Following a more leisurely Welsh Borders Day 5, we were hoping for something similar The hot weather persisted, the only difference being today would be a little longer. For Welsh Border Day 6, we would also be reaching the North Wales coast and the end of our Welsh Borders route.

The sun was already beating down as we left Ruabon and headed towards Wrexham.

Our route took us through Erddig Park.

Then into Wrexham.

Through the town centre.

And out the other side.

Then on through Gresford and Marford.

And Higher Kinnerton.

Here we stopped for a break at Walter’s Coffee House. We had previously found this excellent little place on one of our recent trips to Chester on a ride out to Higher Kinnerton.

While the break had been welcomed, the hot weather made the hill that immediately followed a bit of a gruelling one.

We then crossed the North Wales Expressway.

Before cycling on to Hawarden and Ewloe.

Eventually, we arrived in Flint. Here we went for lunch at the Old Court House Cafe.

After lunch we headed over to Flint Castle.

I don’t know what we had expected, not a lot. So, Flint Castle was a pleasant surprise.

Arriving at the castle, and the Dee estuary, represented the official finish of our Welsh Borders Coast-to-Coast (though we still had more cycling to complete). So a photocall was required!

The castle itself was the earliest in a series of castles built during King Edward I’s campaing against Llywelyn ap Gruffydd in north Wales. Building work began in 1277 and was completed in 1284.

Flint Castle is, perhaps, best known as the location of a fateful meeting in 1399 between Richard II and his rival to the crown Henry Bolingbroke (later Henry IV). It is an event forever immortalised in Shakespeare’s play Richard II.

At Flint, we also joined NCN Route 5. There are sections here particularly unpleasant for cyclists where they are dumped on to Chester Road and forced to share an extremely busy road. Thankfully, the section is short.

We left Flint, and then arrived at Connah’s Quay, where we picked up the River Dee path.

We crossed the river at Hawarden Bridge.

It is a lovely long traffic-free path along the River Dee that takes you into the heart of Chester.

The major problem for us was that on this particular day we were cycling into a strong headwind.

In Chester, we were staying at The Pied Bull, fine old establishment in the centre of the city.

For our celebratory evening meal we returned to favourite eatery of Sarah and mine, Shrub.

As always, this provided a great location for an evening meal.

We had cycled 40 miles today and completed our Welsh Borders Coast-to-Coast route. Today’s ride had, as usual been challenging, while at the same time enjoyable. Flint Castle has definitely been a bonus. Of course, there is still more cycling required. Tomorrow we cycle home.

You can view our Welsh Borders Day 6 from Ruabon to Flint to Chester