Walks near Crewe by train

Hard-surfaced circuit around Flint Castle and along the Wales Coast Path with saltmarsh and Dee Estuary views across to the Wirral.

Coastal: almost all along the coast.

Woodland: half under tree cover.

Flint Castle: The earliest of Edward I's Welsh castles, distinctive for its great detached tower; began the chain of English-built fortresses in Wales.

Flintshire Guardian: Three-metre-tall sculpture at Flint Point looking out across the Dee Estuary toward Hilbre Island.

Dee Estuary: Wide tidal estuary on the North Wales/Wirral border, fringed with saltmarsh and rich in birdlife.

Time: 1h30–3h

Walk details: Transport for Wales (tips, photos and turn-by-turn directions).

Town streets, woodland tracks, steep ascent to The Wrekin summit with panoramic views over Shropshire and beyond.

Warnings: Steep climb to summit; can be windy on top.

Walk details: Wellington Walkers Are Welcome.

Striking views back down Carding Mill Valley. Up Carding Mill Valley and across the Long Mynd Plateau and Wild Moor. Site of Richard Munslow's grave, reputedly Britain's last sin-eater who died in 1906.

Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Time: 4h30–9h

Warnings: Steep ascent to top of Long Mynd; faint moorland paths obscured by undergrowth.

Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).

Offa's Dyke Path up to the trig point on Graig Fawr, a National Trust limestone hill with sea views to the Great Orme, and a disused railway line.

Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Graig Fawr: A National Trust limestone hill above Prestatyn with a trig point and views to the Great Orme, reached via the Offa's Dyke Path.

Time: 2h30–5h

Warnings: A sustained hillside climb with steps and steeper terrain.

Walk details: Transport for Wales (tips, photos and turn-by-turn directions).

Mostly pavement village loop with a steep climb to Caergwrle Castle and a crossing of the River Alyn on a historic packhorse bridge.

Caergwrle Castle: A 13th-century hilltop castle ruin built in 1278-82 by Dafydd ap Gruffudd, said to be the last castle built by a native Welsh prince.

Caergwrle Packhorse Bridge: Historic narrow bridge over the River Alyn with V-shaped niches in the walls for pedestrians to stand clear of packhorses.

Time: 1h–1h30

Warnings: Follows a busy road for half of the walk. Steep climb to the castle.

Walk details: Transport for Wales (tips, photos and turn-by-turn directions).

Walk details: Rail Rambles.

Beautiful Peak District fringe landscape. Valley floor walk with canal towpath and former tramway trail. Historic route tracing pioneering industrial transport infrastructure through Peak District foothills.

Waterway: three quarters along the Peak Forest Canal.

Time: 2h30–5h

Warnings: Busy road sections; rough ground with old concrete and limestone blocks.

Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).

Opening section of the Heart of Wales Line Trail over fields and through kissing gates on the Shropshire Way, past Hopesay Common and the village of Aston on Clun with its dressed Arbor Tree.

Walk details: Heart of Wales Line Travellers (PDF).

Reverse direction: Rail Rambles.

Spectacular views. Wild landscape of deep valleys and gritstone peaks and studded with peat bogs and pine forests. Buxton developed as a fashionable spa in 18th-19th centuries using profits from Dukes of Devonshire's copper mines. Macclesfield granted borough charter for market in 13th Century.

Time: 5h30–10h30

Warnings: Stiles; busy road with no pavement and fast traffic.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Similar walk: Walk Midlands (inc. GPX).

Reverse direction: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Walk details: Rail Rambles.

Golf club, heath, woodland and Heart of England Way.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 5h–10h30

2 lunch spots: the Tame Otter (2h–4h30 in), or the Red Lion (2h–4h30 in)

2 end-of-walk rewards: the Horse and Jockey, or the Turnpike

Warnings: MOD firing range — check access.

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Walk details: Rail Rambles.