Rural Walks in Flintshire (pdf) - Flintshire County Council

Flintshire’s landscapesLimestoneBryn AlynTortoiseshellIâr fach amryliwMany millennia ago, a warm sea fullof tiny crustaceans covered Flintshire.Our grey limestone is made of thecompressed shells of these creatures.Look for their fossilised remains inthe exposed rock faces.Limestone is soft and full of cracksand holes, so weathers easily. Thecaves, rocky outcrops and cliffs ofLoggerheads, Ffrith and PrestatynHillside are the result. Bizzarelimestone pavement forms whererain water has dissolved away cracksand joints in the rock. Explore theseat Loggerheads and Bryn Alyn.Watch out also along the River Alyn,where some stretches seem to dry upcompletely as its waters vanishunderground through cracks orswallow holes in the ground.Look out for the rich variety ofwildflowers that thrive in colourfulabundance on the thin limestonesoils during the summer months.They provide food for a myriad ofbutterflies and other insects, andmake our limestone uplands richin wildlife.14Tirweddau Sir y Fflint