Pennington Flash, a region in Greater Manchester, is characterized by its unique landscape, centered around a 70-hectare lake formed by historical coal mining subsidence. This area has transformed into a diverse natural habitat, featuring open water, extensive reed beds, fen, scrub, woodlands, and marshland. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal also borders the northern edge, adding to the varied terrain. Pennington Flash offers opportunities for several sports like hiking, jogging, touring cycling, road cycling, and more, making it a notable destination…
123
Routes
4.4
(198)
Average rating
2532
People visited

4.6
(32)
285
hikers
5.12km
01:19
20m
20m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.7
(3)
151
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
73
hikers
3.86km
01:00
20m
20m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(5)
58
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(9)
105
riders
26.4km
01:55
60m
60m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(6)
91
riders
25.9km
01:38
60m
60m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

33
riders
49.7km
02:50
130m
130m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

28
riders
41.2km
02:40
110m
110m
Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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4.9
(16)
58
riders
29.5km
01:45
100m
100m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.7
(3)
23
riders
51.0km
02:55
130m
130m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(8)
15
riders
42.1km
02:39
150m
150m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
12
riders
22.8km
01:22
60m
60m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.
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60
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

47
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

43
runners
12.8km
01:19
30m
30m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

36
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.5
(2)
44
riders
64.7km
02:34
200m
200m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

31
riders
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

57
riders
49.9km
02:22
540m
540m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

22
riders
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.9
(22)
55
riders
31.0km
01:43
110m
110m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
16
riders
25.1km
01:20
50m
50m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(7)
24
riders
62.1km
03:10
190m
190m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(4)
12
riders
34.3km
02:08
140m
140m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Pennington Flash is a 70-hectare lake and nature reserve located in Greater Manchester. It was formed by subsidence from historical coal mining activities. The area is recognized for its diverse habitats and is designated as a National Nature Reserve.
Pennington Flash offers a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, jogging, touring cycling, road cycling, mountain biking, and gravel biking. The area features a comprehensive network of footpaths and bridleways suitable for different skill levels.
Yes, Pennington Flash provides easy hiking routes suitable for beginners. The terrain is largely flat with well-maintained paths that wind through various habitats. For specific options, refer to the Easy hikes around Pennington Flash guide.
Pennington Flash is a family-friendly destination with suitable walking routes. It features a visitor center, café, picnic areas, and an adventure playground. Find suitable options in the Family-friendly hikes around Pennington Flash guide.
Yes, dogs are permitted on many trails at Pennington Flash. Specific routes that are suitable for dogs can be found in the Dog-friendly hikes around Pennington Flash guide. Owners should ensure dogs are kept under control.
Popular hiking routes include the 3.2-mile (5.1 km) 'Around Pennington Flash Nature Reserve' trail and the 4.6-mile (7.4 km) 'Tom Edmondson Hide – Pennington Flash Lake loop'. These routes offer continuous views of the lake and varied landscapes. More options are available in the Hiking around Pennington Flash guide.
Pennington Flash offers accessible paths for cycling around the lake and connections to broader cycling networks. Routes range from easy circular paths to longer rides. Explore options in the Cycling around Pennington Flash guide.
Pennington Flash is a significant wetland habitat, particularly renowned for birdwatching, with over 230 bird species recorded. It is home to nationally significant populations, including the endangered willow tit. The area also supports diverse butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, and water voles.
Pennington Flash is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 48,000 visitors having shared their experiences. The routes in the region have an average rating of 4.51 out of 5 stars.
Yes, public transport options are available for accessing trails at Pennington Flash. Specific routes that start from bus stations can be found in the Hikes from bus stations around Pennington Flash guide.
Pennington Flash provides a visitor center, a café, and picnic areas for visitors. There is also an adventure playground, and several strategically placed bird hides are available for wildlife observation.
Official information about Pennington Flash can be found on the BeWell Wigan website. The official website is bewellwigan.org/activities/pennington-flash/. For direct inquiries, the phone number is 01942 489848.

