Home Outdoors A Stroll Around Chirk Castle

A Stroll Around Chirk Castle

by Adam Howarth, Editor
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View towards Chirk Castle from the north

A Stroll Around Chirk Castle – we’re back in Chirk for this month’s walk. It starts by heading north from the Chirk Castle car park before taking you east past Chirk Marina and then up the Castle drive before returning to the car park. 

The walk is 5.5 miles long and is of easy to moderate difficulty. It features a steady climb for the first couple of miles before levelling out along some quiet country lanes. It should take you around 2½ to 3 hours. The total ascent is only about 769 feet or just over 234 metres, with the highest point being 917 feet or just under 280 metres.

“Pre-Amble”

The first part of the walk is over grassy meadows and then a stony track before moving onto country lanes for a large chunk of the second. As always, around this region of Chirk, you’ll see and hear dozens of pheasants!

You’ll definitely need ankle-high boots, as some of the terrain is pretty wet at the moment. Most of the access points are gated, and the stiles are in pretty decent condition.

The route seemed reasonably dog-friendly as I only walked through one field containing livestock. There are stretches along country lanes so you would need to keep your dog on a lead.

Starting Point

I started at Chirk Castle car park (LL14 5AE; what3words.com//engage.dozen.sideboard).

Take the A483 from Wrexham and turn right at the Halton Roundabout onto the A5. Take the second right at the next roundabout and then the second turning on the left (the first turning leads only to Jewsons). Go along the lane for 1.15 miles and go straight over the mini-crossroads onto the drive up to the Chirk Castle car park.

Disclaimer

Important: Your safety is our top priority. Before attempting any of our walks, you must read and understand the disclaimer at love-wrexham.com/walk-disclaimer.

Always remember to read ahead of your current position in the walk directions in case we mention an upcoming potential hazard.

Walk Directions

Chirk Castle Car Park

Start the walk by going through the wooden gate in the top left-hand corner of Chirk Castle car park. Turn right and go through three more gates as you walk up the fields about 300 yards to the two houses on the lane.

Go through the green metal kissing gate to the right of the first house you come to. Turn left and follow the lane past the second house, which is called Rose Cottage (1).

1. Turn left after Rose Cottage
1. Turn left after Rose Cottage

Turn left and go through the green metal kissing gate on your left. Walk up the stony path in the field, following the indicator arrow on the wooden post. Carry straight on and make your way over the brow of the hill, through the gap in the fence and down the other side. 

Go through the green kissing gate (2) and turn right along the stony woodland path.

2. Turn right once through the green gate
2. Turn right once through the green gate

The Ceiriog Valley

You will be heading along a stony track in a westerly direction for the next half mile or so. Look down into the Chirk end of the Ceiriog Valley on your left for some great views (3).

3. The views of the Ceiriog Valley on your left
3. The views of the Ceiriog Valley on your left

The path starts to rise, and you’ll come to a fork after a few minutes with a round waymarker sign on an oak tree on the left. Carry straight on, taking the right fork (the one that slopes upwards).

The track steadily rises with a steep slope up to your right. There will most likely be large numbers of pheasants along this stretch. After about 10 minutes, the path starts to level out with pine trees on either side. In fact, the track you are walking along is the western edge of Warren Wood. About half a mile after you go through the last green metal walker’s gate, you’ll come to a lane (4).

4. Turn right onto the lane
4. Turn right onto the lane

Turn right and walk uphill along it for about five minutes. You’ll reach another lane where you turn right again (5).

5. Turn right at the T-junction
5. Turn right at the T-junction

Wern Tower is somewhere on your left along this stretch, but, unfortunately, it is hidden in the trees. Walk past the house on your left with the wooden buffalo in the front garden and the turning up to the left, and carry straight on. You’ll see Chirk Castle down to your right as you descend the steep lane.

Rose Cottage Revisited

You’ll walk past Rose Cottage again, this time it’s on your right. Follow the road round to the left and walk for about 0.4 of a mile or seven minutes. Go through the green metal kissing gate on your left (6) next to the large oak tree and into the field.

6. Go through the green gate by the oak
6. Go through the green gate by the oak

Turn diagonally right and go through another green metal kissing gate almost straight away. Follow the right-hand fence line for about four minutes and then go through a third green metal kissing gate.

Turn right onto the lane with the farm in front of you. Go left and walk for just under half a mile. Turn off to the right (7) after about two minutes, following the wooden signpost arrow for the Offa’s Dyke path.

7. Take the lane on the right after the cottage
7. Take the lane on the right after the cottage

Chirk Marina

This lane is a little shabbier than the one you’ve just left – the surface has deteriorated and  it has a grassy stip growing down the middle. After about six minutes, turn right at the crossroads (8).

8. Turn right at the crossroads
8. Turn right at the crossroads

Follow the road as it dips down past the rather eye-catching green metal house after just under half a mile. Turn right at the T-junction about a quarter of a mile further on. Walk past Chirk Marina on your left (9) and past the turning on the right signposted for “New Hall”. 

Walk on for about 0.3 of a mile until you reach the mini-crossroads (10).

10. Go straight over the mini-crossroads
10. Go straight over the mini-crossroads

Cross over and follow the drive to the Chirk Castle car park. You’ll pass close to the castle after about about half a mile. The car park where you started is about a quarter of a mile further on.

Congratulations! You have finished the walk!

We hope you enjoyed reading “A Stroll Around Chirk Castle. Click here for more of our walk features.

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