Three Sisters Recreation Area
🏟 Playground & park · Bryn, Wigan
Three Sisters Recreation Area
A large nature reserve near Ashton-in-Makerfield reclaimed from old colliery spoil, with a children's playground, woodlands, ponds and free parking.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Open daily during daylight hours · Free · No booking needed
📍 Location & directions
Address: Three Sisters Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, WN4 8DD
Plus Code: 9C5VG939+G6
About Three Sisters Recreation Area
Three Sisters Recreation Area sits in Bryn, near Ashton-in-Makerfield, and is owned by Wigan Council. The site takes its name from three coal-mining spoil tips that, together with an old golf course, were reclaimed from the 1970s onwards and transformed into a large area of woodlands and ponds. It is regarded as a flagship example of brownfield regeneration in Greater Manchester and was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 2011, now forming part of the wider Flashes network. The recreation area has a children's playground with equipment such as swings, a slide and a climbing frame, set alongside picnic and play areas, toilets and free parking. Extensive surrounding footpaths make it a haven for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, and an active Friends of Three Sisters group supports the site, including a bird-feeding area. A well-known motorsport circuit, used mainly for kart racing, also occupies part of the site. The recreation area is free to visit and provides a spacious, natural setting for family days out close to the motorway network.
⭐ What makes this place special
- Local Nature Reserve
- woodlands
- ponds
- picnic areas
- motorsport/kart circuit
- bird feeding area
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Parking: True
- Toilets on site
- Accessibility: Extensive footpaths used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders
- Dogs: True
🧒 Ages & play
- swings
- slide
- climbing frame
- spring riders
📍 Nearby places to play
- Jubilee Park · approx 0.9 miles · Ashton-in-Makerfield
- Kipling Park · approx 1.7 miles · Goose Green
- Abram Park · approx 1.8 miles · Abram
Explore more:
❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Three Sisters Recreation Area free?
Yes. Three Sisters is a free recreation area and Local Nature Reserve owned by Wigan Council, with free parking on site.
Is there a children's playground?
Yes. There is a children's play area with equipment such as swings, a slide and a climbing frame, alongside picnic areas.
Is there parking and are there toilets?
Yes. The site has free parking and toilets, with picnic and play areas nearby.
What wildlife and nature is there?
The site is a Local Nature Reserve of woodlands and ponds reclaimed from old colliery tips, with a bird-feeding area supported by the Friends of Three Sisters.
Can I walk my dog here?
Yes. Extensive footpaths run through the site and it is popular with dog walkers, cyclists and horse riders.