There are a host of places to visit and things to do in and around Penyffordd whether you’re traveling by road or rail. Penyffordd railway station is just across the road from Dove Cottage with connections to Liverpool, Cheshire and the North Wales coast.

First, the local area:

Penyffordd is a small village in Flintshire, north-east Wales. The village is about 3 miles from the Wales-England border, on the course of the River Alyn. “Penyffordd” means “head of the road”.

Nearby Hope, or in the Welsh language, Yr Hob, belongs to a small group of closely related villages in the local area, including Caergwrle, Abermorddu and Cefn-y-bedd. One of the major features in the area is Hope Mountain (Mynydd yr Hob), to the west of the village and clearly visible from our garden.

You may want to try Hope Mountain Walk – a 6 mile walk through woodland, across moorland, past old quarries and with superb views. Go to www.discoverflintshire.co.uk to download an excellent pdf of the walk.

Or you could simply step out the back door and walk across the fields from Dove Cottage and head for the hills.

Padeswood and Buckley Golf Club – a picturesque 18-hole course with tree lined fairways and water hazards providing a real challenge to golfers of all abilities. The course measures 6042 yards Par 70 and is bounded by the River Alyn.

Plas Teg Jacobean Mansion – one of the most important Jacobean houses in Wales.  It epitomises the idea of an early Stuart country house, set high above the landscape, dominating the surrounding valley and people.  It is said to be haunted by a number of ghosts and spirits. Open Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Nearby is the 13th century Caergwrle Castle (now a ruin) which was first built by Prince Dafydd ap Gruffudd, in lands given to him by Edward I of England after the first Welsh campaign of 1277. The village originally had the English name ‘Corley’, but with the addition of the Welsh epithet “Caer”, meaning “fortress”, the name gradually took on Welsh characteristics. To explain the name, a myth developed of a giant named Gwrle, who was supposed to have lived in the castle and been buried in the nearby Neolithic burial mound at Cefn-y-bedd. Worth a visit for the views out over Cheshire.

The 17th-century Packhorse Bridge, which is reputed to be haunted, was nearly destroyed by flooding in 2000, though it has since been restored. There have been many other developments and restorations in Caergwrle.

Slightly further away:

Chester is only 8 miles away, so we are ideally placed for those heading to the Chester Races or those just wanting to see the beautiful city of Chester.

There are 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites within easy reach: Liverpool Maritime City (45 minutes by car), the Aqueduct at Llangollen (30 minutes) and castles such as Conwy (45 minutes).

Snowdonia is a 60 minute drive away – a drive that takes in some of the best scenery in Britain.

If you like great houses and gardens, you’re spoilt for choice: try Erddig (a National Trust Property and only 20 minutes away by car) or Bodnant Gardens (1 hour).

Or you could try:

The historic village of Hawarden (Gladstone Library – a real ‘must see’) – 3 miles

Wrexham Town – easily accessible by train

Loggerheads Country Park & Visitor Centre – 7 miles

Mountain Bike Trails & Visitor Centre, Coed Llandegla Forest – 16 miles

Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet Village – 12 miles