Walk: Hawarden - historic village, woodland and farmland

Time: 2-2.5hrs

Parking: Tinkersdale public car park, Hawarden

(SJ316657)

Grade: Easy

Facilities: Pubs, café and shops in Hawarden

Livestock: Sheep and cattle (depending on the time of the year)

The Walk

1. From the car park turn left downhill and 40m down the road on the right hand side, go through the metal pedestrian gate and head downhill on the path. Continue walking this path as it runs along the edge of the large pond and golf course passing through two kissing gates. After the second kissing gate the path reaches a T-junction. At this point take a left and continue uphill past the properties on the left hand side until you reach a gate and stile. Cross this stile and turn right underneath the railway bridge before taking an immediate left after it.

Scene from the Hawarden circular walk.

2. Continue ahead crossing track between golf club greens and keep continuing along track as it narrows. Continue along grass track as it bears left towards Oaks Farm. At the gate, cross the stile and continue ahead, passing pond at Oaks Farm. After a short distance cross over stile into field with the farm and outbuildings on your left hand side. Follow the left hand side of the field boundary uphill through two fields to cross stile. Continue across field for 75m then diagonally turn right to follow path along the field boundary until you see a metal stile on the left hand side.

Scene from the Hawarden circular walk.

3. Cross over metal stile and continue ahead past the houses on the right hand side. After 20m go through a gate onto Ledsham Lane and continue along here for approx. 400m before reaching the T- junction with Slack Lane. At junction turn left and follow Slack Lane for approx. 150m until you reach the railway bridge. Cross railway bridge then turn immediately right to cross stile. Continue through gap and turn immediately left and over the next stile. Follow the left hand field boundary and cross wooden stile by Thatch Cottages onto Tinkersdale.

Scene from the Hawarden circular walk.

4. Turn right after stile and cross busy road (Tinkersdale) then walk 50m before crossing walking down some steps and crossing the stile from the roadside. Continue ahead along track next to the red corrugated barn. Follow path past barn then turn right over stile by gate then continue ahead up between two hedges. Continue along track following the right hand field boundary. Cross stile onto lane and continue ahead, down lane marked 'No through road'.

Scene from the Hawarden circular walk.

5. At the end of the road turn left through staggered entrance by gate to continue along tarmac path. Pass bridge over A55 on the right hand side and continue ahead along the 'Old Warren' road until you reach a staggered entrance by the gate. Continue down road passing Spinning Wheel Inn and take the next left onto the lane marked Cherry Orchard Farm.

6. Within 40m cross by the side of the cattle grid then continue along road, passing entrance to Cherry Orchard House on the left hand side after 220m. After a further 400m pass some cottages on the right hand side. Continue ahead over stile alongside metal gate and follow track for a further 600m as it bears left towards the woodland. At the woodland edge, cross stile by gate and continue ahead for 100m. Then turn left and almost immediately right and continue along this track alongside the old estate walls for approx. 1.2km.

Map of Hawarden circular walk.

7. Cross stile and continue along estate wall keeping to the left. After 400m, cross stile furthest from gate. After 50m cross stream, with the remains of a sluice gate on the left hand side. Soon after on the right, is a ruined 18th century corn mill. The mill wheel and much of the machinery still remains. 75m beyond the mill, follow the track uphill along the narrow path with handrail, to return to Tinkersdale car park.

• This walk is courtesy of Flintshire County Council.