Cardiff is surrounded by beautiful Welsh mountains, national parks, stunning beaches, unmissable attractions and a lot of history, planning how to chill out on a weekend within an hour of the Welsh capital isn’t easy when there is so much to offer. Here’s a selection of things to do within an hours drive of our Cathedral House development:
Brecon Mountain Railway
Meander through the unspoilt countryside and the Brecon Beacons National Park, hop off at the reservoirs and follow guided paths to enjoy the even more spectacular scenery. The railway line sits at the foothills of the Beacons and chugs parallel to the Pontsticill reservoir, take the line all the way to Pant to the north of Merthyr Tydfil. Or, just over an hour from Cardiff, drive through the Brecon Beacons to Hay-on-Wye where our development Bookers Edge is coming soon.
Caerphilly Castle
The largest castle in Wales and the second largest in the UK, Caerphilly isn’t just famous for its cheese! Surrounded by a series of moats and watery islands, the castle is famous for its leaning tower which has leaned 3metres out of the perpendicular for over 350 years. Take a walk over the drawbridge to enter the main part of the castle or enjoy a stroll around the grounds which are often used for film and TV. Less than 20 minutes by train from Cardiff centre, this is one not to miss.
Waterfall Country
If a vista of mountains is your thing then the Vale of Neath boasts nine waterfalls in picturesque valleys. Walk through the mountains and discover the stunning water features, walk behind them and spot rainbows running through them on a sunny day. The area has long been an inspiration to many artists, you can sit and paint the landscape all day long or don your walking boots and get your camera out. The natural unspoilt views are breathtaking.
Pen y Fan
In the Brecon Beacons National Park, you will find the highest mountain in South Wales and it is one of the three mountains which form the Welsh three peaks challenge. A steep climb to the summit offers you the opportunity to take the Horseshoe walk at the top, sit and enjoy the magnificent views or head straight back down the mountain at your own pace. Due to the high altitude, the weather usually differs at the top to the bottom, it may be sunny at Cathedral House but it could be snowing on Pen y Fan!
Ogmore-by-Sea
Cardiff is surrounded by an expanse of the coastline of which the Welsh coast path enables you to walk the whole distance. Just west of Cardiff and into the Vale of Glamorgan lies Ogmore-by-Sea, a rocky coastline when the tide is in and a wide sandy beach at low tide. Take a walk along the cliffs, ride a horse on the beach, run through the dunes at Merthyr Mawr or pack a picnic and relax on the beach with lovely views of the Bristol Channel. Our new development, Horizon, is coming soon to Ogmore-by-Sea.
