Cefn Onn country park is situated in North Cardiff, approximately a five minute drive away from our home. It’s a well known local park, but one that I tend to forget exists because it just seems so out of place where it is! It’s hidden away at the end of a long road and accessible via a long path that runs under a motorway bridge. This beautiful woodland park is a real hidden gem!
The last time we visited Cefn Onn was when our girls were little. We brought the double pushchair with us and I always remember watching my husband struggling to push the pushchair up a particularly steep area that leads into a field.
This time around our girls are almost five years old so they were able to walk. One of my resolutions for 2017 is to spend more time outdoors. So the Sunday before last we decided to go for a nice walk around Cefn Onn.
There is a small car park at the entrance which is free, although the car park is quite small and can get quite busy. We walked under the motorway bridge which has been beautifully painted by the friends of Cefn Onn group.
Dogs are allowed in the park and although there are numerous signs stating that they must be kept on leads at all times, we saw lots of people who didn’t have leads on their dogs. This did pee me off a little, mainly because M is scared of dogs, so when a few came bounding up to us, it did ruin the experience a bit, but not totally!
We followed the path through the park and the girls pointed out the numerous water courses that run through the park. They took their time to have a look at them and we posed for a few photos too!
We spotted bird houses on the trees and the girls enjoyed playing amongst the trees and walking along the trees that had been cut down.
The girls particularly liked a little red bridge that went over a small water course and asked if we could walk back over it on our way back to the car!
As we walked along the path, R spotted a tree that looked like it had a face on it! We started to talk about the tree and how we thought that it could come to life at night time to tell stories to the other trees and animals that live in the park. As such we as named the tree, the story tree!
Toward the end of the path is a fairly large pond. When we first visited Cefn Onn a few years ago there were ducks there, but there weren’t any on our most recent trip. However, we did spot a rather large orange fish!
We made our way up the path and soon came to an open field with picnic benches dotted around. It’s funny because I don’t remember the picnic benches being there the last time we visited! R asked if we could have a picnic the next time we go there, which sounds like a pretty good idea to me!
Whilst in the field, the girls found two long sticks each and started to play with them! Waving them around like wands, dragging them on the floor behind them and using them as walking sticks! It always amazes me how much fun children can have in natures playground.
We found a pile of logs and my husband showed them to our girls and told them about how you can find out how old a tree is by counting the rings.
M was keen to climb some of trees and both girls enjoyed sitting on a tree branch!
On the way back to the car, R, was pointing things out that she found interesting so we stopped a few times to investigate.
We also let the girls have a little paddle in one of the water courses!
By the time we made it back to the car, two hours had passed by! It’s amazing how quickly time flies when you’re having fun!
That looks like quite the park. The story tree does look like it would come to life and would also be a great place to sit and read outside.
That looks like a lovely day out, I used to love imagining all kinds of stories in places like this and I’m looking forward to my son doing the same when he’s old enough! #thatfridaylinky
I love getting out as a family but the weather has been shocking here! You look like you had a great time with plenty to explore and look it. Lovely pics too. Thanks for hosting x
Great resolution and a lovely park. You’d never guess that was a motorway bridge – what a cool design!
#thatfridaylinky
What a great day out! My daughter loves being outside, sticks and leaves are the best toys – apart from the dogs stealing them! #thatfridaylinky
That looks a lovely park for a nice walk and some exploring! Thanks for hosting #thatfridaylinky
Looks like a lovely walk xx #thatfridaylinky
I love the adventure of going for walks we’re at the stage where toddler can walk for about an hour before the demands of “carry me” start. We have little miss 10 months in the wrap, and usually collect leaves or stones or sticks for crafting when we get home. What a wonderful place to have on your doorstep! The picnick benches sound like the perfect place to stop with a flask of hot chocolate in these cold months! #thatfridaylinky
What a lovely spot. And right on your doorstep. Enjoy your future picnics with the girls.
What is it with kids and sticks! My son always has to find the biggest one he can to drag around but u know that 10 minutes later he’ll get bored and I’ll end up carrying it! Looks like a lovely spot for a walk 🙂 #thatfridaylinky
What a great couple of hours. I love places like that where you can just lose your self in the outdoors #thatfridaylinky
Hope all that fresh air bought you both a nap!
#thatfridaylinky
So beautiful! I’m glad you had a chance to go back with the girls now that they are older.
My wife and I have been hiking on the Appalachian Trail each summer, can’t wait until our son is old enough to really join in!
What a beautiful place and the fact it’s free to visit makes it even better 🙂 #ThatFridayLinky
Helen x
http://www.treasureeverymoment.co.uk/
Ahh so lovely! I literally love outdoor time with my boy, and he is such an adventurer throwing sticks in the rivers, cute pictures by the way! #thatfridaylinky
This looks like a fabulous walk. It’s great to see kids out and about, getting dirty with nature! I particularly like he tree with the face. It’s something I would have loved as a child! #ThatFridayLinky
I just love this 🙂 The girls will have lovely memories of outings like this and will grow to have a strong appreciation of Nature, which is a truly magical place for young children!
#thatfridaylinky
Looks like a fab spot to visit, lovely pictures. Thanks for hosting! #ThatFridayLinky
What a fabulous walk!! We are always down the woods near to our house, the girls think that being able to paddle in the stream in their wellies is the most fun ever!! Gorgeous, nothing nicer than being outside! #thatfridaylinky
What a beautiful place to go for a walk – it was one of our ‘resolutions’ to go on more walks this year. We are surrounded be beautiful countryside where we are so it seems a shame to waste it.
Love the idea of a story tree!
Looks like a great little adventure for the kiddies!! cant beat walks like this, running around in the fresh air.
#thatfridaylinky
We have a very similar park near our house and last summer we brought Peachy there. I agree that times seems to fly by when you gor for a nature walk. It didn’t seem like we walked that far but when we got back to the car I was amazed by how much time had passed. This summer Peachy will be bigger and better able to enjoy such outings. We will definitely have to visit there again. #ThatFridayLinky
Beautiful, we love walking and although my family are from South Wales I’m yet to take my boys, one day! # ThatFridayLinky
That park takes me back to a place I used to go with my family as Kids with our grandparents. Nothing quite like an exploration day as little ones! #thatfridaylinky
What a lovely area in which to grow up. I’m with M when it comes to dogs but want my daughters to make their own choices. #ThatFridayLinky
Looks like a lovely place 🙂 xx #thatfridaylinky
Well it looks like you guys had fun! What a lovely place to have so close to your home! #thatfridaylinky
It sounds like you all had a lovely day, although it is a shame about the dogs. I giggled when you said about the sticks because my 9 year old step-daughter is always picking up sticks and bringing them home!
Ah that looks lovely. Great to get outdoors and get some fresh air. #thatfridaylinky
Looks like such a great day! I dislike when people don’t have their dogs on leashes, I’m always scared something will make them attack me or my dog and their owner won’t have a way to pull them back. #ThatFridayLinky
Lovely pictures, looks like an amazing place. All kids love a big stick don’t they? How could any toy compete with that?
This looks like such a fab day out. I love the red bridge and the tree that looks like it has a face. How cool is that? #thatfridaylinky
What a beautiful place! And that bridge is so pretty! Sounds like you had a great time 🙂 #ThatFridayLinky