Walks around Chester & the Dee estuary - David Berry

The historic Roman city of Chester, lying on the beautiful river Dee, is one of the most stunning cities in Britain. The Romans first realised the rivers strategic importance and built their fort Deva at the head of the wide estuary. For many centuries the estuary was an important shipping route with Chester as its main port and trading centre. By the 15thC silting made it difficult for ships to reach the city. This led to a succession of new ports developing in turn along the Wirral coast. In 1737 a new channel over 7 miles long, known as the New Cut, was opened. Its purpose was to revive Chesters fortunes as a port but it started a new chapter in the estuarys history. The canalisation of the river diverted its course to the Welsh side of the estuary, leading to the eventual demise of the principal Wirral port of Parkgate, whilst bringing trade and prosperity to Flintshire. Connahs Quay later became the major port, shipbuilding flourished and many industries developed alongside the river.
The Dee estuary serves as a natural boundary between England and Wales. It is an internationally renowned and protected Nature Reserve, with its mudflats and saltmarshes providing feeding and roosting for thousands of wading birds and wildfowl.
Over the centuries the estuary has witnessed Roman soldiers passing by on their way to Deva, troops embarking on campaigns by English kings against the Welsh and Irish, magnificent sailing boats plying their trade between Chester and Europe, passenger ferry services across the Dee, and in the early 20thC, coastal sailing ships, tugs, barges, and steamers built locally.
The 26 walks in this book explore Chester and both sides of the Dee estuary, including its fascinating maritime and industrial past. There are walks along ancient city walls, on canal towpaths, by the river, through woodland, dunes, on clifftops and beach, with stunning estuary views. They visit ancient castles, old ports, attractive villages, maritime relics, Heritage Parks and nature reserves.