WALKS: Some of the best on offer in north east Wales

With 'stay local' restrictions now lifted, people will be looking to travel to beauty spots.

And ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, the Leader has collated some of the best walks in Flintshire and Wrexham.

WHITFORD

Distance: 8 km/5 miles

Time: 3hrs

Parking: Limited roadside parking in Whitford and at Maen Achwyfan

Grade: Moderate, several stiles, can be muddy in places in winter

Livestock: Mainly sheep in winter but cattle likely in some places spring/summer/autumn

History: Thomas Pennant, 18th century zoologist and travel writer, was born at Downing, near Whitford. His 'Tour in Wales' popularised North Wales, setting a trend for wealthy young Englishmen to tour the Welsh mountains. He is buried in Whitford church.

The Pharos - This round stone structure is reputedly a Roman lighthouse built to help ships navigating up and down the Dee Estuary. Others think it is a 17th century watchtower, built to give warning of pirate raids!

Maen Achwyfan - The Maen Achwyfan Cross is a beautifully carved 10th-century wheel cross. The cross shows strong Scandinavian influence in the carving style, similar to crosses in Northumbria of the same age. The cross is one of the few hints to the presence of Vikings in this area.

Whitford walk - map

CEFN VIADUCT AND PONTCYSYLLTE AQUEDUCT

Time: Allow 2 hours

Parking and start: Ty Mawr Country Park (£1 parking charge)

Grade: Easy, no stiles but with steep steps.

Ty Mawr is a 35 acre country park, on the banks of the River Dee, situated in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The park lies between the impressive Cefn Viaduct and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Dogs are welcome on this walk but please keep your dogs under control.

History: The Cefn Viaduct was designed by Henry Robertson and it stands as a glorious reminder of 'railway mania' during the 19th century.

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct: A World Heritage site and Grade 1 Listed building, this magnificent aqueduct was designed by Thomas Telford and completed in 1805.

It vis the highest and longest aqueduct in Britain. It is also the tallest navigable aqueduct in the world.

The Viaduct - Aqueduct walk map.

WAUN Y LLYN - LLANFYNYDD

Distance: 6.5 km/4 miles

Time: Allow 2-2.5 hrs

Parking: Waun y Llyn Country Park (SJ286577) or small car park at beginning of old railway

Grade: Moderate (one steady ascent), several stiles

Livestock: Sheep and sometimes cattle

History: Disused Railway Line - When the Mold-Brymbo line opened in the late 19th century, Coed Talon soon became a busy railway junction, bustling with laden trucks transporting coal, oil and stone from the nearby works and mines. The railway closed in the 1950s and the track was removed.

This section was opened in 2004 for walking, cycling and riding. The adjoining wetland is now managed as the Wood Pit Nature Reserve.

The Wood Pit Nature Reserve.

PENYCLODDIAU

This stunning walk takes in the Clwydian hills and an ancient hillfort. Followed by farm tracks through woodland and begins and ends through a forest track. It has everything from beautiful views with peaceful hills covered in purple when the heather is in flower to quiet tracks through the woods.

Distance: 4.8 miles

Time: 2-3 hours

For more information on the route to take, visit https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/17963520.walk-penycloddiau/

BUCKLEY HERITAGE TRAIL

Distance: 4.5 km/2.8 miles

Time: Allow 1.5 hours

Parking and start: Etna car park on Globe Way

Grade: Easy, little climbing, good surfaces, few stiles

Facilities: Pubs and Farm Shop/Cafe nearby

This will be a mixed urban and rural walk taking us through many areas of the fascinating industrial history of the area including clay pits, an old Roman road, opencast mine site, designated SSSI lagoons, woodland, a nature reserve, commons, pools and a church.

Buckley Heritage Trail route map.

HOLYWELL CIRCULAR

Distance: 6.0 km (3.7 miles);

Time: allow 1.5-2 hrs

Parking: Car park opposite Lidl or Bank Place car park, Holywell.

A pleasant short walk from Holywell crossing Wat’s Dyke then continuing with stunning views over the Dee Estuary, before returning along quiet country lanes to Holywell.

Map for the Holywell circular walk.