Cardiff City and Barrage

Cardiff city centre is only a short walk from the riverside Taff Trail, which in turn links with the Cardiff Bay Trail, linking in turn with the Wales Coast Path. After crossing the Cardiff Bay Barrage, the Wales Coast Path passes the Atlantic Wharf and follows urban canals, leading back into the city centre to finish.

Route detail

Distance: 7.3 miles or 11.8 kilometres
Start location: Cardiff Central Railway Station
Start Grid Ref: ST 18210 75893
Start What 3 Words: stow.smashes.push

Transport to the start

Parking
Parking is available near the north and south entrances to Cardiff Central Railway Station, and elsewhere around the city centre.

Bus
Daily bus services run close to Cardiff Central Railway Station, especially Wood Street. Other bus services run frequently and daily to and from other parts of Cardiff and Cardiff Bay.

Train
Daily train services to Cardiff Central Railway Station from all stations on the South Wales Mainline and beyond.

Map and GPX link

The circular route is marked in dark pink in the map image below. The purple flags show the start and finish point. View the route and download GPX link 'Cardiff City'

Detailed Route Description

1. Start at Cardiff Central Railway Station, at the north entrance on Central Square. Most city buses stop on nearby Wood Street, which has direct pedestrian access to Central Square. The square is surrounded by modern buildings, so spot the one that is part of Cardiff University and pass to the left of it. This quickly leads to the Principality Stadium, where a road bridge crosses the River Taff. Once across the river, turn left to follow a footpath and cycleway beneath a railway bridge and pass the Taffs Mead Water Bus stop.

2. Simply walk alongside the River Taff, following the broad tarmac Taff Trail along the Taffs Mead Embankment. Pass another road bridge, using a pedestrian crossing, and continue straight ahead along the Taff Embankment. There are more trees and bushes along the riverside, though the surroundings are entirely urban. The path leaves the road and runs through the small riverside Clarence Road Park. Pass another road bridge, again using a pedestrian crossing, to reach Avondale Gardens South, linking with the Cardiff Bay Trail.

3. Continue along a broad riverside path, later passing a slipway at Channel View and the Cardiff Rowing Centre, where there is also a Water Bus stop. When the Cardiff Bay Trail reaches the Sand Wharf buildings, it splits briefly. Walkers can stay close to the River Taff, while cyclists should pass landward of the buildings.

4. After passing a park the tarmac riverside path changes to a red-brick path at more riverside buildings. The Cardiff Bay Trail used to run beneath the busy Cardiff Link Road, but is currently closed. Instead, turn right and follow a path running parallel to the road, later turning left to pass under three carriageways – the main road itself and two slipway roads. Walk along a brick-paved pavement beside Ferry Road, passing modern buildings. Cross the road by using a traffic island as directed by Cardiff Bay Trail signs then turn right at a roundabout to walk alongside International Drive.

5. Reach a busy crossroads and traffic lights. Use two pedestrian crossings to cross both International Drive and Olympian Drive, then turn left to follow a path beside the latter road. Again, these crossings are marked with Cardiff Bay Trail signs. This area is the Cardiff International Sports Village and is home to a number of sporting venues, particularly water-sports. Turn right at a roundabout to follow Watkiss Way, and use another pedestrian crossing to reach the other side of the road. Continue onwards, then turn left as signposted for Cogan Railway Station and Penarth. Cross the spacious Pont y Werin footbridge over the Cardiff Marina on the Ely River.

6. Turn left to pass the Oystercatcher pub and follow the road past the Chandlers Quay building. Although the Cardiff Bay Trail stays on roads all the way to Penarth, there is an opportunity to follow a waterside path through a modern housing development. Turn left along the short Pierhead View, then turn right to follow a brick-paved riverside path. Pass a sculpture made from thousands of thin slates and later continue straight along John Batchelor Way. Pass a polished column of granite and continue along the waterside road. A narrow brick-paved path continues round to lock gates at the entrance to the Penarth Marina. Penarth Dock opened in 1865, closed in 1963, and reopened as the Penarth Marina in 1987. Cross a footbridge on the lock gates, or if the gates are open for the passage of craft, either wait for them to be closed, or detour all the way round the marina to the other side.

7. Turn left along a nearby road to reach a roundabout in front of the Custom House, where the Wales Coast Path is joined. There is also a pier where boat trips across Cardiff Bay can be joined. The Wales Coast Path follows the road onto the Cardiff Bay Barrage, passing three enormous lock gates separating the freshwater bay from the open sea. Plans for the barrage were originally conceived in 1980 and construction was finally completed in 1999. Former tidal mudflats were permanently flooded and the waterside parts of Cardiff were attractively restored and redeveloped. A cafe is available after passing the lock gates.

8. There is usually only light traffic along the road on top of the barrage, and the Wales Coast Path follows the pavement alongside. However, it is worth keeping left at a junction to visit what look like huge white tents or sails. This is a ‘Scott of the Antarctic’ exhibition, recalling how Captain Robert Falcon Scott sailed from Cardiff in June 1910, with the intention of reaching the South Pole. His ship, the SS Terra Nova, was largely funded and provisioned by benefactors in Cardiff.

9. Pass a curious mix of playpark and fitness equipment, coal mining heritage features, a skate park and the Cardiff Sailing Centre. Other features of note include a tiny forest and a swift tower. The broad path runs beside an old dock, later turning left at a mini roundabout to follow a brick-paved path towards the white, wood-built Norwegian Church. The author Roald Dahl, who had Norwegian ancestry, was baptised here. Continue past the striking, modern Senedd, or Welsh Parliament building, opened in 2006. This is closely followed by the red-brick Pierhead Building, built as an office in 1897. Turn right to walk through the oval open space of Roald Dahl Plass, past the Millennium Centre. A former dock was converted into the oval event space of Roald Dahl Plass in 2000, named after the Cardiff-born children’s author.

10. Watch for Wales Coast Path markers and use a pedestrian crossing to reach the other side of the dual carriageway of Bute Place. Continue straight inland, still watching for little Wales Coast Path markers, or signposts for County Hall. Turn right at a road junction and follow Hemingway Road past a Travelodge. Use a pedestrian crossing as marked, walk towards a roundabout, then turn left for County Hall. Keep to the right of a roundabout before reaching the entrance to the building and enter a car park.

11. Pick up and follow a brick-paved path between County Hall and the Bute East Dock. Decorative anchors can be studied and cormorants are often spotted perching on concrete bollards in the water. Follow the waterside path past the modern Atlantic Wharf development, soon reaching a cafe. Turn left, then right to cross a footbridge, then left again to follow a canal away from the dock. Turn right to follow the canal under a road bridge, then pass under a footbridge. Later, go under another road bridge and under another footbridge. The Wales Coast Path turns right at a junction of canals, soon reaching a stone bridge.

12. Leave the Wales Coast Path and cross the stone bridge, then turn left to follow another canal-side path. Pass another stone bridge and shortly afterwards the canal and path turn right and reach a road. Use a pedestrian crossing and turn left to pass the prominent Zenith building. Follow the pavement beside the busy road and pass beneath a railway bridge. Use a pedestrian crossing to keep walking straight ahead, now following a broad brick-paved path onwards. Use another pedestrian crossing and again keep walking straight ahead. At the next road junction, turn right and look across a car park to see the south entrance to Cardiff Central Railway Station. If you arrived by train, your ticket will allow you into the station from this side. If you are catching a bus from Wood Street, then you should follow the road beneath a railway bridge, turning left into Central Square, then right to reach Wood Street.