The best cycling routes around Northop Hall

The Wales Coast Path and National Cycle Network mostly share the same route across Denbighshire and Conwy, linking the major north Wales resorts of Prestatyn, Rhyl, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno and the walled castle town of Conwy. However, please note that the WCP and NCN follow different routes in a few places and, where this occurs, cyclists should follow the NCN rather than WCP logos. This is a very popular route with extensive views out to sea, along the coast, and inland to the Clwydian Hills, the Vale of Clwyd and the northern slopes of Snowdonia National Park.

The Wales Coast Path is a designated long-distance trail which follows, or runs close to, the coastline of Wales. It is 870 miles or 1,400 km long and was launched in 2012. The path is the first dedicated coast path in the world to cover the entire length of a country's coastline. The official start and finish points are on the border with the English city of Chester in the north and in Chepstow in the south. The already established Anglesey coastal path, Ceredigion coast path and the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail all form part of the Wales Coast Path. Wikipedia

Would recommend heading from Wales into England at sunset. Riding into the setting sun in such a tranquil spot

Apologies - I labelled this incorrectly - it is of course The White Horse. A great little Public Bar, good beers and an open fire. What’s not to like?!

A nice spot to sit and have a rest, or just watch the works go by.

A 'tip' rather than a 'highlight' "The station is not staffed and only has basic amenities (departure screens, waiting shelters and timetable poster boards on each platform). Step-free access is available to both platforms, but transfer between them requires the use of a level crossing at the end of the platforms towards the bridge. The Chester Millennium Greenway cycle route runs adjacent to the station and provides access to the northbound platform. The route also connects the station to Shotton." You can't buy tickets at the station but you can buy them online or on board from the ticket inspector. From Bidston, where the trains terminate in one direction, you can join the Merseyrail network to travel onwards to the Wirral and Liverpool. Sources; https://tfw.wales/places/stations/hawarden-bridge https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawarden_Bridge_railway_station

"Hawarden Bridge (/ˈhɑːrdən/; Welsh: Pont Penarlâg) is a railway bridge over the River Dee, near Shotton, Flintshire, Wales. It was built by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (which later became the Great Central Railway), as part of the Chester & Connah's Quay Railway. It opened on 3 August 1889. During the 1880s, the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Company undertook the construction of a line between Chester Northgate and what is now known as Hawarden Bridge Junction. The most significant geographical feature of the route to overcome was the River Dee. It was decided to opt for a 165 meter-long bridge to cross over the river; this structure was complicated by the need to incorporate a means of passage for the tall ships that traversed the Dee at this time. The Board of Trade, advised by Sir George Nares, decreed that the envisioned bridge would need a single navigable opening of at least 140 feet. Hawarden Bridge was designed by the civil engineer C.A. Hobson. The bridge was officially opened to traffic on 3 August 1889; the opening ceremony was officiated by Catherine Gladstone, the wife of Prime Minister William William Gladstone. A key feature of the Hawarden Bridge was its central section, which was referred to as Span 10; this allowed it to function as a swing bridge. As originally built, it was able to rotate through 90-degrees to enable the passage of tall ships on the River Dee.  At the time of its completion, this was the largest opening span of any swing bridge in the United Kingdom. Presently, the bridge can no longer open, the span having been welded shut decades ago. The last time that Span 10 was opened was during 1960. The remains of the rotating mechanism – hydraulic cylinders attached to a drive chain and sprocket – are still visible beneath the bridge. Both pedestrians and cyclists may also traverse Hawarden Bridge via a dedicated walkway. The walkway, which connected between the Wales Coast Path and the Chester Greenway Railway Path section of National Cycle Route 5, is the responsibility of registered charity Sustrans Cymru." You can read more about the bridge here; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawarden_Bridge

"The John Summer Clock Tower building opened in 1907 and was the headquarters of Shotton Steelworks, before closing in 2009 and falling into serious disrepair after being sold by the company. Wilsons Auctions have now taken on the restoration project, with a view to securing the future of the historic and Grade II listed site." You can read more about the history of the building, Shotton Point and surrounding areas here; https://www.wilsonsauctions.com/news/history-of-shotton-point/