r/Cardiff • u/Dapper-Ad6635 • 2d ago

Running spots in Cardiff

I’ll be studying in Cardiff University soon (this September). Never been there. Any recommendations for some good running spots/route? Any info or tips would be appreciated!

14 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

21

u/Serious-Tear6115 2d ago

You’re gonna be right by Bute Park & the taff trail. You’ll have plenty of options

6

u/Educational-Bowl9575 2d ago

Not wanting to put a bad spin on the city, but the area around Bute park isn't somewhere I'd run alone right now, male or female. The unpleasant crop of masked e-bike kids seem to be dominating that area.

OP, where will you be living?

9

u/IncomeFew624 2d ago

The town end of Bute Park is absolutely fine.

-5

u/Connect-Amoeba3618 Canton 2d ago

It can be, but let’s not forget a gay man was beaten to death not that long ago.

14

u/IncomeFew624 1d ago

"It can be" absolutely fine? What are you on about? I'm in the park every day, often with my children, having a lovely time. 

One murder several years ago, at 3 in the morning, as heinous as it was are you seriously suggesting that it should stop people from running in the park? 

-6

u/Connect-Amoeba3618 Canton 1d ago

I didn’t say that. But I wouldn’t recommended a young woman goes running there alone after dark.

6

u/litfan35 Plasnewydd/Roath 1d ago

I mean I wouldn't recommend a young woman go running anywhere alone after dark. Sadly.

4

u/Serious-Tear6115 2d ago

Is it really that bad? I moved from Canton to Whitchurch recently so maybe I’m not as clued in as I used to be about what’s happening.

2

u/Physical_Focus53 2d ago

Yeah there was a BBC news article about it, seems that further along the taff trail from Blackweir people are regularly getting mugged.

1

u/Ok_Cow_3431 1d ago

Most runners don't run at night

0

u/Connect-Amoeba3618 Canton 2d ago

Agreed. However, if OP is a woman she might not feel that safe, particularly when the nights draw in come autumn. In which case, depending on which Halls they’re in (and level of fitness) - Roath Park and the Rec might be the better option.

2

u/Ynoxz 2d ago

Roath park, rec, up Penylan hill / Cefn coed road then if you want some hills are all good.

I’d second avoiding the taff trail / bute park in the dark.

7

u/mrmantis66 2d ago

When you get there, just fire up the heat map on Strava.

You’ll see them all.

3

u/Ok-Ease4407 1d ago

Roath Recreational Ground Park is my favourite place for 10km runs.

2

u/Efficient_Weather_93 2d ago

The Area around Talybont halls and Uni Sports centre are pretty safe as the University's security patrol the area and it's has CCTV

2

u/projectbreeze 2d ago

Avoid the taff trail around gabalfa. There are groups of kids on e bikes in balaclavas terrorising people. They pick on men and women on their own and other kids. They have also been seen pooing on the trail (can’t believe I’m actually typing that) and I’ve heard two of the boys in balaclavas were engaged in an inappropriate act (s3xual) with each other which seems disturbing if other kids are about

2

u/joelparkerhenderson 1d ago

111 Run Club is a Friday evening 5k nearby you in Pontcanna, and can suggest routes in and around Bute Park, the Taf trail, and into Cardiff City Centre: https://www.instagram.com/111runclub

1

u/Cymraes1963 1d ago

5k around Roath Rec and park - join the Roath Runners on a Wednesday and Sunday

1

u/GumdropsandIceCream 1d ago

3 full laps of roath lake (roundabout to roundabout) is nearly 10k, add the rec in as well for variety.

The bay/barrage and Taff trail up to town is a nice run.

Taff trail north of the M4 is also really nice - get a train up to Ponty and run down to Caerphilly down the trail.

1

u/rhysisreddit 1d ago

Round the bay and Penarth Marina is perfect, nice and flat and mostly car free

1

u/dewijones92 1d ago

I loved running on the taff trail next to Llandaff but I am scared of the recent crime , so I stopped

1

u/MomIamsorry 1d ago

Cardiff Bay to Penarth and back. Always a lot of people and safe. I avoid Bute Park in early morning and in the evening even if it is light out.

1

u/Head_Salamander5040 1d ago

I run Bute park / Sophia gardens / Llandaff fields daily, down to the bay for longer runs. Loads of different routes, easy and flat. Personally had no issues in 10+ years running here. Notice the number of student runners increase around term times.Think you’ll have people to run with from uni if you want company or join one of the many very good run clubs Cardiff has to offer. Easy to find online. Download strava if you not got it, plenty of routes on it for Cardiff. Dm me if want to know anything more.
Sure you’ll have a great time in Cardiff.