By Debra Greenhouse
Whether it’s a weekend break or a mid-week treat, 48 hours in Denbighshire and Flintshire is a guaranteed feast for all the senses. Try our suggested itinerary for the perfect whirlwind adventure!
Day one
Put on your walking shoes before breakfasting at Honey’s Bakery, Caergwrle. The riverside eatery won’t disappoint with its ‘full works’, plus fresh-from-the-oven breads and sweet pastries. Re-energise with a walk up beautiful Hope Mountain in Waun y Lyn Country Park. Sandstone was extracted here for decades but it’s now spectacularly reclaimed. Short and long walks can be enjoyed, including a circular route. Check Flintshire Rural Walks website for one to suit you.
Start your day off with fresh coffee and pastries
Alternatively stay on lower ground following Caergwrle heritage trail, and cross the historic packhorse bridge. Drive the rural route via the heart-stopping Horseshoe Pass to Llangollen for lunch at one of the throng of cafes and bistros which line the main street. It’s also a great town for browsing gift shops and souvenir hunting.
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- Enjoy a delicious medieval feast made with locally-sourced produce
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- Watch a performance at one of the local theatres
Maybe take an afternoon trip on a steam train or a horse drawn canal boat, before heading back to base for a shower and change of outfit, ready for a great night out. The choice is yours – book ahead for a Medieval banquet at Ruthin Castle Hotel, or take in a show at Rhyl Pavilion or Theatr Clwyd, Mold.
This riverside eatery won’t disappoint with its ‘full works’, plus fresh-from-the-oven breads and sweet pastries
Day two
Arise early for a refreshing walk along Rhyl Beach and blow away the cobwebs before breakfast. Head to Liffey’s Cafe and Bistro, which also offers vegetarian and vegan options, or the Beach Hut at nearby Prestatyn. Take a tour inland via the A55 coast road giving a view of the Dee Estuary. Perhaps stop off at Mold on a market day – Saturday or Wednesday – for coffee or lunch. Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, a little further along the route, offers yet more local flavours.
Dedicated shoppers might like to head to Broughton Retail Park for some retail therapy. Keep an eye out for the famous Beluga XL aircraft overhead. It carries Airbus cargo to and from Hawarden Airport. Avid plane-watchers should try Chocks Away Diner on the Aviation Park from where you’ll get a closer view of the high flying giant. You’ll almost feel like a pilot!
If a swish afternoon tea is more your idea of Heaven partake of one at Gladstone’s Library, Hawarden – simply dreamy. Walk off the cakes with a five-mile exploration of Hawarden’s environs taking in its castle, Tinkersdale and the delightful Bilberry Wood. Google Flintshire Rural Walks for a recommended route.
Treat yourself to an afternoon tea at Gladstone’s Library
Dinner options are varied. Hawarden itself has numerous pubs and restaurants, including the Fox and Grapes’ Wednesday steak night or Monday and Tuesday early bird specials. Round off the day feeding your imaginations with a late evening film at Cineworld, Broughton.
Alternatively, for something extra special, make a quick change out of the walking garb, and drive back down the A55 to Chequers restaurant, Northop Hall. You’ll almost certainly need to book in advance. Be tempted by braised lamb shank, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, red wine and mint jus, followed by Affogato espresso and home-made shortbread. Hmmm, maybe you’ll need another promenade stroll to walk it off. Watch the sun set over the Welsh hills before bed.
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