I've been Quad biking in a few different places now and while some offer little more than a field,…read morethis one really has a bit more variety and interest and being in Wales we usually have lots of mud which is essential for Quad biking! Firstly you have to do a bit of safety briefing an get used to the bikes ect, but then you get to follow the instructors out around the farm over different terrains, through the wood and such. They tailor the tour to suit the ability of the riders so don't worry if you've never been before. Trips last an hour or an hour and half, may not sound a lot but you'd be surprised by the aching the next day! They provide all the gear to keep you dry and safe. They also do other activities too such as clay shooting and gorge walking and can tailor make your Hen/Stag weekend events.

For Cardiff residents, this outdoor activity centre is practically on the city's doorstep, and…read morewhile the scenery isn't quite as striking as that of the nearby Brecon Beacons (where many Cardiffians travel to for outdoor pursuits) it's still quite an attractive area, and it's far more convenient. The centre has good quad biking facilities but lots of groups go there to do other outdoor activities such as archery, clay pigeon shooting, and cross country nature trails. They also arrange activities in other locations (including the Brecon Beacons!) such as gorge walking and even chocolate making - popular for hen parties. My friend went here to do archery, starting off with a training round on easy 'training bows', then moving on to a second scoring round with proper field target bows. It was raining, but they have an indoor barn set up to use, so it's a pretty good all-weather activity. She really enjoyed it, and it only cost about £12 per person (she was in a group of about 6). Her office is now planning a clay pigeon shooting jaunt there!

This park is a worthwhile visit, as is the rest of the village. Another smaller shop area full of…read moremany shops; some hairdressers, a bank or two, cash machines, food and drink, snacks, toiletries, gift shops, craft shops, post office, cafes, bookshops, a Christian Bookshop, a card shop and jewellery shops, hand bags, accessorises and chocolate shops. Llanishen village used to be only wooded farm land in A. D. 535. There was a Battle known as the Battle of the Heath where the Welsh Celts ended up fighting the Normans in 1089 in the north settlement. As you can rightly see all of these small areas that I have talked about in some of my reviews do have quite a lot of Welsh history to them and there is much, much more which has yet to be heard. These areas include; Rhiwbina, and Cyncoed. They are the ideal tourist spots, where you will be able to learn many things about Wales that you may never learn elsewhere and perhaps would not expect to hear at all. So I recommend this area as a must, place to visit for all people not just for tourists. There is so much to see and do there.

As a student this was the best location to go for a weekly swim to get the cardio working and to…read morenurse my aches from my rigorous sporting week. A good swim really relaxes the muscles and leaves you feeling invigorated, it's just a shame Maindy pool isn't like a health spa like Esporta, as I missed having the steam room sauna. The prices are very good, less than £3 last time I checked. The pool is a 25m six-lane pool that gets segregated into fun, slow lapse and fast lapse, depending on your goals. The changing rooms are clean and there are cubicles if you need them. Lockers need 50p coins, which are refunded when finished. There is always ample parking and easy access from the centre of town. I really enjoy the exercise element of Maindy but if you're looking for fun and slide you need to head to the swimming pool down the bay. There's a small café that's for parents to sit poolside or have a quick snack before heading off, but if you want to avoid the families get there during the day. This centre also boasts a cycle velodrome and a large gym with prices much lower than any other gym or health spa, the only exception being the university gyms.

It's easy to think you are simply faster, better, and less splashy than you actually are. In Maindy…read morepool they have this great system of three lanes - fast, medium and slow. But the definition seems to be a matter of personal opinion. Which doesn't seem to be mine. I was once in a pool in London where they defined it by how fast you swim a length. I expect people cheated there too. It's Cardiff council owned and if you have ever lived most other cities you'll know how fantastic our facilities are. In Maindy, not only do they have three lanes of indefinite definition in the pool, they have an amazing cycle track outside. There's also a gym and some hard-core yoga classes.

Ok so this is outside Cardiff but is easily reachable by car…read more It's that good that I really had to review it. So Go ape is an adventure park that creates giant obstacles up in the sky using ladders, zip wires, stain your pants high wiring balancing acts. The day we went was quite miserable and cold which did dampen the fun a little bit. However with the cracking staff onsite there wasn't a moment of hilarity as you watch your steely hard mates start to whimper at the prospects of clearing an area with nothing more than a small wire across it. For the fear mongers amongst us, this is totally safe, you have so much equipment as a precaution that I really wasn't worried at all. The staff are there to help you and cater for anything you need, specially some bottle for parts of the hairy course. All in all this is a fantastic day out for adults, family, kids. Whoever you are you must try it.

Winding its way from Cardiff Bay's sparkling waterfront in the south through the South Wales…read moreValleys and up to the market town of Brecon further north, the 55-mile long Taff Trail passes through a wide variety of urban and rural Welsh landscapes. Used by both cyclists and walkers, much of it is traffic free - following the line of former tramway, canal and railway routes. Lots of people use a particular stretch of the Taff Trail to cycle to work or for leisure outings, while more serious cyclists and walkers complete the whole thing. Some of the route is suitable for all abilities of walkers or cyclists (such as the trail through Cardiff's Bute Park), whereas other parts are more remote and strenuous and require a certain level of fitness and planning. For those who want to do the trail in just one direction, the handy Beacons Bike Bus runs between Cardiff and Brecon on Sundays during the summer months to transport you back to where you started!

The Taff Trail stretches from Brecon, a market town in mid wales, down 55 miles to Cardiff Bay on…read morethe south coast. This is a truly remarkable cycling (or walking if you're crazed) tour that can be done over a period of a couple of days, or just in sections when and as you like. Along the way there are facilities and camping grounds nestled in some of the most superb countryside that South Wales has to offer. The trail makes its way through the Brecon Beacons, a spectacular national park, and then on through the Valleys. If you want to spend some time in the rolling Welsh hills, there's no better way to do it. The cycle route is challenging without being too difficult for the average cyclist. This is mainly due to some long hills between Brecon and Pontsarn, but then it's all downhill. Literally. Whichever way you're travelling. The trail is suitable for people of all ages, and does not tend to be too busy. You can really get out into the thick of it.

Barry leisure is my local and as a lifestyle member I get to use all the facilities of the three…read moreparticipating leisure centers. The best thing about Barry is the fact that there are at least three pilates classes a week and as someone who only deals with really low impact exercise you can see how this would appeal. For the less lazy, there is cardio, circuits and aerobics. Like the other two centers you'll find a decent sized pool and a health suite with sauna, steam room and jacuzzi as well as sunbeds and of course the obligatory water slide. A local leisure center is great for just dropping in without paying a hefty annual fee, a much underrated service in my opinion.

I used to work very close to this leisure centre, so tried it out a few times for pilates and other…read moreexercise classes. It's a friendly place, with good facilities, and my only gripe would be that the changing rooms and showers offer no privacy! I don't know about you, but I don't really fancy bumping into one of my colleagues naked in the changing rooms... If that doesn't bother you, however, the centre has a good range of activities on offer. Classes include aqua aerobics, circuit training, Tone & Stretch, Pilates, Cardio Tone, Body Blast, Boxfit, and Young at Heart (for older people) - amongst many others. In addition to the regular classes in the main sports hall area, there are swimming pools (a main pool and a small pool, with reasonable prices), plus there's a gym, squash courts, and a health suite (which includes a steam room and a sauna).

This lovely woodland area, which is open to the public, is set in open countryside just north of…read morePontprennau, one of the newer suburbs of Cardiff. It's popular with horse riders because there's a woodland jump trail, and also with cyclists and joggers because of the network of forest paths. The woods are on quite high ground overlooking the river Rhymney valley and they're a lovely place for a stroll, particularly in the Springtime when the wild flowers are all out. Some of the trees have been stood here since 1600, so parts of the woodland are ancient and very well-established and have been designated a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (because of all the plants, birds and invertebrates the area supports). If you fancy a visit, the main entrance can be found on the western edge of the woods from Cefn Porth Road, where there's a handy car park.

Ah the Rec! I went on so many sorry excuses for a school trip here I've lost count. It played a…read moremassive part in my childhood and teens and I've always spent a good portion of time here as an adult. They have skate parks both inside and outside at various points in the year and these have become a regular haunt for troubled teens, judging by the amount of graffiti knocking about. There's a decent park for smaller children which is pretty large and well equipped. The interior of the Rec is fairly old hat and dated nowadays but it's still got plenty on. It's pretty much the main hub of activity and fitness for the town. There's a swimming pool where pretty much everyone from my generation had a birthday party at some point. It's got a wave machine, large floats and a water slide which is pretty cool. There's a really well stocked gym with plenty of equipment and squash and badminton courts downstairs too, which can also be used as basketball courts and for football. There's a special oldies gym upstairs which is always popular. They also have a large function room which has been used for gigs, parties, competitions etc. There's a jacuzzi and a sauna which is a great place to chill out after a workout or a swim too. To get access to all these services you need a bridge card, or for certain things such as squash and badminton you can pay a one off fee providing no-ones pre-booked a court . A bridge card is £31 a month and it means you can book ahead. With that fee you can use most of the services for free and there's no annual contract either. You can also use it in most leisure centres in the area and use their services for free too. It's not a bad deal if you're going down there regularly but if not it can seem a bit expensive. It's a great local facility though and they used to put gigs on there every week for local bands, which is what made me fall in love with the place, as you were playing to at least two or three hundred people a week. Sadly they don't put many gigs on anymore but it's still an essential facility for the people of Bridgend.

Good facilities, massive fields area behind with rugby pitch, cricket pitches and athletics club…read more The rec doesnt have a fitness pool but its more of a family mess around pool with slides and waves machine. Never been to the gym here so cant comment on it. Sports hall is to a good standard. Lots of information available on upcoming events/courses, and staff are all to willing to explain and help you with anything.