Pennington Flash 05/09/10

Pennington Flash is a Nature Park near Leigh, which consists of a large lake and a number of small ones, all of which were formed due to mining subsidence around 1900. I have visited a few times for a bit of fresh air and a spot birdwatching but have never walked all the way around. I have had a chest infection recently so thought this would be a pleasant walk after a few weeks off.

Pennington is easily reached being quite close to the East Lancs Rd and has several carparks. We parked away from the crowds of duck feeders and set off through woodland on well made paths, lots of late flowers in prominence but as usual unsure of what they were, must buy a book to indentify them. After a while the path reached a farm which we skirted and eventually reached the sailing club on the far side of the main ;lake. The path passed a pretty row of cottages and reached a minor road.
After following the road for a few hundred yards we found the farm track and footpath that led back down towards the lake. Just before the farmhouse there was a stile which we crossed and this took us onto a narrow path with fields on on side and the lake on the other. Again we reached a road but only for a few yards before another stile. The path then led down to the lake side and now followed the lake side for quite some time. This side of the lake is very quiet considering the number of visitors around the main car park areas.
 Eventually the path reached the Leeds and Liverpool canal and we turned to pass the birdwatching hides and the main carpark The path then returned to woodlands before taking us back to the carpark.
All in all a pleasant walk of around 4 miles but very easy going, lots of waterfowl to see on the lake but nothing special although it was nice to see a couple of Great Crested Grebes. It was also quite entertaining watching gulls mobbing coots trying to steal their ;food, fortunately the coots easily evaded the attacks by diving under water.
 No animals were hurt in the making of this walk.