Point of Ayr is the Welsh corner of the Dee Estuary where the river meets Liverpool Bay and The Irish Sea. The old disused lighthouse with its distinct lean is a well known landmark. It is a popular destination for day-trippers and longer stay holidaymakers. The Irish Sea coastline consists of sandy beach, but as the corner is turned into the estuary, the sandy spit which partly encloses a lagoon of muddy saltmarsh gives way to the familiar estuarine mud. The Northern part of this venue consists of sand dunes and scrub while to the south there is a raised bank (just over 1k) between the saltmarsh and the gas terminal which provides easy walking and leads to a “screen” or backless bird hide (but with a roof!) provided by the RSPB and which faces the spit on which birds tend to roost. The anticipated order is seawatching and small birds in the scrub, then walk to the hide for waders and ducks around the estuary corner. Various raptors can find the area attractive and there is a resident Kingfisher to watch out for.
High Water is at 14.00 approx with a height of 8.6m
There is Pay and Display parking available (£2 for 4 hrs) or free parking but this tends to be a little muddy. There are toilets near the car parks. There is also an excellent source of sustenance in the shape of the Clwyd Bakeries with delicious piping-hot pastries.
Walking boots recommended unless the weather has been very wet in which case wellies.
Directions
From Two Mills take The Welsh road (A494). At the first traffic lights take the left hand lane for the A548. Keep on A548. Over the Flint Bridge, through Flint and after about 12 miles, at the roundabout take exit for Talacre and Beach (Traeth). Follow this road over the railway bridge to its end in a jumble of arcades and other delights. Pay and display parking is on the right at The Lighthouse Inn (ticket machine), or a few yards further on at the Point Bar (go in and pay). By driving on over the rise of the bank the free parking is reached on the foreshore but this can be muddy.
Meet on the top of the bank at 10.00
SatNav ref CH8 9RD