Holfli two

Verified Slow Way

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Even though the original route is a great riverside ramble, this is a welcome inland rural, and hilly, walk above the Dee estuary. Terrain and some obstacles make it a foot-only route.

From the centre of Holywell, we join the Wat's Dyke Way for a while, first passing a supermarket and residential, before dropping down onto a quiet unpaved road, before turning into Coed Llwybr-y-bi. A lovely woodland walk with a carpet of wild garlic, we soon climb an eroding earth staircase up the steep bank of the valley, and, at the top, vault a stile into large sheep fields beyond.

Past the ruins of Cefn-y-coed, we move along the bottom of the lawn of Coetia-Llwyd to get to the next stile into the next few fields. Once through these (boggy in places), we join a long straight unpaved rural road. You'd be very unlucky to see any traffic; all the times I've been this way, it's been very quiet.

Eventually we join a footpath downhill through another field, before coming out near some houses. Once more we're on an unpaved road, now a pleasant wooded avenue. At a crossroads, we continue ahead on another quiet road and, at its end, turn up a sunken road, carved into the pink ssndstone.

Leaving the road once more as we enter more fields, we eventually turn towards a farm. A stile near a gate takes us past the farming machinery, and then we turn right, heading into the woods beyond. The woods don't last long; we're soon in a large field, heading downhill. Luckily the large herd of cows are usually uninterested in any hikers! At a gate, we join a road that passes around the cemetery, and then a couple of roads bring us into the centre of Flint and to the station.

A good route with some nice fields and views, despite the unpaved road sections.

Walked from Holywell to Flint. A very scenic route, but although it is shorter than HolGli one it is not necessarily easier. I had to miss one short section out because I couldn't get my leg over a stile constrained by a holly hedge.

From the bus station in Holywell, we are soon in a quiet backstreet. We cross the B5432 and head steeply down the very quiet Old Bagillt Road. Beyond the river we climb a little then turn right into the woods. There is a choice of paths here - the lower one that starts by the river is rather less direct than the GPX line (or the paths shown on maps). A short steep rise takes us back to the main path, which remains good until we start to zigzag up the steep bank - at this point I suspect a lot of casual walkers turn back. There are steps, but some of them are eroded and the upper part could be quite awkward in slippery conditions.

The first of many stiles takes us into the fields (mostly sheep pasture), with fine views out towards the Dee estuary. I got a little confused by the right of way line at Coetia-Llwyd - the path actually crosses the first stile straight on then turns right into the field beyond the hedge, so there is no need to go anywhere near the buildings. More pastures take us uphill to join Cefn Lane, another very quiet backroad (not quiet enough to prevent me having to backtrack a little to find a space for a tractor to pass!).

There are more glimpses of views but the hedges are high. The footpath that leaves down the hill (the first one I saw that mentioned the Wat's Dyke Way) starts with a very awkward stile quite high above the road surface and badly constrained by the holly hedge. Since I could see an easy road alternative I gave up trying to cross it, which probably meant I missed the steepest descent of the whole route. The slight disadvantage of the road alternative is that Bryntirion Road is a lot busier than most of the other roads in this area, but it didn't feel unsafe.

Another very quiet (and pretty) lane (Nant Road) takes us to a T junction where we head left through a holloway up the hill, then take the right fork up to an obvious footpath sign. The path starts on the left side of the hedge and crosses to the right near the bottom of the first field. This path is little trodden but mostly fine, though the path strip on the edge of a recently ploughed arable field was too narrow to walk on in places. Above April Rise Farm the path is a little constrained by building debris, but we soon leave the farmyard on a good track. We cross another pasture (there were cows in this field but they were a long way away) and follow a farm lane down to Old London Road (which seems an unlikely name), which leads easily down to Halkyn Street which we follow into Flint.

Overall this is an enjoyable route, but one that demands a degree of agility, so not suitable for any form of wheels or for anyone with mobility problems.

A varied and enjoyable Slow Way. Passes from Flint through commercial, then residential areas. A series of footpaths goes uphill to join Wat's Dyke Way which is the rest of the route. Steps and Stiles. Mostly offroad but with some sections along very quiet lanes (no vehicles encountered). Very easy to follow although it should be noted that there are two sharp ascents/descents, one near Cefn Coleshill and the other at Coed Llwybr-y-bi. The best thing about this walk is undoubtedly the great views across the Dee and to the hills around. Safe, friendly and direct.

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