Family Days Out - Spring sunshine & April Showers

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

SPRING SUNSHINE...

HOLLINGWORTH LAKE

• Littleborough, OL15 0AZ

• Free, except for parking (take coins!) and, in my case, ice cream(s)

• Pushing a pram around is totally do-able

• Easily navigable on a bike (probably not smooth enough for a scooter)

• A perfect dog walk

• Plenty of eateries to choose from

Hollingworth Lake is only a short drive out of Rochdale town centre, but it feels like you're on your hols! The walk around is so picturesque, but is also only slightly more than 2 miles, so is perfect for adults and “really tired” children alike.

There is a playground half way round and a cafe along the route to keep them happy… and even an amusement arcade at the end!

You can also sometimes take a boat trip on the Lady Katherine and -as the weather warms up - hire a self-drive boat, pedalo or even a stand up paddle board if you are feeling brave! Visit: www.yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/ venues/hollingworth-lake-water-activity-centre/ for more details.

For an alternative, quieter walk you could head down past the new RSPCA centre and The Woodlands Cafe (where the old visitor centre used to be) and venture into Ealees across lovely fields alongside a stream.

JUNIOR PARKRUN

Did you know that at 9am every Sunday there are FREE running events held for children in local parks and open spaces across the country.

In the borough of Rochdale we are lucky enough to have two Junior Parkruns; one in Milnrow Memorial Park and one in Queens Park in Heywood.

My kids LOVE IT! I’m not sure if it’s the fun warm-up, the fantastic encouragement, the incentive of milestone wristbands or the trying to beat their times, but each week we are there with bells on (usually in a mad hectic rush… with adrenaline pumping before the run has even begun)!

Junior Parkrun is 2 kilometres long with both Milnrow and Queens Park including some steep hills, so - if you decide to run alongside your children - it is actually a proper workout!

You don’t need to run with them though - you can just spectate and wait at the finish line. The events are very well-marshalled, meaning that noone can get lost and that someone is always on hand in case of any slips or falls.

APRIL SHOWERS...

ELLENROAD ENGINE HOUSE STEAM MUSEUM

• Rochdale, OL16 4LE

• Car park on-site

• £7.50 per adult, but accompanying children go FREE

• Light refreshments available in the cafe

Have you ever wondered what that massive chimney is as you get on or off the motorway at Milnrow? It's home to “the world’s largest working steam mill engine” which is in steam on the first Sunday of every month.

I cannot get over how much my little boy enjoyed his visit. He was absolutely fascinated in the foundry, and stood still for a good 25 minutes watching horse shoes be made! He loved seeing the coal be shovelled into the boiler and was mesmerised watching the flames. True to its title, the engine itself is HUGE and - be warned - when it first starts it makes a lot of noise and a large cloud of steam… cue a lot of excited screaming!

ROCHDALE PIONEERS MUSEUM

• Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL12 0NU

• There are a number of car parks close by, including on Hunters Lane (OL16 1YL) and Reed Hill (OL16 1DX)

• The museum is FREE… but donations welcome • A 10 minute walk from Touchstones

The building is regarded as the birthplace of the good old Co-op, and as you enter you will find a replica of the original shop, which simply involved a plank of wood lain across two barrels and basically some flour, butter and milk… there were no frozen ready-meals to be had back then!

The museum tells the story of the modern co-operative movement, and its significant impact on societal reform. It's amazing when you realise the influence of the Rochdale Pioneers on issues such as fair trade, women’s rights and education… something our town should be proud of.

Whilst you are digesting all the interesting information, your kids can also be inadvertently learning by filling in the trail sheets (currently there is a pigeon trail) or, if they are younger, playing in the pretend Victorian shop. My kids spent a good hour or so counting out eggs and weighing vegetables on the scales, whilst dressed in suitable (and very cute) attire!

FUN PODS

• Castleton Health and Leisure Centre, Manchester Road, OL11 3AF

Lots of free parking behind the building

• With a “fun pod” you get a quarter of the pool just for you and your family and friends. For up to 6 people it’s £17.50 and for between 7-10 people it’s £21.50. You will need to book at: castletonhealthandleisurecentre.as.me/schedule.php

• For under 5s there is a 1 adult:1 child ratio

Did you know that - instead of an absolute free for all in the swimming pool - at Castleton baths you can book a quarter of the pool for yourself!

You can book a pod in either the shallow end or the deep end… we opted for shallow. It's a great way to build confidence and means that you know your children aren’t going to get splashed or squashed by someone else jumping in.

The “fun pods” also have a lot of floats and toys available for you to play with so we had games of catch, surf board races and water pistol attacks.