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.

Oh, wow. I love…read morestumbling across old childhood memories and getting ridiculously excited about them all over again. Llanishen Leisure Centre is one of those places. As an excited child, I recall this place seeming like it took over an age to get to, so was surprised to drive past it the other day and discover that it wasn't 20,000 miles outside Cardiff like I'd always imagined. In actuality it's an easy 15 minute drive from the centre. Who knew? Llanishen Leisure Centre has the most spectacular of swimming pools. Oh, the fun and jollity I did have there. There is a fountain and hundreds of floats and giant balls the big kids always tried to stand on (I was resolute that I was not tall enough/I was a coward). There is also, majesty of majesty, a wave machine. A giant wave machine! The pool itself has a gradual incline from one end so you can walk in as you might walk into the sea. This means that the pool is great for all ages, and it's easy to keep an eye on the extra small ones with the help of the ever present lifeguard. When the siren for the waves (yay!) goes off, they actually break and roll up the side of the pool, making great sport for active imaginations. Llanishen Leisure Centre also has a whole heap of badminton and squash courts, a gym, yoga, swimming lessons and a pool-side cafe and pool tables. Did I mention the wave machine?

Tried to book a handful of slots on their shockingly slow, clunky and useless website. It only gave…read moreme the option to book one, impossible to book more than that. Thought I'd try phoning the helpline to speak to someone who could talk me through it. Spent ages going through all the options only to be hung up on after requesting to speak to an advisor. Appalling customer service the last time I went there, but thought I'd give it another try. never, ever again. Anyone wanting to go there should look at all the awful reviews online about this place and make their mind up.

If you're visiting the enchanting fairytale castle of Castell Coch, it's well worth exploring this…read moreancient woodland that surrounds it, and the sculpture trail of public art. It's Forestry Commission Beech woodland linked to the castle by public rights of Way, and is popular with walkers and horse riders. It's also along the Taff Trail route, so you can walk or cycle directly to or from Cardiff to Castell Coch and its woodlands In the Springtime, particularly May, it's especially beautiful - as is the case with many of Cardiff's woodlands. The rather 'aromatic' white garlic flowers carpet the woodland floor, along with bluebells and wood anemone - and this is one of the best times to visit.

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!

A group of us did Heist with escape reality it was really good fun and defiantly made you think!…read moreThe first room was very hard! Harder than we'd imagined, so defiantly get your thinking caps on! All the staff there are great! our guide was Cheryl and she was fab. I'll defiantly be going back!

This unspoilt woodland is a great place to walk the dog, and like all woodlands it changes with the…read moreseasons so you get a different experience each time you visit. You feel a lot further from the city than you actually are, and the various ponds, streams and springs mean you can spot lots of wildlife, particularly ducks (and ducklings, in the spring!). The woods are also full of wild flowers, especially in the spring, with more than 50 species recorded there. The area is also home to some interesting historical features such as the disused Radyr Quarry with a craggy rock face, and a spring that is associated with a 6th century hermit. There are noticeboards dotted about the woods pointing out things of interest.

St Cenydd Leisure Centre is a council run fitness facility on the site of St Cenydd Comprehensive…read moreSchool. In an area of town that doesn't have a lot to offer within walking distance, it provides a great service to the surrounding residents, with a gym and dance studio upstairs and a large hall downstairs that can be hired out for football, netball, etc. The gym has a good selection of utilities to get a full, effective workout done, with a full dumbbell rack (with weights ranging from 7.5-45 kilos), a lat pull-down machine, leg extension and leg curl machines and a chest press, as well as various cardio equipment and rowing machines. However, as it is a council run gym, there are some factors that can be quite annoying at times when trying to fit in a consistent training routine, such as frequent holiday closures. Also, as it is used by the school during school times it means that facilities are closed to the public in school hours. One of the main let-downs of this facility is its lack of a swimming pool. With most other leisure centres in the surrounding area owning a pool, it's a black mark against this venue; which is a shame as it could have easily made this good leisure centre a great one.

I didn't even know this leisure cente existed!!! I was looking for a venue to host my little boy's…read morefirst, proper birthday party. This place was recommended by a friend. They have a fantastic dance studio which is hired out for parties. It is light, airy and spacious. The receptionist is first class at her job; she is very helpful and friendly and puts you at ease. There is a fantastic atmosphere as you go in and the place is buzzing!! It is extremely well used and very popular! I am so glad I have found this gem of a leisure centre!!!

All through primary school, I went swimming here every Friday evening. My overriding memories of it…read moreinclude that ravenously hungry feeling you get after swimming and giggling at naked women in the showers. I've moved on since then, I like to think. Fairwater Leisure Centre has everything you really need in a leisure centre. There is a large indoor swimming pool, a skate park, badminton and squash courts and a small gym (which tends to be quieter than some, so there's not too much queuing for equipment). The standard of the facilities is pretty high. The staff are friendly and there are swimming lessons available for all levels. An excellent addition, I think, is that there is a female only swimming period on Thursdays. So if you're worried for any reason about swimming in public, this is a great option.

Another of Cardiff's particularly unattractive leisure centres, Fairwater does however have some…read moregood facilities, including an outdoor skate park with a range of ramps - something which isn't in great abundance in Cardiff. Apart from that, there are four badminton courts, several squash courts, a fitness suite and a pool measuring 25 metres by 12.5 metres. As is the case with all of Cardiff's local leisure centres, they offer a good range of classes such as aerobics and yoga, plus plenty aimed at children ranging from creches to gymnastics, trampolining and active holiday programmes. They also have some sessions aimed at the over 50s, and host women's mornings (though I'm never sure quite what they do at such mornings: knit? gossip? I have no idea). If only they could give the outside of this place a facelift, it wouldn't feel so depressing going inside...

There is so much to do and see in Roath Park that each activity almost warrants its own category…read more One of the things to do is take you kids to the playground. A few words of warning though - if you go at the obvious times your kid may have to wait for a go of a swing or a slide as it gets pretty popular. My advice is to go there on a sunny weekday afternoon rather than a weekend and you're child is guaranteed the run fo the place. There is a variety of swings, a big slide built into the banking, a small slide, climbing frames, roundabouts all you need to keep you occupied for an hour or so, sorry I meant all you need to keep you children occupied - I didn't have a go on any of them honestly!

Such a cute park! I had tons of fun with my aunt and 2 younger cousins on the pedal boats (word to…read morethe wise : AVOID the algae, we ended up getting trapped and had to get a friendly couple to push us out XD). The boat is also quite a workout, we ended up getting lazy and making the 8 year old and the 12 year old pedal, classic haha! Lovely place to walk around, had a playground for the kiddies. Very enjoyable hour or so spent here.

For anyone into fishing, Hendre Lake Park in the St Mellon's area of the city is well worth knowing…read moreabout. The whole park is centred around the big 10-acre lake - where you'll also often spot local school children enjoying some educational pond-dipping sessions during the week. It's right next to a substantial residential housing area, so tends to be well-used and is far from 'remote' - but it's a pleasant enough space for a walk and some wildlife spotting. There's been quite a bit of European Union funding given to the project, and the lake is constantly being improved to make the fishing better there. Most of the park falls within the Gwent Levels Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of all the rare and protected plants that grow in the area, particularly in the reens (which are historic ditches criss crossing the area). The lake itself is obviously used for fishing and by schools for environmental studies, but there are also pathways running around the edge for casual walkers and joggers.