Rural Walks in Flintshire (pdf) - Flintshire County Council

Flintshire’s HeritageFrontierCountryMoel ArthurTrimley Hall, LlanfynyddPlas Trimley, LlanfynyddBorder LandsFlintshire is remarkably rich in historicalremains, simply because it has beenfrontier country for centuries.Strategically placed Iron Age hillforts,such as Penycloddiau and Moel y Gaer,dominate the skyline of the Clwydiansand Halkyn Mountain.The Romans marched through the areafor more than three hundred years,leaving numerous remains.Parts of Offa's and Wat's Dykes can stillbe seen. These once massive earthbanks and ditches were constructed bythe Saxons in the 8th century to markthe boundary with Wales.Flintshire is dotted with castles builtduring the ongoing power strugglebetween the Welsh princes andNorman kings. Ewloe and Caergwrlewere Welsh castles but Flint andHawarden were Norman. ImposingFlint Castle was the first of Edward I'sstring of castles along the Welsh coast,built during his first onslaught intoWales in 1277. It was impregnableand, although besieged, was nevertaken, unlike Hawarden that wascaptured in 1282.Flintshire was important spiritually too.St Winefride's Well was one of themost revered places of Christianpilgrimage in Europe and the nowruined Basingwerk Abbey was wealthyand influential. The picturesque villagechurches and chapels bear testamentto the key role religion played ineveryday life.20Treftadaeth Sir y Fflint