Wheelchair-accessible ‘Pennine Queen’ boat launches at Hollingworth Lake

Sunday, 7 December 2025 18:48

By David Murphy

A new chapter in inclusive outdoor activities has begun at Hollingworth Lake with the official launch of the ‘Pennine Queen’ a fully wheelchair-accessible Wheelyboat now available for community use.

The custom-built boat was unveiled by the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Janet Emsley, who cut a red ribbon before taking the vessel on its first official trip across the lake. The launch event was attended by members of the public, disability support groups and representatives from Your Trust, the borough’s leisure and culture charity.

The Pennine Queen is the first boat of its kind at Hollingworth Lake Water Activity Centre. Designed for people with mobility impairments and wheelchair users, the vessel will provide access to powerboat training, pleasure trips and group activities, many of which were previously out of reach for disabled visitors.

Estelle Rowe, CEO of Your Trust, said the launch was a proud and transformative moment.

“Inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do at Your Trust,” she said. “The Pennine Queen will open the lake to more people than ever before, giving residents and visitors with disabilities a safe and flexible way to enjoy time on the water.”

Funded by a consortium of national and regional charities, including The Wheelyboat Trust and the ALA Green Charitable Trust, the project was supported by nine funders in total. Their backing has enabled the activity centre to expand its offer and make the lake a more welcoming environment for all.

Councillor Susan Smith, Rochdale’s cabinet member for communities and cooperation, praised the scheme as a major step forward in tackling exclusion.

“Outdoor activities like boating support physical health, emotional resilience and mental wellbeing,” she said. “This new Wheelyboat gives residents living with disabilities the opportunity to enjoy the lake and be part of the wider community.”

The boat’s name pays tribute to a previous vessel that served Hollingworth Lake in the 1950s, while also acknowledging the site's location within the Pennine Township.

Public trips on the Pennine Queen are expected to begin in spring 2026, with full details due to be announced in the coming months.