Walking
North Wales Borderlands is a great place to bring your walking boots or a pair of binoculars. It's perfect for twitching and all sorts of other nature watching, and the views are simply jaw-dropping. The terrain is incredibly varied, so you can enjoy gentle strolls or real hard hill-walking. You'll find national trails, long distance routes, linear walks, rural and coastal walks and town trails. Here's a glimpse of some of the places where you can wonder and wander...
The Clwydian Range AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty)
The Clwydian Range is at the heart of the borderlands. It comprises hills and open moorlands and is a paradise for wildlife. One of Wales' rarest birds, the Black Grouse, can be spotted here if you're patient - and lucky! It's also a wonderful place to find yourself - adrift from the everyday cares of life and with the upland wind singing in your ears. Walk the magnificent open moorland, with its strenuous ascents which lead to wild upland heaths. Little streams, bright as pins, tumble through the landscape and ragged sheep crop the tufty hillsides, as they have done for thousands of years.
The Dee Estuary and Flintshire
The silvery tidal estuary on the eastern edge of the Irish Sea between the Clwydian Range and the Wirral Penninsula is of international importance for birds, flora and fauna. The wide beaches and sandy hills at Talacre are a popular destination for walkers.
The Vale of Clwyd
A broad, gentle sweep of green where historic towns such as Ruthin, Denbigh, St Asaph and Rhuddlan, plus lots of charming little villages, are all sheltered between the lofty moors of Mynydd Hiraethog and the picturesque Clwydian Hills.
Llangollen and the Dee Valley
The steep wooded slopes, leading from the breath-taking Horseshoe Pass down to the rushing waters of the River Dee, form the perfect setting for the pretty town of Llangollen. Further along the valley the small country town of Corwen also provides a good base for walkers.
Chirk and the Ceiriog Valley
The Marcher castle at Chirk guards the entrance to the beautiful Ceiriog Valley. Picture postcard villages like Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog lie nestled in the beautiful landscape while the River Ceiriog trundles slowly down the valley from its source high up in the mountains.
Wrexham and the Maelor
Wrexham is the largest town in North Wales and a busy centre of commerce, with reminders of its industrial past - including its iron works and lead mines - developed into fascinating heritage centres surrounded by excellent walking routes. The Maelor is where the lush Cheshire Plains begin their transformation into the Welsh hills, with picturesque villages like Hanmer, Erbistock, Holt and Overton.
Rural walks in Flintshire
Rural Flintshire is a landscape of incredible variety. The Rural Walks in Flintshire booklet recommends 25 of the best walks in the county and is illustrated with maps, route directions and colour photographs, as well as lots of local stories. As well as the Clwydian Range mentioned above, you can explore the quiet riversides, wooded valleys and rolling farmland of Llanasa, Ysceifiog, Whitford and Caergwrle. Discover the wildlife-rich coasts at Talacre and along the Dee Estuary. Or for an alternative stroll, why not uncover the rich stories of industrial heritage at Halkyn, Greenfield and Buckley?
Click on the following links to find out more and to download walking guides...
Flintshire County Council website
Denbighshire County Council website
Wrexham County Borough Council website
To order walking guides for Chirk and the Ceiriog Valley, telephone 01691 718406.
