Ok I'm going to sound a bit like an old fogey here…read more I walked down to the barrage about a month ago (something i love to do) and there wasn't any suggestion of a skate park. All of a sudden scroll on a month and not only is there is a fully built skater park but there is a competition going on there with loads of people watching. Here's the old man bit - part of me thought - will this park and all its followers i.e. baggy pant wearing graffiti artists spoil this lovely tranquil part of the bay that I so often stroll through? Then part of me said -about time this part of the bay was utilized more. So as yet I'm in two minds the large part of which tell me its a good thing.

It's about time!…read more Cardiff now has its very own skate park, and it's not in the back of a housing development or a run-down woodland. It's got a spot on some prime real estate - the Cardiff Bay barrage. Only officially opened last week, the skate park showcases street features from Barcelona, San Francisco, and Bejing, and is now a place that local skaters can comfortably call home. Um, yeah, I wish I had the grace and physical strength necessary to steer a skateboard 15 feet without falling off, so I just played the part of aging hipster on the side lines. The level of skill on show astounds me, and the added bonus of seeing a cluster of female skaters always stokes the smoldering embers of my feminist heart. Apparently this £150,000 project was the result of petitions, protests, and even a Facebook campaign (which is standard now, I guess). It's nice to know that when kids holler, the Council listen. I must say, it kinda renews my faith in local government.

As others have said, this is a lovely, almost hidden park, with a small area of formal gardens with…read morea pond and fountain, complete with a statue of Peter Pan, wild woodland areas and a large playing-field area. It has wonderful views from the top across the lower Ely valley towards Llandough, as well as some amazing mature trees. It is one of the city's oldest parks, given to the city by Charles Thompson in 1911. Perfect for a short walk or a lazy summer afternoon picnic.

Although there are a whole lot of parks in and around the Cardiff area, Thompson's Park in Canton…read morein somewhat unique. Most others offer wide stretches of grass, the odd flowered border and playgrounds. Thompson's Park is smaller than most, and has a particularly quaint feeling. This park is landscaped well, and combined areas of woodland in the heart of the city, with fountains (including the famous Peter Pan statue), duck ponds, winding stairs and a wide grassy area on its higher level. On this field I took part in many school sports days in my time. Never won anything though. Thompson's Park is small and compact, but large enough to take you away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It's like a lost garden in a city wilderness.

The Apex Park is an informal leisure and wildlife park, created around the former clay pits - now…read moresmall lakes - of the Apex Brick works. The works closed in 1966, and the park was created and opened in 1972. The park, consisting of grassland, trees and hedgerows, covers some 42 acres. There are two main lakes: the larger, central one has an attractive hour-glass shape and its banks are lined with rushes. There are walks around this lake with park benches, and footpaths branch off to go to Highbridge (along the line of the old railway) and to Burnham's South Promenade, following the river bank of the River Brue (very muddy after wet weather!). There is a large car park off Marine Drive, which leads to a broad slipway into the lake. The other lake forms the park's north west boundary and lies partly within the Haven Holiday Village. Popular activities include BMX biking, model radio-controlled boating, jogging (there's a 'trim-trail' with various pieces of keep-fit apparatus) and fishing - the lakes are stocked with carp and bream. Dog obedience sessions also take place most Sunday mornings in good weather, and there's a children's play area and skate park. As well as the fish, wildlife includes birds, including geese, ducks, swans and various different types of sea bird, and the hedgerows contain a variety of different types of trees and bushes, home to insect and bird life. NB: The Highbridge Angling Association holds the fishing rights for the Apex Park. Permits can be obtained from Thyers Tackle Shop, 1A Church St, Highbridge - telephone 01278 786934.

Apex park is a beautiful wildlife reserve consisting of lakes, fish, sea birds, outdoor gym and…read morecarpark. There is loads to do with the features of the park including skating at the skate park, a rope climb and dog poo total wipeout. There is also adult entertainment with the odd dogger in the carpark on a summer Sunday evening. Overall apex park is a beautiful visit with activities fort all the family

This park, situated just by the Swimming Pool in Bedminster, is a great place to come and relax on…read morea summer's day. As well as a good-sized area of grass for picnics and the like, the park also contains a basketball courts, a skate park and an enclosed play area for children. As such, a multitude of different kinds of folk converge in this one spot, making it a fantastic place to come and people watch. The fence on one side of the park has been designated as a graffiti zone and the murals adorning it are painted over pretty much every weekend. It's worth heading down on a Saturday to watch some of the artists at work, if you're so inclined.

A popular little park that has embraced all of what is needed for a modern park to succeed. WIth a…read moreskating area and a basketball court you have already ticked most of the boxes of requirement for all the boys to want to go to the park. Having a designated Graffiti zone as well means the park has embraced the popularity of the art form that Banksey so famously shown the people of Bristol, and allows young people a surface to legally practice their art without having to worry about people frowning at them for Graffiting. Being just by the swimming pool means that it is popular with families to bring their children for a small kick-about or frisbie throw.

Ah the Rec! I went on so many sorry excuses for a school trip here I've lost count. It played a…read moremassive part in my childhood and teens and I've always spent a good portion of time here as an adult. They have skate parks both inside and outside at various points in the year and these have become a regular haunt for troubled teens, judging by the amount of graffiti knocking about. There's a decent park for smaller children which is pretty large and well equipped. The interior of the Rec is fairly old hat and dated nowadays but it's still got plenty on. It's pretty much the main hub of activity and fitness for the town. There's a swimming pool where pretty much everyone from my generation had a birthday party at some point. It's got a wave machine, large floats and a water slide which is pretty cool. There's a really well stocked gym with plenty of equipment and squash and badminton courts downstairs too, which can also be used as basketball courts and for football. There's a special oldies gym upstairs which is always popular. They also have a large function room which has been used for gigs, parties, competitions etc. There's a jacuzzi and a sauna which is a great place to chill out after a workout or a swim too. To get access to all these services you need a bridge card, or for certain things such as squash and badminton you can pay a one off fee providing no-ones pre-booked a court . A bridge card is £31 a month and it means you can book ahead. With that fee you can use most of the services for free and there's no annual contract either. You can also use it in most leisure centres in the area and use their services for free too. It's not a bad deal if you're going down there regularly but if not it can seem a bit expensive. It's a great local facility though and they used to put gigs on there every week for local bands, which is what made me fall in love with the place, as you were playing to at least two or three hundred people a week. Sadly they don't put many gigs on anymore but it's still an essential facility for the people of Bridgend.

Good facilities, massive fields area behind with rugby pitch, cricket pitches and athletics club…read more The rec doesnt have a fitness pool but its more of a family mess around pool with slides and waves machine. Never been to the gym here so cant comment on it. Sports hall is to a good standard. Lots of information available on upcoming events/courses, and staff are all to willing to explain and help you with anything.

Splott Park isn't a bad park, but Cardiff has so many wonderful green spaces unless you live in the…read moreSplott area you'd be unlikely to ever visit it! Apart from green, open spaces there's a play area, a skate park, tennis courts, a bowling green, and pathways. Right at the heart of the park you'll also find Splott Swimming Pool. It is also used for 5-a-side football and netball, but most surprising of all it is home to a mountain bike track! It might not be the most adrenalin-inducing track ever, but for an urban park it's not bad and it's backed by dense, mature trees giving it a green backdrop. The whole space feels like it's well-kept and there are plenty of decent bench seats dotted about. The entrance is via Muirton Road.

Oh, wow. I love…read morestumbling across old childhood memories and getting ridiculously excited about them all over again. Llanishen Leisure Centre is one of those places. As an excited child, I recall this place seeming like it took over an age to get to, so was surprised to drive past it the other day and discover that it wasn't 20,000 miles outside Cardiff like I'd always imagined. In actuality it's an easy 15 minute drive from the centre. Who knew? Llanishen Leisure Centre has the most spectacular of swimming pools. Oh, the fun and jollity I did have there. There is a fountain and hundreds of floats and giant balls the big kids always tried to stand on (I was resolute that I was not tall enough/I was a coward). There is also, majesty of majesty, a wave machine. A giant wave machine! The pool itself has a gradual incline from one end so you can walk in as you might walk into the sea. This means that the pool is great for all ages, and it's easy to keep an eye on the extra small ones with the help of the ever present lifeguard. When the siren for the waves (yay!) goes off, they actually break and roll up the side of the pool, making great sport for active imaginations. Llanishen Leisure Centre also has a whole heap of badminton and squash courts, a gym, yoga, swimming lessons and a pool-side cafe and pool tables. Did I mention the wave machine?

Tried to book a handful of slots on their shockingly slow, clunky and useless website. It only gave…read moreme the option to book one, impossible to book more than that. Thought I'd try phoning the helpline to speak to someone who could talk me through it. Spent ages going through all the options only to be hung up on after requesting to speak to an advisor. Appalling customer service the last time I went there, but thought I'd give it another try. never, ever again. Anyone wanting to go there should look at all the awful reviews online about this place and make their mind up.

All through primary school, I went swimming here every Friday evening. My overriding memories of it…read moreinclude that ravenously hungry feeling you get after swimming and giggling at naked women in the showers. I've moved on since then, I like to think. Fairwater Leisure Centre has everything you really need in a leisure centre. There is a large indoor swimming pool, a skate park, badminton and squash courts and a small gym (which tends to be quieter than some, so there's not too much queuing for equipment). The standard of the facilities is pretty high. The staff are friendly and there are swimming lessons available for all levels. An excellent addition, I think, is that there is a female only swimming period on Thursdays. So if you're worried for any reason about swimming in public, this is a great option.

Another of Cardiff's particularly unattractive leisure centres, Fairwater does however have some…read moregood facilities, including an outdoor skate park with a range of ramps - something which isn't in great abundance in Cardiff. Apart from that, there are four badminton courts, several squash courts, a fitness suite and a pool measuring 25 metres by 12.5 metres. As is the case with all of Cardiff's local leisure centres, they offer a good range of classes such as aerobics and yoga, plus plenty aimed at children ranging from creches to gymnastics, trampolining and active holiday programmes. They also have some sessions aimed at the over 50s, and host women's mornings (though I'm never sure quite what they do at such mornings: knit? gossip? I have no idea). If only they could give the outside of this place a facelift, it wouldn't feel so depressing going inside...