Shotton railway station is unusual in that it is on two different levels. Trains on the North Wales Coast Line stop on the lower level platforms, and trains on the Borderlands Line stop at the high level station. It is adjacent to National Cycle Network Route 5 which links Chester and North Wales. Cycle Routes 563 and 56 are also nearby.
Immediately east of Shotton station is the impressive Hawarden Bridge across the River Dee. It was the largest swing bridge in the world when it was constructed in 1889. Today the Hawarden Bridge (part of the Borderlands Line between Wrexham and Bidston) connects Shotton with the vast Tata steelworks on the opposite bank. The River Dee is lined with wetlands and creeks which are home to many birds. The river is tidal here, and the numerous bridges make navigation for large ships very challenging.
Approximately 1.5 miles south of Shotton station you will find Wepre Country Park, which contains acres of beautiful woodland, streams, a waterfall, Old Hall Gardens and a fishing pool. There are also Country Park facilities including a children’s playground, visitor centre, cafe and toilets. Wepre County Park is a remnant of the great Ewloe Forest, which in medieval times extended all the way to the banks of the River Dee.
You can walk through Wepre Country Park to find the remains of Ewloe Castle hidden in the woodland. Ewloe Castle is in the care of CADW and has free public access. It is an unusual example of a small Welsh castle from the 13th Century, and you can see ruins of the keep, towers, walls and ditches. Although it is tranquil today, in the past it would have been the site of battles between the Welsh and the English.