Pennington flash country park
Pennington flash country park is a great place for a family walk. You’ll find a fantastic new children’s play area and a network of paths that are great for family walks. It’s a fantastic pram-friendly walk in Lancashire for families. There’s plenty for families with older children too. Find more Family walks North West here.
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Where is Pennington Flash Country Park?
Pennington Flash is a nature reserve in Lancashire. It’s part of the Flashes of Wigan and Leigh National nature reserve. It is on the edge of the town of Leigh and it’s really easy to get to and not far from the M6.
Car parking at Pennington Flash country park
There are several car parks at Pennington Flash. If you want to visit the children’s play area and or cafe, then I recommend you use the main entrance and follow the drive up to the main car park by the golf course. The postcode for this car park is WN7 3PA and the entrance is opposite The Robin Hood pub.
At the time of our visit (September 2023) it was £2.50 to park for as long as you like. You buy your ticket at the new visitor information point which is next to the cafe.
How much does it cost to visit Pennington Flash?
Other than parking, it is free to visit and walk around Pennington Flash nature reserve.
Pennington Flash adventure playground
The highlight of any visit to Pennington flash with children is the amazing new adventure playground. There are loads of different play equipment for children. It’s no wonder it is already such a popular park with local families.
My children were 7 and 10 years old when we visited and they both loved the park. There were also plenty of younger children enjoying the playground too.
The adventure playground is really impressive. It’s far more than a simple set of swings and slides that you sometimes find. It has been designed taking inspiration from the local nature reserve and the attention to detail is high. There are structures and decorations that look like wildlife such as ducks, birds and reed beds. It really is beautiful to look at as well as really fun to play on. My children enjoyed all the different challenges.
The middle of the area is designed to be like a lake with equipment for the youngest visitors like a simple wooden boat, a smaller climbing frame and slide, a climbing frame like a birds nest and lots more. There are even wheelchair accessible play equipment too.
Around the edges are lots of swings, a zip wire and larger climbing frames and slides for older children. My children enjoyed it so much we had to drag them off to go for a walk with the promise of another turn at the end. We then had to drag them off again to go home! They would have played there happily for hours.
It really is one of the best play areas we’ve come across in Lancashire. Find the best parks in Lancashire here.
Cafe at Pennington Flash
There is also a new cafe (Hide coffee house) right by the main car park. You can enjoy stunning views of the lake from the cafe and outdoor seating whilst you enjoy your fresh coffee, cakes or ice cream treats.
Other facilities at Pennington Flash
There is picnic area near the lake by the main car park with a good number of picnic benches. You’ll often find an ice cream van in the main car park too.
There are toilets near the cafe too including a new accessible toilets.
Wildlife at Pennington Flash Nature Reserve
Pennington Flash’s tranquil waters and precious wetland habitats are home to lots of wildlife including many different bird species. There are a number of hides around the nature reserve where you can enjoy watching the birds.
Birds that have been spotted in the area include whiskered tern, black-faced bunting, cattle egret and nightingale.
As well as watching the wildlife from the bird hides at various points around the reserve, you can buy bird feed at the visitor centre (currently £2 a bag) and feed the birds on the lake and ponds.
Family walks at Pennington Flash
Pennington flash is a great place for family walks. As well as he playground, cafe and toilet facilities, there are several different options for family walks too through the extensive network of footpaths through the reserve and some joining the Leeds Liverpool canal.
I believe it is possible to walk all the way around the lake but this isn’t all part of the local nature reserve. There is private land on one side of the lake so I believe the walk takes you along roads. We haven’t attempted to walk all the way around the lake. Instead we have walked around the paths that are part of the country park.
Enjoy family walks? Join the Family Walks North West Facebook group to be part of a community sharing the best walks for families across the region. Join here.
The paths around the country park are flat and therefore suitable for prams, pushchairs, bikes and some of them are even bridal ways so you might pass some horse riders. It is worth noting though that some of the paths are prone to very large puddles after rainy days!
You can walk a good couple of miles without leaving the country park and from the main car park you can use the facilities and play area at the beginning and end of your walk. It’s possible to do a very short walk of less than a mile if you have a toddler and are looking for a short walk or you an walk further exploring more of the area. There are lots of maps and information points around the paths.
You can also join the paths along the Leeds Liverpool canal and extend your walk further if you wish as well.
Another highlight of the walks for children is all the boats on the lake. These are from the Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club.
Find loads more Pram friendly walks Lancashire here.
How long do families spend at Pennington Flash?
You really can spend as long or as little as you want here. The £2.50 parking charge is for all day if you choose. The play area is definetly somewhere that your children will want to play for quite some time. You can bring a picnic or eat in the cafe and there are lots of options for different walking durations too.
Overall verdict
We have been a couple of times to Pennington flash and it is a beautiful location for a family walk. Apart from parking charges, it’s a great free family day out and you can tell that a lot of thought and money has gone into making the experience of visitors a top priority.
I’m sure many families come just for the adventure playground but it is just one part of an impressive country park and I would encourage you to take a walk around the reserve too.
Always looking for inspiration for family days out across the North West? Join the Family Days Out North West Facebook group to be part of a community sharing the best family days out across the region. Join here.
Where to next?
Fairhaven Lake, Lytham is another fantastic park in Lancashire to visit.
This is one of our favourite adventure playgrounds. Find more Adventure playgrounds North West here.
Another nearby nature reserve is Risley Moss. It’s great for prams but there is no playground.
Find more Things to do in Lancashire with toddlers here.
