Flintshire

It may be the smallest county in Wales, covering just 438 square kilometres and with a population of 150,000, but Flintshire more than makes up for it with impact.  Established in 1284 by King Edward I who built Flint Castle, today it is home to a hive of manufacturing businesses.  Among these is a Toyota plant, a Corus Group steelworks, Shotton Paper, and Airbus, which make the wings for A330 and A380 jumbo jets.  Flintshire’s motto is: ‘Without us, it’s just a bus’.  But there’s also ample heritage to explore here.  Two of the four castles to visit are the remains of Flint Castle and New Hawarden Castle, former home of four times British Prime Minister William Gladstone until his death in 1898.  Meanwhile, there is ample countryside to see, thanks to Flintshire being the driest county in Wales and also home to the country’s cleanest beaches (Gonant and Talcre). 

Barchester homes in Flintshire: