Three Sisters

Circuit guide by Chris Pollitt · dates updated 2 November 2026

Three Sisters is named after the three big spoil heaps left behind by Garswood Hall Colliery, which closed in 1958. The land was reclaimed, and the recreation area, complete with a lake, country park and kart circuit, opened in November 1978. Motorbike racing came along in the early 1980s, and an extension in the early 1990s added Conrod Straight and the climb up to Coward's Summit. Floodlights went in in 2006, and after a rough patch in 2017, new management took over and the track was resurfaced in 2018.

It's mainly a kart circuit. The full lap is just under a mile at 1.497km, with tight corners, short straights and a bit of elevation, and it's wide with tyre-lined run-off. That makes it a good place to learn car control and work on bike technique without big speeds. Car and bike track days run here, often on the full circuit or the short, fast 700m perimeter loop, and some events swap layouts at lunch. For anyone in Greater Manchester, Liverpool or Lancashire, it's a cheap, local bit of track time.

A lap of Three Sisters

Layout: Full Circuit, 1.497 km (0.93 miles)

The full circuit runs clockwise. Conrod Straight, added in the 1990s extension, is one of the few places where you can properly use the throttle, so a good drive onto it is worth having. At the end of it, the road starts to climb up Penrith Climb, and the surface here has a few bumps and dips that compress the suspension. Brake in a straight line and don't be surprised if a low car scrapes. Coward's Summit is the crest at the top. The car goes light as it crosses, so have your braking done and the car settled before you go over.

From the summit you head on to Joey Dunlop Corner and then Lucy's Valley, before the lap swings back towards the paddock side. This part comes at you quickly and is where you'll find out whether you've judged the crest correctly. Keep your inputs tidy and look well ahead, because there isn't much straight between the corners to sort out a mistake.

Paddock Bend leads into the Esses, the bit that catches most people out. The tyre stacks are close, and it's easy to understeer wide if you turn in too keen on the first part. Slow your entry a touch and set the car up for the second part instead of chasing the first apex.

Rogerson's Straight is short, and it's a common place to run wide on the way in. Then it's Lunar Bend, the final corner onto the start straight. Your exit here sets your speed for the next lap, so be patient, get the car pointing straight and then use the throttle. With a lap this short, a clean, repeatable line pays off far more than one brave lap.

Track day tips

• Ask the organiser which layout your day uses. The perimeter loop and the full circuit feel like completely different tracks, and some days use both.
• The 105dB limit suits most road cars and bikes, but get a race or loud aftermarket exhaust checked before you travel.
• The surface has bumps around Penrith Climb, so stiff, low cars may need a bit more ride height than usual.
• Your car or bike will spend a lot of time in lower gears here, so keep an eye on brake and tyre temperatures on hot days.
• Car days require a full-face helmet and arms and legs covered. Bike days need full leathers, and two-piece suits must zip together all the way round.
• Bryn station is a five-minute taxi ride away if you're coming without a van or trailer.

Getting there

Three Sisters is on Three Sisters Road, on the eastern side of Ashton-in-Makerfield between Wigan and St Helens, with WN4 8DD for the sat nav. It's close to the M6, so most people come off near junction 24 or 25 and head for Ashton. The A580 East Lancashire Road is also nearby. It's under 45 minutes from Manchester and Liverpool, and both have airports. Bryn railway station is about five minutes away by taxi, and there are hotels in Wigan and around the M6 junctions.