About an hour from the airport and with good access to the motorways was Chirk castle. It also had a couple of routes in the OS guides around the outside of the estate with a bit of Offa's dyke thrown it.
I thought I could combine the two and make use of the time I had there. The idea was to leave the car park and head across to the Offa's dyke path, dropping down to the river then peeling off to the second walk heading down to Wern, before circling around to Chirk Village. Hence back to the castle on the original route.
Unfortunately fates were against me, as there was a bad crash on the A5 just south of the castle and I was caught up in a long tailback, and everyone using the narrow country lanes to get around it. This ate into my time available - I was not sure when the car park would be closed off.
Secondly, once I got to the castle car park the rain that had been threatening all day with small showers became more persistent. Luckily I had spare clothes, but I looked like a wet day.
Finally one of the paths was closed, described further on.
At the car park I was already behind the time I would have preferred for the longer walk, and with the rain, I chose to forgo the combined route and just follow the inner loop.
Along the permissive path through the car park and a sheep field to reach the Offa's Dyke trail. If I had looked more closely at the castle map I would have seen the actual Dyke itself was right beside the car park!
Onto the Offa's Dyke trail at a farm, and across another sheep field climbing over a ridge.
Here the rain became very heavy and I was soon soaked even in waterproofs.
Still on Offa's trail, I dropped down a track along the edge of the castle estate, that soon became tarmacked, to the B4500. Over this and across the river.
Along the back road on the other side, climbing steeply. I managed to shelter in some old Lime Kilns to get my bearings, before continuing up the road.
Unfortunately the path I was lookign for was closed, as were the alternatives. I could not even go along the back road since it too was closed for bridge repairs.
So I chose to return tot eh river below and follow the B4500 to where the path would have met it.
Looking at the castle estate map afterwards, it would have been better to climb up the real Offa's dyke path then take one of the estate paths to circle the castle.
The road was busy and vehicles did not leave a lot of space and I was glad to get to the junction with the original path.
This also had the advantage of crossing a meadow below the Chirk Aqueduct and rail viaduct.
The bank beside the crossings had a private stairway down from a house! It was also covered in bluebells, just coming out.
Between the two bridges, and on to the junction with the B5070
A climb up Chirk Bank to get back to the village, then along the village streets to begin the return to the castle.
Over the railway (besides the Cadbury's factory). I then realised I should have diverted from the published route and followed the railway line, taking in a separate view of the bridges from the top.
Secondly, once I got to the castle car park the rain that had been threatening all day with small showers became more persistent. Luckily I had spare clothes, but I looked like a wet day.
Finally one of the paths was closed, described further on.
Along the permissive path through the car park and a sheep field to reach the Offa's Dyke trail. If I had looked more closely at the castle map I would have seen the actual Dyke itself was right beside the car park!
Here the rain became very heavy and I was soon soaked even in waterproofs.
So I chose to return tot eh river below and follow the B4500 to where the path would have met it.
Looking at the castle estate map afterwards, it would have been better to climb up the real Offa's dyke path then take one of the estate paths to circle the castle.
This also had the advantage of crossing a meadow below the Chirk Aqueduct and rail viaduct.
Between the two bridges, and on to the junction with the B5070
The rain had stopped and I was starting to dry out.
And the canal next to it. Along a path through the woods, much amended by cyclocross to pass the ornate gates of the main drive to the castle (now used as the car park exit route).
Back on the permissive path through the estate, and over the back road.
The original deer park was now cattle fields, as I followed the markers back to teh castle.
The castle in sight, I should have followed the road, but chose to go via the front of the castle.
Around the outside of the castle and down the road to the car park.
Back at the car, with the shop and ticket office closing down (I still was not sure when everything would be locked up). I paused for a drink and to change my clothes before continuing on the rest of my journey.
