Cardiff Castle & Bute Park, Cardiff, Wales

Bute Park comprises about 46 hectares of land bounded at the southern end by the ‘Animal Wall' along Castle Street and the castle moat/docks feeder, along the eastern side by a narrow strip of land to the east of the docks feeder and on the western side by the river Taff. The park ends in the north at Blackweir where part of the river's flow is diverted into the docks feeder.

The area is about 1.8 km in length south-south-east/north-north-west and between 200 metres and 400 metres in width being about 8mOD near the castle and about 10mOD at Blackweir.

There are a number of public access points into the park.

On the south side:-

• At the West Lodge on Castle Street (ST178765) just east of the bridge over the river Taff.

On the west side:-

• Via the Water Bus landing stage on the east bank of the river Taff visible from the West Lodge entrance.

• Via the Millennium Footbridge from Sophia Gardens, about 300 metres north-north-west of West Lodge.

On the east side off North Road:-

• Via a path from the North Gate (ST181767) which runs parallel to the north wall of the Castle crossing the docks feeder adjacent to the north-west corner of the castle.

• Via the grounds of the castle mews (Welsh College of Music and Drama) and Ginko Avenue to join the above path.

• Via a path just north of the Welsh College of Music and Drama some 450 metres north-north-east of the North gate entrance crossing the docks feeder.

• Via the northern end of the North Road Car Park leading to the Blackwater Farm Lodge and entrance (ST175776), a further 600 metres north-north-west of the above entrance.

At the northernmost end at the Blackweir Gate (ST171780):-

• Via the ‘Taff Trail' from the north, which has access from Llys Talybont Road and Eastern Avenue, respectively 200 metres and 1km further along the eastern side of the river.

• From Pontcanna Fields via the Taff Trail and footbridge over the river Taff at Blackweir.

About 200 metres north of the College of Music and Drama there is also an entrance to the park from North Road which is only for vehicles on official park business (no pedestrian access).There are information boards at West Lodge, North Gate, Blackweir Farm and Blackweir entrances and at the café by the Millenium Bridge; see below for location.

From the West Lodge, what for the purposes of this description is hereafter termed the ‘main' path, heads northwards roughly parallel to the river Taff. Two side paths on the left (steps and ramp) lead to the water Bus Stop and another side path on the right heads eastward then curves round past the western wall of the castle to join the path from the North Gate.

A ‘Gorsedd' stone circle is located on the right side of the main path close to where it forks. Both forks join the path from the North Gate close to the location of the former Black Friars Dominican friary. Here some more recent brick and stonework outline the locations of the historic structures. North and east of the Black Friars site is a large area of grass known as Cooper's Field which is used for annual bonfire and fireworks displays and a variety of other occasional functions including Royal Horticultural Shows.

From Black Friars the main path (the left fork) continues northwards through areas of herbaceous borders, backed by a beech hedge and trees on the eastern side, which stretches as far as the Millennium footbridge, where there is an open air café.

Beyond the café the path continues to a four way junction. At this junction a minor path turns south-east behind the herbaceous border in the direction of the Friary, another broad pathway heads east-north-east across Cooper's Field, eventually joining with a path which for the most part follows the docks feeder from the castle to the Blackweir Farm Gate, (not to be confused with the Blackweir Gate which is the most northerly point of the park), whilst another minor path heads due north into an area of trees and camellia bushes, terminating after about 150 metres on the edge of Cooper's Field.

The main path continues on northwards parallel and close to the river passing on the east side an area of planting called the Stuttgart Garden and the Cardiff City nursery gardens (not open to the public). Here there is an Education Centre and another café with toilets. South of the nursery another path crosses Cooper's Field to join the path running close to the docks feeder.

North of the nursery area the path curves away from the river to link with the path adjacent to the docks feeder.

The main path continues in a north-westerly direction towards Blackweir Gate past playing fields on its eastern side and woodland on its western side.

The park, particularly the west side, is given over to an arboretum with many rare and fine examples of a wide variety of tree species.

At Blackweir Farm as well as the attractive lodge and old farm buildings there are also changing rooms for the playing fields and a less than attractive ambulance depot.