Download - Wrexham County Borough Council

Ceiriog Valley
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.
Ceiriog Country Holidays 01691 718398
www.ceiriog.com
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, this path 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.
www.nationaltrail.co.uk/offasdyke
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.
www.watsdykeway.org
www.wrexham.gov.uk/countryside
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