Bute Park

Bute Park is the green backbone of Cardiff, a large riverside park that begins at the western wall of Cardiff Castle and stretches away along the river corridor towards the suburbs. It covers about 56 hectares, roughly the size of seventy-five football pitches, which makes it one of the largest urban parks in Wales, and it holds an arboretum with more than two thousand trees, including some champion specimens, as well as urban woodland, formal horticultural features, open lawns and sports pitches. Entry is free, the park is open every day from early morning until shortly before sunset, and the paths are wide and mostly level, so it suits walkers, runners, cyclists and families with pushchairs alike. Wildlife is part of the appeal: woodpeckers, herons and otters have all been recorded along the river, and the woodland gives a surprising sense of countryside only a few minutes from the shops. The park began as the private pleasure grounds of the Marquess of Bute, and the gardener Andrew Pettigrew shaped much of its Victorian planting, so it also works as a quiet companion to the castle visit next door.

Getting there could not be simpler. The park starts beside Cardiff Castle on the edge of the city centre, so most visitors simply walk through the castle gateway area or along North Road and step into the trees. Cathays, Queen Street and Cardiff Central stations are all within walking distance, buses run regularly along the nearby roads, and there are car parks at Castle Mews, North Road and Sophia Gardens for those arriving by car.

The park is open daily from half past seven until half an hour before sunset, which in winter means a fairly early finish, so plan the walk for the middle of the day when the light is best.

There is more to do than wander. A visitor centre, open for a few hours around midday, has a park map and a woodland explorer trail that gives children a reason to look closely at the trees. Three cafes keep walkers supplied with coffee and cake, there are natural play features for younger children, and free WiFi and toilets, including accessible facilities and baby changing, make a family outing straightforward.

Keen walkers can follow the river path for as long as they like and return the same way, while cyclists will find that the route links into longer riverside trails. In spring the blossom and bulbs are the draw, in summer the shade and the lawns, in autumn the colour of the arboretum, and in winter the bare branches and low sun make for atmospheric walks, though paths can be muddy after rain.

Bute Park also hosts large events, including festivals, fun runs, charity walks and a major gardening show, and on those days parts of the park may be fenced off or busy, so check the park's website if you are visiting at a weekend in the busy season. Treat the park as the natural pairing for the castle: tour the keep and the apartments, then walk out into the trees for a slow loop before heading back for a late lunch in the city.

Many visitors also use it as a quiet route to the museums at the Civic Centre or to the Sophia Gardens end of the park, where the river bends beside the cricket ground. Wear shoes that can cope with soft ground, bring a waterproof, and allow an hour for a short loop or half a day if you want to explore properly.