Cathays, a district within Cardiff, Wales, offers a blend of urban green spaces, riverside paths, and accessible trails that extend into wider natural landscapes. The area's generally flat terrain, particularly along the River Taff and within the city, makes it suitable for various outdoor activities. This geographical composition supports several sports like road cycling, jogging, touring cycling, hiking, and more. Cathays provides a convenient starting point for exploring both urban and peripheral natural environments.
Cathays…
106
Routes
4
(168)
Average rating
9706
People visited

4.4
(40)
529
riders
19.5km
01:13
80m
80m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
94
riders
86.0km
05:22
790m
790m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

48
riders
32.2km
02:09
460m
460m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
59
riders
34.3km
02:16
420m
420m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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3.3
(14)
377
riders
43.2km
01:45
90m
90m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.0
(3)
265
riders
84.0km
03:46
790m
790m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

3.5
(2)
169
riders
88.1km
04:34
700m
710m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

3.0
(1)
141
riders
49.4km
02:11
340m
340m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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4.0
(1)
24
riders
46.8km
03:46
540m
540m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

3.0
(1)
8
riders
96.9km
08:33
1,820m
1,820m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.7
(3)
7
riders
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
5
riders
63.6km
04:21
970m
970m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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3,262
runners
23.6km
02:26
90m
90m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

354
runners
10.00km
01:02
30m
30m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

133
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

93
runners
9.19km
00:58
50m
50m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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3.0
(1)
89
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(3)
87
hikers
5.20km
01:20
30m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
343
hikers
5.20km
01:20
20m
20m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
30
hikers
12.9km
03:19
60m
60m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(2)
48
riders
24.7km
01:28
200m
200m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

21
riders
93.8km
05:29
750m
750m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

11
riders
32.1km
01:58
280m
280m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(3)
12
riders
47.7km
03:05
580m
580m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Cathays offers a variety of outdoor activities including Road cycling, Jogging, Touring cycling, Hiking, Mountain biking, and Gravel biking. The region features more than 160 routes, with over 26,000 visitors contributing to an average rating of 4.44 out of 5 stars.
Yes, Cathays has over 25 hiking routes, ranging from urban park strolls to longer riverside treks. Popular options include paths through Bute Park and along the River Taff. More information can be found in the Hiking around Cathays guide.
The 'Queen Street Carousel – Castle Arcade loop' is a flat, 3.2-mile (5.1-km) walk through the city's civic center. For longer excursions, the 'Radyr Weir – Castell Coch loop' is a 13.2-mile (21.3-km) trail following the Taff Trail north to Castell Coch.
Cathays is well-suited for road cycling, with routes along the Rivers Taff and Ely, and through green spaces like Bute Park. The Road Cycling Routes around Cathays guide provides detailed options.
Yes, the 'Cardiff Bay Trail' is a popular, easy, and traffic-free 12.1-mile (19.5-km) route offering coastal views. Green spaces like Bute Park also provide tranquil urban cycling environments suitable for beginners.
The 'Blackweir Bridge and Weir – Radyr Weir loop' is a moderate 28.5-mile (45.9-km) path that follows the scenic Taff Trail. The 'Dock Feeder Canal Path – Bute Park Flower Display loop' covers 25.1 miles (40.4 km) through green spaces and along the canal.
Cathays offers 29 jogging routes, many utilizing the flat terrain of urban green spaces and riverside paths. The Running Trails around Cathays guide lists various options for joggers.
Key features include Bute Park with its arboretum and Animal Wall, the River Taff, and Cardiff Bay. Further north along the Taff Trail, the 19th-century Castell Coch is a notable destination. Cathays Park, a Grade 1 listed historic park, also features Alexandra Gardens and Gorsedd Gardens.
Many routes in Cathays are suitable for families due to the generally flat terrain and well-maintained paths. The 'Cardiff Bay Trail' is an easy, traffic-free cycling option, and Bute Park offers accessible walking paths.
Cathays' outdoor routes are highly popular on komoot, with over 26,000 visitors sharing their experiences. The routes collectively hold an average rating of 4.44 out of 5 stars, indicating a positive community reception.
Komoot offers several guides for Cathays, including Road Cycling Routes around Cathays, Running Trails around Cathays, Cycling around Cathays, and Hiking around Cathays. There are also guides for easy hikes, MTB trails, and gravel biking.
As Cathays is a district, there isn't a single official website for the entire region. However, the Cathays Community Centre serves as a local hub. Their phone number is 029 2037 3144, and their website can be found at cathays.org.uk.

