Cardiff Bay Barrage

The key to Cardiff Bay’s regeneration was the creation of a dam across the Ely and Taff estuaries, which transformed a hitherto vast mud flat into a large freshwater lake. The best way to appreciate this not inconsiderable feat of engineering is to walk its entire half-a-mile length, from the Bay waterfront to Penarth a little further south, taking in the many sluices, locks and bridges along the way. There’s a landscaped embankment too, which makes for a tempting spot to rest up with a picnic. Alternatively, if you don’t fancy exerting yourself, waterbuses make the trip from the waterfront to Penarth.