It is easy to see how this route earned its snail - a route that takes in pretty villages, scenic views and a variety of terrains, and provides multiple options for breaks and refreshments along the way. There are a number of food/toilet options directly on the route, from supermarkets/convenience stores in Neston and Shotton, to pubs in Little Neston and Shotton and cafes in Denhall and Puddington....

geopenny

A short unpaved section, and, once more, many fields and tracks to the crossroads just outside Northop Hall, where we have a crossing and another unpaved road, but only for a few yards. A short footpath takes us away from an uphill unpaved stretch of road to a paved one, which we follow before taking the footpath into, and through, Wepre Park, a wooded country park with good paths, and also Ewloe Castle....

Hiking Historian

It starts well, and has some great rural footpaths, but there's many errors with this route in terms if access and safety....

Hiking Historian

Almost fully accessible route for all (as ever, the steps at Shotton station are a problem for wheeled users), mostly along the wide tarmacced path that runs along the embankment aside the Dee, with only one road crossing along the way until we hit Chester. It is well-used by both walkers and cyclists alike, and there is the odd bench along the way to stop for breaks. It moves from industrial Shotton into the countryside, before once more returning to the industrial and urban areas of Chester....

Hiking Historian

Burton is a lovely little village, but the road through it, and away, is more unpaved roads, hedges on each side, proving to be blind corners in places. The path takes an unnecessary kink around a field before the bridge (much easier to stay on the main path following the line of the old railway), but this route properly shows the means of which to navigate the confusing nature of the two Shotton stations to reach the main road beyond....

Hiking Historian

The path through Little Neston is along quiet unpaved roads, which are safe enough to use and often used by walkers. Burton is a lovely little village, but the road through it, and away, is more unpaved roads, hedges on each side, proving to be blind corners in places....

Hiking Historian

Second half of the walk was much more interesting than the first half, with historic halls and farmhouses in the 3 villages and open views across the Dee to the Welsh hills....

DerbyshireBBguide

I haven't walked the whole of this route, but I have walked NesSho Three (in attempting NesSho One) which starts from Shotton along the same route....

Mary Oz

You can walk directly alongside the railway from the northbound (west side) platform of the high-level station next to the start of the route. This path continues over the low-level railway line, and descends a flight of stairs onto the low-level station. You then need to cross under the high-level line to reach the cycle track that goes through a narrow cycle barrier, then cross the River Dee on the east side of the railway bridge....

Mary Oz

We walked it from Chester to Shotton, and - although very practical and a good candidate for the Slow Ways network - it would probably be more interesting to cycle this route as at a walking pace the view gets very monotonous. Additionally, and though not presenting many issues when following the route, its plotting through Chester is more as the crow flies from point to point than following actual paths....

Team Tato

Second half of the walk was much more interesting than the first half, with historic halls and farmhouses in the 3 villages and open views across the Dee to the Welsh hills....

DerbyshireBBguide

Wheelchairs are excluded right from the off at Shotton station, due to the only access to the lower station being via stairs, but there are also stiles and kissing gates later on....

Hiking Historian

We had problems knowing exactly where to walk as we set off from Shotton as the route just flies from the start point over the low level railway line and over the river above the railway bridge....

Mary Oz

The Neston end may be too muddy, and lots of kissing gates, for bikes or wheelchairs, and there are pinch gates and stairs at Shotton station, but rest of the route is along a good stretch of quiet road or wide paths, with a section of boardwalk. Despite a brief excursion through an industrial estate, it's a lovely walk along a nice stretch of the Dee salt marsh....

Hiking Historian

An easy walk that for most of it's length follows an established paved cycle route, saying that the first mile or so down to the Dee Marshes doesn't, the last part of this section to the bottom of Marshlands Road and The Harp Inn can be very muddy when wet, The route then follows the edge of the Marshes (popular with bird watchers) to Deeside, the section through the Ind. Est. shouldn't spoil your enjoyment....

Dermot Byrne

A straightforward route that is flat and mostly paved although you do need to watch out for speeding bikes and those cyclists who also don't ring their bells to warn you....

Mike111

A brief walk round an industrial estate but pavements throughout....

Philippa

Barrier-free access is only possible from Sealand Rd, Bumpers Ln, Hawarden Bridge train station (must use level crossing and manual gates) or via the Millennium Greenway. (-> Chester direction only) and Jubilee Bridge/B5441 (-> Chester only; -> Shotton has a slanted gate just beyond the slalem)....

geopenny

Enjoyed walking from Chester, thru golf course to pick up Dee path on the other bank of river to main path. Short road section ( by GoOutdoors) but lovely wander and path. Only walked to first bridge at Garden city before crossing river and walking back in to chester - total 7 miles....

ElaineT