****WARNING--Do not ever pay to do this hike. It is a free hike****…read more There is this ridiculous business called, Jacob's Ladder that charges £5 for what looks like is supposed to be the Cheddar Gorge trail. It's very, very misleading. I think it's exceptionally dishonest and demonstrates very poor business ethics. If you want to do the hike for free, just take one of the other several entrances. One entrance lies across the street from Gorge Cafe. Alternatively, you can just drive past that ridiculous tourist town, continue a bit into the mountain, and about a mile up there's also free parking and two other (free) entrances for the hike. Again, the fact that Jacob's Ladder is there to appear that there is a mandatory charge for the hike is ridiculous. My girlfriend and I were so pissed that we wasted pounds to do a hike that should've been free. The hike is so beautiful! It's very long if you choose to stop and enjoy the scenery a couple times, perhaps play with some goats. Just kidding, they're scared of everything and if your corner them they will probably charge are you. Still fun to watch though. I would recommend bringing a small backpack with at least a couple liters of water. There's also blackberry brambles everywhere. Enjoy the hike.

Two areas which are part of the Forest of Avon. The Combe is the lower part which has a gentle path…read morewith access to climbing the rocks. The Wood is a trail through, well, woods above it. It takes a sharp climb either on a path or some steps depending on where you go up. There is an environmental centre here which hosts school camps and wilderness days for local school children so you may suddenly encounter large groups of small people on the paths. The whole area is just beautiful for dog walking - lots of space and not many other people walking here. You can sometimes walk for an hour or so and not come across anyone else.

The Wentloog Levels are actually a man-made area of flat land reclaimed from the sea centuries ago,…read moreand drained by a network of reens that offer a valuable habitat for wildlife. There's a sea wall along the coastline to prevent the sea from claiming back the land, and you can walk along the sea wall for windswept views across the remote estuary. It's a million miles from Cardiff Bay and other highly developed parts of the coastline, and at low tide the mudflats are revealed with all their weird and wonderful patterns - alongside areas of salt marsh, offering a popular feeding ground for thousands of birds. Inevitably you will see the odd bird watcher descending on the area with their binos, but other than that this area is fairly remote and uncrowded.

Even though this is situated within the stunning Brecon Beacons, which is roughly an hour away from…read moreCardiff I would recommend it be a valid tourist spot to take a walk in the wild woods too... It is full of peace and tranquillity and it's an amazing sight for sore eyes I can tell you. This place has a large man-made lake that is surrounded by lush; green mountains, tall trees and forests, and a few, long windy roads. You can hear the bird's twerp and flutter about. Winter is the best light and sight to see this place in, for you see the Ice laid over the water and freezing it up making the water become still so turns into ice. I would say that this is a very ideal for photographers and families or young couples romantically in love to come out walking too. Oh and wear some kind of walking boots or wellies.

This ancient semi-natural woodland in Lisvane provides the local residents with a fantastic space…read morefor informal recreation, whether it's walking or just enjoying a picnic. The park covers 5 hectares and is owned by Cardiff Council, although locals get involved to help improve and manage the woodlands. The Nant Fawr brook, which runs through the area and finally tips out into Roath Park Lake, was once used to power the Llanishen Corn Mill, and you can still see the old mill pond on the site. If you listen out you can often hear the hammer of woodpeckers in this woodland, and if you keep your eyes peeled to the tree trunks you might spot a tree creeper working its way up and down, hunting for tasty morsels. There is a network of paths throughout, but four main ones that meet at a cross roads.

The best time to go to these woods is in the spring when you can see them carpeted in bluebells and…read morelooking completely magical. They are a pretty sight all year round, however, encompassing 14 acres of mixed native broadleaved woodland with semi natural ancient woodland along a long flat enclosure teetering at the edge of a steep valley drop. It is a valuable section of the Nant Fawr corridor that is recognised by the County Council as having strategic importance in terms of recreation, amenity and wildlife. Hidden away within Lisvane, Cardiff the area is designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Importance. Those of you keen to get involved in keeping the place looking lovely should get in touch with the Friends of Coed-y-Felin, a group of volunteers, mainly of neighbours from around the wood, and whose objectives include conserving and improving the woods, wildlife, flora and fauna and to promote the educational enjoyment of Coed-y-Felin. Also look out for: Pied Flycatchers in summer who migrate from Africa to nest in Northern Europe.

Famous amongst locals for its Springtime bluebells, the Wenallt is a proper ancient woodland on a…read moreridge overlooking Cardiff, only just beyond the confines of the city. There's a picnic area and car park at the top of the hill and from here it's a short walk to get a great view across the city, or you can join one of a number of signposted trails. There's an open grassy field nearby, where people often have picnics or barbecues and play ball games on sunny days. There are some pretty streams running through the woods, too, and loads of wildlife - last time I went for a walk there I spotted a red, black and white woodpecker (a greater spotted, perhaps? - I'm no expert!) and all sorts of butterflies. It's easiest to get there by car; the areas of Rhiwbina and Thornhill are just on the opposite side of the M4 to the Wenallt, and once you get to Wenallt Road itself you'll find two car parks there.

When April comes around again my Spring body clock tells me that it's time to make like a musical…read morescreen queen and skip happily to the Wenalt. The Wenalt is an enchanting woodland, carpeted seasonally with bluebells and only a short drive from central Cardiff. The woodland makes for a special picnic spot, great for romantic walks or family strolls. Wild garlic also grows here. Primarily you'll come here to see the stunning flora. Sit quietly and look closely and you may see some amazing fauna too. I never lost my childhood fascination for insects and on one exciting visit to the Wenalt I saw dung beetles in action doing what they do best - rolling horse dung across a path! I always stick to the paths so as not to damage the bluebells, although sometimes the paths are hard to make out. This is a real special, tranquil spot, that I feel privileged to be able to access so easily. The Wenalt is not far from Rhiwbina station and might also be a good cycle ride for the super fit.

If you're visiting the enchanting fairytale castle of Castell Coch, it's well worth exploring this…read moreancient woodland that surrounds it, and the sculpture trail of public art. It's Forestry Commission Beech woodland linked to the castle by public rights of Way, and is popular with walkers and horse riders. It's also along the Taff Trail route, so you can walk or cycle directly to or from Cardiff to Castell Coch and its woodlands In the Springtime, particularly May, it's especially beautiful - as is the case with many of Cardiff's woodlands. The rather 'aromatic' white garlic flowers carpet the woodland floor, along with bluebells and wood anemone - and this is one of the best times to visit.

This is a tranquil Wildlife Trust reserve covering 42 acres of deciduous woodland and wetlands near…read morethe village of Pentyrch on the outskirts of Cardiff, offering a great place to escape from it all. You can still spot the remnants of the local colliery owner's cottage on the site, and many of the paths follow disused tramway lines once used for transporting coal. Made up mainly of oak, beech, ash and alder, it's a very popular place to visit during the Spring when the snowdrops and later the bluebells are lining the forest floor. In the autumn, however, there are lots of weird and wonderful fungi growing here, which are equally colourful. The park is a good spot for some rare wildlife, particularly moths and butterflies, and has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of the rare species of plants that grow there. You can also often spot woodpeckers and other bird life such as marsh tits if you know what you're looking for. Streams form ponds in some places, which provide habitats and breeding grounds for frogs and toads, and there are loads of dragonflies and damselflies around the pond edges. Some areas get pretty muddy during and after wet weather, so don wellies if it hasn't been dry!

If you like mud then this place is great. Will come back when the weather is better but for now,…read morethe paths are quite boggy and slippery. It is difficult to get to as there is no access near convenient parking but it is worth the effort to get here. There is a diverse range of flora and fauna and the species differ from each side of the stream. The Garth is imposing to the North and there are some relaxing spots to sit and think about what this place was like when it was a working mine. Enjoy it but don't all come at once as it is nice and quiet!!

Doing the Taff trail was a great way to say goodbye to Wales after Uni. My housemates and I decided…read moreto cycle up from Pontypridd to Cardiff Bay and wave at anything and anyone we went past. It really is a beautiful trail and was great to hire the bikes for a reasonable price. It's along the river as the name suggests and you get to go past some beautiful valley scenery, I really recommend. Really do try this in the summer, you'll love it.