Best routes for Beginners and Intermediates

Running is one of the most popular sports in Cardiff. This is thanks to the abundant parks and generally flat landscape, making the city one of the UK's most walkable (and runnable) cities! 

You may have vowed to live a healthier lifestyle as one of your New Year’s resolutions and decided to start running as a hobby. And yet, fast forward three months, you find yourself still procrastinating on that goal. With all the routes and places you can run, finding the perfect place and distance to run can be daunting. Don’t worry, this article has got you covered!

As a fellow running enthusiast, here are some of the top trails I would recommend for beginners and intermediates:

The Short Routes (2km - 3km)

• Blackweir Fields & Bute Park Trial (2.82km)

Located near the Talybont Residence, this trial is perfect for students near Talybont and features the gorgeous Blackweir Fields and Bute Park. You will find yourself enjoying the scenery every second of your run as you surround yourself with the natural beauty and serenity of this open grass field. The route is perfect for both beginners and intermediates and can be shortened and lengthened in distance.

• Roath Park Half Loop (1.94km)

Situated in Cathays, Roath Park is ideal for Cathays Residents to enjoy a nice stroll around the tranquil and stunning Roath Park Lake. This trial offers the convenience of starting and ending at the same place. The route can be lengthened by including the rest of Roath Park to make an intermediate route (see the moderate runs).

The moderate runs (4km - 7km)

• Castell Coch Circuit (4.90km) 

If you fancy visiting the famous Castell Coch and don’t mind taking a bus, you might enjoy this loop path, which provides beginners with a decent challenge as they progress past the 5km mark. 

• Taff Trail Loop (6.35km)

The extended version of this path features the neighbouring Llandaff Fields, which provides runners with a satisfying straight long path to finish the final stretch of their run.

• Roath Park Full Loop (7.75km)

The full loop of Roath Park allows runners to experience the full of this extensive park, featuring the wild gardens, conservatory, pleasure garden and recreational grounds.

• Cardiff City Centre Tour (5.01km)

Want to feel the hustle and bustle of the city centre? This intermediate path perfectly circles the city centre of Cardiff, allowing runners to experience the vibrant and energetic city.

 The Extensive Routes (8km -12km)

• The Taff Meadows (10.51km)

       A fully extended route which follows the River Taff and brings runners through the multiple network of fields that surround it. This route proves challenging and rewarding for experienced runners.

• Cardiff Bay Circuit (10.08km)

Featuring the downtown area of Cardiff, this Circuit is a comprehensive tour which brings runners from the docks of Cardiff Bay to the tips of Penarth and back through Grangetown. A challenging, fun and satisfying route which is best ran on a sunny day.

• Three Park Drift (12.31km)

Want to visit Heath Roath and Bute Park all in the same run? Then this is the perfect path for you! If you feel confident, you can also include Llandaff Fields and the City Centre into this route.

The Advanced Routes (13km or above)

• Bute and the Bay (15.02km)

An extension of the Taff trail which stretches into Cardiff Bay, this route offers runners a view of both the natural scenery and the city centre of Cardiff.

• The Taff Half (22.09km)

For confident runners who are preparing for a half marathon, the Taff half trial offers a route which feels intuitive and familiar, allowing runners to relax and enjoy the route without the fear of getting lost and going off far away from the city centre.