Llanishen Reservoir is a significant natural resource located in North Cardiff, offering 110 acres of green and blue space. This area, recognized for its ecological value and Victorian heritage, features a diverse landscape of grassland, woodland, scrub, and waterside habitats. It provides a setting for several sports like hiking, road cycling, jogging, touring cycling, and more, within a tranquil environment. The reservoirs are also designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest due to their importance for overwintering birds and rare fungi.
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Routes
4.4
(100)
Average rating
3006
People visited

4.0
(1)
23
riders
46.8km
03:46
540m
540m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

3.0
(1)
8
riders
96.9km
08:33
1,820m
1,820m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.7
(3)
8
riders
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
5
riders
63.6km
04:21
970m
970m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.7
(3)
14
hikers
17.7km
05:02
400m
390m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
6
hikers
9.27km
02:24
60m
60m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(21)
92
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(14)
65
hikers
8.95km
02:40
280m
280m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.5
(13)
320
riders
41.5km
01:57
390m
390m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(4)
304
riders
62.8km
02:50
570m
570m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

3.0
(2)
193
riders
85.2km
03:41
590m
590m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

142
riders
113km
05:00
910m
910m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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111
runners
14.4km
01:39
310m
310m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

119
runners
5.01km
00:33
20m
20m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

37
runners
5.04km
00:31
20m
20m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

28
runners
6.35km
00:44
40m
40m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.0
(2)
53
riders
27.8km
01:44
130m
130m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

44
riders
41.3km
03:04
890m
890m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
30
riders
76.6km
04:45
590m
590m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
24
riders
47.9km
02:59
420m
420m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(2)
48
riders
24.7km
01:28
200m
200m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
10
riders
30.1km
02:33
600m
600m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

11
riders
32.1km
01:58
280m
280m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(3)
13
riders
47.7km
03:05
580m
580m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Llanishen Reservoir offers a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, road cycling, jogging, and touring cycling. The site also supports water sports like open-water swimming, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding.
Llanishen Reservoir is a Victorian landmark recognized for its ecological value, including two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is important for overwintering birds and diverse grassland fungi, including rare waxcap species. The area features grassland, woodland, scrub, and waterside habitats supporting various wildlife.
Yes, Llanishen Reservoir offers approximately 3.1 miles (5 km) of circular paths suitable for walking and jogging. A woodland Story Trail is also available for children and families. More information can be found in the guide Hiking around Llanishen Reservoir.
Yes, the woodland Story Trail provides an interactive fable for children and families. Visitors can also find suitable routes in the guide Family-friendly hikes around Llanishen Reservoir.
Dogs are generally restricted to the visitor centre and car park areas. They are not permitted on the main paths to protect the delicate ecosystem, particularly the rare fungi. Specific dog-friendly routes in the broader area are detailed in Dog-friendly hikes around Llanishen Reservoir.
While the immediate reservoir paths are primarily for pedestrians, the broader region around Llanishen Reservoir supports road and touring cycling. Routes like the Ty Coch Campsite loop offer options for cyclists. Guides such as Road Cycling Routes around Llanishen Reservoir provide more details.
Yes, parking facilities are available at Llanishen Reservoir. The visitor centre also provides bike parking and shelters.
Routes around Llanishen Reservoir have an average rating of 4.47 out of 5 stars on komoot. More than 134,000 visitors have shared their experiences in the area.
Komoot offers several guides for the area, including Hiking around Llanishen Reservoir, Road Cycling Routes around Llanishen Reservoir, and Family-friendly hikes around Llanishen Reservoir. Other guides cover running, dog-friendly routes, and mountain biking.
The brand-new two-storey visitor centre offers spectacular views, a cafe, and facilities such as changing rooms with hot showers. It serves as a hub for health, wellbeing, water activities, and biodiversity.
The official website for Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs is provided by Welsh Water. The website is lisvane-llanishen.com.

