Great city walks: Cardiff Bay

Distance 5.1 miles/8.2 km
Typical duration hours
Start and finish Start at Cardiff Central railway station and finish at Penarth railway station
Start postcode CF10 1EP
Step-by-step details and maps ramblers.org.uk/cardiffbay

In a nutshell

Once a small village, Cardiff came into its own during the industrial revolution, when huge amounts of coal were exported and the docks sprang to life. It gained city status in 1905 and is now a vibrant, modern capital – particularly since extensive work began to redevelop the waterfront in recent years.

This linear walk follows the river Taff, crosses the barrage at Cardiff Bay, taking in city landmarks and offering fantastic views across the Bristol channel, before finishing in Penarth.

Why it’s special

The fascinating walking journey around the bay was only made possible in 2007, following a campaign by Ramblers Cymru to have a bridge built linking the barrage to Penarth, and creating a complete coastal route in the city. This stretch is also part of the Wales Coast Path (opened in 2012), an 870-mile track along the entire Welsh coastline.

Cardiff Bay is a freshwater lake, with a host of shops and bars along its waterfront. The impressive barrage structure is more than 1km long and encloses the bay; walk across the barrage, and you can see all the way to Somerset, Flat Holm and Steep Holm islands, and towards the mountains and valleys in the north. The road and path along the barrage is open from 7am to 10pm. Among the landmarks on this route are the Millennium Stadium, home to the Welsh rugby team; the Senedd, the main public building of the national assembly; the Wales Millennium Centre, known for hosting musicals, operas and ballets, and for its unique façade; and the red-brick Pierhead building, dating from 1897. Some locations you may recognise from Dr Who, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, which have all been filmed in the city. The walk will then take you uphill past the old custom house, a steep climb that is rewarded with views back over the bay and ahead to Penarth. If you need to take a break, there’s a bench in St Augustine’s Church’s grounds, where you can rest your feet while looking out over the bay. From here, it’s mostly downhill to Penarth, an upmarket resort on the north shore of the Severn estuary, and the train station.

Reward yourself

There’s an endless choice of places to eat and drink, both in the bay and on the Esplanade in Penarth. Perhaps stop at the popular ice-cream cafe Cadwaladers along the way, a family affair dating from 1927.

Get there

Cardiff Central station is served by trains nationwide. Return trains from Penarth to Cardiff depart every 20 minutes and take 10 minutes (arrivatrainswales.co.uk). Find the best bus route by visiting cardiffbus.com