Chirk Castle guards the entrance to the Ceiriog Valley, a fertile strip of green pastures gouged through wind-blown uplands by the River Ceiriog, which tumbles out of the Berwyn Mountains and winds briskly for 22 miles before joining forces with the River Dee.

Waymarked trails for walkers, riders and mountain bikers meander through the valley and along the tops, where you may spot pheasants, merlins and peregrine falcons or the more elusive stoats, weasels, and badgers.

Known as the Valley of the Poets, the Ceiriog was home to John Ceiriog Hughes, Huw Morus and Robert Ellis. Perhaps your own muse is waiting for you in this little Switzerland in Wrexham County Borough.

Refreshments are available at Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Pandy, Glyn Ceiriog, Llwynmawr, Pontfadog and Chirk. There is pony trekking from two centres near Pandy, while Glyn Ceiriog offers mountain bikes for hire and day tickets for trout fishing.

Chirk Castle is under the care of the National Trust