7 of the best places in Cardiff to see autumn leaves

The colours of autumn are slowly breaking through and it won’t be long before the parks and woodlands of Cardiff are a beautiful collage of golden red, brown, yellow and orange as we fully embrace autumn.

If you’re feeling ready for crisp autumn walks in Cardiff then here are some of our favourite places to visit. Let me know any I’ve missed.

1. Roath Park and Lake

Lake Road West, Cardiff, CF23 5PH

A place worth visiting all year round but it’s especially lovely on crisp autumn mornings and late afternoons when the low sun reflects off the lake and the trees in the adjoining pleasure gardens begin to change colour.

There’s plenty of free on-street parking around the lake or it’s accessible by bus/train, plus there’s toilet facilities, a café and a huge playground. The glasshouse conservatory is also worth a visit, with tropical plants, terrapins and koi (small admission fee applies).

2. Cefn Onn Country Park

Cherry Orchard Road, Lisvane, Cardiff, CF14 0UE

One of my absolute favourite places at this time of year, when the red leaves are so vibrantly beautiful. There’s a pond, small streams, lots of different varieties of trees and plants, and wildlife to spot. There’s a free car park, basic toilet facilities and a small coffee kiosk (current open hours, Friday to Sunday 8am-3pm).

3. Fforest Fawr sculpture trail

Car park address, near Castell Coch, Tongwynlais, Cardiff, CF15 7JR (wide postcode area, use google maps for precise directions)

Beautiful shades of autumn plus a magical sculpture trail featuring creatures that have lived in the woods over the centuries and some older sculptures on the theme of magic and myths, plus wooden dens and fallen trees to climb on. The sculpture trail itself is 1¼ miles/2 km, with mostly flat wide paths which are great for little legs and are also buggy and wheelchair accessible; longer walks are available around the woodlands. Free parking but no toilet or other facilities. For public transport, several buses go to Tongwynlais, and it’s then a 20 minute walk.

4. Alexandra Gardens

King Edward VII Ave, CF10 3NB

Located in the Civic Centre in the middle of Cardiff, Alexandra Gardens is a really calming place to walk around. It’s home to Wales’ National War Memorial and I always find it quite humbling visiting here. It’s well-known locally for its pink spring blossoms but I love it at this time of year when the browns and goldens frame the memorial beautifully. Pay and display parking around the civic centre or easily accessible by bus and train. Great if you’re visiting National Museum Cardiff or Millicent Mackenzie playground is nearby too.

5. Bute Park

North Road, Cardiff CF10 3ER (lots of places to park in the city centre and on the Taff Trail)

The green heart of the city, gifted to the people of Cardiff by the Fifth Marquis of Bute around 80 years ago and treasured by locals and visitors alike. Its arboretum contains more than 3,000 trees, some of which are rare and ornamental, and you don’t have to walk too far to see the glow of autumn leaves. There’s lots to do at Bute Park, including wooden sculpture and music trails, wooden play equipment, the remains of an old friary, three coffee shops, toilets, visitor centre and more.

6. Heath Park

King George V Drive East, CF14 4EN

I’m always surprised by how many people living in Cardiff have never been here. It’s a huge park with a good playground, coffee kiosk, tennis courts, Heath Park Model Railway (open selected days Spring to Autumn), large fields popular with local sports clubs, plus lots of beautiful woodland to explore. The area around the tennis courts and pond is especially lovely in the autumn. Pay and display parking, toilet attached to Brodie’s coffee kiosk (see their website for up to date opening hours), it’s accessible by bus or a short walk from Heath High Level and Heath Low Level stations.

7. Llandaff Fields

Pontcanna, CF11 9HZ

This used to be one of our favourite places for conker collecting when my children were younger and the long wide tree-lined paths are great for little kids on bikes and scooters as well as autumn colours. There’s a good playground, Café Castan onsite for drinks and snacks, and for toilet facilities, plus you’re close to other local coffee shops too. It’s home to Junior Parkrun on Sundays at 9.30am (check their website for latest updates).

Some other ideas too: Insole Court is great for conker collecting; Forest Farm and Glamorganshire Canal, beautiful waterside woods; Nant Fawr Woods, a lovely place to explore near Roath Lake.

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