Located on an industrial estate between a welders workshop and site for building materials, this…read moreperky lime green warehouse stands out a mile. Yummy mummies and their 4x4's stream in and out of the well guarded gates and high walls that lead to a sanitary paradise of indoor-outdoor adventure. Parc (Welsh for park) is marketed as an 'all weather playground' and it divvies up as two thirds indoors and one third out. The outdoor bit has a fantastic sandy 'beach' area, with large wooden boat complete with pirate flags. In-between the in and the outdoors there is a zip wire, water play area, two swings and a large slide. Inside there are two 'tube' slides, wooden adventure walkway with bridges and ropes and a toddlers area aimed at the 1-4's. The facilities include a cafe area, lots of seating throughout and toilets. I love the little touches such as the double-seater stripy deckchairs. In winter the heated cafe area, with clear views of the toddlers area, is the place to be. I have to admit it I've had my eye on this place from the outset. We live across the river from Parc and when I saw the sign go up wizzed over for a preview. I met the builders (our new, but temporary neighbours) and came back with a carboot full of wood offcuts for the burner. I thought - "a wooden playground on an industrial estate? I like!" ...And I still do, but as I mentioned earlier I do find this type of indoor 'gated' playground a little too sanitary for my taste and in many ways prefer taking my toddler to the beach or the park - But shock horror what if it rains?! A: I just let him get wet. Another small gripe, it seems that there is a small jump from toddler to confident child in terms of the equipment on offer. There could be more for the 3-6's here I feel. All in all well worth a visit, good place to hang out with your mummy mates. Bring your own picnic, sit down, chillax and have a natter...ok if you've got an under 5 that mayyy not happen! Opening hours: Weekdays 10am - 6:30pm last entry 5pm, weekends & school holidays 10am - 6pm last entry 4:30pm Cost: Adults £1.50 peak, £1 off peak. Children £5 peak, £3.50 off peak, reductions for more than 1 child. Note: Parties catered for - but pre-book. Also note: Visits are limited to 2.5 hours on very busy day (but that's about right anyway) Tip: As you can imagine it gets busy during school holidays and after school Tip: Free wifi Top tip: Walk , train it or cycle and get 50p off!

You'd think a place like this would be my idea of hell, but I have to admit I was really impressed…read morewith the facilities at Parc - it's too bad they didn't have play areas like this when I was a kid! I'd never be privy to playgrounds if it weren't for my beloved's two year daughter, who tires herself out by running endlessly from tunnel to slide and back again. I can't wait until she's a bit older so I can live vicariously through her as she tears through Parc on the zip wire... After chasing her around screaming for half an hour, I needed some sort of refreshment (I realised this is neither the time nor the place for a pint), but luckily, Parc has this covered as well, selling coffees and canned drinks, as well as hot dogs and even packs of Oreos (yes!). The best time to go is on a Sunday morning, where you'll pretty much have the place to yourself; otherwise get ready for an onslaught of families and hyperactive children, which isn't so bad, if you can be all Zen about it like the kind lady working the snack hut who simply says, "You don't even hear the screaming after a while - it's like white noise".

Just the thing for children to have fun in a local environment and it is right next to the Penylan…read moreLibrary. In the playing area he children can swing; jump, climb, run, go round in circles on the roundabout, bob up and down on a bobbing animal that they can sit on. The playing area is attached to a large patch of green to eat your picnics on, to chill out on, to play rugby, football, to run and walk about on. It is small, but it is just what the doctor ordered as place to entertain the kids and a park that can keep them occupied for a couple of hours or so. It is situated in an area near to loads of shops; cafes, a post office, restaurants, banks and so forth this is ideal for the locals within this area, but it is just as fine for the tourists too. I recommend it particularly for mums with babies or young children.

I spend a lot of time in Penylan Library, and whenever I get out of my car, I always find myself…read morelooking enviously at the children playing in the neighbouring park. And that's a sure sign that I'm getting old! It's not the biggest play park around, but one that's colourful, fun and clean, and in a very convenient location. It's extremely well placed for families living nearby, visiting the library, shopping on Wellfield Road or even after leaving one of the doctor's surgeries across the road. There are also a lot of schools nearby and it's very popular as somewhere to let young children run around after a day stuck in a class room, while slightly older children play football on the grass. It's also handy to have the library next door for toilets and baby changing facilities, and there's usually an ice cream van close by, too.

For anyone into fishing, Hendre Lake Park in the St Mellon's area of the city is well worth knowing…read moreabout. The whole park is centred around the big 10-acre lake - where you'll also often spot local school children enjoying some educational pond-dipping sessions during the week. It's right next to a substantial residential housing area, so tends to be well-used and is far from 'remote' - but it's a pleasant enough space for a walk and some wildlife spotting. There's been quite a bit of European Union funding given to the project, and the lake is constantly being improved to make the fishing better there. Most of the park falls within the Gwent Levels Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of all the rare and protected plants that grow in the area, particularly in the reens (which are historic ditches criss crossing the area). The lake itself is obviously used for fishing and by schools for environmental studies, but there are also pathways running around the edge for casual walkers and joggers.

This is another former licensed tipping ground that's now been transformed into a haven for…read morewildlife and conservation - something Cardiff seems to be very good at! At the heart of the park there's a 4 hectare lake , which is circled by two kilometres of footpath, plus a boardwalk that snakes across the lake. The lake itself is stocked with fish, and at the water's edge lots of reeds and other greenery has been planted to encourage wildlife. You can often spot coots, swans, mallards and other birds around the water's edge, and colourful dragonflies hovering about and landing on the reeds. The only thing I would say is that you're quite exposed at this park, so if it's very hot or very windy there aren't so many places to shelter! If you're driving here, there's a car park off Lamby Way with picnic tables, or you can park on streets in Rumney then just walk the short way to the park via Brachdy Lane.

Parc Cefn Onn is out on the Northern fringes of Cardiff and isn't really a park, its more like a…read morewoodland area really. Its noted among plant lovers for the Rhododendron displays in the spring and its got lots of streams and ponds so quite good for wildlife. To be honest though there's not really much to see or do and its currently infected with Sudden Oak Death which is making it look a big dull. Its ok but really not worth a trip out of your way to get there.

This is a great set of woods to explore and get lost in. It's frequented by a lot of dogs (in…read moregeneral it's not on their own but with their owners) and families. There are various paths that lead off in different directions, but if you've entered at the main gated entrance on Cherry Orchard Road off the roundabout and keep walking you will most likely end up at the big field at the top by the golf course. Along the way you will pass a few ponds and streams which generally have a charming layer of algae on their surface. As well as this there are the legendary parts of the wood owned by the giant: these being the giant's house, the giant's chair (which is much larger than his house), and the enchantingly named, giant's toilet. These legends may or may not have been made up by my parents when I was growing up, as well as the possible myth that 'all the paths in Cefn-Onn lead back to one another', a frequent proclamation of theirs that I am certain was a ploy to lose my sisters and I for a couple of hours of peace.

This park in Pentwyn has the area's leisure centre within its boundaries, plus sports pitches and a…read morebowling green surrounded by borders of flowers and plants and some covered seating. The best thing about this space, however, is the large area of centuries-old woodland it incorporates, which is the most established part of the park (the rest was created more recently when the residential housing area was created). There are wilder woodlands than these in other locations in and around Cardiff, but Parc Coed y Nant's woods still offer a great escape for Pentwyn residents. Next to the woods there's a large lake often lined with people fishing, with swans and other birdlife swimming about. The park is not far from the River Rhymney and more rural areas, so if you keep your eyes peeled you can sometimes spot more unusual visitors such as the odd kingfisher or heron around the lakeside. If you're visiting the park by car, you can park in the leisure centre car park.

Heath park is a massive 37 hectares and offers plenty of things to do. For the kids there is a…read moreplayground, wildlife spotting, a miniature train and mini golf. There are further tennis courts and sports fields too with plenty of open space for dog walking or playing frisbee. There are some nice woodland walks and its only a short walk to get to Roath park too.

There are a few things that are a bit different about Heath Park, which is a decent green space in…read morethe Heath area of the city, next to the University Hospital of Wales. First off, Heath Park Miniature Railways and Tramways Society runs a model railway in Heath Park, and has open days on occasions when the public can ride on trains along the miniature railway line. Secondly, and rather bizarrely, the park is also home to a demonstration garden by the National Vegetable Society! And thirdly, it has an interesting history: it was once used as a race course during the 18th century and early 19th century, then in 1938 the land was bought by Cardiff Council and used to train infantry for the Second World War. With all those interesting little snippets out of the way, Heath Park is otherwise a fairly conventional but well-used city park, with tennis courts for hire, sports pitches, 'pitch and putt' golf, and a playground - pretty much always a hive of activity. Caerphilly Road District Centre is not far away, where you can grab a coffee and some lunch, and you can usually find a space to park in the car park or in nearby streets (although parking is not allowed on roads immediately surrounding the park).

Roath Mill Gardens, along with nearby Waterloo Gardens, are both well-manicured Edwardian parks…read morethat are linked up to Roath Park by the brook that runs through them. Although I personally prefer wilder parks and woodlands, these are still good, old-fashioned parks with an air of bygone elegance, flanked by Edwardian houses that match their period. The compact spaces mix grassy areas with well established-trees, formal ornamental planting, and a brook with plants growing up around them - home to plenty of wildlife. Popular with older people out for a gentle stroll, and parents looking for a park with flat walkways for pushchairs.

These two parks are small and old-fashioned surrounded by beautiful Edwardian houses and the lovely…read moreSt Margaret's church. Roath Mill Gardens runs along Sandringham Road and is very popular with dog walkers. It is close to a couple of primary schools, and many parents use this as a walk to and from school, and for the children to run around and blow off steam when school lets out. It also provided the filming location for a recent episode of Doctor Who. Waterloo Gardens is across the road from here and is slightly more closed off and secluded. Waterloo Gardens Post Office, Lifestyle Express and Waterloo Gardens Tea Rooms are located opposite, providing somewhere to get something to drink, pick up a paper to read on one of the benches, or grab an ice cream to eat on your walk. Both are conservation areas, and feature a wide variety of trees, plants and wildlife. Much quieter than Roath or Heath Park, these are popular places for a quiet stroll and are great for anyone who needs a peaceful place to sit and relax and watch the world go buy.

For Grangetown residents, this is a great little Victorian Park - but there's little to get you…read moreover there from other areas of Cardiff, as the entire city seems to be pretty well endowed with equivalent or even better parks. For locals, however, it's a pleasant and very well-kept green space with nicely planted borders and flat pathways. There's a bandstand at the park's core, revealing the park's Victorian roots, although this one is a modern replica replacing the Victorian original (albeit an authentic replica!). Occasionally the band stand is used for live music events, and the park as a whole is used as a location for some of the city's gentle 'Walk for Health' events. The park's also home to a war memorial, a wooden sculpture, a multi-use sports court, a bowling green, toilets, and playground areas.