Day 15 Abergele to a few kilometres past Chester

 71km, 150m climb

We left early and were soon back on the coast route cycling into the easterly wind! Thankfully no rain though.

The sea always looks nice, but the resorts become less attractive as one progresses eastwards.

We passed through Rhyl and Prestatyn with their endless lines of static caravans. Then came the Point of Ayr with its lighthouse marking the mouth of the Dee. This area is Talacre, the site of a huge coal mine which extended far out under the sea. It is now closed and the area has been smartened up with a fine new bike path and exhibits of its industrial heritage. 

Power is obviously still important and the enormous Ayr gas works are all too visible, as are miles and miles of wind generators out at sea.

We left the Point of Ayr - our most northerly point - and turned south to follow the Dee to Chester. This is the weak point in the cycle route. They haven't yet managed to create a separate bike path through the industrial towns on the Dee and we had the choice of riding 10km on quite a busy road, or taking a longer route through the hills. We chose the A road which, though busy could have been worse. We batted along and were soon at Flint where we stopped for a picnic lunch in the castle ruins. This is the fourth of Edward first's castles we've passed (Harlech, Caernarfon and Conway) and is his earliest and most ruined.

Point of Ayr lighthouse

Old colliery wheel with modern gas works behind

Flooded underpass!

Flint Castle

Crossing the Dee

Chester

Soon after that we were back on a cycle path on a dyke beside the river for the remaining 10km into Chester. 

After a wander round we carried on along the Shropshire Union Canal for a few km to this campsite. We are now on the Mercian Way, an unlikely cycle route which joins Chester Cathedral to Salisbury Cathedral. We will follow it south for the next couple of days.

Photos slow uploading - more to follow when signal is better.