One of the best things about living in Cardiff is being able to walk from almost one end to the other without ever leaving a park. Walking has become a pastime of pretty much everyone since the start of the pandemic as there is little else left to occupy us outside our homes.

So, if you are tired of walking the same way around Roath Park Lake every day, as though you are taking part in some sort of collective Cardiff carousel, it’s probably time to find a new route.

Cardiff is a great city to wander around, especially through the huge swathes of greenery, but there are some brilliant streets to explore too.

 1. GORSEDD GARDENS AND ALEXANDRA GARDENS

Just across the road from the very well-known Bute Park is the beautiful Gorsedd Gardens and Alexandra Gardens. These two parks sit just either side of the National Museum. You have probably walked past these gardens (or if you know your indie coffee shops, you will have tried the excellent Brodie’s), but not everyone takes the time to enjoy these spaces.

They are small green havens filled with blossom and flowers in the spring, surrounded by large, imposing university and government buildings. But they are the perfect little pockets of nature to sneak into when you need a breather from the confines and stresses of city life.

 2. THOMPSON’S PARK

Canton and Pontcanna are some of the nicest (and bougiest) areas of Cardiff. Most people wander down to Victoria Park to admire the stunning bandstands, but it is also the place to pay homage to the late Cardiff legend, Billy the Seal.

An underrated area of Cardiff is the nearby Thompson’s Park. The park might not have quite as impressive a lake as Roath Park, but its sloping pond is often filled with cute ducks. Plus, the surrounding curved steps will make you feel as though you’re descending the staircase into a Bridgerton ball (because we all need a little fantasy when the most exciting thing we get dressed up for is the big trip to the corner shop…).

3. PONTCANNA TO LLANDAFF

Cardiff is a strange city as, aside from its centre, it is primarily made up of old villages and towns that have been brought together to make one big(ish) patchwork city. One of its best urban villages is Llandaff - home of the famed writer, Roald Dahl, and featuring a beautiful medieval cathedral.

If you have spent plenty of time strolling through Cardiff’s parks and want to explore its more urban areas, then these Cardiff “villages” are perfect. Wander down Pontcanna Street, pick up a coffee from Kemi’s, and wander through Llandaff Fields until you find yourself in Llandaff.

Plus, if lockdown has you missing wandering through the walls of Cardiff Castle, take a lap around Llandaff Cathedral and its surrounding ruins. This is a walk best suited for a cloudy day so you can get your moody Insta pics and enjoy that dark academia vibe.

Cardiff is a fast-growing and exciting city. But it also has some charming, quiet, and cute walks that allow you to step straight off the crowded streets and into a woodland escape. This list should have provided you with a few ideas to make your lockdown laps for the next few weeks. 

However, if you need some more inspiration, make sure to check out @CardiffGirlNetwork for the best views provided by local city girls.

Help us keep the City Girl Network running by supporting us via Patreon for the price of a cheap cup of coffee - just £2 a month. For £3 a month you can also get yourself a Patreon exclusive 10% off any of our ticketed events! You can also support us by following us on Instagram, and by joining our City Girl Network (city wide!) Facebook group.

Written by Georgia Winstone