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We're planning to ride our tandem along the North Wales Coastal Path and back over Easter, starting around Chester. I've not looked in details, can anyone recommend somewhere to leave the car while we're riding? We'll be deriving over from Manchester way, and the planned route follows the path along the river. One optoipn that's been suggested is to park near the Meadow Lea farm cafe and then take the CHester Millenium Greenway - another option that occured is to park somewhere near Neston / Denhall on the Wirral and ride over but that takes me over the A548 dual carriageway bridge which I do NOT fancy - maybe there's alonger way round through Shotton? ANy route and / or preking advice gratefully received, thanks
What about one of the park and rides?
The one at Upton us close to the Zoo and there is a bike path through the zoo.
The park and rides close over night, but I don't know if they fine cars that are stuck in them or just lock in.
There's a path across the top of the Dee estuary, (also known as Burton Marshes) that brings you out on the national cycle route 5 by Deeside industrial park zone 3 that avoids any bad roads if you park in Neston.
I park in a residential road called Pearl Lane in Boughton, which is the Vicars Cross end of Chester. From there you ride through town (not too bad) and pick up Chester Greenway to Shotton. Or the river, depends how the wind is blowing, often a heading that direction down the river.
That should read head wind in the last sentence.
The Oakfield Drive area in Upton is right beside the zoo which (as above) has the cycle way and very easy access to the canal into town. It's a nice quiet area with loads of on street parking. I've left my car there a few times in the past.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/xhKFwuGAukrpfNMt8
Generally I feel happier parking at railway stations, they're usually monitored with CCTV and there's always comings and goings, obviously payment is needed in the larger stations, but longer term parking is usually no problem.
I don't think there is any long term parking at Chester station. Although I usually arrive there by train, so might be wrong.
I've been over the Flintshire bridge in both directions a number of times and have never found it busy. But there is no need to go that way, you need to head for the railway bridge at Hawarden which has a dedicated cycle lane and links the Coastal Path with the Greenway and the Deeside Path.
For parking in Chester have a look at chesternow.co.uk removed link The two options you mentioned are both valid. From Station Road near Burton take the Burton Marshes path, from Meadow Lea take the Greenway or ride part way through the city and do the Deeside Path.
I don't think there is any long term parking at Chester station. Although I usually arrive there by train, so might be wrong.
it looks like a weekly ticket to park at the railway station in Chester is £37:
https://www.apcoa.co.uk/parking-in/chester/chester-station/
it looks like a weekly ticket to park at the railway station in Chester is £37:
Ah, right you are. That's quite a small carpark for a major railway station. You'd have to get there early!
Mr Overshoot is a nice guy 👍🏼😀
Good, OP, you're sorted for parking nr Chester. I've cycled the route several times and some of it on a tandem.
I'd just point out some patience will be required along the seafront sections as many/most will be very busy with holiday makers. There are a few tight bends as the cycle path crosses above and below the A55 and the inevitable gates which will require dismounting.
Though some of the riding on the A548 up the River Dee isn't great, the alternative NCR 5 route from Bagillt up the long, narrow, and steep (~20% in places) Gadlys Lane is a good test on a normal bike, on a tandem .. .. silly tough.
Fun though and hope the weather holds for you 🤞
Thank you MrOvershoot. I love this place.
Forgot to recommend The Harbour Hub Cafe, the other side of the Dragons Bridge from Rhyl, for good snacks/eats.
@nickingsley thanks, maybe a little too soon / late in the route for us, plan is Chester (or Neston) -> Rhyl -> Bangor -> Rhyl -> back to car
however if anyone has a recommendation of places to eat in Rhyl and / or Bangor each evening, that would be appreciated
Looks like you have parking sorted but if there is a hitch park at Mouldsworth station for £2 a day. You then have the option of a 10 minute train ride into Chester or cycle to Mickle Trafford and pick up the Greenway cycle path that takes you to Chester and on to N Wales.
Sounds like you are planning a night out in Rhyl. Very brave.
@nickingsley thanks, maybe a little too soon / late in the route for us, plan is Chester (or Neston) -> Rhyl -> Bangor -> Rhyl -> back to car
however if anyone has a recommendation of places to eat in Rhyl and / or Bangor each evening, that would be appreciated
Sorry I missed your PM for some reason they just don't show? Parking offer is still open. I'll send you a WhatsApp message.
Well, I had a rough week at work last week, and was out every evening bar the one I spent working on the new tandem, so in the end we abandoned plans to ride on Friday and just drove straight Rhyl. @MrOvershoot thanks for the kind offer of parking which we didn't use. Kind of glad we didn't ride Friday as the weather was not great, and even more glad that lead to us also skipping Monday as the weather was even worse.
On arriving on Friday, we had a quick walk to the sea front and back to stretch legs after being stuck in bank holiday traffic, which confirmed that despite efforts being underway to improve the place, the impressions of Rhyl given above were fairly accurate. On the friday night we stayed and ate at Barratts of Ty'n Rhyl and my goodness it was excellent. An evening meal or Sunday lunch is worth a trip there anyday.
The ride to Bangor on Saturday was ok, there was a short (half mile or so) segment of the coastal path that we had to push along just as we left Rhyl, it was just covered in loose sand. The rest of the trip was pretty good, a slight route finding error on leaving Penmanmawr saw us drop down the wrong way and have to climb back up to head the other way and keep climbing, but overall it was fairly painless. Weather was grey and overcast, we had a just spot or two of rain, though it looked like there was a short sharp downpour while we had a hot drink in the museum cafe in Penmaenmawr (excellent hot choc btw - should have had a panini in there, but we'd already bought sandwiches from Edwards in Conwy). Bit confusing in Tal-y-Bont as the NCN5 goes through a small gate, bit of a struggle to get a loaded tandem through that, but much nicer than climbing a road
Saturday night we stayed at the Management Centre at Bangor Uni. I wasn't expecting much but it was excellent, it put the Premier Inn to shame (though the 1920s architecture made for confusing route finding to and from the room). We just ate in the restaurant there as the Italian we fancied was full and the food was most acceptable.
Sunday's weather was much nicer, so as a result the crowds were out, leaving us picking a route carefuly through the tourist hotspots - notably Conwy and Rhos-on-Sea. Was a lovely surprise to bump into @lowey as we approached Conwy, put a big smile on my face as we haven't see each other since @Pook used to organise pootles (hint bloody hint). Overall a great ride, definitely worth it and perfectly fine for kids - only a couple of sections on actual roads which are nice and wide