days out
HOPWOOD PARK Small car park on Baker Street, OL10 2PP There is a 'baby' playground with the basics... swing, slide, roundabout, rockers and an older area with - wait for it - A ZIPLINE!! There's also the brand spanking new pump track which, although small, is great fun! The perimeter of the park is a lovely, flat, smooth path - perfect for scooters, bikes or dolls prams.
HOPWOOD WOODS
BOARSHAW CLOUGH
We parked in the small car park close to Hopwood Hall College, Middleton (M24 6XH).
Middleton, M24 2LJ (Across the road from Hopwood Woods)
The woods are bigger than you'd expect from the road and we spent over two hours exploring - through streams, over bridges, onto tree stumps, along logs... fun was had by all.
We parked on Clough Road and just wandered around, befriending ponies, throwing stones in the stream, climbing trees and feeding the ducks. There's also a miniature sculpture trail featuring a grasshopper, a giant fish and a fox!
Catherine Aspinall, a local mum of two lively children and an equally energetic pug, shares her top family day out ideas. 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
STUBBYLEE PARK
HARE HILL PARK
YANKEE HEAVEN
Bacup, OL13 0DE, although we always park on Park Road (OL13 0BU)
There is a pay and display car park at the cricket club (OL15 9LD) or often spaces on the streets surrounding the park.
Canal Wharf, Canal Street, Littleborough, OL15 0HA.
The playground is good with bits for toddlers and older children - a little play house, a slide down a hill and a spinning seesaw. The playground is actually in the park next door Moorlands Park - but you wouldn’t really notice that they are different parks. One of our favourite things about this park is the excellent pump track. There's also a lovely little cafe, a duck pond and a little stream which trickles downhill from there, where, along the banks, are dotted fairy houses, fairy shops and even a fairy water mill! 14 | Rochdale Style
A great park whatever the season, with a beautiful view from the swings. There is an excellent toddler playground at the top of the park, with little slides and baby swings and a fake road. There is also an area for bigger kids at the bottom of the park, which includes skateboarding ramps. The paths are lovely and smooth for prams and bikes with flat sections, little winding paths and also one big hill. There's an old water wheel to find and an excellent cafe, Cuppacinos.
Obviously not a day out in itself... but any walk along the Rochdale Canal is made better by a stop off at Yankee Heaven for an ice cream or milkshake. My favourite is a salted caramel ice cream in a waffle cone. They also have ice cream especially for doggies! And, as well as feeding ourselves, we like to feed the ducks. Ideally placed for a stroll along the Rochdale Canal - 1.5 miles towards Todmorden will get you to Summit and 1.5 miles towards Rochdale will get you to Clegg Hall.
