Festive family fun & winter walks

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

FESTIVE FAMILY FUN

IGNITE FIRE FESTIVAL

• Saturday 25th November and Sunday 26th November, 4pm-8pm

• Opposite Rochdale Town Hall, OL16 1AZ

• FREE

This year, as part of the new, immersive Ignite Fire Festival, you can follow a magical trail of blazing fire and lights, admire fiery displays and illuminated sculptures, watch jugglers and dancers and listen to a group of drummers!

And, if this does not sound spectacular enough, at 5:30pm on the Sunday Father Christmas and the Mayor will officially switch on the Christmas lights! There will be food and drink available, including mulled wine (I’m told) to get you in that festive mood!

More information can be found at: rochdale.gov.uk/events

SAIL WITH SANTA

• Running on selected dates between Saturday 25th November and Friday 22nd December

• Hollingworth Lake, OL15 0DQ

• £10.50 for children and £5.25 for adults… bookable at: yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/whats-on/events/sail-with-santa-2023/

This year the “Sail with Santa” experience returns, offering you the unique opportunity to step aboard a floating grotto and, well, “sail” with Santa himself. On board the magical Lady Katherine you will receive a gift and you will also find a magical elf post box, in which you can send your special letters. Meanwhile, adults… you can enjoy the views across the stunning lake!

In addition, on Sundays the Hollingworth Lake Activity Centre will be hosting Santa Paws, so that your wellbehaved furry friends can also enjoy a visit to the ‘Big Man’ and get a gift from Santa’s workshop. We wouldn’t want them to feel left out would we! Tickets cost £7 and can be booked at: yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/whats-on/events/santapaws-2023/

SPRINGFIELD PARK MINIATURE RAILWAY

• Sunday 17th December, 1pm-4pm

• Springfield Park, OL11 4RE

• Donations welcome

On Sunday 17th December the wonderful volunteers at the Rochdale Society of Model and Experimental Engineers will be hosting a special Christmas event at the lovely little railway in Springfield Park.

Don your best Christmas jumpers, crack out your best carol singing voices, climb aboard a little steam train and choochoo your way around the track!

WINTER WALKS

WATERGROVE RESERVOIR

• Wardle, Rochdale

• Car park at the top of a cobbled lane at OL12 9PL

• Although a very short part of this walk is do-able with a pram (up the right hand-side), in order to get all the way round you will DEFINITELY need a carrier… there’s cobbles, stiles and steps to contend with!

• A dogs paradise (although watch out for deer!)

If you fancy a walk in Rochdale, but without the hustle and bustle that often comes with Hollingworth Lake... try Watergrove Reservoir, situated at the top of Wardle Village. It has such a rural feel, partly because there are no facilities, and offers spectacular views. There is so much to explore up at Watergrove… especially if you deviate away from the main circular route (which is about 2 miles)… including paths up into the hills, ruins of an old village and a boardwalk across a pond… We just love it up here!

ENTWISTLE RESERVOIR

• Entwistle, Bolton

• There are a couple of car parks just off Batridge Road, BL7 OLU

• I have taken a pram around

• Dog friendly

Entwistle Reservoir might be a bit further out, but it is worth the drive. It is a stunning reservoir, with paths both

along the edge of the water and through some beautiful woodland. The walk is flat, but is almost 3 miles long - so a bit longer than some other options (so better to tire the kids out, but more likely to trigger the moans about tired legs).

CLOWBRIDGE RESERVOIR

• Clow Bridge, Burnley

• We parked on Limey Lane (BB11 5NT), but there is also a car park just off Manchester Road (BB11 5PF)

• The path is pram-able, but a bit bumpy in places

• There are no dogs allowed on the perimeter path

This is a lovely little circular walk of about 2 miles… but you could extend your adventure by visiting the nearby Singing Ringing Tree. There are plenty of ducks to spot, sailing boats to see and stone throwing opportunities!

BAITINGS RESERVOIR

• Ripponden, West Yorkshire

• There is a car park just off Rochdale Road, HX6 4LL

• Totally doable with a pram

• A lovely dog walk, although there is a tiny section where you walk along a road

A family favourite whatever the season, but a particularly good one in winter as it’s so easy and so short, being just under 1.5 miles around! The dam is impressive to see, especially when all the rain causes the reservoir to overflow and power over the edge, down towards Ryburn Reservoir (which is also worth a visit).