5 Places for Outdoor Walks in Cardiff
Enjoy the weather and a short stroll in Cardiff with these scenic locations and beautiful parks on your next outing.
For an enjoyable and inexpensive day out in Cardiff why not take a leisurely walk surrounded by nature. There are plenty of places with different scenery to enjoy at each. Get yourself moving more by looking at these local walks to complete solo or with others. From Thornhill to Cardiff Bay there are plenty of places to explore.
Cardiff Bay Waterfront
Not only can you have a lovely outdoor walk around Cardiff Bay Waterfront there are more than 30 restaurants, cafes and bars to stop and take in the scenery that is around you. You can walk along the flat walkway which is situated right next to the freshwater lake known as ‘the Bay’. The Bay itself has been regenerated to provide this large pedestrian walkway that all can enjoy.
This walk takes you past the Senedd, Millennium Centre, Norwegian Church, Pierhead Building and many more noteworthy places. There is a number of routes that you can take depending on what you are up for. From a short stroll to the 10km circular walk around the entire Bay. However you will be able to find plenty of rest spots along the way to take in its full beauty.
Roath Park and Gardens
Nestled between Cyncoed and the Heath is Roath Park, which one of the first public parks in Cardiff, opening in 1894. The park is open from 7:30am every day of the week, as well as the pleasure gardens. Then closed about 30 mins prior to sunset. The oval walk around the lake is flat and has plenty of benches to sit and take in the wildlife. Close to the lake you also have the botanic garden which contains many different trees, shrubs and floral displays.
Next to the gardens are the public toilets as well as a café to grab a drink or bite to eat. If it is a warm sunny day maybe an ice cream is on the cards! There is plenty of on-street parking in the surrounding areas which enables you easily access the park and all its beauty.
Waterloo Gardens
Tucked away in Penylan you will find Waterloo Gardens. This lovely outdoor walk will take you back to the Edwardian times with the layout of the paths and flower beds. This is mainly flat short walk which has links to Roath Park. You will find that from Roath Park the Roath Brook flows through Waterloo Gardens as well evenly joining the river Rhumney. In the park there is also Saint Margaret’s Church which provides a dramatic backdrop to the gardens themselves. Although this gardens are small, they are perfect for a short morning or afternoon stroll.
Sophia Gardens
Closer to the city centre of Cardiff, in Riverside, you will find Sophia Gardens. The gardens sit west of the River Taff which flow down towards Cardiff Bay. Here you will also find the cricket ground which is home of the Glamorgan County Cricket Club. Sophia Gardens also brings together Pontcanna and Llandaff fields to form a huge public open space in the heart of Cardiff.
There are plenty of public footpaths throughout the park, flat paths and benches for a rest when needed. This is a large spaces so you can visit it plenty of times and always find something new. There is pay and display parking available as well as small food places around the park as well.
Insole Court
On the west side of Cardiff, in Llandaff, you will find Insole Court. As well as gardens that you can walk through and enjoy. There is also a grade two listed mansion which are both free of charge to enjoy. You can enjoy much of the ground floor of the house being accessible to all guests. Functions do happen here so might be best to check of any closures on the day you are planning.
The gardens themselves are lovely to walk through and are popular for dog walking, picnics or admiring the flowers. There are many different entrances to the through the different roads that it sits between. The gardens are open from 7:45am until 9:00pm daily. Also the Potting Shed Café is a lovely place to stop for a drink or bite to eat on your walk. The café is set over 2 floors and has access for wheelchairs.
Although Cardiff is a city there are still many outdoor places to get out and enjoy some fresh air. Whether that be a local park or gardens or down to the seafront there is plenty of options to choose from to be able to get out and about with your loved-one.
There are lots of exciting and rewarding opportunities for supported living around the area, so find out if home care in Cardiff could be right for your loved ones.