Cardiff Bay Trail

Cardiff Bay was formerly a tidal harbour with the world’s largest coal exports. Now enclosed by a stout barrage, it contains a freshwater lake with lock gate access to the Bristol Channel. The Cardiff Bay Trail encircles the bay and links with the Wales Coast Path across the barrage. Naturally, there is plenty of maritime heritage around the bay.

Route detail

Distance: 6.3 miles or 10.2 kilmetres
Start location: Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Start Grid Ref: ST 19240 74664
Start What 3 Words: pillow.shield.listed

Transport to the start

Parking
Parking at Mermaid Quay or Havannah Street on Cardiff Bay.

Bus
Frequent daily bus services pass the Millennium Centre. Other bus services run frequently and daily to and from other parts of Cardiff Bay.

Train
Daily train services to Cardiff Bay Station from Cardiff Queen Street Station on the South Wales Mainline.

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 Bay' (Bae Caerdydd).

Detailed Route Description

1. Cardiff Bay Station is only a five minute walk from the Millennium Centre, where there is also a bus stop and nearby car parks. Aim for the steel Water Tower and walk straight through the oval open space of Roald Dahl Plass – a former dock that was converted into an event space in 2000, named after the Cardiff-born children’s author. Reach the shore of Cardiff Bay, where kiosks sell tickets for boat trips around the bay and part-way along the River Taff and Ely River.

2. Turn right along Mermaid Quay, either walking along a wooden walkway close to the waterside, or use a broader walkway above it, passing places offering food and drink. Continue along a brick-paved walkway for the Landsea Gardens and pass the sculpture of the Cardiff Bay Rugby Codebreakers. (They switched ‘codes’ from Rugby Union to Rugby League.) Pass three narrow docks near Techniquest and keep a lookout for the Cardiff Bay Trail signs that mark the route.

3. St David’s Hotel has a distinctive roof that looks like a cross between a bird and a sail. Pass it by following a wooden waterside walkway, but if this is wet and slippery then pass on the landward side instead. Continue along a brick-paved path past the Wetland Reserve, where a noticeboard explains about the area. Turn left at another noticeboard to follow a broad gravel path past reeds, bushes, trees and a stretch of open water. Reach a stone sculpture that was inspired by the form of Cader Idris – a mountain in North Wales. Turn left to follow a wooden walkway through reed-beds, reaching a platform surrounded by water, offering views around Cardiff Bay.

4. Retrace steps back to the stone sculpture and follow a path uphill. Walk through a mini roundabout and head towards the busy Cardiff Link Road, which crosses the concrete Taff Viaduct, or Pollinger Bridge, spanning the River Taff. The Cardiff Bay Trail goes through a big kissing gate and follows a broad path beneath the bridge. (A short-cut is available if you don’t go through the gate, but turn right instead, then turn left to follow a roadside path all the way across the bridge, passing a sculpture called ‘A Private View’. This saves just over a mile of walking.)

5. The broad path runs parallel to the River Taff all the way through Hamadryad Park, which features open grassy spaces and a wooded riverside. Leave the park by going through another big kissing gate where a canal lock once stood nearby. Continue along a riverside road, the Clarence Embankment, and turn left to cross a road bridge over the River Taff. Once across, turn left again at Avondale Gardens South to follow a broad riverside path. Pass 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.

6. 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. (Anyone taking the short-cut across the bridge re-joins the route here.) 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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. Simply turn right to walk back through Roald Dahl Plass, past the Millennium Centre, to finish the walk.