Explore the River Taff and Long Wood
Location: Cardiff, Wales
This is a lollipop-shaped route of around 6 km, starting from the Hailey Park car park. You head north on a fast path, complete a softer woodland loop, and then return the same way you came. The 10m of total ascent means it’s completely flat, making it a good choice for a tempo effort or just a straightforward leg-stretcher that mixes up surfaces close to the city.
The run begins heading north along the Taff Trail. The surface here is a mix of tarmac and compacted gravel, so footing is predictable and allows for a consistent pace. Before you reach the M4 motorway, the route peels off east to follow the path of a disused canal. This marks the start of the loop portion of the run, which takes you into the Low Wood Nature Reserve.
Within the reserve, the ground changes to a proper dirt trail. It’s uneven in places with some tree roots, so you'll need to pay more attention to your footing. Standard road shoes will be fine when it's dry, but after prolonged rain the path can get muddy and slick. The loop brings you back out onto the Taff Trail, where you simply retrace your steps south to get back to the car park.