Search Results

Our dog friendly holiday cottages in North Wales, are in an ideal spot to explore this beautiful area. We’re very lucky to live in an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ (AONB), its perfect walking country and in this part of North East Wales, many of our favourite walks, are still ‘Hidden Gem’s’ and you won’t find the crowds that you do in Snowdonia! As a family we’ve always enjoyed being out and about discovering new places, but with the addition of our new dog Eli, we’ve got more excuse now than ever! I hope you love the list of our ‘Top 5 Stunning Local Walks’ as much as we do! All of these walks give you the feel-good factor, but I’ve also included ‘Stir-you-soul’ rating as well – for walks that have stunning views in-particular 😊 1. Starting Point - The Old Mill Holiday Cottages Denbigh Road, Melin-Y-Wern, Nr Mold Difficulty Level – Easy/Moderate Time – 2 hour circular Footwear – Walking boots/wellies (Can be muddy in the Winter) Views to stir you soul - 3/5 Cross the road in front of The Cherry Pie Inn (An ideal stop, for lunch or an evening meal) Take the footpath between the two bungalow cottages. Walk ½ mile to the end of the lane, at the T-Junction, you’ll see a bench, look out for the footpath sign to the right. Follow the footpath sign into the woodland. This is a picturesque trail taking you through pretty woodland, following a meandering stream (Ideal for children and dogs to paddle!). Look out for the ‘Teepees’ (This is a lovely spot for children to play) Continue through on the woodland path for approx. 1 mile. Cross the stile into the meadow (Fabulous in the Summer months). Walk diagonally to reach the top end of the field. Look out for the stile. Cross the stile on to the lane. Turn left downhill, into the pretty hamlet of ‘Nannerch Mill’. Walk up the hill, following the tarmac lane to the attractive rural village of Nannerch. (Lovely viewpoint at the top of the hill). At the crossroads, turn left, walk through the village past the church. As you are leaving the village take the left turn. Keep going straight on this lane, which gradually takes you downhill and back to the bench. At the bench turn right – you have then completed the loop and are back on the lane to The Old Mill Holiday Cottages. (Cross the road in front of The Cherry Pie, for best visibility). 2. Penycloddiau Hill Fort, Llangwyfan Difficulty Level – Moderate Time – 2 hour circular Footwear – Walking boots Views to stir you soul - 5/5 Our favourite trail begins at the far-right hand side of the car park. The path takes you up a gradual incline through pine forest. (The path is a bit rugged in paces, be careful of tree roots and uneven ground). Once through the wooded area, the views to the left over the Vale of Clwyd are just beautiful! Continue up the hill to the top of the hill fort – In good weather you can see for miles around, the views are just stunning! Penycloddiau is the largest hillfort in the Clwydian Range and one of the largest in Wales. Recent archaeological searches have found stone tools dating back 4000 years to the Bronze Age. There are many walks in this area and on the main its usually very quiet (Don’t tell anyone!!). If you want to do a circular walk, head back down the hill, over the stile, and then look out for the right turn. This lower path leads you back to the car park. 3. Moel Famau to The Jubilee Tower Difficulty Level – Moderate Time – 2 ½ hour circular Footwear – Walking boots Views to stir you soul - 5/5 Park at the lower car park (Change needed for parking). Here there is a nice playpark for children, picnic areas and toilets. Moel Famau is the highest hill within the Clwydian Range, there are several walks from this area, for a range of abilities – Which makes this, and Loggerheads the most well-known and popular of the walks listed. Our favourite is the purple trail (Which is clearly signed) it's a steady climb upwards (And gets your heart pumping!) It takes you through woodland footpaths and open countryside areas, with beautiful views across the Clwydian Range. The last section of this walk is the most challenging and includes a 30-minute steeper section - However, once you get to the top, you’re rewarded with reaching the Jubilee Tower, and stunning views across as far as Liverpool! (The Jubilee Tower was built to commemorate ‘Mad’ King George III and dates back to 1810 – However, it was never completed!). 4. Clwydian Range - Afonwen - Known Locally as ‘The Tank Track’ Difficulty Level – Easy/Moderate Time – 1 to 2 hours – Or much further if you wish..? Footwear – Walking boots Views to stir you soul - 4/5 From the village of Afonwen, take the left turn towards ‘Afonwen Craft & Antiques Centre.’ (Popular café, antiques centre and gift shop – An ideal stop off!) Instead of branching left, continue straight up the steep hill. Please note – This road isn’t known locally as the ‘tank track’ for nothing! Drive carefully as this road is very steep and bumpy with many potholes, so it’s not ideal for your car! From here, you can either walk to the top of the hill, the landscape extends ahead of you, like several big dippers! This is the chain of hills which makes up the Clwydian Range. In the distance you will be able to see Moel Famau. For keen more experienced walkers, there’s plenty of scope for a long walk here… Alternatively, from the car park area, go through the 5-bar gate and on to Offa’s Dyke path, this is a much flatter and gentler walk, with sheep grazing in fields and isolated farms dotted around. There are fabulous views for both of the walks mentioned here. 5. Loggerheads Country Park Difficulty Level – Easy/Moderate Time – 1 to 2 hours + Footwear – Sensible Foot-ware (Weather depending) Views to stir you soul - 3/5 Loggerheads Country Park is a very accessible walking area with large car park, café, gift shop, picnic area and toilets. (Please note change needed for parking). It is a wonderful place to go walking at any time of year. There’s a short relatively flat circular walk (Approx. 1 hour) where you can wander alongside a pretty river (Ideal for children and dogs to paddle in the Summer). Take the left turn over the wooden bridge, and on to the opposite bank, this will take you back in a loop to the car park and café. If you’d like more of a work-out, hike to the top of the steps, it’s more challenging to get up there, but the views from the top are outstanding! I hope this has inspired you to explore this beautiful part of Flintshire and Denbighshire in North Wales. If you're looking for accommodation, we’d love to welcome you to The Old Mill Holiday Cottages. Located within a picturesque historic mill complex, we have x4 well equipped and cosy cottages for you to choose from: Millers Cottage Sleeps 2, plus x2 S/M Dogs welcome From £349 per week The Hayloft Sleeps 2 (No Pets) From £349 per week The Long Barn Sleeps 4- Spacious 2 bedroom 2 bathroom cottage. x2 Dogs welcome (Any size) From £465 per week The Roost Sleeps 2 (No Pets) From £379 per week If you have any question, just ask me Liz and I'm happy to help: Email info@old-mill.co.uk Tel. 01352 742175

Our Dog Friendly Holiday Cottages are located in North Wales, mid-way between the market towns of Mold and Denbigh. The cottages are approximately 1 hour from Liverpool and Manchester and 30 minutes from Chester. Are you looking for a self-catering cottage, with walks from the doorstep, and dog friendly pubs nearby? – We can help! We welcomed Eli our gorgeous mini Schnauzer into our family 4 months ago, and as a new dog owner, we’ve done lots of research to find out where the dog friendly pubs, restaurants and cafes are locally. Rather than you spending loads of time researching the area, we want you to get the most of your stay, so I thought I'd save you some time, and share with you our recommendations of places we've tried and tested locally, I hope you enjoy (As much as we do!). 1. The Cherry Pie Inn (Just next door!) www.thecherrypieinn.co.uk Address Denbigh Road, Melin-Y-Wern, CH7 5RH Distance No car needed 100 meters walk (5 mins) Opening Times Monday - Closed Tuesday - Saturday Lunch - Midday - 2.30pm / Dinner - 7pm - 9.30pm Sunday - Midday - 2.30pm What to expect? Located just a 5 minute walk from the cottages, fantastic hospitality, a very warm welcome awaits from the owners Simon & Lel. This is a firm favourite with our guests. Comfortable bistro with outdoor seating areas, offering traditional home cooked dishes and a good range of wines. * Dogs welcome in the bar area. 2. The Cross Foxes www.cross-foxes.co.uk Address Village Road, Nannerch, Mold CH7 5RD Distance 1 mile Walking Route - Please see map Opening Times Monday – Closed Tuesday – 6pm – 11pm Wednesday – 6pm -11pm Thursday – 6pm – 11pm Friday 6pm – 11pm Saturday 6pm – 11pm Sunday 12pm – 10.30pm What to expect? Traditional country pub located in the pretty village of Nannerch. A warm welcome awaits from Janet and Tim. Enjoy homemade foods in generous portions, in a friendly and welcoming environment. * Dogs welcome in the tiled floor areas. 3. The Crown www.robinsonsbrewery.com/crownlixwm Address Village Road, Lixwm, Holywell, CH8 8NQ Distance 2 miles Walking Route – Please see map Opening Times Monday - Closed Tuesday- 4pm–12am Wednesday - 4pm–12am Thursday- 4pm–12am Friday - 4pm–12am Saturday - 12pm–12am Sunday - 12–10pm What to expect? Recently renovated village country pub with a good range of home cooked meals and specials to choose from. A warm welcome awaits from Tony and his team. * Dogs welcome in the bar area. 4. Dinorben Arms www.brunningandprice.co.uk/dinorbenarms Address Bodfari, Denbighshire, LL16 4DA Distance 5 miles Opening Times Everyday from 11am – 11pm What to expect? Belonging to a good quality pub-group, huge investment has gone into renovating this pub, to provide a spacious restaurant and bar area with cosy open fires ideal in the winter and stunning terraces over looking the Clwydian range mountains - Amazing views on a clear day. Good range of food offered, mid-range prices. *Dogs welcome in the bar area, snug and tiled floor areas. 6. Tea Rooms at The Pet Cemetery www.tearoomsflintshire.co.uk Address The Pet Cemetery, Brynford, Holywell CH8 8AD Distance 8.5 miles Opening Times Everyday 9am – 5pm What to expect? Bear with me.. I know this sounds a little strange! This is a lovely modern café, light and airy, in pretty landscaped grounds. It’s a popular choice with the locals and those passionate about their pets. This is a very pet friendly award winning venue! Good value, great for breakfast, lunch, coffee and a fabulous range of home-baked cakes. * Dogs welcome through-out. 7. The Fox Inn, www.foxinnysceifiog.co.uk Address Ysceifiog CH8 8NJ Distance 2.5 miles Opening Times Sunday 1pm – 10.30pm Monday 4pm – 11pm Tuesday 4pm – 11pm Wednesday 4pm – 11pm Thursday 4pm – 11pm Friday 4pm – 11pm Saturday 1pm – 11pm · Food Served Monday – Saturday 6pm – 9pm · Sunday 1pm – 5pm & 6pm – 9pm What to expect? The Fox Inn, Ysceifiog is an award winning 18th Century free-house. It’s a small country pub, in a picturesque part of North Wales. It has changed little structurally since it was built 200 or so years ago and still keeps its old-world charm. A range of award-winning cask ales are on offer. Good home cooked food is available at reasonable prices. A warm welcome awaits from Chris, Wen and their team. In the winter there’s a lovely cosy fire and in the Summer, you can enjoy sitting on the picnic benches at the front of the pub. * Dogs are welcome with the small snug on the right-hand side, which is also used as a dart room in the evening. Want to learn more about our self catering cottages? The Old Mill Holiday Cottages Locate in Flintshire an AONB in North Wales, surrounded by beautiful countryside and close to the popular seaside towns of Llandudno & Conwy. We welcome dogs within x2 of our self-catering cottages: Millers Cottage sleeps 2 + 1 dog (No extra charge) The Long Barn – sleeps 4 + 2 dogs (No extra charge) We provide, a dog bed, dog towel and treats for your four-legged friends at no extra charge. If you prefer pet free accommodation due to allergies etc., we also have The Hayloft - Which sleeps 2, An ideal cosy cottage perfect for couples (No pets). There are beautiful walks from the doorstep to the pretty rural villages of Nannerch, Yscefiog, and Lixwm. Or enjoy exploring the local footpaths through pretty woodland with meandering streams and lush meadows.

Hi I'm Liz the Owner and Manager of The Old Mill Holiday Cottages, and Mum to two beautiful daughters, Orla 8 and Beatrice 5. Our 3 cottages are located on a small picturesque mill complex in North Wales. We have fabulous communal landscaped grounds with BBQ and seating areas, complete with children's play park and ducks. There's even a popular dog friendly pub just next door! We're in a great central location for exploring all that North Wales and Chester have to offer. Many of our guests are families, especially during school holiday time .....So, I thought it would be useful to share our top 5 places for days out locally with the children: Chester Zoo The number 1 most visited zoo in the UK (And we know why!) Chester zoo is fantastic, their animal conservation projects and enclosures are very well thought out, with animal welfare at heart. We love the great outdoor spaces, multiple children's adventure play parks, water play area, mono-rail and islands boat ride. Its not a cheap day out, but its worth every penny! The only down side is that one day may not be enough! Recommended for - All ages Postcode - Distance - 30 minute drive from the cottages New! SC2 Waterpark, Rhyl Opened in April'19 after a huge £15m investment. Sc2 has something for everyone. There's baby slides for little ones, wet play area and more thrilling rides for children 1.2m tall. There is also a TAG active (One course for children below 1.2m and one for older children/adults). Its an indoor multi level activity centre with computer sensors that you have to seek out to win. This timed activity zones test your skill, fitness and your bravery! Recommended for - All ages Postcode LL18 1BF - Distance - 25 minute drive from the cottages Talacre Beach There a many lovely beaches to explore in this area, but this one is our closest.... Miles of sandy beaches to explore, back by dunes, which make an ideal spot to gather as a family. This beach is dog friendly all year round so your four-legged friend doesn't need to miss out either! Its a perfect bucket and spade beach, it can get a little crowded in the summer, but take a short stroll and you'll be away from the crowds. The lighthouse is an icon landmark (But do take note of tide times if you walk out to it). Recommended for - All ages Postcode CH8 9RS - Distance - 25 minute drive from the cottages Cheshire Ice Cream Farm A firm favourite with my girls! This is the worlds largest ice cream adventure park. Not only do they sell fabulous ice cream in over 40 flavours, this complex has had huge investment over recent years. It offers a large outdoor adventure playground, quad bikes, mini golf, indoor soft play, farm animal area, indoor water and sand play, plus cafes and gift shops. Entrance is free (Including the farm area) and you can buy tickets on a 'pay as you play' basis for the different activities. Recommended for - Under 10's Postcode Ch3 9NE - Distance - 40 minute drive from the cottages Loggerheads Country Park Enjoy a few hours exploring in beautiful nature - Bring the dog as well! Follow the woodland trails, footpaths and boardwalks, look out for the wood carvings of animals, fish, and birds. Pack your wellies for a splash around in the water and enjoy a picnic or lunch in Cafe Florence. Recommended for - All ages Postcode Ch7 5LH - Distance 10 minutes drive from the cottages I can recommend many more days out with the children locally, too much to write here! but I hope this gives you a bit of a flavour of whats on offer in the area... A little bit of info about our cottages.... Millers Cottage Sleeps 2 + 1 *infant (Plus, up to x2 s/m dogs welcome) This cottage is ideal for a small family. All of the accommodation is on one level, its a cosy, well equipped cottage with double bedroom and en-suite shower room. From £275 per week The Long Barn Sleeps 4 + 1 *infant (Plus 2 dogs welcome) This is a spacious cottage, perfect for families. It has a double bedroom and twin bedroom, x2 bathrooms, well equipped kitchen with large lounge/dining room. We also provide a selection of children's DVD's, books and board games. * On request, we can provide a cot and high chair for your little one, with no extra charge. From £425 per week ...Why not bring the grandparents?! The Hayloft Sleeps 2 (Couples only, no pets) This cottage is ideal for couples, accessed via a small external staircase, it provides a warm and cosy cottage, full of charm and character with exposed beams. It has a double bedroom and en-suite bathroom. From £275 per week If you'd like to learn more about our cottages or check availability and tariffs, please see our website www.old-mill.co.uk Or for any enquiries, please contact me (Liz) info@old-mill.co.uk

We are very excited to introduce our new puppy Eli to our family! He’s a gorgeous mini Schnauzer, such a friendly little personality - He’s fitted into our lives so quickly… Not to mention our two daughters are thrilled to bits! I'm Liz, the Owner and Manager of The Old Mill Holiday Cottages. We welcome dogs within two of our cottages Millers Cottage (Sleeps 2 ) and The Long Barn (Sleeps 4) - Many of our guests bring their four-legged friends to stay and we appreciate a holiday wouldn’t be the same without them! As a new dog owner, we’ll be hunting out the BEST places to take Eli walking, so I thought I’d share with you my top tips on DOG FRIENDLY BEACHES in this beautiful part of NORTH WALES: Talacre Beach Dog Friendly all year round - A huge expanse of sandy beach extending for miles backed by sand dunes. The iconic landmark is the Point of Ayr lighthouse which dates back to 1776. (If you walk out to the lighthouse do be aware of the tide times). This beach is quiet for the majority of the year, and even in the Summer months if you take a short stroll you can get away from the crowds. Amenities Car parks, cafes, ice cream shop, a pub and toilets, plus a bucket and spade shop! Can be found on the road leading up to the beach. (25 minute drive from the cottages – Postcode CH8 9RS) Groant Dunes Access is to the right of ‘Presthaven Beach Resort’ Gronant forms part of the extensive dune system between Barkby Beach to the West and Talacre Point to the East on the western side of the River Dee estuary. With beautiful boardwalk platforms and viewing areas, it’s a haven for wildlife and a protected nature reserve. This is known as a green links area, there is also a golf course in the vicinity. Amenities There is a corner shop on Shore Road, opposite the car park. (30 minute drive from the cottages - Postcode LL19 9TT) Prestatyn Beach (Also known as FFirth Beach) Consisting of a 4 mile stretch of promenade, and 3 sandy beaches. This area is idea for dog walkers all year round and is also a popular spot for cyclists and runners. Please note that dog restrictions do apply to the Eastern end of the beach from May until the end of September (This doesn’t affect the promenade though). Amenities Parking accessed via Victoria Road & opposite the Nova Swimming Pool. Café, toilets, a pub and children’s play park can be found in this area. (25 minute drive from the cottages - Postcode LL19 7US) Old Colwyn Beach / Leading To Rhos On Sea This area has benefited from recent investment, and now offers a fantastic Watersports Centre, celebrity restaurant, play park and newly completed wide promenade, that extends right the way to the pretty seaside town of Rhos-On-Sea (Approx. 2.5 miles). It’s ideal for walkers, cyclists and runners alike. Old Colwyn Beach lies at the far eastern end of the long promenade that runs along Colwyn Bay. This sandy section of beach is usually much quieter than other areas, with dogs allowed on the eastern section throughout the year, whilst they are banned during the summer further westward. Amenities Parking, café, restaurant, toilets, childrens play park can be found in this area. (25 minute drive – Postcode LL29 9TA) A bit about The Old Mill Holiday Cottages..... Within our grounds we also have a dedicated dog walking area, approx. 100m footpath alongside a small mill stream at the top of our garden. We provide a dog bed, dog treats, and dog towel for all of our doggie guests. Dog Friendly Pubs! Its perfect dog walking country, with fabulous countryside walks from the door. We are very lucky to have x4 dog friendly pubs in walking distance. Including the popular Cherry Pie Inn, which is just next door! I've created a local walking map, please click for more details pub walks If you you would like to know more about our cottages, please see our website www.old-mill.co.uk or if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask, thanks Liz.

Our #selfcatering cottages are located in #northwales surrounded by stunning AONB countryside - With fabulous woodland walks, meandering streams, pretty Welsh villages and great views to discover…. What better way to get to know the area than to take a walk, and work up an appetite, before enjoying a delicious home cooked meal, in one of our fantastic local country pubs… To showcase our beautiful local area, I’ve worked with local publicans, to commission a gorgeous illustrated walking map, produced by a talented local artist. WITH WALKS STRAIGHT FROM THE DOOR-STEP, I HOPE YOU ENJOY EXPLORING THE AREA AND ENJOY OUR WARM WELSH HOSPITALITY! We are in perfect dog walking country! If you’d like to bring your dog on holiday with you, we have two #dogfriendly cottages at The Old Mill: - Millers Cottages (Sleeps 2) and x2 small/medium dogs welcome free of charge. - The Long Barn (Sleeps 4) x2 dog (Any size welcome free of charge). In addition, if you suffer from allergies, or would prefer ‘Pet free’ accommodation, then please see our other cottage The Hayloft (Sleeps 2). To find out more about our cottages and to check availability please see our website www.old-mill.co.uk You’ll be pleased to know that all of the pubs are also dog friendly, so your four-legged friend doesn’t need to miss out! To find out more about the lovely local pubs please click on our page https://www.old-mill.co.uk/things-to-do and scroll down to the ‘Eating Out Section.’

Recharge your batteries and enjoy this beautiful time of year....Bright sunshine, beautiful flowers, spring lambs in the fields. A perfect time to discover gorgeous Welsh beaches and soak up the views from the local beauty spots - ENJOY!!! 😄 Book your x3 night get-away before the 31st March'19 using the code below and receive a £50 DISCOUNT!!! Valid for stays in April, May & June’19

As 2018 draws to a close, I thought it would be it a good opportunity to look back on some of the highlights and changes we've made this year at The Old Mill... Spring In the Spring we welcomed x2 new female Appleyard ducks to our clan... We got them at 12 weeks old from a local farm. They've settled in brilliantly and are now huge! Our girls named them Syke and Rosie :) We extended the childrens play park area to include swings, which has been a great hit with our younger guests... Children now have a range of equipment to play on including, Wendy house, climbing frame with slide, sand pit, and swings. It's ideal for sunny afternoons after a day exploring locally. The play park is suitable for children upto 10 years old. Summer We had a fabulous Summer... With temperatures reaching 30 degrees and consistently sunny for several weeks. We absolutely loved being able to spend so much time outdoors. To celebrate the amazing weather, we created a communal BBQ and seating area at the top of the garden for guests to enjoy. As the garden's rather large, to make it easier for guests to transport BBQ essentials, we provided each cottage with a cool bag, outdoor picnic sets and BBQ utensils.. We'll continue to develop this area further, so please do share your feedback with us. Autumn We were lucky to have a very mild autumn with brilliant autumnal colours. We enjoyed frequent walks at #loggerheadscountrypark, taking in the peace and beauty of the woodland trails and tree canopy. In the autumn, we were also thrilled when one of our lovely local pubs The Crown Inn, Lixwm, re-opened after having a re-furb. The pub is a 40 mins walk from The Old Mill, along foothpaths and country lanes - It offers fabulous home cooked food in lovely surroundings. The pub is now dog friendly through-out, which is a bonus for our guests with four legged friends. It is very popular, so we do recommend to book ahead! One of the things I love most about this area is that you have lovely countryside walks straight from the door step, and you have a choice of x4 foodie pubs in walking distance. x3 of the pubs are dog friendly....! What better than a good walk to work up an appetite! Winter With this in mind... I thought it would be a lovely idea to marry up the village pubs and walks that you can do directly from The Old Mill (The Cherry Pie, The Cross Foxes, The Crown and The Fox Inn). I've been working with a local artist Wendi Williams and local publicans to create an illustrated walking map for guests to enjoy.... Watch this space for further detail...! In the New Year.... I am also involved (In a small way) with a community and tourism project - This is work in progress, but it will bring together information showcasing the local towns and villages onto a 'North East Wales digital app'. The children at our village school in Nannerch, have a lovely project to research the history of the village. As The Old Mill is a known landmark in the area, I've volunteered to pass on historical information, share photos and I've offered to host a small guided tour to one of the teachers and her class, to help them with their research. I hope this information will be useful and interesting to guests staying as well! The app can be downloaded from itunes for FREE, just search 'North East Wales'. I hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter and we hope to see you during 2019! Don't forget to #bookdirect via our website www.old-mill.co.uk for the best possible prices... The Hayloft (Sleeps 2) £244 - £430 per week. Millers Cottage (Sleeps 2 & Dog friendly) from £244 - £430 per week. The Long Barn (Sleeps 4 & Dog friendly) from £340 - £650 per week. Wishing you good Health and Happiness in 2019! From Liz Stack & Family The Old Mill Holiday Cottages

''We love North Wales! Come and stay in our lovely cottages.....'' MORE OFTEN THAN NOT it's really easy to sound biased when talking about our cottages and the lovely local area. For example, it's easy for me to say, 'There's loads to see and do in the area'. 'Many of our guests return year after year.' You'll have a great time staying at The Old Mill Holiday Cottages'. Our cottages are fantastic value: The Long Barn, Sleeps 4 and is dog friendly - £300-£595 per week Millers Cottage, Sleeps 2 and is dog friendly - £225-£390 per week The Hayloft, Sleeps 2 (Pet free) Long weekends from £180.00 ......SO RATHER THAN hear my view, I thought it would be lovely to share a personal account from some of our lovely guests (The W Family). They stayed for a week in The Long Barn during the summer, and have kindly shared their day by day account, of how they spent their fun packed week exploring this beautiful part of North Wales, Cheshire & Liverpool. 'Absolutely gorgeous cottage. The facilities provided in The Long Barn are amazing. We thought we would share some ideas of places to go...' Day 1 - Llandundo Lovely sunny day, so we decided to go to Llandudno (Approx. 35-40 minutes away). Great well kept Victorian seaside resort. Walked along the pier for great views. We took the train around the Great Orme In the evening we got a take-away from The Indian Lounge. (1/2 mile away). Set menu for 2, easily fed the 4 of us. Very tasty!!) Day 2 - Cheshire Oaks, Shopping Outlet (30 minutes away) Good range of restaurants, and shops such as Ralph Lauren, Gap, Cadbury's, Ted Baker. We went the the cinema in Bomborough, The Wirral. All of these places are approx. 30 minutes away. Day 3 - Snowdonia National Park (Approx. 1 hour away) Beautiful stunning Llanberis at the foot of Snowdonia. Has many activities , Mountain Railway to the Summit (Book in advance). Steam train around the lake. Paths to walk up Snowdonia - It's very steep, be prepared!! Day 4 - Chester (30 minutes away) Beautiful Roman city. Shopping, great cafe culture and lovely walks and boat rides down by the river. Day 5 - Liverpool 1 hour away - Great cultural city, shops, museums (The Tate Gallery, The World Museum, Mersey Ferry Trip. Worth going to the Anglican Cathedral (My Great Uncle was the Stone Mason). Day 6 - Chester Zoo (30 minutes away) - A full day needed. - Try and book ahead for cheaper rates, you can do this at Chester Tourist Information Centre). A great family day out - Elephants, Rhinos, Giraffe, Oranugatans, Lions... Liz and family, thank you for providing a great home from home! Best wishes, The 'W Family'. Does this sounds like you're kind of week away? We would love to welcome you to The Old Mill Holiday Cottages - Your perfect home from home while exploring this beautiful part of North Wales! For more information, availability and online booking at The Old Mill Holiday Cottages. Please visit our website www.old-mill.co.uk If you have any questions, or queries or would like any recommendations to help you plan your trip, please ask away! Thanks for reading.... Best wishes Liz Stack The Old Mill Holiday Cottages info@old-mill.co.uk 01352 742175

An ideal place to start exploring The Clwydian Range… It’s a cold but beautiful morning, the sun’s out and the sky is a deep blue – I love these types of Winters days, perfect for getting out in the fresh air and blasting away the cobwebs… I’m well prepared, hat, scarf, gloves and wellies with fleece liners to keep my feet warm! After a short 20-minute drive from The Old Mill Holiday Cottages, into Mold and out on the road towards Ruthin, I arrive at Loggerheads Country Park – It's well sign posted off the A494. (The park is free to enter but have some change ready for parking). On arrival, what always strikes me are the imposing limestone cliffs, which you can immediately see towering above the car park area. What I love about Loggerheads is the fact it's suitable for all abilities, and ages, and there is a wide range of walks to choose from, varying in length from approx. 45 minutes to 2-3 hours. Many of our guests at The Old Mill Holiday Cottages enjoy walking, plus we're dog friendly, so its a perfect place that I recommend all year round. The main footpaths around Loggerheads are shale and natural forest floor, they are predominately flat and follow the contours of the wooded river valley. The area is popular with dog walkers, hikers, and family groups. I meet up with my friend and her dog Alfie, we walk past the visitors’ centre & gift shop and popular Caffi Florence - The plan is to have lunch and a warm up in the café on the way back. To the right of the café is a large flat grassy area with benches, perfect for picnics or ice creams in the summer. If you cross the bridge at the far-right hand-side of the picnic area and cross the road, you’ll end up at ‘We Three Loggerheads Pub’ (Also useful to know, if you fancy a pint or a pub lunch after your walk!) The trails are well marked out with maps available from the shop/visitor centre. We opt for a shorter 45-minute relaxing stroll. We walk past the restored mill buildings and start our walk by turning left over the stone bridge. We follow the footpath alongside the river - After half a mile or so, there’s a natural beach area, where the river level is very graduated - Perfect for children to go paddling in wellies or even for your dog to have a splash around. If you continue on for about half a mile, the path splits, in three directions. Straight on takes you to Devils Gorge, that will take approximate 2-3 hours in total. (Dramatic limestone cliffs, and outcrops popular with rock climbers) Bear to the right and start to climb the steps upwards and this route rewards you with fabulous views of the Clwydian range mountains. (Circular walk but, this is a steep route). We go to the left, over the wooden bridge and across the walking platforms. There's some interesting information about the industrial heritage of Loggerheads (During the 18th and 19th centuries the mineral rich rock was mined for lead) If you are walking with children, there are a number of wood carvings to look out for, fish, bat, lizard, owl, frog.. We continue along this path, which has a very slight incline, the tree canopy gradually thins out and we re-appear at the car park. We turn left and return back to the visitor centre and café. We stop for a much needed warm up at Caffi Florence. The prices are very reasonable, they offer many homemade and hearty dishes. I opt for a tasty bowl of butternut squash soup – Delicious! Useful Information: Car parking is usually fine, however there is now an overflow car park to help with the increases in visit numbers (Particularly in the popular summer months). Have a couple of pounds handy as it’s a coin operated parking machine (No change given). Postcode for Loggerheads Country Park is CH7 5LH Thanks for Reading….. I hope this short blog provides you with an informative insight into the beautiful local landscape of rural Flintshire and Denbighshire – Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.’ If you enjoy walking in un-spoilt countryside, The Old Mill Holiday Cottages and perfectly situated for you to discover the Clwydian Range, wooded valley’s and gorges, heather and hillforts. We have available for you x3 lovingly renovated cottages: The Hayloft - Sleeps 2 (Long weekends from £180) Millers Cottage - Sleeps 2 / Dog friendly! (x3 Nights from £180 / x7 nights £225 to £390) The Long Barn - Sleeps 4 / Dog friendly! (x3 Nights from £225 / x7 nights £300 to £595) For further information, please see our website: WWW.OLD-MILL.CO.UK Or for any questions or queries, I’m happy to help, please email Info@old-mill.co.uk Liz Stack