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Located just northwest of the city centre is the green oasis of Bute Park. This vast area of landscaped flower gardens, lawns and recreation grounds was once a part of the grounds of Cardiff Castle.
The park straddles the River Taff, with footbridges crossing over it. It was landscaped in the 1870s and donated to the city in 1947. It is a lovely place to take a stroll or relax for a while.
Close to one of the main park entrances, just off Castle Road, there is a stone circle, which was erected in 1899. It's not Stone Henge, but worth a look all the same.
There is a wall that runs along the Castle Road side of the park which has sculptured animals sitting on top of it. This 'Animal Wall' became quite famous in the 1930's apparently, when a newspaper cartoon strip brought the animals to life. Leave a Comment
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Roath Park is by far one of the most popular green spaces in Cardiff. It is situated approximately 2 miles to the North of the City Centre.
It was first opened to the public in 1894 and was created on a former bogland owned by the Marquis of Bute and donated to the City in 1887. The Park today has a wide range of habitats;
In the wildgardens native wild flowers are allowed to flourish, you can smell the wild garlic (Ramsons) as you drive by in the car.
The 30 acre lake is home to many resident wildfowl aswell as some migratory birds, there are four islands at the top of the lake which provide a peaceful haven for nesting birds. There is a lovely path surrounding the lake, this is very popular with walkers, joggers & sunday strollers. At the top of the lake is a lighthouse which was erected in 1915 as a memorial to Captain Scott's ill fated voyage to the Antartic; on top of the lighthouse is a replica of the Terra Nova, the ship he sailed in.
Rowing and pedal boats can be hired from the boatstage during the summer months & there is also a pleasure boat which runs trips around the lake. Next to the boatstage is a small Cafe selling drinks and refreshments.
During the summer months the Cardiff City Council work hard in creating beautiful floral displays on the promenade at the top of the lake. Just below the promenade is a really well equipped childrens play area with plenty of green space around it for playing ball games. Beyond the play area are paths leading to the rose gardens and also a Conservatory which for a nominal fee you can browse around the tropical plants & watch the fish & turtles swimming in a pond. Another feature in this area of the park are the Champion trees - these are the biggest and best of their kind in the UK. Roath Park has 12 Champion trees which are all numbered, during the summer the Park Warden runs a walk to look at the wide variety of Champion trees growing in the Park.
All in all, Roath Park has something to please everyone of all ages, it's definitely one of my favourite places. Phone: +44 (0)29 2087 2087Directions: Can be accessed by Train - Heath Halt Station (a five minute walk down the hill) Bus - No.28 from Cardiff Central (Thornhill)Website: http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/
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 The background Building is the
tallest in Cardiff by M0B1US
Cardiff is blessed with a fantastic array of parks and this one is a particularly charming park is a great place to relax during the day and is well situated, as it faces the Cardiff Civic Centre buildings of City Hall, the Law Courts and the National Museum of Wales.
It is split into two distinct but complimentary parts, with the main part outside the City Hall being a large open lawn with a suitably statesmanlike fountain and flagpoles flying the Welsh, Union Jack and EU flags. This part of the park is also used for special events such as the ‘Winter Wonderland’, Wales Rally GB and the Cardiff Food Festival to name a few.
The other part of the park is very attractive with a stone circle as the main feature and some of the most wonderfully smelling flower beds I have smelled in a long time (not sure what they were though)! There are some great seating areas here and some real history including a number of statues including one of Lloyd George.
This park is one of the best places to take pictures of the Civic Centre, especially at night when City Hall is particularly well lit. A subway joins the park to the town centre by passing beneath the Boulevard de Nantes. Leave a Comment Directions: Facing the Civic Centre MAP
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 The Standing Stones by M0B1US
Bequeathed by the Marquess of Bute on the understanding that it would not be built upon, this huge park that cuts a swathe through NW Cardiff offers a huge array of activities.
Straddling the River Taff, the main part of the park is a large and pleasantly wooded area great for a leisurely stroll or picnic. Other features of the park include an arboretum, flower gardens, recreation grounds and even some standing stones and ruined priory.
Also within the park's grounds is the Glamorgan County Cricket Club (the only county level Cricket club in Wales), Sophia Gardens, the Welsh Institute of Sport and a riding school. The park backs onto a music and drama college and is especially busy at weekends.
For avid mountain bikers, the Taff Trail follows the course of the river Taff through the park on its spectacular 52 mile route from the Brecon Beacons all the way down to Cardiff Bay. Taff Trail Cycle Hire operates from the Cardiff Caravan Park on the edge of the park (029 2039 8362) Leave a Comment Phone: +44 (0)29 2044 5900Directions: Right next to the Castle, straddling the river Taff MAP
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 A Charming Hedge Garden next
to the Castle by M0B1US
It is a great place to stop off with a drink and a sandwich and relax between attractions when visiting Cardiff.
The thing I like best here is sitting amongst the lovely aroma of the hedges, and keeping the Marquess of Bute company... Leave a Comment Directions: Nestled between the Castle, the Civic Centre and the Hilton Hotel MAP
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The Bute park is amazing because of its size and location, bringing the nature in the very heart of the city. It is flanked by the Taff river that offers nice paths (both pedestrian and cycling) if you want to escape from the city. The park belonged to the Bute estate and its appearance owes much to the landscape design carried out in the late Victorian era. Later it was opened to the public and today this is the real "green lung" of Cardiff, full of historic as well as wildlife interest. Leave a Comment
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 Bute Park by percy961Leave a Comment Directions: Next to the Castle
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 Beside the lake, beneath the
trees.... by SabrinaSummerville
Roath Park is no exception. I saw this park for the first time on a glorious sunny day in August 2003. It was full of happy, smiling people eating ice cream and was everything that a park is meant to be.
I strolled all around it, drinking in the beauty. It is hard to believe that this sort of natural greenery exists right in the middle of a very busy City centre.
The park is surrounded at every side by beautiful period houses.
There are landscaped gardens and flower beds, a wonderful boating lake with boats available for hire, a seperate kids enclosed boating area (again with boats for hire), and many secluded walkways to be explored.
From what I could see, several bus routes accessed this park and food and drinks were readily available for those who wanted to spend a day here.
Me? I was happy to stroll, then sit curled up on the grass by the lake with a good book watching the ducks. Leave a Comment Phone: +44 (0)29 2087 2087Directions: Cardiff City, on several direct bus routes - ask a bus driver for directions:-)Website: http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/
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 Roath Park by percy961
Roath Park stands in a beautiful location at the centre of this busy capital city - a stunning sight at day and night. The park still retains the classic Victorian Park atmosphere where local inhabitants and visitors alike can enjoy their leisure time in many different pursuits. Leave a Comment
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Bute Park was given to the people of Cardiff in 1947 on the death of the Earl of Bute.
It is a Park and Arboretum, and has many attractive trees, especially in autumn,It is just beside Cardiff Castle and a well is near the northern wall as well as a bridge crossing a stream.
There are the Gorsedd stones [a stone circle] , Cooper's field and Blackweir Farm.
There are several entrances including North Lodge Gate and Castle Mews Gate. Castle Mews was built between 1874 and 1920. It was originally stables and accommodation for the castle staff, but is now an annex of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
There is a stream running though the park: dock feeder, and the canal follows the line of the mediaeval mill stream which powered the corn mills beneath the west walls of the castle. Leave a Comment
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