Bayside Brasserie
Bayside Brasserie
Bayside Brasserie (Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff) – this French-style restaurant (with its stylish interior) offers a variety of dishes, from pan-roasted fillet of sea bass, to slow-cooked lamb shank, honey & black pepper-roasted duck breast, to grilled steaks. That, along with a variety of French, Italian, and other wines. It’s also popular because of its view over Cardiff Bay’s fashionable waterfront.
Ba Orient
Ba Orient
Ba Orient (Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff) – this upscale Chinese restaurant within Mermaid Quay is known for its dim sum, along with various dishes, like grilled jumbo king prawns, and specialties like crispy aromatic duck (served with pancakes, cucumber, spring onions and plum sauce). The cocktails served there helped generate accolades like “one of 25 top bars in the UK” (by Elle UK magazine).
BICYCLE
BICICLETA
BICYCLE – Since Cardiff is a small enough city to virtually cover by foot, aside from Cardiff Bus, there is no Metro or local train service that provides public transportation here. However, Cardiff is a great city to get around by bike and is one of the fastest ways to go from one place to another. The city’s easy gradients and large green parks make it ideal for cyclists. The leafy Taff Trail cycle path runs North to South along the banks of the river Taff, linking the Brecon Beacons, Castle Coch, the City centre and Cardiff Bay. Here are a couple of companies that rent bicycles in Cardiff:
Cardiff Cycle Tours: +44 075 0056 4389
Pedal Power: +44 (0)29 2039 0713
Bus
Autobuses
Bus — Cardiff Bus has an extensive system throughout the city and outer areas. Most routes follow an anti-clockwise route around the city-center. A single ticket within the city (including Penarth) is £1.70 adult, and £1.20 child. A return ticket which allows a day’s unlimited travel costs £3.40 adult and £2.20 child. This link show the city’s bus maps:
www.buscms.com/CardiffBus/uploadedfiles/networkmapweb_new.pdf
New to Cardiff Bus are £1 short hop fares, for any single journey in the city centre, Canton, Cathays & Roath. Here’s the relevant map for that service:
www.buscms.com/CardiffBus/uploadedfiles/shorthop_city_centre_A5_map_oct12.pdf
Taxi
Taxi
TAXI – Black and white cabs are widely available around the city centre, with major taxi ranks located at Cardiff Central Station, Wood Street, St Mary Street and Greyfriars Road. For those wanting to call a taxi direct, here are some taxi companies that operate in Cardiff:
Dragon Taxis: +44 29 2033 3333
Capital Cabs: +44 29 2077 7777
Premier Taxis: +44 02920 555 555
Wiston Castle
Castillo de Wiston
Wiston Castle (Pembrokeshire) – located on a high hill on the north side of the village of Wiston, this castle had no connection to Edward I (responsible for the construction of numerous castles in Wales). Instead, this one was built by Flemish freebooter named Wizo, most likely during the early 1100s. This castle was said to have been destroyed during a battle waged by Welsh prince Llywelyn the Great in 1220. The remains of this fortification are said to be one of the finest surviving examples of motte and bailey castles in Wales (one of just six to have a stone shell on its summit). Admission: free. Hours: 10 am – 4 pm daily.
White Caste
Casta Blanca
White Caste (Llanthony Crosseny, Abergavenny, Gwent) – this is another of the so-called “Three Castles” (or “castles of the Trilateral”). Of those castles, this one is in much better condition than, in particular, Skenfrith. Unlike other castles, which were built for both military purposes and as regal residences, this one existed strictly to hold off potential invaders and marauders. Some internal areas did include a chapel, hall and kitchen. In 1254, Henry III granted this castle (and other “Trilateral” castles) to his eldest son – the future Edward I. Admission: £3.00 (adult), £2.25 (seniors/students/
children under 16 years), £9.00 (family – two adults and all children under 16).
St. Quentin’s Castle
Castillo de San Quintín
St. Quentin’s Castle (Llanblethian, Castle Hill, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan) – located just a half hour (13 miles) west of Cardiff, this castle was said to have been first built sometime during the 12th century (before many of Wales’ other castles were constructed). This courtyard castle doesn’t look completed because it wasn’t – local royalty who owned it during the early 1300s (Earl Gilbert de Clare) had some stonework done to it, but was killed in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, before the castle that currently stands was completed. It was reportedly in ruins as early as the 1700s. Free admission. Hours: 10 am – 4 pm daily.
Skenfrith
Skenfrith
Skenfrith (Abergavenny, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire County) – located an hour (42 miles) northeast of Cardiff, this castle was built between 1219 and 1232. This is the only low-lying fortress of the three castles of Skenfirth, Grosmont, and White Castle (a.k.a. the “castles of the Trilateral”). The castle’s current state of disrepair was due to King Edward IV ordering it dismantled – with much of the original stones used for other buildings in the village of Abergavenny). As seen by visitors passing through here, this castle is currently surrounded by local residences. Interestingly, episodes of the BBC TV series “Doctor Who” were filmed here. Admission: free. Hours: 10 am – 4 pm daily.
Raglan Castle
Castillo Raglan
Raglan Castle (Raglan, Monmountshire County) – unlike many of the castles in Wales (which were built during Edward I’s reign), this one (located 31 miles / 41 minutes north of Cardiff) was built during the mid-15th century (some years before Columbus’ discovery of America). It was remodeled during the Tudor period. Militarily, this castle saw action when it held off Oliver Cromwell’s forces for 13 weeks during one of the last sieges of the Civil War.
Nowadays, Raglan Castle’s intricate towers distinguish it from others within Wales, attracting a steady stream of tourists. It’s also no surprise that a number of big-budget historical dramas have been filmed here (such as BBC’s TV series “Merlin”). Admission: £4.50 (adult), £3.40 (seniors/students/children under 16 years), £13.50 (family – two adults and all children under 16). Hours vary according to the time of year. Check the Welsh government website for details: http://cadw.wales.gov.uk
