In otherwise flat Cardiff, one can see the green protrusion of Garth Hill from miles away. This gentle mountain, located between Llantwit Fardre and Pentyrch about 8 miles to the northwest of Cardiff, is chock full of runnable hiking trails. While a bit of elevation gain is necessary to summit the hill, most of the paths are nice doubletrack over spongy grass or smooth dirt. There are a variety of routes to choose from, but we’ve mapped a straightforward 4 km loop starting from Route des Alpes.
Gareth James
Features:
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Essentials
- 4 km (2.5 miles)
- 112 meters (366 feet)
- Route des Alpes
- Route des Alpes
Current Weather & Forecast
Cardiff, GB
1:46 am,
Jun 19, 2026
clear sky
17°C
L: 15°
H: 17°
Daily ForecastHourly Forecast
Today
10:00 pm
15° / 17°°C
0 mm
0%
12 mph
83 %
1014 mb
0 mm/h
Tomorrow
10:00 pm
18° / 28°°C
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0%
9 mph
83 %
1023 mb
0 mm/h
Sunday
10:00 pm
18° / 26°°C
0.2 mm
20%
11 mph
80 %
1026 mb
0 mm/h
Monday
10:00 pm
17° / 29°°C
0.2 mm
20%
9 mph
80 %
1026 mb
0 mm/h
Tuesday
10:00 pm
19° / 34°°C
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0%
10 mph
70 %
1023 mb
0 mm/h
Today
4:00 am
17° / 18°°C
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3 mph
83 %
1013 mb
0 mm/h
Today
7:00 am
19° / 19°°C
0 mm
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3 mph
74 %
1013 mb
0 mm/h
Today
10:00 am
23° / 23°°C
0 mm
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5 mph
54 %
1012 mb
0 mm/h
Today
1:00 pm
27° / 27°°C
0 mm
0%
9 mph
41 %
1012 mb
0 mm/h
Today
4:00 pm
26° / 26°°C
0 mm
0%
12 mph
36 %
1012 mb
0 mm/h
Today
7:00 pm
24° / 24°°C
0 mm
0%
11 mph
39 %
1012 mb
0 mm/h
Today
10:00 pm
20° / 20°°C
0 mm
0%
7 mph
63 %
1014 mb
0 mm/h
Other Routes in Cardiff, Wales
The pinnacle of running in Cardiff is the network of parks and multi-use paths surrounding the River Taff. There are many options for running here, including paths along the Canal and River, and in the adjacent fields, parks, and heaths.
A supremely satisfying 10 km loop around Cardiff’s southern waterfront, the Cardiff Bay Trail keeps runs interesting with a variety of surfaces, from concrete and brick to asphalt and bouncy boardwalk.
Located due north of Cardiff Center, Roath Park is one of the most popular recreation areas in the city. Runners will enjoy miles of gravel paths along a 2+ mile long linear park that features a brook, lake, fields, and gardens.
Run the grounds of Castell Coch, 6 miles north of the city, which feature a network of gravel paths sprawling across the Forest Fawr. These trails are wooded and serene, but smooth and non-technical.
Lovely running along the River Ely, in the western part of Cardiff. We've mapped a riverfront route from Grangemoor Park to Sanatorium Park, and a separate route to St. Fagans, with its historic village and attractive Castle grounds.
Best Cardiff Neighborhoods for Running
Cardiff, Wales
Cardiff is a rather small city with pedestrian friendly streets and sidewalks. Visitors will find plenty of charm in Cardiff’s upper scale residential neighborhoods. We love running in the Penylan, Pontcanna, and Penarth neighborhoods.
Looking for some fun and friendly competition? Cardiff hosts a selection of Parkruns across the city in locations including Bute Park, Trelai Park, Grangemoor Park, and Tremorfa.
Brecon Beacons is one of the jewels of Wales, located about 55 km to the north of Cardiff at the terminus of the River Taff Trail. We’ve pointed out some of the top trail trails for running among the many options. Mainly open rolling hills and moorish terrain.
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