WREXHAM &WREXHAM &FLINTSHIRE

WREWRECSAM &AM &SIR FFLINT

Leisure, Libraries & CultureServices Department

River Dee

River Clywedog

River Alyn

MOLD CHESTER

OVERTON

OSWESTRY

LLANGOLLEN

RUTHIN

GRESFORD

LLAY

GWERSYLLT

SUMMERHILL

MINERA

RHOS

RUABON

NEWBRIDGE

CEFN MAWR

COEDPOETH

WREXHAM

Bangor RoadB5426

A534

A539

A528

A483

Llangollen Road

Ruthin Road

A541

A525

Mold R

oad

Rhosberse Rd

B5605

Par

k R

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Park Rd

Cae GwilymLane

A483

New

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ALYNWATERS

MOSSVALLEY

MINERA

STRYT LAS

NANT MILL

TY MAWR

BONC YRHAFOD

Wrexham Parks, Countryside &Public Rights of Way Service

Healthy Walks inand aroundWrexham’s

Country Parks

Healthy Walks in and aroundWrexham’s Country Parks

Would you like somecompany while you walk?Groundwork Wrexham & Flintshiremanage ‘Walkabout Wrexham,’ whichis part of the national ‘Walking theWay to Health Scheme’ that aims topromote the benefits of briskwalking, both through led walks andindependent walking. Groundworkhas a programme of weekly healthwalks in and around the Wrexhamarea of between 1 and 3 miles. Theseare free, open to everyone, and led bytrained and friendly Volunteer WalkLeaders. The programme also consistsof longer led walks aimed atproviding walkers with that addedchallenge and variety. In addition thescheme promotes independentwalking including walks such as thosecovered in this leaflet.

Did you know? Walking can...• Make you feel good• Give you more energy• Help you sleep better• Help reduce stress• Keep your heart strong• Reduce blood pressure• Help you to manage your weight

Why Walk?• It’s the safe way to health & fitness• It’s a chance to meet people and

make friends• You can do it anywhere and at

any time• All you need is comfortable shoes• There’s very little risk of injury,

it doesn’t hurt!• You can start slowly and build up

gently• It’s free!

Recommendations are to participate in30 minutes 5 days a week of moderateintensity physical activity of whichwalking is an excellent example.

For further details of the led walksprogramme, please call:

GROUNDWORKWREXHAM & FLINTSHIRE

01978 363555WREXHAM &WREXHAM &FLINTSHIREFLINTSHIRE

WREWRECSCSAM &AM &SIRSIR FFLINTFLINT

This booklet contains 7 walks that start from the Country Parks managed byWrexham Parks, Countryside and Public Rights of Way Service.

The walks are relatively easy being no more than 2-3 miles long, lasting nolonger than 2 hours. We have also given each walk one of the following Accessgrades:

Grade A - Surfaced footpaths and only slight inclines.Grade B - Un-surfaced paths and grassland and with moderate inclinesGrade C - Un-surfaced paths and grassland, stiles and steep inclines.

Dogs are welcome on the walks provided they are kept under control. We havetried to include in the walks any points of local interest. If you would like moreinformation about any of the walks please call the number below.

Each of the 7 Country Parks is unique, with something for everyone to enjoy,from tranquil woodland and riverside views to play areas and farm animals.Throughout the year we run an exciting programme of activities in each of theparks, details can be found in our events leaflet. We also provide an extensiveenvironmental education programme for schools. Further information aboutWrexham Parks, Countryside and Public Rights of Way Service and what we docan be found on our website:www.wrexham.gov.uk/countryside and in our events leaflet. These are availablefrom Ty Mawr, Alyn Waters and Nant Mill Visitor Centres.

If would like us to send an events leaflet or you have any other enquiries pleasetelephone 01978 763140 or email countryparks@wrexham.gov.uk

For information about walks further afield in NE Wales, Cheshire and the Wirral,visit http://www.fresh-air.info

WALKING IS ENJOYABLE, RELAXINGAND GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH, SOHAPPY WALKING!

Pedal Power at Alyn Waters

The Hearts and Minds Pedal Power Project was launched in the summer of 2005and aims to make cycling accessible to children and adults with a variety ofdisabilities. Cycling is a low impact form of exercise and is an ideal way toimprove and maintain your strength and fitness levels. Pedal Power usesspecially built 3 wheeled bikes around a traffic free 1 mile circuit at Alyn WatersCountry Park.

Cycling is an Enjoyable, Social and Healthy activity that will count as part ofyour weekly fitness programme.To book a ride please contact your Pedal Power Coordinator @ GroundworkWrexham & Flintshire 01978 363555.

The Hearts and Minds Pedal Power Project managed by Groundwork Wrexham &Flintshire, is funded by The Big Lottery, Local Health Board Hearts and Mindsand Northern Marches.

Roots for Healthy Hearts

The Trim Trail at Alyn Waters

Roots for Healthy Hearts is a project managed by Groundwork Wrexham &Flintshire with funding from the Big Lottery Fund. The aim of the project is topromote physical activity and healthy eating to school children and communitygroups. A range of activities and sessions can be organised for your school orcommunity group.

The Trim Trail at Alyn Waters with its 11 different types of apparatus to choosefrom is an ideal way of improving and maintaining your fitness levels.

Designed as an exciting and energetic outdoor activity area, the Trim Trailcombines two different types of equipment, a children’s circuit and a fitnesscircuit.

The children’s circuit is made up of 6 pieces, all designed to encourage safe,adventurous, physical play. The equipment can help to improve children’s physicalstrength, balance, and co-ordination, as well as the associated mental benefitsthat accompany increased self confidence and improved fitness.

The fitness circuit has five different types of equipment, which can all be used towork on various aspects of physical strength and fitness. If you haven’t beenactive recently, take care not to over-do it, especially on your first visit.To guide and advise you on using the equipment, a set of instructional cards isavailable from the reception desk at the Alyn Waters visitor centre (a smallrefundable deposit will be required), or alternatively, why not arrange to meet upwith the ‘Roots for Healthy Hearts’ Active Lifestyle Officer for a guided session.

For further information about free guided sessions at the Trim Trail, or the Rootsfor Healthy Hearts project, call:

GROUNDWORK WREXHAM & FLINTSHIRE on 01978 363555

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Offa'sDyke

BERSHAM

Caeau Weir

Ironworks

St. Mary'sChurch

Big Wood Weir

Nant MillVisitor Centre

Bersham IndustrialHeritage Centre

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START

BigWood

Follow the road past the BershamIronworks on your left, under the

road bridge and turn left at the Tjunction. During the 18th centuryBersham was the site of one of themost important ironworks in thecountry. Owned by John “Iron Mad”Wilkinson, the works were famous formaking cylinders for steam poweredpumping engines and cannons for theAmerican War of Independence.

Distance: 3 milesTime: 1hr 30 minsAccess information: Grade B, with an incline of 10-15%at the start and end of the walk and a slope of 15-25% inmiddle of the route. Part of the route becomes very muddyin winter. Please note that this route includes a kissing gateand steps.Description: A beautiful walk following the RiverClywedog through the ancient woodland of Plas Power toBersham.

Nant Mill Visitor Centre Walk

Nant Mill Visitors CentreRhosberse Road, Coedpoeth,Wrexham LL11 3BTTel: 01978 752772Centre open: 10.30am - 4.30pm Easter - August, daily. September - Easter, weekends only.Park open all year round.

Continue along the path for 4 milepassing the stepped Caeau Weir, before

the path exits onto the road. Caeau Weir isknown locally as the Russian Steps, as localfolklore maintains that the weir was builtby Russian prisoners of war. The weir usedto provide water for a corn mill on theBersham Ironworks site. Just after the weir,St Mary’s Church can be seen on the otherside of the road. It is a private church builtfor the Plas Power Estate in 1875. The

church has a variety of exotic treesin its grounds, including a GiantSequoia and a Monkey Puzzle tree.

Nant Mill

BigWoodWeir

Stay on this path, after p mile youwill go through Offa's Dyke. Offa's

Dyke was built in the 8th Century as adefensive line against the Welsh by Offa,King of Mercia. The Dyke runs from nearMold to Chepstow in South Wales.Continue walking for about 100 metresthen take a short detour to the right to BigWood Weir, before returning to thefootpath. Big Wood Weir is an impressive 4metre high waterfall, particularly when theriver is in flood. Although it appears to benatural, closer inspection shows it to havebeen built to provide water for a localsteam engine.

Continue along the road for 100yards before turning right into

Bersham Heritage Centre. The Centrecontains an excellent museum, giving afascinating account of Bersham’sindustrial past. Open all the year roundthe Centre also contains a well stockedshop and toilets, please call 01978261529 to check opening times. Returnto Nant Mill along the same route.

On leaving the centre turn left and walk up the lane for 50metres, turn right and just before the road bridge go

through the kissing gate on your left. The woodlands originallypart of the Plas Power Estate, are now owned and managed bythe Woodland Trust. The estate got its name from Sir HenryPower who became Viscount of Velentia in 1620. The 72 acres oftrees contain a large area of ancient woodland, with many of themature Oak and Beech over 200 years old.

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How to get there: Nant Mill Visitor Centre is located threemiles to the west of Wrexham, near the village ofCoedpoeth. Follow the “Clywedog” signs off the A483, turnonto the A525 towards Ruthin following the white onbrown signs to “Nant Mill”.

Pub

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TY MAWRCOUNTRY PARK

NEWBRIDGE

Aqueduct

Viaduct

START

Llangollen Canal

River Dee

A5

B5605

BontBridge

NTowing Path

CEFN-BYCHAN

FRONCYSYLLTE

On reaching the canalturn left and follow the

towpath to the aqueduct.Cross the aqueduct and takethe first path on your rightand retrace your steps backalong the river. TheLlangollen Canal wasoriginally built to join theShropshire Union canal withChester. Rising costs anddifficult landowners led tothe scheme beingabandoned. The canal builtin 1805 now suppliesdrinking water to SouthCheshire and is very popularfor canal boat holidays.

On re-entering the parkturn left and walk up

the hill to the Visitor Centre.

Follow the pathalongside the river for

2 a mile. Just before thepath turns to the right to goup the hill, turn left downthe steps and onto aboardwalk. Follow the riverpath for p mile until youreach the aqueduct. TheRiver Dee flows from itssource at Bala Lake throughLlangollen, before passing TyMawr on route for Chesterand The Irish Sea. The Riveris a SSSI (Site of SpecialScientific Interest).

Ty Mawr Country Park Walk On reaching the baseof the aqueduct, go

up the flight of steps andturn left under the firstarch of the aqueduct. ThePontcysyllte Aqueductcarries the LlangollenBranch of the ShropshireUnion canal. The famousengineer Thomas Telfordbuilt it in 1805. ThomasTelford also built the A5,which is the main Londonto Holyhead road thattravels up the Dee Valley.The aqueduct is 120 feethigh! - the highestaqueduct in Britain.

On reaching the roadwalk left down the hill

turning left over BontBridge. Follow the road forp of a mile before takingthe first left onto the canaltowpath. Bont Bridge wasbuilt in 1697. It was veryimportant at one time as itwas the only bridge in thearea until a crossing wasbuilt at Newbridge.

Viaduct

Aqueduct

On leavingthe Visitor

Centre, turn right andafter 50m turn rightagain, down a lane. Followthe path past the memorialdovecote and the viaduct. Theviaduct carries the Shrewsbury toChester railway line across the DeeValley. Built in 1847 by Henry Robertson,

the bridge has 19 arches and is 147feet high.

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Distance: 3 milesTime: 2 hours

Access information: Grade B, this walk alsoincludes one short and one long flight of steps.

The gradients on the walk range from 10 to20% on the roads and paths, and up to 50%

on the steps.Description: A walk with

glorious views, includinga crossing of the

world famousP o n t c y s y l l t eAqueduct.

How to get there: The park is easy to locate situated fivemiles south of Wrexham in the village of Cefn Mawr. Signposted as Country Park at the Llangollen/Ruabon exit of theA483, follow the brown and white signs to the park.

Ty Mawr Country ParkCae Gwilym Lane, Cefn Mawr,Wrexham LL14 3PE.Tel: 01978 822780Centre open: 10.30am - 4.30pmEaster - August, daily.September - Easter, weekends only.Park open all year round.

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Stryt Las

Road

START

Park Road

Cwm Glas

GutterHill

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Newt Seat

Turn left and walk downthe road and after 100

metres turn left again to re-enter the park. A large numberof ducks live in the parktogether with a pair of swans.Feeding the ducks is notallowed as it will encouragemore ducks to come to StrytLas. If the lake has too manyducks the water becomespolluted due to duckdroppings, which will harm theGreat Crested Newts, and otherpond life.

At the top of the hill, asmall detour of a few

metres to your left gives youfine views over the park and aspecial newt seat upon whichto rest. Continue on the pathuntil you reach the road.

The Park is also hometo water voles, these

are shy creatures but youhear the occasional splashas they jump into the pond.Not to be confused withrats they are about 20cmlong and unlike rats have asmall blunt nose and a shorttail. Follow the path up theslope ignoring the pathbranching off to your right.

Go through the gate andturn left walking down

the hill. Continue on thetarmac path between the largelake on your left and thesmaller pond on your right. Thepark is a Site of SpecialScientific Interest (SSSI), dueto the huge population ofGreat Crested Newts whichbreed in the park. During thespring the newts spend a lot oftime in the ponds as this iswhere they breed and lay theireggs. They can often be seen inthe small pond on the right.

Distance: 1 mileTime: 30 minutesAccess information: Grade A, with an incline of 15-20% for 100 metresDescription: A short easy walk on hard surfaces around a wetland park.

Stryt Las Country Park Walk

Stryt Las ParkCwm Glas Road (off Park St),Johnstown, Wrexham.For Post use Ty Mawr’s addressTel: 01978 822780The park is open all year round.

How to get there: Stryt Las can be found by taking the B5426turning off the A483 towards Johnstown. On reaching the trafficlights turn left and immediately right into Park Road. Follow theroad for approx. 100 metres where you will find the Park’s car park.

Stryt Las Park famed for its large and very important population of the rare Great Crested Newt, wasonce a heavily mined area, with eleven mines shafts in the park. The shafts are now capped, but untilthe early 1990’s they used to regularly flood, covering Stryt Las Rd next to the park.

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Disused Shafts

MineraQuarry

NEW BRIGHTON

Viewpoint

Minera LeadMines

START

City ArmsPub

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RIVER CLYWEDOGDismantled Railway

PENTRE

After 200 metres there is akissing gate on the left,

pass through this gate andcross the road onto the oldrailway line. The railway wasbuilt to transport lead andlimestone from the quarriesand mines onto the railnetwork. Along parts of therailway, the old sleepers arestill clearly visible.

Walk up the track for 100metres, the track turns

left through a gate, ratherthan going through the gatecontinue in a straight linefollowing a path along theedge of the field.

Walk up the hill from the carpark and turn right, passingthe visitor centre and mine buildings on your right. The

mine workings are visible from the path. The most prominentof which is the large engine house, which housed a steamengine that powered pumps. The mines were prone toflooding and water had to be constantly pumped out of themines. There is a museum and shop on the site (for openingtimes please ring 01978 261529).

Distance: 2 milesTime: 1 hourAccess information: Grade B, flat except for an even 10%slope for a few hundred yards at the start and end of the walk. Theroute also includes a kissing gate.Description: A gentle walk mostly along a flat disusedrailway line to Minera Limestone Quarry. The scenery isbeautiful and the walk is packed with geological andhistorical interest.

Minera Country Park Lead Mines Walk

Minera Lead Mines & Country ParkWern Road, Minera,Wrexham LL11 3DUTel: 01978 763140Park open all year round.

Minera, which gets it’s name fromthe Latin for “ore”, had a leadmining industry dating back tothe Middle Ages. By the mid 19thCentury, lead mining at Minerahad become productive and veryprofitable. During the 1860’s a tonof lead costing £1 to mine andmarket, could be sold for £15.

Follow the railway line,crossing two more

roads, for about a mile untilyou reach Minera Quarry.The area to the left of therailway line was heavilymined for lead with largenumbers of shafts stillpresent, please keep to thepath. Today the area is aSite of Special ScientificInterest (SSSI), with manyunusual plants growing onthe spoil heaps.

Minera Quarry datesback to the early

1800’s, the quarry was stillbeing worked until theearly 1990’s. The quarrycontains many lime kilns,including the spectacularHoffman kiln. If you dodecide to explore thequarry please keep to thepublic footpaths. Tocomplete the walk retraceyour steps along therailway line.

How to get there:Minera is located next to the villages of New Brightonand Minera and can be reached from the A483, where itis sign posted as “Clywedog” and from the A525, whereit is sign posted as “Minera Lead Mines”.

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Barr

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VisitorCentre

PlayArea

B5425

ParkRoad

BradleyMill

Jackie Barrets Hill

LlayNewRoad

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Follow the cycle way for 400 metres before turningleft approx. 50 metres after the bronze mushroom,

onto a gravel path. Follow the path through the woodlanduntil you reach the familiar white marble sculpture thatyou passed earlier. Turn right onto the cycleway andretrace your steps back to the road and down to the bridge.

Re-enter the park just after the bridge and go up thetarmac cycleway on your left. Keep left at the first

junction after 400 metres and then veer right 200 metreslater as you pass the carved tree trunk bench. Stay on thecycleway until you arrive back at the centre. Today it ishard to believe that Alyn Waters Country Park was once ahuge sand and gravel quarry. In the last ten years we haveplanted thousands of trees to create one of the biggestcommunity woodland in NE Wales, helping nature toreclaim the area once more for wildlife. The park is full ofsculptures. Cath Keay was commissioned in 1999 to workwith school children and the local community to create 7sculptures alongside the cycle way on the Llay side of thepark. Look out for Tristan Kessell’s giant steel dandelion onthe roundabout outside the Visitor Centre, together withmany of his smaller steel sculptures alongside the cyclewaynear the centre. Keep your eyes open for new sculptures.

At the top of the hill after 3 mile, the Country Parkentrance is in front of you. Enter the Park and walk

along the cycleway past the white marble sculpture andturn left on reaching the cloud shaped sculpture. A LocalNature Reserve has been designated on the Llay side of thepark, due to a breeding population of skylarks. During thespring and early summer these birds can be heard singingloudly high above the grassland.

As you walk alongside the riveryou will see remains of an old

weir, damaged by storms in the1990’s. On reaching the lane turnleft and walk up the road pastBradley Mill, which used to be fed bywater running from the weir youpassed earlier.

On leaving the Centre turn rightand follow the path passed the big

lime tree on your right, onto the tarmacpath. Go down the hill, past a turningon your right until you reach the river.

Distance: 3 milesTime: 1 hr 30 minsAccess information:Grade A, except for threeinclines of 15%, 20% and27%.Description: A lovelymixture of woodland,riverside and grassland,following the Alyn WatersSculpture Trail.

Alyn Waters Country Park Walk

Alyn Waters Country ParkMold Road, Gwersyllt,Wrexham LL11 4AGTel: 01978 763140Centre Open:10.30am - 4.30pm dailyPark open daily.

How to get there:Alyn Waters is located 3 milesnorth of Wrexham betweenGwersyllt, Bradley and Llay. Toreach the Visitor Centre takethe A541 Wrexham to Moldroad and just after Gwersylltfollow the brown signs for AlynWaters Country Park.

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Footbridge

Railway

Summit

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Distance: 1 2 milesTime: 1 hrAccess information: Grade B, a long climbup with gradients of 10 to 20%, followed by asteep descent with a maximum slopes of 30%and one kissing gate.Description: A gentle climb through aCommunity Woodland to the summit of areclaimed spoil heap, giving splendid views ofthe welsh borders.

Bonc yr Hafod Country ParkHafod Road (off Bangor Road),Johnstown, Wrexham.For Post use Ty Mawr’s address.Tel 01978 822780Park open all year round.Carpark closes at 7.30pm

How to get there:Hafod can be found by taking the Johnstown turning off theA483. Take the first turning right for “Dennis’ of Ruabon”.The Hafod car park is a little further along on the left.

Hafod was at one time a very important local coalmine. Work started in 1863 and by 1914 it wasemploying 1,900 workers producing household, cokingand steaming coal as well as gas. Many of the workers,some of whom lost their lives underground, lived in thelocal village of Rhos which can be clearly seen to thewest from the summit. The mine was eventually closedin 1968. The site was reclaimed by mixing sewage withthe colliery spoil to enrich it, followed by the plantingof thousands of native trees to form a CommunityWoodland. Today Hafod is a place for people andwildlife, but try to imagine what it once looked likeduring its days as a coal mine.

Park in the car parksituated 200 metres

beyond the brickworks. Followthe path at the end of the carpark taking the right hand forkafter 100 metres, so that youskirt the base of the hill. Keepto the right until you reach therailway line. Follow the track tothe left that goes alongside therailway. Listen out for theSkylarks, which can often beheard singing high in the sky atHafod during the spring andsummer.

After p mile the pathreaches a gate and turns

left. Follow the path awayfrom the railway line, turningleft at the next junction.Follow the surfaced path andwalk up the hill and take thesecond path on the left andthen the second path on theright. The site is a Site ofSpecial Scientific Interest(SSSI), due to its population ofthe rare and beautiful GreatCrested Newt in the pondsalongside the railway line.

Follow the path to the topof the hill and the ‘Time

Shadow’ memorial sundialsculpture. The hill top gives allround views of the WelshBorders, including theShropshire Hills, the Wrekin,Beeston Castle, Liverpool andHope and Minera Mountains.Continue on along the path asit zigzags down the hill to atrack, turn right and followthis track down to the car park

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Bonc yr Hafod Country Park Walk

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Pentre Broughton

Brynteg

Poolmouth Road

SummerhillSTART

NDistance: 2 2 milesTime: 1hr 30 minutesAccess information: Grade B, a route with an uneven often muddy surface, with numerous slopesranging up to 50%, and three long flights of steps.Description: A circular walk around the woodlands of Moss Valley.

Moss Valley Country Park Walk

Moss Valley Country ParkPoolmouth Rd, Off Summerhill Rd and Gatewen Rd,Moss Wrexham.Contact: Moss Valley Community Ranger,Groundwork Wrexham and Flintshire, Borras Rd,Borras, Wrexham, LL13 9TW.Tel: 01978 363555Park open all year round.

How to get there:Leave the A483 at the Mold turning. At theroundabout turn into Summerhill Rd, andfollow the yellow signs to Moss Valley Golfcourse. Then take the third left intoPoolmouth Rd. Park between the lakes.

Moss Valley is beautiful parkland situated between Gwersyllt and Brynteg,three miles north of Wrexham. The V-shaped valley has wooded sides, twosmall lakes and areas of open grassland. The Valley provides a rich habitat forwildlife and is particularly noted for its birds. Moss Valley has an industrialpast, and was once a major coal mining area. In 1973 the spoil heaps werereclaimed, but amongst the tranquil woodland and meadows, evidence of theold railways can still be found hidden in the park.

Start at the biggestcar park by the

fishing lake and followthe woodland trail. Thispath starts on the right asyou face the lake. Climbthe steps by the handrailand follow the path,waymarked by carvedsigns through thewoodland, all the wayround the lake and backinto the carpark. Thispopular fishing lake isalso home to a variety ofwildfowl. Keep a look outfor herons, moorhens,coots and kingfishers.

Cross the road and climb a steep set of steps,at the top turn left and follow the path past

several quarries, before dropping down steps andout of the woodland. The stone that was quarriedhere is called Cefn Sandstone. Many of the olderhouses in Moss are built of Cefn stone. The mainlyoak woodland allows plenty of light to reach theforest floor, which supports acid loving plants suchas honeysuckle, wood sage and bracken.

As you come out onto the grassland, cross thebridge and turn right and follow the stream. Just

before you meet the road, turn left up the hill to thestart of the new cycle track. Try to imagine the valley asit looked before reclamation work began. From here youwould have been able to see the slag heaps ofWestminster Colliery spread across the valley, a result ofa hundred years of mining.

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Follow the cycle trackuntil the end of the

woodland, then turn left andjoin the road for a few hundredyards to the car park. To theleft of the track, sycamoretrees cast a dense shade on thebank allowing ferns andmosses to grow. This woodlandpath was a former railway line,once a branch line of the GreatWestern Railway, going toMoss Colliery.

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