Wigan - Wildlife and Wilderness - 17 Miler

A predominantly traffic free route using mainly Towpath & Bridleway, with just the odd section of road, this ride takes us on a figure of 8 loop around many of the boroughs numerous Flashes. Most of these were formed as a consequence of the now redundant mining industry, owing to a combination of subsidence and flooding. These venues now provide us with settings for a wealth of leisure activities including, Angling Sailing, Walking & Bird Watching to name but a few. Our start and finish point is from Jewel in the Crown of these venues, Leigh's very own Pennington Flash. Set in almost 500 acres of grounds it is home to Pennington Golf Club, Leigh  & Lowton Sailing Club and over 200 species of wild birds. Our route will take us from Pennington along the Leeds Liverpool Canal to Wigan passing by Scotsmans, Horrocks, Pearsons & Turners Flashes before making our way via Amberswood Common through to Low Hall Nature Reserve. Onwards from here to Kingsdown Flash in Abram (known locally as Polly's) before picking up the canal towpath again at Dover Lock for the return leg to Pennington.