{"id":1003923,"date":"2021-07-22T17:02:58","date_gmt":"2021-07-22T16:02:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1003923"},"modified":"2022-11-07T10:25:12","modified_gmt":"2022-11-07T10:25:12","slug":"flint-and-wats-dyke-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1003923","title":{"rendered":"Flint and Wat’s Dyke Way"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I decided that a trip to the coast might provide some cooler air than inland today, so a quick blast down the M56 and I was in Wales!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weather today was hot and sunny, and this was an ideal walk for the conditions with two-thirds being either in the shade of trees, or along the estuary where, as I’d hoped, there was a hint of a light sea breeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk was about 7.8miles with a total ascent of 685ft, 208m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flint is on the Welsh side of the Dee estuary, about 50 minutes drive from Cheadle Hulme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk took about 3hours 20 minutes to complete, plus about 40 minutes for lunch and another 20 minutes looking round the castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For dog walkers, the walk is mixed with areas of farmland (most were grass and no animals today) and narrow paths through woods (including a section with steep drops), a golf course and then great coastal paths at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OS Explorer Maps 265 and 266.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Yacht Inn is at postcode CH6 5SE. Pass this, turn first left into a narrow cul-de-sac, and be surprised to find a car park at the end with a children’s play area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pentre Ffwrndan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is a pretty waterfall and bed of wildflowers at the car park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The first section of the walk involves a few pleasant tree lined paths and some brand new housing on the edge of Flint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, I was soon heading up a few fields with pleasant views developing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The grass was surprisingly wet with dew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Waen-y-Balls (don’t ask!)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The next section was mainly through wooded field margins, nicely shaded, stream edges, and a few open fields, eventually emerging onto Halkyn Road where I would join Wat’s Dyke Way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Wat’s Dyke Way<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    This is a 40-mile (64\u00a0km) linear earthwork\u00a0running through the northern Welsh Marches. It runs generally parallel to Offa’s Dyke, sometimes within a few yards but never more than three miles (5\u00a0km) away. It now appears insignificant, sometimes a raised hedgerow\u00a0and in other places is now no more than a cropmark, the ditch long since filled in and the bank ploughed away, but originally it was a considerable construction, considered to be strategically more sophisticated than Offa’s Dyke.\u00a0The date of construction is disputed, ranging from sub-Roman\u00a0to the early ninth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The section I walked is beautiful, running along the top of the steep sided river valley of the Nant-y-Fflint river. The path reminded me of that at Poynton Coppice, though on a somewhat grander scale. Photos don’t really do it justice as the drop isn’t obvious on the pictures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      I was tempted to take the path down to the valley floor and look at the river, but decided not to as I didn’t fancy the climb back up in today’s heat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      To The Estuary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Leaving Wat’s Dyke Way, I headed northeast over a beautiful field of barley with views to Connah’s Quay Power Station’s 4 gas turbine chimneys along the estuary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      The path went straight through the middle of Flint Golf Course, a pleasant 9-hole course, with not a single golfer braving the heat today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      After the golf course, suburban roads soon gave way to Swinchiard Brook Walk, a pretty path that followed the brook all the way down to the dual carriageway at sea level. There were houses, shops and industry to either side, but, for the most part, they were out of sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Flint Harbour, Castle and Marsh<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Flint Harbour is small, but was once critical to the town. It’s now “just a pretty sight”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      On reaching the Dee estuary, I was delighted to find a shady spot to take a leisurely lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Flint Castle is great. Edward I built it as a “permanent bridgehead” into Wales as he fought and defeated Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Prince of Wales, in 1277. Surely this is what kids would think castles should look like! And fair play to CADW, it’s free to wander in and around. worth a visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        The final stretch of the walk took me out to the edge of the marsh, and then back past the sewage works to the main road!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        Given the heat, I couldn’t have chosen a better route to keep relatively cool on. It was a really good mix of town and country, nature and industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        The Beautiful South have always been a favourite of mine, and this is a cover of a song that evokes feelings for a really hot day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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