The Barrage is a great place for a relaxing walk or a bit of boat-watching, and on a clear day you can see right across the Bristol Channel to where our English bretherin live. It's a bit of a walk from the bay, probably about half an hour, but it's a very pleasant one and there's some interesting scenery on the way, ranging from old warehouses to small historic displays. Once you reach the Barrage you'll be treated to stunning views of the whole of the Bay, and if you're here at sunset then there are some brilliant photo opportunities to be had. There's also plentiful fishing to be had and it can be a good spot for bird-watching if it's the right time of year. There are regular benches along the way if you need a quick break and some toilet stops if you forgot to go back in the Bay. At the middle of the Barrage there's a small decking area with some sail-like structures above it that make for a nice quiet spot if you want to pause and take in the view, or if you just want to go somewhere for some me-time. And of course there's the barrage gates where you can watch the comings and goings of the boats and the lock mechanisms in action. read more

Cardiff Bay Barrage - View outwards from the Barrage - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Penarth, VGL

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This is my favourite place to walk, run, skip or cycle in the whole of Cardiff. It takes about half an hour (if you walk, if you skip its a little less) to get to the barrage, at a nice pace, and along the way you will pass many a scene worth taking in from the skater park, to an outside exhibition about the importance coal had in the south Wales economy etc etc etc. When you get to the barrage you can watch boats of all shape and sizes (depending on the depth of the owners pockets) leaving and coming into the bay through its impressive mechanical locks. I'm nowhere near describing how nice it can be to experience this walk so all I'll say is if you are in the bay and have an hour or so to spare then take a walk down to the barrage and you will not be disappointed. read more

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I love cycling, and I like to cycle everywhere and my particular favourite place to cycle is the Cardiff Bay barrage that runs through from the south of Cardiff Bay up to the North of Penarth. This is also a key place for photographers as you can achieve some spectacular shots with the views you will see. This is such a great idea particularly for events because everyone from Penarth can travel down to the bay just by walking and vice versa. As I mentioned I cycle there nearly every day, and I'm not the only one as it is a very popular area for cyclists to visit and even cycle to Penarth and back again. You have many things along the way on the barrage including a bicycle hire company named Pedal Power where you can hire a bike for an hour for £5 which is worth it if you're planning to spend a day on the barrage or even go further around the bay or Penarth. The most fun I had on the barrage was a beautiful hot summer Saturday with some friends. The weather was gorgeous which made the barrage extremely busy with cyclists, adults, children, dogs and who knows what else! But that created a lovely atmosphere. My friends and I played some games with a ball on the large land of green there is then we went to skim some stones. That's right, you can skim stones on the water! My best was two skims; I'm not very good. If you're a skater there is even a skate park, which they recently added that is constantly full of people doing all sorts of tricks on their bikes and skateboards. The Cardiff Bay Barrage is an excellent site to visit if you want to have a day out or even just pass through it to see the lovely views on a nice day. But why pass through? You should stop, have a picnic there whilst sitting and enjoying that blissful sun. Don't forget your sun cream! read more

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It was a long, long wait, but finally we have the barrage completed. Now it's fully open to the public and is a great place to take the air. On a clear day the views of Cardiff Bay (now technically a harbour) are impressive, as are the views out in the Bristol Channel; over to Flat Holm Island and England. Although not very far from land, walking across the barrage is indeed a strange experience due to the great amount of water on each side of you. But please don't worry; you're not going to be made to walk the tight rope. The barrage is a sturdy structure which always surprises me by its width and the wildlife and vegetation that grows out there. I recommend starting at the Penarth end, as there's more parking available (and soon to be a cafe). Take a jaunt across, and then treat yourself to a hot chocolate in the Norwegian Church. Please be warned that, oddly enough, it can get windy while walking the barrage. Don't wear a hat. It should also be noted that the barrage closes at 8pm during the winter months. read more

Cardiff Bay Barrage - http://www.visitcardiffbay.info/partner.php?id=17&section=5 - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Penarth, VGL

A walk to Cardiff Bay Barrage is sure to cheer you up whatever the weather. Not only is is free and good exercise it also has loads to do along the way. For adults there are two refreshment stands, beautiful scenery and loads of history to learn about. For kids there is a skate park a play area and on a hot day water shallow enough to paddle in. There are two sets of toilets for public use. One opposite the skate park and one nearer to the barrage itself. A walk to the barrage ( without pit stops) from Cardiff Bay will take you about half an hour. When you get to the barrage itself you will be able to watch the boats passing in and out of the locks. Some of the boats that pass through are totally amazing... others are little bigger than fishing boats. Which reminds me..... This is a great little location if your are a keen fisherman to kick back and relax with your rods! read more

Since the creation of the £220 million barrage, Cardiff Bay has become a sheltered freshwater bay that's always full of water, whereas beforehand it was tidal - revealing great expanses of mud flats when the tide was out. I quite liked the natural patterns created in the mud flats, but for the restaurants and bars in this part of Cardiff the sparkly waterside location does have a far greater appeal. You can walk across the breezy barrage in about quarter of an hour, as it's only just over a kilometre long, with views over the Bay on one side and the sea of the Bristol Channel on the other. There's a landscaped embankment, a children's play area, an exhibition about the age of coal, and a sea fishing zone. And since the barrage now links Cardiff with the seaside town of Penarth, it also offers a new option for some commuters. read more

Enjoy romantic walks on the bay's Barrage, where even Torchwood BBC TV series has been known to have filmed and the Doctor Who BBC TV series! Along your walks you could visit the children's play ground; whiteness the great views of the city and the stunning waterways. This man-made area could seem like a wall guarding Cardiff Bay waters; from the outside world and from the next door neighbour of sea water. Two Yacht clubs have thousands of activities for you to do and several commercial operators help link the Bay with the city centers, as does the water transportation. The sea fishing zone and the age of coal exhibition exists around the barrage area too. From 7am - 10pm people our allowed admission onto the barrage. The barrage has been awarded for a winning civil engineering project this is how the Bay has such clean water today. I would recommend to all, especially to couples romantically in love. read more

This excellent development provides a convenient link between Penarth and Cardiff Bay. Excellent for both bike rides and walks, the scenic views are best enjoyed during glorious sunshine. A quite unique walk, it shouldn't take longer than an hour, with many people capable of walking from one side to another in approximately half an hour. For cyclists, it can provide a great setting for bike rides with the smooth tarmac an ideal surface. Along the way, there are a number of attractions and notable views. With a skate park, children's play area and public toilets all dotted along the way, there's certainly a number of incentives to take the pleasant walk along the barrage for all age groups. In the winter months, this might not be such a pleasant experience on a wet and windy day, particularly as the walk is quite exposed to the wind. However, the more pleasant months enable people of all ages to enjoy the benefits of this great construction. read more

The arrival of Cardiff Bay's Barrage a few years back has been an important part of the Bay's development. If you're up for a fairly long walk you can head all the way from Cardiff Bay (by the Welsh Assembly) along the Barrage to Penarth. There is a Bascule bridge along the way that sometimes has to go up for boats to pass through, so you have to be prepared to wait a little while. The barrage itself has created a harbour in Cardiff Bay that has allowed a maintained level of water as well as more natural life in the area. Cardiff Bay is only becoming a more popular place to go for a day out or an afternoon or an evening in Cardiff, and it is partly down the arrival of the Barrage that this is the case. We salute you, Cardiff Bay Barrage. read more

The barrage really has been very good for Cardiff Bay and it's rejuvenation. Instead of the horrible mud slaps that we used too se when the tide was out we now have a lovely Bay full of water. This has meant that it is now much easier to enjoy activities such as sailing, take a water taxi, or simply enjoy the picturesque view. The Barrage itself is not too long (it takes around 15-20 minutes to cross), and is particularly handy for those who live in Penarth to be able to cycle to work. I must admit I find it quite funny that a barrage has become a real Cardiff hotspot! On weekends (weather permitting), both tourists and locals flock to the barrage to take leisurely strolls across it, and there is a real buzzing atmosphere. The only inevitable downside is that nearby parking can become difficult, but to be honest, that's a sacrifice I'm quite happy to make. read more

Cardiff Bay Barrage is one of my favourite places to visit in Cardiff. It's ideal for a leisurely walk in the summer or winter time. It was built as part of the docks regeneration and means that the bay is not subject to tides and therefore the marina has become really popular with boat owners. The barrage site itself is accessed from Penarth (follow the signs for Penarth Marina). There is a car park next to it which is very reasonable and then you can walk across the whole length of the barrage. The barrage includes locks and bridges, sluice gates, and a fish pass. The locks are great for nosing at peoples boats as they are trapped waiting for the water level to rise! Once you have walked past the locks you come to a landscaped embankment where you can sit and enjoy the great view or walk further on to a fun childrens park. There is also a tea/coffee/ice cream vendor - they sell pasties and sandwiches etc too. You can also catch a boat from Cardiff Bay out to the Barrage and get off and have a walk around before catching one of the boats back. In the summer it's a good place to watch any of the sailing or watersport competitions. read more

A good spot to chill out with a Starbucks and watch the boats go by. However, during this check in I noticed a lot more chavvy looking types hanging around. Probably not a regular thing. read more

An impressive piece of engineering that has transformed the bay's unattractive mudflats into a large freshwater lake. I read somewhere that it cost about a quarter of a billion to construct this but judging by the amount of development that has sprung up in the area it has definitely paid off. We drove to Penarth and walked across the barrage to all the attractions and caught the water-taxi back. One of the best city waterfronts out there. Well done to the Welsh. read more

its a good place to cycle across , watch the boats and locks and then go for a drink