North Wales Coast and Dee Estuary

Chester to Conwy

A mixture of gentle riverside walking, wonderful sandy beaches, and family friendly towns and villages - with a more challenging alternative option available for the more energetic.

Chester

From Chester station enjoy a pleasant 2.3 miles / 3.75 kilometres canal-side walk to the start (or finish) of the Wales Coast Path.

From the station, walk straight ahead down City Road for a few hundred yards until you reach the canal. Take the steps down to the towpath and head west with Chester’s City Walls keeping you company for part of the route. These are the oldest, longest and most complete in Britain, parts of which are almost 2,000 years old. On reaching the canal basin, go through a hole in the wall and down Catherine Street to a recreation ground. From here, a Wales Coast Path fingerpost points the way alongside the river Dee.

Flint

The uniquely designed Flint Castle marks the start of this walk. To reach Flint Castle from the station walk 0.1 miles / 0.2 kilometres down the aptly named ‘Castle Street’. From here you can enjoy the very flat path that runs along the banks of the Dee estuary, which is a protected site due to its importance for birds and other wildlife.

Prestatyn

Uniquely, the journey from Prestatyn railway station to the coast follows one of Wales’ other National Trails, the Offa’s Dyke Path. From the station simply head straight down Bastion Road for 0.5 miles / 0.8 kilometres to reach the Wales Coast Path by Prestatyn’s Nova Centre.

Rhyl

Walk straight ahead out of the railway station for 0.3 miles / 0.5 kilometres down Elwy Street, then Bodfor Street, then Queen Street to reach Rhyl promenade and the Wales Coast Path. On reaching the sea at Rhyl, a seemingly endless stretch of golden sand will now be your companion, whether you turn right toward Prestatyn or left toward Colwyn Bay.

Llandudno Junction

To reach the path, turn left through the station car park and left again onto Conwy Road at the mini roundabout. Go through a short subway and under the flyover before taking the steps or the ramp to join the cob over the estuary to Conwy or along the estuary through Deganwy to Llandudno.

Conwy

One of the most picturesque little towns in Wales, Conwy’s well-preserved narrow streets and medieval castle (see our 2-for-1 entry offer to CADW sites) provide a fabulous start to your coastal walk.

From the station (some trains only stop here on request) cross Lancaster Square and head down the High Street for 0.2 miles / 0.3 kilometres to the pretty quay which is home to a small flotilla of colourful fishing boats and the smallest house in Britain. Turn left towards Penmaenmawr and you have a choice of taking the flat roadside route along the coast or the more spectacular - but also more demanding - route along the hilltops and moors to Llanfairfechan.