Spotlight on Prestatyn

Here’s a complete guide to the Prestatyn Town Trail, a delightful 2‑mile self‑guided walk revealing the rich history and scenic charm of this North Wales coastal town.

🌿 Overview

• Distance: ~2 miles (3.2 km; Roman Bath House optional extra)
• Duration: Approx. 2 hours
• Difficulty: Mostly easy; short but steep climb through Hillside Gardens
• Start point: Nant Hall Road car park, postcode LL19 9LG
• Public transport: Easily reachable by train or bus

📍 Key Trail Highlights

1. Prestatyn Shopping Park

Begin at the car park behind the parish church, walk down Nant Hall Road. Stop by the early 1900s fire station and former police station before exploring the modern shopping park with its “living wall” and vibrant retail space.

2. Old Railway Station

Witness one of only four railway buildings in North Wales designed by Francis Thompson. Brass acorns in the pavement guide you upwards on the Offa’s Dyke Path towards the High Street.

3. Pochin Fountain

This memorial marks the impact of industrial chemist Henry Davis Pochin, who modernised the town with sea embankments, piped water, gas, and drainage from 1869 onward. Formerly located on the foreshore, it now sits proudly on High Street.

4. Christ Church

Founded 1863 and expanded through the 1900s, this parish church is also a poignant memorial – outside lies a row of little stone crosses commemorating six choirboys who drowned in 1868.

5. Rehoboth Chapel

Built in 1863 and enlarged in 1894, this Welsh Presbyterian chapel stands on Fforddlas next to an old stone gutter—the remnants of Prestatyn’s early muddy High Street when it became a torrent in wet weather.

6. Cross Foxes

Dating to 1664, this is Prestatyn’s oldest pub. Frequented by fashionable Victorian holidaymakers—including Hester Thrale the author and friend of Samuel Johnson who once was described  Prestatyn as ‘very romantic, truly solitary”.

7. Hillside Gardens & Shelter

After turning into Mount Ida Road and climbing up through the gardens, you’ll find  a superb sculpture of the helmet, embossed with sessile oak leaves. It celebrates the town’s Roman heritage and the beauty of surrounding Bishop’s Wood and Prestatyn Hillside. A short steep climb through the gardens reveals a glimpse of Uplands, built by eccentric inventor Thomas Thorp in 1912 to incorporate a revolving dome observatory. He certainly knew where to find the best view which commands a stunning 180-degree panorama of the North coast Anglesey and distant Eryri.

8. Roman Bath House (Optional Extra)

A short drive or 1.5‑mile walk leads you to the Roman Bath House built around AD 120 by the Twentieth Legion which were based in Chester—and now tucked within a modern housing estate- Melyd Avenue. Explore ancient bathing rituals, strigils and more for a fascinating glimpse of Romano‑British life.

🚶 Extended Routes to Consider

Prestatyn Circular via Dyserth Way – a longer (~6 km) easy loop along a converted railway path through Meliden and countryside, ideal for hikers or runners. Takes about 1h 20m and offers scenic views and café stops. Don’t miss these historic villages just to the south. Meliden has an atmospheric mining memorial and pretty medieval church. Dyserth is famous for its 70-foot waterfall and August Bank Holiday duckrace (with plastic ducks). The perfect way to see it all? By foot or bike. The Prestatyn-Dyserth Way runs or three mostly traffic-free miles along the old railway line that served the Talargoch lead mines at Meliden, with a detour to marvel at the towering Clive Engine House of 1860. It’s a great way to combine a spot of industrial history with staggering sea views.

Prestatyn Walking Festival – in May each year, guided walks explore the town and natural landscapes. But Prestatyn welcomes walkers all year around as they were the first town in Wales to achieve Walkers Are Welcome status. And no wonder. It’s right at the beginning, or the end depending on how you look at it, of the epic 177-mile Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail. It’s at the threshold of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscapes which begins at Prestatyn Hillside. And the Wales Coast Path, not to mention National Cycle Route 5, runs right along the promenade – head east to reach wildlife-rich Gronant Dunes.  www.prestatynwalkingfestival.co.uk

💡 Tips for Enjoying Prestatyn

• Wear comfortable walking shoes—Hillside is short but steep.
• Pause in the High Street afterwards for the independent shops,  vintage architecture, cafés, and pubs.
• Bring water, snacks or enjoy some food in one of the local cafes and don’t forget to take photos to capture coastal panoramas.
• Guided walks are free via the “You’ll Never Walk Alone” programme, ideal for social walkers.

✨ Why It’s Worth a Visit

The Prestatyn Town Trail offers a compact but rich journey through local heritage—from Victorian civic pride to Roman remains—paired with open views of sea and hills. Whether you’re after a gentle urban stroll or dreaming of continuing along long-distance paths, this trail is an inviting gateway to North Wales history and landscapes.

Information about Prestatyn beaches can be found here but if you are looking for indoor entertainment you could visit the Nova one of North East Wales’ biggest indoor visitor attractions.

• A 60 station state-of-the-art fitness suite
• Three storey indoor adventure soft play
• Adventure Play Café
• Beach Hut
• Ice Cream Factory
• Multi-purpose studios/function rooms
• 25m 4 lane swimming pool and small splash pool

If you’d like tips on  accommodation, public transport, cafés or restaurants, or further  long distance walks  the nearest  Tourist Information Centre at Rhyl can help call  them on 01745 355068.

You can download the Prestatyn Town Trail here.