Countryside and Villages

We have some pretty heavenly countryside here in Wrexham. The country villages to go with it. And an awful lot of fresh air.

Walking

Don’t let it all fly past in a green blur from your car. There’s a much better way to get up close and personal with Wrexham’s countryside. Shanks’s pony.

There are many miles of footpaths in every corner of Wrexham. In every conceivable landscape from woodland and river valley to windswept moorland and heathery mountain. Just get out there and explore.

Wrexham’s Tourist Information Centre can tell you how on 01978 292015 or email tic@wrexham.gov.uk.

Ceiriog Valley…

The Ceiriog Valley Walk begins at Chirk railway station and finishes at the foot of the Berwyn mountains in the village of Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog. You can start at either end – or from any number of bus stops en route. You don’t have to walk the whole thing, either. It’s broken into seven themed sections taking anything from 30 to 90 minutes apiece.

And you don’t have to stop there. There are five walks out of Pontfadog. Five from Glyn Ceiriog. And six out of Llanarmon. You can walk from Glyn Ceiriog to Pandy, taking in the disused Glyn Valley Tramway.

And if you’re really keen, not to mention fit, you can tackle two big circular routes. The Ceiriog Trail at 23 miles and the Upper Ceiriog Trail at 14 miles.  Designed for horse riders. But regularly conquered by serious walkers.

Maelor Way…

The Maelor Way passes through three counties on its 24-mile journey from Grindley Brook to Bronygarth in the shadow of Chirk Castle.

It uses a beguiling mix of footpaths, bridleways, quiet lanes and canal towpaths. You’ll see views of the Berwyn Mountains and the Cheshire Plain. And pass through or near villages such as Bronington, Hanmer, Penley and Overton – which could provide a welcome pit stop. Not to mention a pint.

Rather special in its own right, it also links no fewer than six long-distance paths. The Sandstone Trail, South Cheshire Way, Marches Way and Shropshire Way in the east. And Offa’s Dyke National Trail and the Ceiriog Valley Walk to the west. Who knows where you could end up?

Offa’s Dyke path…

One of just 12 National Trails, the Offa's Dyke path (external link) runs a whopping 177 miles from Sedbury Cliffs near Chepstow to the coastal resort of Prestatyn. That’s the entire length of Wales.

It’s named after and often follows the spectacular earthwork which King Offa of Mercia ordered to be built in the eighth century. It crosses the border between England and Wales more than 20 times. And it passes through three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty - including the Clwydian Range on Wrexham’s doorstep.

We might be biased but we think our section contains the most impressive structure on the entire route. Thomas Telford’s Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, the longest and highest in Britain.

Wat’s Dyke way…

Wat’s Dyke is shorter and, we must confess, a lot less famous than Offa’s Dyke. But it’s altogether more mysterious.

For a start, no one knows who Wat was. Some think he was a Mercian king. Others say he never existed and that Wat meant simply “wet” or “rough”.

And for a long time, no one knew when the dyke was built. But carbon dating now indicates some time between the fifth and sixth centuries.

What we do know for sure is that the 61-mile trail which follows the earthwork was 10 years in the planning. It enters Wrexham at Overton, crosses the River Dee at Erbistock, skirts the National Trust’s Erddig and takes in the grave of Elihu Yale in Wrexham town centre.

Finally, via a deep valley, it emerges in Alyn Waters Country Park before passing into Flintshire. And at no point is it more than three miles from the famous dyke of Offa. Who, it seems, was a bit of a copycat.

Useful Links

Country Parks

There’s no shortage of open space in Wrexham. In fact, 90% of the county is rural. But that hasn’t stopped us creating a wide range of parks for people to enjoy all year round.

Some have seasonal museums, visitor centres and cafés. Some fly the Green Flag Award for excellence as public green spaces. And some have sprung up from the remnants of our industrial heritage.

Each is unique. With its own programme of events for the entire family. Including kite making, pond dipping and fungal forays (or mushroom hunting to you and me).

Have a delve into what we have to offer or even download a guide.

Towns and Villages

The great outdoors are all very well. But just occasionally you need to rest your legs, catch your breath and spend a quiet couple of hours shopping, lunching or exploring a medieval church.

Fortunately, none of our countryside is too remote from a welcome glimpse of habitation. In fact it’s liberally sprinkled with towns and villages that seem especially designed to distract you from your walking. Never mind - the mountains will still be there tomorrow.

Bangor-on-Dee…

Stunningly set on the River Dee, Bangor is reached by a hump-backed medieval stone bridge. There’s fishing on the river, golf nearby and horse racing just a few hundred yards from the village centre.

Chirk…

Thanks to its strategic location on the border between England and Wales, Chirk has an embarrassment of riches for a small town. An aqueduct by Thomas Telford. A viaduct by Henry Robertson. A great castle built by Edward I. Oh, and a championship golf course. It’s not merely a gateway to England. It offers easy access to Offa’s Dyke National Trail and to one of the most beautiful valleys in Wales – the Ceiriog Valley.

Erbistock…

The narrow, wooded lane that winds from Overton Bridge past the Garden House leads nowhere – except to one of the loveliest villages in Wrexham. Erbistock’s setting on the banks of the Dee has inspired painters and photographers for centuries. Take in the unexpectedly grand neo-Gothic church. The old pulling mechanism which is all that remains of the hand-operated ferry. Then, since this is where the road ends, turn around and come back again. It will be worth it.

Gresford…

In 15th century All Saints, Gresford has one of the loveliest churches in Wales. It has 18th century almshouses and a redbrick heart beside a pond so large locals call it The Lake. And it has a memorial to perhaps the saddest day in Wrexham’s history. September 22nd 1934, when 226 men lost their lives in a colliery disaster. Appropriately enough, you’ll find the memorial with its huge pithead wheel in the grounds of the Working Men’s Club.

Hanmer…

Owain Glyndwr, perhaps the greatest Welshman of all time, got married in the church at Hanmer in 1383. That one burnt down but don’t be disappointed. Its replacement is the most strikingly situated in the whole of Wrexham. You approach from a mere, or glacial lake, teeming with crested grebe, swans and Canada geese. You enter a set of ornate iron gates, pass through a large graveyard which sweeps uphill to the church. And you prepare to be amazed.

Holt…

Well, it’s not exactly Checkpoint Charlie. But stroll from Holt across the Old Dee Bridge and you’ll be in another country – England. Other remarkable ancient structures include the ruins of Holt castle and St Chad’s church, one of the few surviving examples of medieval design gone seriously wrong. Its sandstone is dotted with impurities, its windows are too big and one of its buttresses is misplaced. It still looks lovely, though, and there’s a great view of it from the beer garden of the Peal O’ Bells pub.

Overton…

Overton is so stuffed with historic buildings that it’s been designated a conservation area. Look out for Dispensary Row, a set of neo-Gothic terraced cottages with arched doorways and windows. And its extra-wide High Street, redesigned in grand style after Edward I granted the village borough status.

Rossett…

Art lovers may recognise Upper Mill on the river Alyn at Rossett. It was sketched by JMW Turner in 1795. He was a little too early to call in for refreshment at the Victorian half-timbered Cocoa Rooms, now a bank. They were built to tempt young men away from the village pubs. Which, you may be glad to know, are still standing and still doing a roaring trade.

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