Chirk Castle and Ceiriog's Aqueduct and Viaduct

1 The walk starts at Chirk Bank, just over the border with England, following the tow path of the Llangollen branch of the Shropshire Union Canal. Cross the aqueduct, and after this the footpath climbs to the B4500 on the outskirts of Chirk. Turn left for a few paces, then right along Castle Road. Turn left at the railway station, following a road to some magnificent wrought-iron gates, built for the Chirk Estate in 1721 by the Davies Brothers of Bersham.

2 A short way along the road turn left through a gate on to the National Trust's Chirk Estate (if the Estate is closed continue on the road) and trace a fence on the left to another gate. Here you angle a right, across the fields in the direction of the first of many white-topped waymarking posts. The estate's grounds are very spacious, and there's over a mile (1.6km) of walking across lawn-like fields, scattered with fine mature oak trees. Once through another kissing gate, trace a fence on the left westwards to join the drive to the car park. Ignore the drive on the left that heads for the castle itself.

3 Pass between the car park and Home Farm cottages before continuing along the rough track across fields to the road corner at Tyn y Groes. Here, turn left over a step stile and along a path signposted with the Offa's Dyke acorn. The vague track descends between woods to meet a walled cart track, where you should turn left to descend past two farms. A narrow tarred lane descends into the Ceiriog Valley. It's lined with hawthorn, bramble and wild roses, and verged with campion and primrose. It will take you down to the B4500 and the river bank at Castle Mill.

4 Cross the B4500 to follow the lane going over the bridge across the Ceiriog to Brnygarth. Turn left along the road at the other side, passing the old schoolhouse before turning left down a lane that descends past several cottages towards the river. Beyond the last of these, go through three gates on to a grassy path that descends further through woodland. The path then accompanies the river's south banks before continuing along a lane leading to Pont Faen. Don't cross the bridge, but climb right along a lane before taking a left fork.

5 Just before a sharp right bend, take a path on the left through woods. Beyond, follow the field edge, parallel to the canal. After passing through a ginnel between house, the path comes out on to the road at Chirk Bank. Here you turn left back to the car park.