Park Inn Cardiff North

Cardiff's Central Parks

by percy961

"Bute Park"

The beautiful Bute Park provides Cardiff with greenery in the very centre of the city. Straddling the River Taff, it offers a combination of arboretum, flower gardens, recreation grounds and even some standing stones

The wide pathways accommodate both joggers and bikers, and the soccer fields are ideal for competitive and friendly matches. An established arboretum, a Stonehenge-like circle of stones, and the wide and expansive vistas make this park a haven for people exercising, studying, or relaxing.

"Blackwier"

Walking North through Bute park you come to Blackwier, here you can cross the River Taff by means of a foot bridge.

"River Taff"

The Atlantic salmon is widespread in the British Isles. Recent improvements in water quality have allowed Atlantic salmon to return to the River Taff from which they have been absent for most of the last century. In 1997, 63,000 salmon smolts were stocked into the River Taff.

"Llandaff Fields"

Walk through Blackweir and you come upon another of Cardif's Parks called Llandaff fields.
The park is used for a number of amatuer sporting activities such as football, cricket and rugby.
There is also a Bowls club and 2 Children's play areas.

"Pontcanna Fields"

Between Llandaff fields and Sophia Gardens is Pontcanna fields home of Cardiff Caravan Park,Cardiff Riding School and local allotments.

"Sophia Gardens"

Home of Glamorgan CC, The Welsh cricket county.

Sophia gardens is also home to the Welsh Institute of Sport, Cardiff Hockey club

Map of Cardiff

by HORSCHECK

Don't forget to get a free map or some brochures about Cardiff at the Tourist Information Centre. British Tourist Information Centres are usually well equipped with useful brochures and free leaflets.

The Main Tourist Information Centre is located at The Old Library on The Hayes, just in the heart of the city centre. Another one is located in Cardiff Bay in "The Tube" building at Harbour Drive.

Bute Park

by tvor

Ok, it's not really off the beaten track. Bute Park used to be part of the Castle grounds and extends north along the River Taff. It's a large natural park with an arboretum, sports fields and places to play, have picnics or just enjoy a little peace away from the traffic and bustle of city life.

Dyffryn Gardens

by percy961

Dyffryn is not just one garden but a series of gardens consisting of a number of outdoor rooms. Each room is enclosed within clipped yew hedges and has its own distinct character. The gardens rooms are set among broad sweeping lawns, a croquet lawn with an arboretum and wild garden.
The gardens are currently being restored to the picture that Thomas Mawson, landscape architect designed for John Cory in 1906.

Bookshops

by diocletianvs about Waterstones

I do usually try to find a good bookshop wherever I travel. At the tourist information centre they recommended the Waterstones bookshop which was just across the street. Although the bookshop is quite large (and apparently belongs to a big UK chain) I was a bit disappointed by their "Local interest" section.

If we ignore numerous books about rugby teams and players, there weren't even the usual touristy picture-books available. Still, I managed to find two books for me - a brief overview of Welsh architecture and a good book about Cardiff's urban regeneration in the past three decades.