Northop - Sychdyn
Distance: 8 km/5 miles
Time: Allow 2.5-3 hrs
Parking: Car park in centre of Northop (SJ245683)
Grade: Moderate, many stiles, boggy patches
Facilities: Pubs in Northop, Sychdyn, shops in both villages
Livestock: Some sheep, horses and cattle
Northop - Sychdyn walk map.
The Walk
1. Leave car park on A5119 side. Cross main road and continue ahead along old High Street, passing Memorial Hall. Cross road, and continue ahead along 'The Green' past housing. After lane bends, turn left over cattle grid/stile onto drive. Follow drive and then continue on grassy path to left of Green Cottage. Go through gate/stile, turn right, and skirt around field keeping near right hand fenceline. Cross stile and walk across next field towards farm. Cross next stile and go diagonally left across field to stone stile in front of Soughton Farm. Turn right along road.
2. After 220m turn left along track (bridleway). Ignore footpath right and stay on bridleway, heading towards woodland. Ignore small path on left and continue uphill. Where track bends right take path left, passing hillock and old quarry on right. At path junction, with woodland edge to right, turn left downhill. Cross small footbridge and follow muddy track through conifer trees. At the end of conifer row continue ahead following waymarker.
3. Turn right onto broad track. Follow track through woodland, ignoring track to left. At woodland edge go through gate/stile into field. Follow path along left hand side of field beside woodland. Go through gate and continue ahead, passing small cottage on right. At road turn left and continue for approx 1km.
4. Take waymarked footpath on right hand side leading to main road. Cross carefully and continue ahead along Pen Y Bryn, passing London Road on left. Turn left onto Bryn Hyfryd and continue to end to path between houses. Turn left onto New Brighton Road and continue to waymarked footpath on right hand side, leading between houses. Follow path then turn left onto road. At T-junction turn left. Continue to another T-junction and turn right. At playing fields continue straight ahead along track.
Along the Northop - Sychdyn walk.
5. After 100m turn left over new waymarked stile. Walk along right hand field edge and cross footbridge with stiles at both sides, then continue ahead through field. In top right hand corner go through gate/stile. Continue along track between fields to road. Cross road and continue along lane opposite.
6. Just before Mount Pleasant Farm cross stile into field and walk along left hand side. Cross stile onto narrow path, passing stables on left. Cross stile and follow right hand fenceline.
7. At field end cross stile beside lodge and continue ahead down track (ignore path signed right). Continue along this clear path passing Soughton Hall on left. Pass under old tone bridge and continue to 'sleeper' bridge over stream. Ignore path to right and continue along woodland edge to kissing gate. Go through gate and right along track. Go through two kissing gates, crossing drive of Lower Soughton Hall, then onto Northop Country Park Golf Course.
8. On golf course, either continue ahead towards Northop Church and exit onto road opposite car park, or take path on left skirting golf course but continue ahead at path junction, walking around golf course edge, to cross road opposite car park.
Looking for more to explore?
• Hawarden
• Whitford
• This walk is courtesy of Flintshire County Council.
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