Flint Marsh

Enjoy a short and easy walk from Flint, starting with an exploration of Flint Castle. A stretch of the Wales Coast Path runs along a wooded shore, passing an old dock. A path through the well-wooded Flint Marsh returns to Flint. Notable buildings in Flint include the Town Hall, Old Court House (now a café) and St Mary’s Church.

Route detail

Distance: 2.8 miles or 4.5 kilmetres
Start location: Flint Railway Station
Start Grid Ref: SJ 24527 73118
Start What 3 Words: words.reassured.trades

Transport to the start

Parking
Parking at Flint Railway Station, Flint Castle and other locations around town.

Bus
Daily bus services link Flint with Chester, Holywell, Prestatyn and Rhyl.

Train
Daily North Wales Coast train services link Flint with coastal stations between Chester and Holyhead.

Map and GPX link

The circular route is marked in dark pink in the map image below. The purple flags show the start and finish point. The OS 1:25,000 map extract shows the route starting and finishing at Flint Railway Station but on the return trip there is a choice between short-cutting alongside the main road, or doubling back along the outward route, which is why there is a short link route in the middle of the map. View the route and download GPX link 'Flint and Flint Marsh'

Detailed Route Description

1. Start at Flint Railway Station, which is close to the town centre. Cross the footbridge over the railway line to reach Castle Street and walk straight along it. Follow a tarmac path towards Flint Castle, and either cross a footbridge to explore it, or turn left beforehand to continue the walk. (There is free entry to the castle and noticeboards explain how it was founded in 1277 by Edward I as the first of many castles forming an ‘Iron Ring’ around Wales. Richard II had a fateful meeting here in 1399 with the man who would depose him, Henry Bolingbroke, who became Henry IV.

2. The Castle Walk path leads into woodland, quickly reaching a marker post where Wales Coast Path marker disks point left and right. Keep right to follow a coastal path with a view across saltmarsh back to Flint Castle. Pass a seated sculpture of a WWI soldier and enjoy views across the Dee estuary before the path runs back into woodland. When a junction is reached near a road, stay on the woodland path and don’t go down a path onto the saltmarsh. Although trees largely block views of the estuary, they also block views of an adjacent industrial estate.

3. The path reaches the narrow stone-edged inlet of Flint Dock, built in the early 1800s for the export of lead, followed later by coal and chemicals. Flat-bottomed boats were used, suited for the shallow waters of the Dee estuary. A noticeboard at the head of the dock offers information. Simply continue round the other side, linking with a broad track that passes an ornamental gate to return to the Dee estuary. Watch for a signpost pointing left offering a high tide route through woodland, but this will only rarely be needed. Continue along the shore, where the woodland briefly touches the beach, and pick up a path that quickly leads to Flint Point, where the woodland is mainly birch and buddleia, and a fire beacon has been erected. Enjoy views across the Dee estuary to The Wirral, either looking across an expanse of water at high tide, or extensive mudflats at low water. Birdwatchers will find plenty to observe and a noticeboard highlights a few common species.

4. The path drifts into woodland and reaches a junction where a signpost points right for Bagillt. Follow the clear paths that run closest to the coast, catching a glimpse of an embankment that separates farmland from saltmarsh, stretching all the way to the village of Bagillt. The path drops a little to go through a kissing gate, where the Wales Coast Path continues to the right. However, turn left through another kissing gate to return to Flint.

5. A path heads inland, flanked by trees, reaching a marker post at another path junction. Turn left through a gate and follow a broad woodland path, raised a little above the wooded wetland of Flint Marsh. Keep straight ahead and eventually reach a barrier gate, where a choice of routes is possible. Either turn left into an industrial estate near Flint Dock, where steps can be retraced back to Flint Castle. Otherwise, turn right and follow a cycleway that passes beneath the railway line to reach the busy A548 road. Turn left to walk along its broad grassy verge, passing a bus stop. (Use this for buses to Chester, or a bus stop across the road for Holywell.) A pavement continues into Flint, reaching the impressive little Town Hall. It is worth asking to see the Council Chamber, which is magnificent. Go behind the Town Hall to read a noticeboard offering information about the town, and to return to the railway station.