Introduction
So, we have a heatwave. For me, this meant walking either in the woods, up on the moors, or by the sea, for any cooler conditions. As the gull gives away, I chose the sea. Holywell is in the near corner of Wales, the northeast.
I started the walk at Greenfield Dock. It’s a tad over an hour’s drive from Cheadle Hulme.
The walk is 7.5 miles with 700feet of ascent.
The weather was sunny and hot, but the sea air took the edge off the heat, and it was rather pleasant!
It took 3 hours 30 minutes to complete plus 15 minutes for lunch!
The walk isn’t good for dog walking, due to long stretches on roads, difficult stiles, and livestock grazing.
I walked in an anticlockwise direction.
The walk is on OS Explorer Map 265.
I parked in the seafront car park at Greenfield Dock, postcode CH8 7GJ, What 3 Words modem.manhole.washing
The Marsh
The first section of the walk borders the Dee estuary, with England on the opposite side, The Wirral to be more specific. This is the view that greeted me.
The Marsh is a long strip of grassland, and must have flooded regularly in the past. Today, it is separated from the estuary by a 2metre high boulder barrier – easy to climb to look at the birds and sand formations below.
First lovely species – little egret flying past.
There were numerous oystercatchers. This one was a real poser.
At Llanerch-y-Mor Google Maps indicates the presence of “The Duke Of Lancaster” as a tourist attraction.
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales doesn’t give any credence to the idea that it’s a tourist attraction and claims it was most recently used as a clothing warehouse.
Llanerch-y-Mor To Saith Fynnon
The next section is mainly uphill, and mainly on minor roads through attractive countryside.
These plants weren’t expected by the side of a road where a small stream ran alongside!
Forest Hill Trout Farm lies in a valley part way along this section, and seemed to be doing a good trade.
At Tre-Eden-Owain, these tractors appeared to be dancing as they gathered up the hay bales!
Saith Fynnon To Holywell And Greenfields Heritage Park
A short stretch along the A 5026 and two small housing estates led me past Holway Community Centre and play park and down into a beautiful green path with hidden pools.
The path joined a track, still very picturesque, and next to a stream I found these glorious, fine, fern-like plants.
A cave-like opening took my interest as there was an information board next to it.
This is the entrance to a 2 mile long tunnel leading to a mine, one of the most productive lead mines ever seen in Britain. The galena (lead ore) here was so rich that it yielded 80% iron and 12% silver from its mass. At its height it employed 82 people underground and 50 above ground.
A little further down, I crossed a road and took a track to the Heritage Park. Here there are many archaeological remnants of an industrial past. It has a museum and a ruined abbey too. I would like to spend some time here to learn more of its rich history, but that will have to wait for another visit.
Beyond the museum I made my way back to the waterfront…… and that seagull.
This was a splendid location for today’s weather, and the M56 wasn’t too slow on the way back, so overall a very enjoyable day.
And Finally….
How does he do it? Van Morrison has just released his 47th studio album, “Remembering Now”.
This is “If It Wasn’t For Ray”
Interesting walk Graham, enjoyed the views.