Although we’re not blessed with the best weather here in Manchester, there are people who will go for a swim whatever the weather, and then when the sun comes to play, the rest of us flock. In terms of outdoor spots to swim in Greater Manchester, we’re not exactly swimming in them (pun intended), but one place you can rely on is Pennington Flash, which stretches the Leigh/Warrington border and is just a 40-minute drive from Manchester city centre.
Pennington Flash, a 70-hectare lake nestled in Greater Manchester, is part of Pennington Flash Nature Reserve, which Natural England officially designated as a National Nature Reserve in October 2022 (the first and only National Nature Reserve in the whole of Greater Manchester). The lake is formed from mining subsidence – characteristic of any body of water called a ‘flash’ – exemplifying how areas can recover from industrial impacts.
Pennington Flash is actually the second largest body of water in Greater Manchester, after Hollingworth Lake in Littleborough, and hosts the Bolton IRONMAN, where competitors swim a 1.9km course before transitioning to the tarmac.
Swim Pennington, a NOWCA registered open water swim venue operating from Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club, is situated at the western end of Pennington Flash, in the vicinity of Leigh. The site is perfect for open water swimming, offering simple access to the water, ample free parking and changing rooms with toilets and shower facilities.
Sessions run every Saturday morning throughout the year, with evening sessions available from late April to the end of September, open to skins or wetsuits, whether it’s a quick dip or a 3.5km swim, plus the site is within easy reach of the A580 East Lancs road and the M6.
The swimming courses at Pennington Flash vary from 200m to 1.9km, with courses open on the day displayed on the notice board before entering the water – do familiarise yourself with the layouts before entering the water. Swim Pennington is also careful to warn swimmers to know their limits – if you’re new to open water swimming start on the small courses and build up to the larger courses, enter the water slowly and let your body get accustomed to the temperature.
If you fancy it, there’s also sailing (races and informal) available, as part of the club, and of course a walk around the water always provides a lovely day out, whether you want to get wet or not. So, this spring and summer why not get swimming (or anything else for that matter) at the lovely Pennington Flash?
📍 Swim Pennington, Green Ln, Lowton, Warrington WA3 1BJ.