Chirk Castle - From Lady Margaret's Caravan and Motorhome Club site.

While staying at Lady Margaret's Caravan and Motorhome Club site, we went for a drive to Chirk Castle. There is a foot path at the end of the club site drive, but we decided to take the car to the other castle entrance.
I was a little disappointed on first entering the 'ticket office' because one of the staff members was a bit... off hand. However, another member of staff was keen to help and quickly intervened. I was give a leaflet with a map of the grounds and informed that dogs were allowed into the shop. When I entered the shop with Rolo, there was no one to be seen. No staff member or anything. I had a look around and selected a fridge magnet and then I heard a noise from the next room. I went to see if that was the member of staff and it was. However, she looked at Rolo with horror, as though he should not be in there? I bought my magnet and left. I did want to go into the 'second hand book shop' but by now, I was beginning to feel 'unwelcome' with Rolo. So, I kept my money in my purse and also skipped the cafe and a coffee. (If they don't want my dog they don't get my cash lol).
Note: I had been a member of the National Trust for 15 years and only recently cancelled my subscription, due to their ... restrictions in regard to dogs. My recent visit to Chirk Castle, and the staff's attitude, has not made me want to renew my membership.
Anyway, I kept myself to myself, and Rolo and I had a look around the outside of the castle and then headed for a walk back to Lady Margaret's CMC site.
According the the National Trust website - Chirk Castle is a 'two pawprint rated place'. The National Trust have created a 'pawprint' rating system and given all the places in their care a rating.
Information about Chirk Castle can be found on the National Trust Website.
Chirk Castle was built 1295 - 1310 and was initially surrounded by a vast deer park and hunting forest. The castle was purchased by Thomas Myddelton in 1595. During the 17th century the estate reached its height at 30,000 acres. In 1764 William Emes landscaped the parkland. Then, in 1981 Chirk Castle was passed to the National Trust.
The Chirk Castle estate today is made up of 489 acres of parkland, woodland and wood pasture which is located in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In 2011 it was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest for the veteran trees, deadwood invertebrates, a colony of lesser horseshoe bats and grassland fungi.
There are several walks within the castle grounds:
Castle Mill walk - 0.39 miles 'hard'.
The Woodland walk - 2.5 miles 'moderate'
The Old Golf walk - 1.2 miles 'hard'.
Llwyn-y-cil walk - 0.8 miles 'moderate'.
Music:
1) Inner Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. creativecommon...
Source: incompetech.com...
Artist: incompetech.com/
2) Modern Situations by Unicorn Heads, UA-cam
3) Sunshine On Sand by Unicorn Heads, UA-cam
4) Back to Portland by Track Tribe, UA-cam