Coastwalk

Parkgate → Flint

Distance: 10.1 miles
Ascent: 23 metres
Duration: 3 hours 8 minutes

Into Wales
« West Kirby | Prestatyn »

I entered Wales today, but didn't notice the border as I crossed it; there was no sign or other marker that I could see. It wasn't until after two crossing two fences (one wooden, one barbed wire), and walking for half a mile on the edge of an active railway that I realised I was once again in God's own country. For reasons that will become clear today's write-up will be entirely advice for walkers hoping to embark on a similar route in the future.

Immediately south of Parkgate the seawall ends and the path drops down to the marsh edge. Without Alan from yesterday to encourage me inland I squelched through the mud and water. Just before Little Neston the path improved considerably.

The big challenge for the coast walker on this stretch is determining how to navigate the head of the Dee estuary. Tempted by and RSPB sign near Burton Marsh Farm I followed a track south towards Sea Camp firing range. At Burton Point the military signs were ambiguous so I took the most favourable interpretation. (Does "keep out when flags are flying" imply that you may pass if there are no red flags?) This was a mistake. Either side of the building at SJ 306727 the way ahead was blocked by an eight-foot steel fence. The only alternative to straying into the Danger Area was scrambling up to the railway line. Thankfully the wide railway track bed meant there was no need to get close to the active line. Unfortunately returning to the public highway was tricky. I followed the railway spur towards the mill and scrambled up the steep bridge parapet to the A548.

This road - a main route into North Wales - isn't a very pleasant walk, but turning a blind eye to the No Pedestrians signs on the opposite carriageway gives access to the most downstream crossing of the River Dee, a spectacular cable stayed affair.

Future walkers would probably be better avoiding the firing range and instead walking from Burton Marsh Farm through Burton, Puddington and Shotwick to the A494 before turning south briefly, then picking up the Sustrans route 5 cycle path to cross the Dee at Hawarden Bridge.

Nearing Flint I attempted to get nearer to the riverside again by taking the footpath by the sewage treatment works but was turned back once more by the badly flooded marsh. The better place to rejoin the river turned out to be beside Flint football club where a good path leads to Flint castle.