Overall View
This is a year-round Caravan and Motorhome Club site situated on the outskirts of the village of Chirk, Near Wrexham, North Wales. It is also next door to the grounds of Chirk Castle (NT).
The site is spread over one large, central, area, two small cul-de-sacs and a rally field at the end of the site. There is also a storage area at the end of one of the cul-de-sacs. There are a mixture of grass and hardstanding with awning pitches. Non awning pitches are now left in the main to one of the hardstanding cul-de-sacs.
This is a very busy site year-round; booking is essential.
It is situated in a wooded area and there are options for shady pitching or full sun depending on your preferences. Currently there are no serviced pitches available, but this may change as the site is due to temporarily close on 31 October 2021 for refurbishment. I will do an updated site review next year following this refurbishment.
Facilities
Reception is situated at the entrance to the site and there is a key fob barrier system in operation. Reception stocks the usual basic necessities, although there are several shops in Chirk itself.
Currently, there is one facility block which is dated and has been listed for upgrading for some time; COVID has delayed this on several occasions now unfortunately. Services which are there are fully functional and there is one disabled access room with a slight step into it. Laundry, dishwashing facilities are located here as well. It is in no way a reflection on the wardens, they do their utmost to keep everywhere tidy and clean and do so every day.
Pitches are of a mixed range of sizes and there are a considerable number which require levelling blocks. Again, refurbishment will undoubtedly improve the standard of the hardstanding ones to usual Club standards.
There are ample service points throughout the site with two motorhome service points. There is one central rubbish collection point to the side of the facilities block.
In the middle of the site is a very pleasant green lawned area with a few picnic benches and trees to provide welcome shade on a hot day. Again, currently there is no full-scale children’s area, hopefully the refurbishment will remedy this.
TV signal is good, and Wi-Fi is listed as silver. Even with a totally full site, speeds were very reasonable. Mobile signal was good (EE), of course this will depend upon your provider.
There is a very well stocked and useful information room by reception which provides you with a particularly good range of information about the area.
One final note, the site is located within hearing distances of two large factories in Chirk. As a result, depending upon wind direction and ambient atmospherics, there is a level of background noise from both establishments. I did not find it intrusive, and you tend to ‘zone it out’ after a short while.
Review of Site Pitch
I was on a blue, non-awning, hard standing pitch in one of the cul-de-sacs. It would be fair to say that it was not up to the usual club standards, what was there was clean but requires re-gravelling and levelling as it is on quite a steep slope.
Around and About
The first port of call, if you are new to the site/area, must be the information room cum cabin. I will give you a flavour of some of the highlights which you may wish to explore in more detail.
Chirk itself is situated right on the English/Welsh border and has a high street comprising a variety of shops, small scale supermarkets, butchers, bakers, and some independent shops selling a range of goods. There are also several takeaway food establishments and a couple of pubs/restaurant in the hotel. Up to date details can be found in the Information Room. www.chirk.com
There are two National Trust (NT) properties nearby, Chirk Castle, main entrance about 2 miles away and Erddig Hall, which is closer to Wrexham. Both offer free parking for NT members and entrance. Fees payable for non-members. Please note that Chirk Castle is on top of a steep hill, although there are minibuses available to take people from the car park to the castle itself. Erddig is famous for its historical apple tree collection. There is a famous apple festival each autumn which is very popular. Both sites have the usual set of facilities and catering establishments.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chirk-castle
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/erddig
There are several villages, towns, and cities in the area. Some of the highlights are Llangollen, Shrewsbury, Wrexham, Chester. Chirk has its own railway station which is about a 10-minute walk from the site, you can catch trains here to Wrexham/ Chester and beyond in one direction and similarly Shrewsbury in the other.
Llangollen, www.llangollen.org.uk situated on the River Dee is famous for the International Eisteddfod held here each year, www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk It is also home to the Llangollen Heritage Railway, www.llangollen-railway.co.uk and Canal. There are several cafes and independent shops in the main part of the town.
Pontcysycllte Aqueduct is a world heritage site in Trefor on the way to Llangollen. Guided tours in a canal barge over the viaduct are available mainly during the summer and often delicious Afternoon Teas can be purchased. This is one of those bucket list type of events and a camera is a must. www.pontycysyllte-aqueduct.co.uk
Shrewsbury and Chester, both large towns/cities both of which are approximately an hour drive in either direction. For further details on these two very historic places, please visit: www.originalshrewsbury.co.uk www.Visitchester.com
Finally, but not least, is the nearest town of size, offering the whole range of shopping and facilities, including a large out of town retail park, just off the A483 is Wrexham. Buses and trains are available from Chirk itself. It is also the site of the nearest A&E at the large Wrexham Maelor Hospital DGH. www.wrecsam.com
Summary
LMP, as she is affectionately known by regulars is a very well-situated site with plenty to do, irrespective of the weather. I have been coming here for a considerable number of years as it is local to my home. It has been sad to see it decline and to keep missing its refurbishment, a sad sign of the times. However, we all hope that the scheduled 21/22 over winter refurbishment will see it return to its usual Club standards. The fact that this weekend there was no pitches available is testament to its popularity despite its temporary issues. I will certainly return.