There is a really fascinating lighthouse and some small beaches, which are quite rare for this stretch of the Severn Estuary. There are potential small diversions and tweaks either end. For example, the Newport route goes very close to the Transporter Bridge, where the visitor centre is soon to open....

Aled Singleton

This would be a 3 star review had it not been for the coast path beauty making it 4 stars. To the north, coming off Pont Estyll Lane to head through the fields it was unclear which field to take. If you do this, not only do you not get the high coast path views but you have to jump several locked gates and some random cows blocking the way. Ensure you have water for the coast path section as there are no amenities at all...

Jen Shepherd

Loved walking this route! Such great views....

pilea

I walked this route with Justin Rowlatt (the BBC's Climate Editor) for a story about the Slow Ways inter-city that we're working on. Apparently footprints have been found on the shores of the estuary that are about 7,000 years old - so people have been walking Slow Ways along this coast for a long time!...

danravenellison

However, if you follow the road around, you'll soon join back up with the route. When you first get to Llantrisant, the route shown on the GPX does not exist, so you'll have to take a more circuitous route via Lowerdale Drive....

sftuck

The path from Ty Nant Road to the bridge over the River Taff was blocked due to some development and has been for a few months1 Not sure if this is a temporary closure or not, but there is an alternative road looping round to re-join the path near the Taff bridge. Photo 5 - Cefn Bychan lane near Pentyrch Photo 6 - View over Cardiff from near Cefn Bychan Photo 9 - Crossing the Taff near Morganstown...

Paul Chilcott

In Dinas Powys it had me walking on a narrow path with a stream to my right and houses to my left but this route is blocked off by people's front gardens. Large parts of the route just after leaving Dinas Powys were muddy and uneven. 2 stars - Route is sufficiently accurate and passable but neither an efficient or pleasant route 3 stars - Route functions and is either an efficient and direct route that isn't particularly enjoyable or is an enjoyable route that isn't particularly efficient / direct 4 stars - Route functions and is both a pleasant route and a reasonably efficient route between the two points...

Gemma

Photo 3 - View of Cardiff through Leckwith Woods Photo 4 - The old bridge over the River Ely, alongside Leckwith Road, Cardiff....

Paul Chilcott

Direction: Cardiff to Dinas Powis. As per previous reviews, a walk of two halves - the long stretch of Penarth Road including some of the back streets and then the rural section between Llandough and Dinas Powis....

Paul Chilcott

Between Dinas Powys and Llandough this is a lovely scenic route however from Penarth Road it's much more urban (but easier terrain). The route is accurate and easy to follow using gps on organic maps although I was glad of the GPS because there is a set of stairs I nearly missed at Dinas Powys, a footpath between two houses in Llandough I nearly missed and I could see how I could have gone wrong at the golf course because it doesn't immediately look like the right way....

Gemma

This is not a walk I would do again, but it`s a safe and reasonably direct route and if you don`t mind a couple of miles of walking alongside busy roads, it`s fine. However, I`m sure there must be a good alternative route using the many footpaths between Mountain Road in Caerphilly and the woodland section that avoids the main roads....

Paul Chilcott

I did a version of this walk, because I took a different route out of Penarth, and a different route to Cardiff Central Station, but of course the Barrage is always going to be the obvious way between one and the other....

Paddy Dillon

After you've navigated that path, the walk becomes easier, although it's still quite damp in places....

sftuck

An excellent walk mostly on the Penrhos Cutting and then the Taff Trail. At the time of my walk there were two diversions in place: (1) at Taff`s Well, while they are completing the metro development around the station area, the main Taff Trail route was closed, but a "Taff Trail B" diversion is in place, which is well sign-posted. (2) Also, the River Taff walkway by the Millennium Stadium was temporarily closed, but Westgate Street or the Taff Embankment make easy alternatives....

Paul Chilcott

I found the route across Tresillian Way / Penarth Road a little confusing, but ultimately found the correct road....

embe

Nice walk, mostly along cycle paths, so almost entirely tarmac. Was a bit busy at some points...

sftuck

Llandaff is an interesting place and a good stop off point before the last leg through the wonderful Bute Park into the centre of Cardiff. Photo 4 - Path through Bute Park Photo 6 - Bute Park playing fields, with Cardiff beyond....

Paul Chilcott

A pleasant, easy and varied walk, taking in the barrage half of the Cardiff Bay walk, a lovely stretch of coastal walking along the Penarth promenade and cliff tops and Cosmeston Lake and Country Park before the last stretch through lanes and fields on the way into Dinas Powis. The terrain is mostly paved or well maintained tracks until the section leaving Sully Road to cross the fields to Cross Common Road in Dinas Powis, where there are styles and a muddy lane and fields to cross....

Paul Chilcott

The route is indistinct or muddy in places but enjoyable....

Ross

A functional route through the suburbs of Cardiff, from the newer estates around Pontrprennau, through the older establisheed areas such as Llanedyrn and Penylan, on through the city areas like Roath and finally the centre itself....

Paul Chilcott

First half very straightforward; second half maybe fine in summer but in winter very muddy and slippery underfoot. Also some unavoidable stiles and a little tricky to find the path after the old pumping station on Penarth Rd!...

Laura Phelps

Route uses a private road, see Dincar 6 for a similar route using only public rights of way...

sftuck

This route is fine for the most part but at one point uses a private road which has no public access. See Dincar 6 for a similar route with no access issues...

sftuck

Walked the coastal section of this route as part of a longer section of the Wales Coast Path walk and the end sections as part of Cardnew1 in November 2022....

Paul Chilcott

A great walk, with some minor navigational / access issues around the Pillgwenlly area, but the main problem was the link between Green Lane / Pont Estyll Lane and St. My alternative was to go back to go back and carry on down Green Lane and turn right on to Lighthouse road, which added about half a mile to the walk, but Lighthouse road is busy and windy and not great to walk on. There is a good stop off point at the pub (The Lighthouse Inn) on the coast on the Lighthouse Park estate, which needs a couple of hundred yards detour from this route (but is right on the Cardnew2 route). Photo 5 - The Wales Coast Path at Lighthouse Park...

Paul Chilcott

Nice walk, a mixture of country park, suburban Penarth, clifftop and esplanade, then a stroll round the Cardiff barrage. Not at all challenging....

David Greenaway

After Michaelston-le-pit there the path was less well marked and the stiles are less well maintained, some were quite difficult to negotiate and the path was difficult to follow. On getting to the Leckwith woods the path as marked on the OS map was blocked off, but there were plenty of alternatives ways through the wood to Old Leckwith Bridge....

David Greenaway

A nice rural walk using lesser-used footpaths - you wouldn't think you were just outside the capital!...

sftuck

Plenty of opportunities to explore side attractions like Penarth town centre or the parks or the promenade or maybe other parts of Cardiff Bay. Easy walking this direction, although it`s a fairly steep descent through the streets from Penarth Head to the start of the Cardiff Bay barrage, but it`s completely flat all the way after that....

Paul Chilcott

This was a great fun walk, pretty adventurous, and ending suddenly right in Cardiff....

Hannah

From the barrage (which could be up, waiting will only be 15-20minutes but with lovely views across to Cardiff bay) once you're through the barrage lots to see with cyclist, boats , skatepark etc. Arrival over the Bay will be met with a few bars, millennium centre, lots of art more boats ....from the bay will be a short walk into Cardiff Town I would run/walk this again, plenty to see with toilet facilities and places to stop for a drink and food....

Paul Currie

This route drops down from Caerphilly and then follows the Taff trail into Cardiff centre....

Deri Roberts

Just after leaving Creigiau, the footpath sign off the road on the left is quite obscured (I missed it first time!) - go past the house on the right hand side of the road and then look for the sign and gate on your left (see pictures). If walking in the other direction (from Cardiff), the footpath to leave Pentyrch comes off the road just before the school playground/school building....

Fiona Davies

I found this a really interesting cross-section through Cardiff, going through suburbia, estates and inner-city housing. I loved the massive heron mural on Plasnewydd Road and all the international restaurants when leaving Cardiff's city centre. The route could have been drawn a little better where it starts in Pontprennau, but I'm sure you'll manage it!...

danravenellison

Toilets and plenty of shops and pubs on the way. Would make a nice walk to explore the Bay....

Rachel Flint

I walked most of this route from Dinas Powis to Cardiff, but has access issues to the track west of Leckwith and south of West Hill Wood. I'll be uploading an alternative route option that deals with the access issue....

danravenellison

I thoroughly enjoyed the route (especially Leckwith Woods), but think the route is only "maybe" good enough to be in the network......

danravenellison

We started this route from Peterston. The route started on a country lane and then headed down a footpath. We altered the route slightly and followed the marked footpath to Cardiff road as the route seemed to take us through a field with no access....

Sabina and Dingo dog

After heading through the village, you follow the zig-zags down to the river and then join the Taff trail about 5 miles in and follow the blue signs all the way down the river into the centre of the city where the route finishes at Cardiff Central station....

Jozie Postles

The footpath alongside the drive up to St Fagans museum is shown on the maps as crossing the drive, but it didn't - just stay on the same side of the fence and follow along. There's a bit of an unavoidable slog along the main road from Fairwater, but there's pavement all the way and it didn't take us too long. Would be a 5 star route if there was a way of avoiding the main road but I can't see an obvious one on the maps....

polls78

There are a couple of points where you have to leave the trail briefly due to new developments or parts of the trail being inaccessible but with short detours you can soon get back off the tarmac and continue to enjoy nature and some fantastic views....

Nicholas Santos

Very easy terrain mostly through housing estates and alongside roads. Quiet and safe....

Laura Phelps

I walked the route in reverse: Penarth to Cardiff aka PenCar. Nicer if you want to start a walk with a downhill descent and continue it avoiding uphill sections (otherwise the uphill section comes at the end). Plus you get to look out over Cardiff bay from up high… which kind of nicely drags you forward into exploring the route. Then enjoy the barrage and the bay (nb: you could cheat at the barrage and get an Aquabus to the Cardiff City Centre along the River Taff). Sections of the walk may be difficult (especially the steep declines in Penarth or some narrower streets in Penarth / Closer to Cardiff)....

Emma Jones

From Penarth station the route heads towards the town centre along the main road and at a roundabout continues for a short distance uphill passing a small park with children's play area....

ianstanden

It starts off through the streets of Penarth which are relatively busy streets but easy to navigate. (If anyone was doing this from Cardiff to Penarth be aware that there is a short but steep uphill which could be challenging for anyone on wheels or who struggles with steep ascents)....

Lucyhammond

I did the second part of this route with Rhiwbina Runaways we ran the 14km route. The rest of this route was mainly on roads, it was a very scenic route. There were plenty of options to stop of and use toilet facilities if needed....

Katie L James

The only significant issue is a fairly large stretch of byway that has not been properly maintained making it unusable within the route, however by surveying the map alternative ways to go to get back on the route can be found without too much issue....

Bailey Semmens

A pleasant and interesting walk from Cardiff station to Penarth station, via the Cardiff Bay barrage. There are plenty of amenities along the way and places to enjoy the views....

Tracy K

The climb to the top of Lechwedd is tricky through the wood as much of the undergrowth is starting to blur the way but the view of Penarth from the top is spectacular from that angle. The decent through the wood is nice and then you exit by Leckwith Bridge to cross towards Cardiff City Stadium....

ianstanden

At 3.75 miles the route needs a significant deviation as there is no path straight down the hill - a different route is suggested as an alternative....

Lucyhammond

Most of the route sticks religously to paths which are very obvious although there is one track where a farm gate needs to be climbed over, and one field where the path isn't obvious even though the gate on the other side is....

Lucyhammond

A pleasant and easy walk through residential areas between the city centre and outskirts to the east. Alwyas pavements when at the side of the road. a perfectly good route....

Tim Ryan

Nice walk via Cardiff Bay barrage....

sftuck

The Cardiff section is more urban and slightly monotonous when walking down Penarth Road but picks up a bit when you get to the Taff embankment...

sftuck

Varied route seeing lots of different aspects of Cardiff and its recent development around the waterfront...

Alun Jones

Overall a really good route between Cardiff and Newport! - The route is pretty varied, and Cardiff and Newport are fantastic and interesting end points with lots to explore. There's a chance on Lamby Way to divert onto a parallel path; the Slow Way route isn't quite plotted that way, but take the parallel path. At the Church after turning away from the Welsh Coast Path, the Slow Way route has you walking through the churchyard....

mtormey

This is a great route which is very picturesque in parts. The route is generally easy to navigate although this gpx is not very accurate....

Lucyhammond

It comes with a seasonal warning - there are two parts (at the start and just before St Fagans) that could be very muddy if conditions haven't been dry and may not be suitable for the winter....

Lucyhammond

Parts of the route are muddy in May so would be difficult to cross in winter without some serious boots on. However there are some views over beautiful countryside and a lovely way to enter the city of Cardiff on foot....

ianstanden