Home to Shotton Along the Origial Riverside Path 25th July 2026.

First views of Moel Famau from Mold Junction Road Bridge.

The original riverside path from Saltney Ferry to Sandycroft.

Moel Famau above the Airbus Factory seen from the riverside path.

The riverside path heading towards Cop House Cottages.

Pipes for taking carbon dioxide to store under the Irish Sea  Morecambe Bay?

Lots of work in progress around W W Farm between Queensferry and Shotton.

Wildflowers still showing well in the Alexandra Street Park.

Distance: 5.7 miles. Climb: 200’. Time: 2 hours 45 minutes. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Forecast temperatures: 18 - 22 Celsius but feel like 17 - 21 Celsius. In fact, it felt very pleasant, although at times I did have to hold on toy Tilley!
Beaufort Wind Force: 2-4. The wind gradually increased on strength throughout the morning, going from Light to Gentle to Moderate towards as I approached Queensferry.
With the cost of petrol continuing to rise, I have decided to limit my solo driving as much as I can, but it does limit the walks that I do starting from home.
Chester races today, so it's another breakfast walk to Shotton. This time, I didn't cross the river, and instead kept to the original riverside path on the south side of the river.
This side of the river has the advantage that it not cycle friendly being very uneven and has several awkward stiles. Consequently, it is dog friendly, so it was mainly dog walkers that I encountered, apart from one solo walker.
There were plenty of white butterflies around, but they didn't settle long enough or close enough for me to tell what species.
The Alexandra Street Playground wildflowers were still showing well, a marked contrast to the ones near Saltney Ferry Footbridge parking area, where they had already gone to seed.
Birds seen: Lesser black back gull, House martin, Carrion crow. Barn swallow,
Herring gull, Jackdaw, Feral pigeon, Woodpigeons, Magpie, Starling, House sparrow, Collared dove Oystercatcher, Goldfinch, Great cormorant, Mallard, Common kestrel, Grey heron, Little egret, Lapwing and Winter wren.
Butterflies seen: Red Admiral, Common blue and Meadow brown.
One Rabbit also seen.
Overall, a very enjoyable gentle stroll, on almost perfect conditions for walking, intermittent sunshine, not to hot, not too cold, with a coolish breeze that was strong enough for it to be welcome.
Breakfast and coffee in the Central Hotel in Shotton before catching the bus home.

Home to Chester, via Saltney Ferry Footbridge, The Cop and the Canal Towpath to Cow Lane Bridge 22nd July 2026.

Wild flowers at the Saltny Ferry Footbridge parking are - no longer at their best!

House martins around Saltney Ferry Footbridge, Higher Ferry.

Lesser black back gulls on the sand bank opposite Saltney Riverside Park.

The finger post on the Wales - England Border.

White bryony next to the Coastal Path.

The Shropshire Union Canal basin near Telford's Warehouse.

The Shropshire Union Canal basin near Telford's Warehouse.

The point where I joined the towpath on the way to Cow Lane Bridge.

The Bridge of Sighs near Northgate Street.

Distance: 4.6 mles. Climb: 200'.Time: 2 hours 21 minutes.
Overall walking average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Temperature: A very pleasant 18/19 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: 2, a very pleasant Light breeze.
The weather was , so much so that the profile Moel Famau could only just be made out. I needed to call in a Tesco to get some Village Soft White Rolls for my tea, so I decided to walk on the Coastal Path from Saltney Ferry Footbridge as far as Th Cop, then take the canal tow path as fast as Cow Lane Bridge.
The birds seen or heard today included: Carrion crow, Black headed gull, Lesser black back gull, Herring gull, Collared Dove, Feral pigeon, Woodpigeon, House sparrow, Goldfinch, House martin, Barn swallow, Great cormorant, Moorhen, Common blackbird, Common swift.

Overall, a good walk, finishing at the Square Bottle, to have a pint or two of Conwy Brewery's Beachcomber with a friend from my school days.

Home to Chester, via Saltney Riverside Park, Curzon Park and the Suspension Bridge. 15th July 2026

 

The Riverside Path to Saltney.

The path through Saltney Riverside Park.

Looking towards Chester from Saltney Riverside Park.

All about Saltney Riverside.

Pill box and mooring bollard at Saltney Dock.

The rive6rside path past the golf course.

It's obviously too early for the gofers!

I think the river is on the left and golf course on the right!

A family of Moorhens on the pond in the golf course.

How many Moorhens are in the picture?

Chester on the skyline.

 Taken from the bridge leading to Chester Go;f Cours.

The steps leading down into The Dingle.

All about The Dingle.

An information board that I hadn't noticed before.

The path under the Grosvenor Road Bridge that leads to "Nowhere".

The entrance to Edgar's Field Park.

The riverside path through Edgar's Field Park.

The Old Dee Bridge from the riverside path through Edgar's Field Park.

The shrine to the Roman Goddess Minerva in Edgar's Field Park.

Chester Weir from the path on the Handbridge side of the river.

Great cormorants perched on the rocks near Chester Weir.

Chester Suspension bridge and the way to The Boathouse!

Looking towards the Boathouse from The Suspension Bridge.

The Boathouse, but it's too early for a pint of Lees bitter as I still haven't had my breakfast!

The steps down to where you could catch the ferry to cross the river at the bottom of Dee Lane.

Distance: 5.9 miles

Climb: 300'

Time: 2 hours 27 mi.

Overall walk average: 2.5 m.p.h.

Temperature: 19-21 Celsius.

Beaufort Wind Force: 2 just a Light breeze.

Another early start, leaving home at about 06-45.

Distant views were very hazy, so Moel Famau couldn't be seen.

At Saltney Ferry Footbridge, I decided to take the Riverside Path on the south side of the river. This goes through Saltney Riverside Park, past Saltney Dock and Curzon Park. The final stretch went through The Dingle and Edgar's Field, crossing the river using the Suspension Bridge.

I was surprised how much the trees and bushes had grown, hiding the river and golf course from Saltney Dock onwards.

Birds seen or heard today included: Lesser black back gull, House sparrow, Woodpigeon, Common swift, Feral pigeon, House martin, Barn swallow, Goldfinch, Blackcap, Black headed gull, Herring gull, Great cormorant, Mallard, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, European robin, Carrion crow, Grey heron, Greater whitethroat, Winter wren and Common buzzard.

Overall, a very pleasant stroll to Waitrose to buy a packet of loose leaf Green tea, before enjoying my breakfast at the Square Bottle, followed by three cups of breakfast tea.

Another Stroll from Home to Shotton 11th July 2026

Wildflowers near Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

Looking towards Queensferry from Saltney Ferry Footbridge.

One crop ready for harvesting.

Rising tide after the bore had passed.

Looking across the river towards Moel Famau.

One crop ready to harvest and another(possibly potatoes) needs more time.

Looking across the river towards Hawarden Castle.

One crop in the process of being harvested.

A field of Maize, still needing to grow a little more before harvesting.

A steady stream of traffic over the Queensferry Road Bridge.

Not so much traffic crossing the old Queensferry Bridge

 (Swing Bridge  Blue Bridge).

Not many pedestrians or cyclists crossing Hawarden Bridge at the moment.

Hedge bindweed?

A Transport for Wales Train crossing Hawarden Bridge on the way to Wrexham.

The pedestrian way across Hawarden Bridge.

The wildflowers in the Alexandra Road Park, Shotton.

Fox sculpture in the Alexandra Road Park, Shotton.

Owl sculpture in the Alexandra Road Park, Shotton.

Distance: 5.7 miles.  Climb: 200'.
Time: 2 hours 30 minutes.  Overall walk average: 2.3 m.p.h.
Temperature: 20.2 Celsius at the start. 22.3 Celsius in the shade at the end of the walk. 27.5 Celsius in the Sun near Hawarden Bridge.
Beaufort Wind Force: Max 2, a 5 m.p.h. Light breeze.
Birds seen or heard today included: Lesser black back gull, Herring gull, Black headed gull, House sparrow, Greater whitethroat, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Barn swallow, Carrion crow, House martin, Lapwing, Grey heron, Little egret, Common kestrel, Winter wren, Common blackbird, Mallard, Great cormorant, Woodpigeon, Black billed magpie, Feral pigeon and Oystercatcher.
I left the house at 07-00, in order to finish my walk before the hottest part day. I arrived at the Central Hotel in Shotton, at 09-30 with temperature only a couple degrees or so higher than when I started. Plenty of people had decided to do the same, and even the cyclists seemed happy to take it easy, no-one doing time trials today!
The surprise of the day was seeing the tidal bore, so small and quiet, I nearly missed it!
It very noticeable that some crops had been harvested, others about to be and a couple needing a bit longer.
The wild flowers near Saltney Ferry Footbridge were nowhere near as good as they were a few weeks ago.  However, the wildflowers on Alexandra Road park were still pretty good.
Overall, a very pleasant stroll, worthy of celebrating with a breakfast and a cup of tea or two or even three!