Just a few miles from the M4, this Park has 113 acres of woodlands and lakes to wander around, and…read morepaths beside the River Garw. There are also formal, ornamental gardens and a Japanese style Tea Garden Pavilion. Refreshments, available in season, can be found next to the car park. For a more formal meal, there's the Harlequin Restaurant at the house. A nice place to walk.

Was married at bryngarw house 24th oct 2009. Also held our…read morereception there and the weather appart,bryngarw proved tobe the perfect wedding venue. Would highly recomend everything associated with country house and there staff.

An absolutely lovely place to visit, not far out of Llanelli. Years ago it was a centre of heavy…read moreindustry including a huge steel works but now it has been returned to nature. There's a beautiful lake with waterfowl, car park, a nice pub, lots of green parkland in all directions, plus good paths for walkers and cyclists. Just a short stroll over the hill there are marvellous views for miles along the estuary. One of our favourite places to visit in the area.

There is a very small turn off opposite the coal shaft near travis perkins its not sign posted and…read moreyou go over a very old looking one lane bridge. There is a huge free carpark that leads into the park where there is a small building with vending machines and toilets also they display some info about the site there are two small fishing lakes and loads of places to picnic or bbq At the far end is a large play area with two separate places for older and younger children There are loads of paths leading up into the mountains with long and short walks It is semi wheelchair friendly with some proper paths around the lakes and park On a fine day its a really good place for the kids to take bikes and balls and dogs

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.

Not this is a country park not just a little patch of grass in the city and its a really…read moreinteresting place. Its in the Taff gorge and encompasses a site of scientific interest with a conservation site, a canal and part of the Taff Trial. There's bird watching hide outs, water features and picnic areas too. Its a really good day out and they do lots of education stuff there do so especially good for the kids.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…read more Then a little bit more zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Go watch the water flow past in the river taff for a bit then head back for some more zzzzzzzzzz Still not worked out what is there to do and see ....

The Vale of Glamorgan has one of the highest densities of castles anywhere in the world - St…read moreQuentin's Castle is one of four within just 2 miles of the market town of Cowbridge, situated on a bluff above the river Thaw, in the nearby village of Llanblethian. History The Lordship of Llanblethian was awarded to Herbert de St Quentin in 1102. He probably built the first castle with a timber palisade, with a small stone keep with 1.2m thick walls, added later. The remains of this keep - now more a grassy knoll - are behind the gatehouse. The castle was seized from St Quentin's descendants in 1233 by one Richard Siward, who in turn lost it to Richard de Clare in 1245. His grandson, Earl Gilbert de Clare, started building more impressive fortifications around 1307, with a fine gatehouse and curtain wall. However, it is possible the castle was never completed, as de Clare was killed at Bannockburn in 1314. The castle was in limited occupation until the 17th century, at one stage being used as a prison. The site What you see today is mainly the gatehouse, which once had two portcullises: as well as the impressive Gothic-arched doorways, there are crossed-shaped arrow holes. At ground floor are two vaulted rooms, one either side of the entrance, and you can climb a set of stairs to see the scant remains at first floor level of what must have been quite impressive main rooms. The curtain wall can be traced around the site, as well as a smaller octagonal tower on the south east corner. The bailey is now a grassy park, planted with trees, with good views over the river Thaw, Cowbridge and the village of Llanblethian. It's a pleasant spot, and access if free. The remains have recently been restored and made safe by Cadw, the Welsh historic monuments agency. Practicalities The site is clearly signed from the entrance to Cowbridge from the A48, and there is parking for a few cars at the entrance, though be careful - there's a steep drop (and no fence) if you overshoot! Facilities are very basic: there is a small interpretation panel at the car park, and a few panels in the gatehouse itself. There are no footpaths around the sloping and uneven site, so wheelchair access is limited, and a rather stern notice at the entrance proclaims 'No dogs' in English and Welsh.

St Quentin's (or St Quintin's) Castle, what a hidden gem! Could be your own almost private,…read morebeautiful park, 3D humpy with steep earth mounds, lush grass, huge dominant trees, bounded and landscaped by ancient rocky stonework, not to mention the imposing structure of the gatehouse to keep your eyes moving around in their sockets. A fantastic location, a little difficult to find, high up and along little lanes wriggling out of the bustling town of Cowbridge (in Llanblethian), guarding the lush winding valley of the River Thaw. You wouldn't know the Castle was there unless actualy looking for it (which of course you can now!). On a summer's day, an ideal place to break out the picnic lunch basket and then gently stroll down to the river to walk off the indulgences; a footpath wends its way round the base of the Castle grounds in the fields by the river. Probably really spooky late evening or in the dark, for all those with more gothic leanings - bats, weird shapes, steep slopes and huge swaying trees - oooooohhh! just the thought of it too scary. The Castle itself is mostly derelict now, but the large gate house remains mostly intact and the whole thing has been adopted by CADW to ensure its future. Not enough there for a whole day out, but definitely great for a tranquil stop off after spending your pounds in the trendy little shops in Cowbridge. Hope this is helpful.

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.

Victoria Park is, apparently, one of the most popular parks in the UK. I can understand why. This…read morepark is full of flowers (beware, hay-fever sufferers), trees, winding paths and grassy areas. This is a fantastic place to bring children on a sunny summer day. Victoria Park is probably most famous for its spectacular playground and massive shallow paddling pool (in the summer). Imagine ice creams and picnics and children splashing water everywhere. Good times. There are also a number of summer events that go on in this park. Summer Fetes and Scout/Guide events, face painting and throwing wet sponges at teachers. There is also a bandstand and a cafe. The only thing wrong with this park is its popularity, as it does manage to get heavingly busy on hot days. You've been warned. I have lovely memories from Victoria Park, so could you!

A lovely traditional park, covering nearly 20 acres, situated just west of Canton, on Cowbridge…read moreRoad. It has been awarded a prestigious 'Green Flag' award and attracts over 600,000 visitors a year. It was founded in 1897 and contains a mixture of traditional flower beds, mature trees, a paddling pool, bandstand, children's playground, tennis courts, a 5-a-side football pitch, and open lawns. There's a cafe, toilets and a park-keeper's lodge - one of the few left in the UK where the keeper lives on site. The park used to have animals in a small zoo (my mother used to visit them in the early 1930s), most famously Billy the Seal; caught accidentally by a local fishing boat in 1912, he was donated to the park, living there until 1939. After he died, he was found to be female! She is commemorated by a life-size statue in the park. A great place for families and children, as well as for a quiet stroll.

Let me just say, I like deserted parks…read more Not for any perverted reason, I just enjoy wandering without being privy to passers-by (if I do happen upon a few, ones without thirty cans of cider would be preferred). That said, Alexandra Park is probably my favourite park in the Cardiff-ish area. With gardens, topiaries, and hideaway benches peppered throughout, the park offers a stunning views of Penarth once you manage to climb to the top of its commanding hill. But it's a definitely a hike worth making. Right smack in the middle is a cockatiel aviary, which I find both mesmerising and kinda sad - I'm not really a crazy-hippie-tree-hugger, but I do feel strangely compelled to rip the caging off and let the poor things out. If you tire of the wooded landscape, Alexandra Park is right across the street from the Penarth Pier, where you can grab a slice of pizza and an ice cream cone before heading to the rocky beach for a stroll.

I've living with my back garden backing onto this park for quite a while now, and in all of 600+…read morereviews, I've never before thought to review it! It's kind of like reviewing your own garden... weird. This is a lovely little park with a tangels mess of pathways amoung the wood and flowers, with excellent clear views of the Bristol Channel and beyond (if the weather prevails).

Streamleaze road park is great for the little ones ,some swings ,a slide , rope climb etc all…read moreenclosed and gated