How to Spend a Maternity Leave Day: Hollingworth Lake

1 day ago
2 min read

Lakeside scene with purple flowers, trees, and blue sky. Text reads "HOW TO SPEND A DAY ON MATERNITY LEAVE." Tranquil mood.

If it’s one of those days where you need to get out of the house (because rain or shine, fresh air is always a good idea), Hollingworth Lake works well as an easy, scenic option.

It offers a simple loop walk, open space, and a few easy stopping points along the way. You can blast around in about an hour, or take your time and make more of a morning of it. Either way, it’s one to add to your list for when you feel like doing a bit more with your day.

Eat, explore, extras:

Eat

There are a few easy options around Hollingworth Lake depending on how much time you have, and whether the baby is up for a café situation.

The lake bank offers a variety of cafés and food spots, including Olive and Pickle, who offer a 10% discount to Mothershift members. For something more casual, Mr Thomas' is a good option for grabbing a bag of chips to eat in the sunshine, weather permitting.

For a sweet treat, Wallis's Ice Cream has an ever-changing selection of ice creams, along with classic seaside-style sugar donuts and more.

Halfway around the loop, there is also a café that works well as a natural stopping point, offering a chance to grab a quick drink for the second half.

Explore

The main loop around Hollingworth Lake is approximately 4km, flat and circular, making it suitable for a straightforward pram walk that you can complete in full or break into sections depending on time and energy, with plenty of opportunities to pause along the way.

Bare trees by a tranquil lake with benches, green grass, and a blue, cloudy sky in the background. Peaceful outdoor scene.

Extras

Wallis’ also features an adjoining arcade, so if you have older children (or just fancy a game of air hockey - we don’t judge), it’s a great way to spend half an hour.

Another good option for older children is the obstacle style park situated mid walk.

The Practical Bits

Parking

There is parking available close to Hollingworth Lake, allowing you to arrive within a short walking distance of the water. Arriving earlier in the day generally makes it easier to find a space - especially on a sunny day.

The walk is pram-friendly, although some parts can become muddy or have puddles in wetter weather, so it’s worth bearing that in mind depending on conditions.