonehenge in Rochdale? Standing not far from Brownhouse Wham Reservoir and Hamer Pasture Reservoir is the Healey Stone Circle. Large boulders to climb on or hide behind (for the kids) and the most stunning view (for you)!

BAITINGS RESERVOIR

HX6 4RF Car park just off the A58, near Ripponden

Another one of our favourite reservoir walks, a 1.5 mile circular route on a new pram-friendly, bike-friendly path. There’s often places where you can throw stones into the water, there are benches to stop for snacks and my little boy says that the “bridge” (aka the dam wall) is exciting to walk across!

IRON WATERS

Easiest access points- the top of Dewhirst Road (Syke) or off Rydings Road (Smallbridge).

If you turn left (east) from the top of Dewhirst Road you will come across the Healey Stone Circle (with a bit of exploring), but if you turn right (west) you can venture down into the cutest of valleys, with a tiny stream to paddle in and acres of greenery to picnic on! If you follow the path along the side of the stream you will find more fields, flowers and forests, and you will eventually come out next to Rydings Dam in Smallbridge (which is somewhere else you can then explore).

BRIDESTONES

OL14 8SA Parking available in a lay-by on Eastwood Road (Todmorden) or in the parking space on Kebs Road (Todmorden) Accessibility for all ages (but not the pram) Distinct lack of visitors so perfect for social distancing

A fabulous pile of rocks on a moor, perfect for climbing up, scrambling on and hiding between the nooks and crannies. It made the best hide and seek setting for little ones, but older children (or even rock-climbing experts) could have fun here too! Take care on cold or windy days though, as it's very exposed.

WITHENS CLOUGH RESERVOIR

HX7 5TA Small car park at the top of Rudd Lane (Cragg Vale)

Short enough for little legs, ok (although not ideal) for bikes and with the all-important stone throwing opportunities Withens Clough Reservoir is now up there with our favourite walks. Even the drive up to the reservoir is cute, with an old hall, posh house and stream, like something out of Wind in the Willows! There is also a (clearly signposted) route from Withens Clough Reservoir up to Stoodley Pike, which looked significantly less steep than the route we took.

EALEES

OL15 0AZ Access via the car park at the Hollingworth Lake visitor centre or at Oak Street/West View in Littleborough. Pram friendly Perfect dog walk Also suitable for two wheels (although, in the words of my son. "It's not a nice smooth path"... you can't please everyone!)

If you’ve ever parked at Hollingworth Lake Visitor's Centre you will most likely have then walked up to the lake bank, but if you walk in the other direction (to the back of the car park) you will come to a nice pond and picnic area. If you then follow the path next to the pond you can walk for a mile or so (including with a pram) into Littleborough. Along the way there are multiple places to stop to paddle in the stream and loads of wildlife to spot.

GORPLEY CLOUGH

OL14 7HU Small car park on the left hand side of Bacup Road (exiting Walsden), just after the tiny playground and football pitch

Once you are in the car park there is a stile to your left and one to your right… take the one to your left and then just keep going and going, through lovely woodland and past gorgeous waterfalls. Eventually you will go up some steps to the top of the valley (where there are some signs and a gate), and once through the gate turn right onto the road and walk a short distance until you see a stile on your right. Cross that stile and the path will eventually take you back to the car park. This second leg could be a bit risky for younger children, as there are steep drops to the side at points.

CHEESDEN VALLEY

OL12 7TY Park in the lay-by opposite the Owd Betts pub (Edenfield Road)

One of our recent treks (definitely the correct term) following Cheesden Brook and up to Ashworth Moor Reservoir. None of us knew this place existed, and you would never have known you were just off a main road in Rochdale. If you head away from the car-park with the pub on your right you will come across a break in the wall on the left, with steps leading down. Go down these steps and take the path which forks to the right, following the stream on your left. You will then come across the ruins of Cheesden Lumb Mill, which has old walls to clamber on and also features a waterfall!

STOODLEY PIKE

Stoodley Pike, OL14 6HJ We parked on Mankinholes Bank, close to the Top Brink pub (OL14 6JB), and from here you will find a signposted path up the hill.

I’ve always wanted to climb up to Stoodley Pike, but it took a lockdown to finally do it. It was quite a steep climb, but little legs did make it, fuelled by chocolate! He was absolutely thrilled when we discovered you can actually go inside the tower and climb a spiral staircase to the viewing platform. The views were absolutely amazing!

SYKE WOODS

OL12 9TE Easiest access points - Buckley Farm Lane (Smallbridge) or Syke Road (next to the Donkey Pub)

Until lockdown I never knew there were woods in Syke but now I think we will visit quite regularly. Not the largest of woods, but a nice one, complete with a large pond for stone throwing and duck feeding. The path within the wood is quite bumpy and steep in parts, so it is probably best to explore on two feet rather than with a pram or a bike.

HEALEY DELL NATURE RESERVE

Dell Road, OL12 6BQ There are multiple access points and corresponding car parking places, including Dell Road, near the Healey Pub, Healey Corner or Massey Croft in Whitworth.

Healey Dell features a nice, flat, straight path perfect for prams and bikes (running from the viaduct all the way to the pump track), but it also has numerous “off shoots” to explore, with steps and bridges, and streams and waterfalls! There’s always loads of birds and insects to spot too! After your adventure you could call into The Healey pub, The Oxford pub or Healey Dell Tea Rooms.