Heathfield

Castell Coch

Tongwynlais · 16 miles

Perched above Tongwynlais in the Taff Gorge, Castell Coch presents a 19th-century Gothic Revival structure that rests on the foundations of earlier medieval fortifications. The first stronghold on the site dates from shortly after 1081, when the Normans erected an earth-work motte to defend the newly taken town of Cardiff and to oversee the river route. A stone castle was later added by Gilbert de Clare between 1267 and 1277, incorporating a shell wall, towers and a gatehouse, before being probably destroyed during the Welsh uprising of 1314. The ruins passed into the possession of the Bute family in 1760; in 1875 the 3rd Marquess of Bute commissioned architect William Burges to rebuild the exterior as a summer country residence, with interior decoration completed by Burges’s team in 1891. The property entered state care in 1950 and is now administered by Cadw. Visitors can explore the dramatic silhouette of the three stone towers and the richly ornamented Victorian interiors, which feature bespoke furniture and symbolic motifs drawn from classical and legendary sources. The surrounding beech woods, designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, contain rare plants and notable geological formations. Access is provided by footpaths from the nearby car park, although the site is not wheelchair accessible. Opening times are published on the Cadw listing, and admission is managed by the heritage agency. No on-site facilities such as cafés or shops are recorded, so visitors may wish to bring refreshments.

Roath Park

Lakeside · 17 miles

A classic Victorian atmosphere surrounds a 130-acre stretch of reclaimed bogland in Cardiff, Wales, where a 30-acre lake winds for 1.3 miles around a series of islands that provide safe nesting for waterbirds. Managed by Cardiff County Council’s Parks Section, the site offers a glass-house conservatory, two well-equipped playgrounds, bowling greens, tennis courts, and sports pitches for football, rugby union and baseball. Rowing boats can be hired on the lake, which also supports coarse fishing and a radio-controlled-boat society, while the surrounding gardens – including Wild, Botanical, Rose and Pleasure Gardens – display floral displays and a wild-flower area designed to encourage native wildlife. The park is listed as a Green Flag award holder, reflecting its recognised quality and importance to the city. The park’s development began after a proposal in 1886 and a 1887 donation of the land, principally by John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute. Design work involved Bute’s head gardener Andrew Pettigrew, his son William Wallace and chief engineer William Harpur, leading to the first public opening in 1894 and further phased openings over the next two decades. A lighthouse erected in 1915 commemorates Captain Scott’s Antarctic expedition, and the whole area retains its Victorian and Edwardian character, being Grade I listed on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register. Volunteer “Friends” groups cooperate with the council to maintain both the northern and south-eastern sections, and a cycle path added in 2024 widens the southern edge for cyclists. OpenStreetMap records the park as a public green space nearest to the town of Lakeside, with no admission charge and standard visitor facilities provided throughout.

Insole Court

Llandaff · 19 miles

Victorian Gothic architecture dominates the former mansion set within the historic suburb of Llandaff, Cardiff. Constructed in 1855 for the coal-merchant James Harvey Insole, the house began as a modest double-fronted residence called Ely Court. Prosperity in the 1870s prompted a Gothic Revival makeover, adding a neo-Gothic tower and a smoking room at its summit, while a 1906 extension introduced larger panelled rooms, a guest wing, central heating and electricity. The estate, once 57 acres, was bought by Cardiff Council in 1932 and reduced to the house and ornamental gardens after surrounding land was developed for housing. Managed by the Insole Court Trust since 2016, the ground floor reopened to the public in September 2017 and the first floor followed in 2018 with an exhibition charting the Insole family’s story. Visitors can explore the mansion free of charge, use the on-site shop and Reading Room, and view the stable yard and extensive gardens, all of which are step-free for wheelchair users. The Potting Shed Café provides refreshments, and the venue offers room-hire facilities for private events. Daily classes and activities are held on the site, and opening times are published on the official listing. The property remains open every day, with no admission fee, and retains its Grade II* listed status alongside Grade II stable buildings and historic gardens.

The Forgotten 53 Memorial

Tafarnaubach · 2.5 miles

Memorial to the 53 lives lost in the 4 mining desasters within Tredegar including Bedwellty Pits and Pochin Colliery

Capel-y-Brithdir

New Tredegar · 3.1 miles

Demolished in 1960, only foundations remain with a central monument stone

Soar-Y-Graig Welsh Independent Chapel

Llechryd · 3.1 miles

Built in 1839 but had fallen derelict by 1997. All that remains are the stone walls.