Wigan Flashes National Nature Reserve
This walk explores the Wigan Flashes National Nature Reserve in the town of Wigan, Greater Manchester.
The reserve includes a series of large lakes and some easy trails along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Habitats at the site include reedbed, fen, rough grassland, wet woodland and scrub.
It's great for wildlife with great crested grebe, bittern, heron, reed buntings, willow tits, reed warblers, sedge warblers, common terns and water rails to look out for. Flora includes lilac, marsh helleborine, orchids and evening primrose.
To continue your walking in the area follow the canal south to visit Pennington Flash Country Park.
Postcode
WN3 5UF - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsPlease click here for more information
Wigan Flashes Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Wigan Flashes Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Wigan Flashes OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Wigan Flashes Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Dog Walking
The reserve is a lovely place for a dog walk. Please keep them under control because of the wildlife.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
To extend the walk follow the canal south east for a few miles and you could visit Pennington Flash Country Park in Leigh. The expansive park has more fine lakeside trails, paths along the Bridgwater Canal, an information centre, mobile cafe and nine hole golf course.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Footpath at Wigan Flashes. Scotman's Flash in the distance. In 2022 the site was formally declared a National Nature Reserve (NNR) by Natural England bringing Wigan Council, Lancashire Wildlife Trust and Forestry England together to protect 738.21 hectares of wetlands.
Pearson's Flash
Heron at Wigan Flashes
Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Wigan Flashes