Walking
world
WEPRE PARK AND EWLOE CASTLE
Wepre Park is located to the south and above the built up areas of Connah’s Quay –a region not normally linked with outdoor country walking. However, Wepre Park is a real breath of fresh air and
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW J Distance: 2.0 miles/3.21 kilometres J Time: Allow around 1.5–2 hours J Start: Use the large free carpark for Wepre
covers around 160 acres of parkland and ancient woodland. The
Park which is to the south of Connah’s Quay.
park receives around 200,000 visitors a year and is much loved
The car park is located off Wepre Park Road
by dog walkers and families. There is a visitor centre, a children’s playground, an outdoor gym, football playing fields and various other outdoor facilities including a very picturesque tree hung fishing lake which is very popular. A lot of visitors stay close to the main car park which is where the majority of the facilities are located but there is much more to Wepre Park than this. Todays
close to its junction with Richmond Road
J Grid Ref: SJ 294684 J Nearest postcode: CH5 4HW J Ordnance Survey Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer 266 – Wirral and Chester
J What to expect: The walk uses a mixture of
walk rises through woodland on good tracks to eventually reach the
good tracks and paths in woodland and open
atmospheric ruins of Ewloe Castle and then returns through trees
ground and has some rough going in places.
to descend and circle the fishing lake before returning to the start.
There are sections of ascent and descent
Although a bit strenuous in places this walk will suit walkers of all
with one particularly steep set of steps on
ages and makes a delightful morning or afternoon outing where you
the return route. Care should be taken with
will find it hard to believe you are so close to the town of Connah’s
children around the castle ruins as there are
Quay with its shops, pubs and buildings. ‘Wepre’ is an unusual name but is thought to be from the Welsh word ‘Gwybre’ which translates as Water Hill, but to be fair the name of Wepre Park has changed many times over the last eight centuries. Wepre woods and the original estate go back hundreds
steep steps and big drops in places
J Dogs: OK on leads J Suitable for: All walkers who don’t mind a few steep ups and downs
J Refreshments: Connah’s Quay is nearby
of years and are recorded in the Domesday book. The hall that once
where you will find plenty of cafés,
stood on the estate has been demolished but the original cellars
restaurants, pubs and shops
from it still exist beneath the current visitor centre. Ewloe Castle is an impressive ruin despite the fact it was abandoned as long ago as 1277 and you should allow time to explore it on your visit. It was one of the very last Welsh castles to be built by the Sovereign Prince of Wales. The castle took many years to build from locally quarried sandstone and was probably never completely finished. This is a walk to linger over and not rush, so choose a nice day and take a packed lunch with you and you will enjoy a wonderful outing in an area you may not have even known existed.
NWM 2021 Page 93
