Cosmeston Lakes Country Park & Medieval Village image

Cosmeston Lakes Country Park & Medieval Village

Tourist attraction Park Country park

One of the Best Places To Visits in Penarth


Address

Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, Lavernock Rd, Penarth CF64 5UY, United Kingdom

Website

www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

Contact

+44 29 2070 1678

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (2.5K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 10 am to 4 pm
  • Monday: (New Year's Day), 10 am to 4 pm, Hours might differ
  • Tuesday: 10 am to 4 pm
  • Wednesday: 10 am to 4 pm
  • Thursday: 10 am to 4 pm
  • Friday: 10 am to 4 pm
  • Saturday: 10 am to 4 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: park (23) walk (22) village (16) lakes (15) lovely (12) lake (11) cafe (11) area (11) time (11) paths (10)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Robyn S. 1 year ago on Google
    Always my favorite for a nice country walk by the lake. Lots of bird watching, lovely cafe on site and very accessible with a car park. Dog friendly, new bathrooms had been built with a new play area. There are also trails for the more experienced hiker which takes you through the fields.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Gary F. 2 years ago on Google
    Great place to walk. The lakes are large and clear. Different options to where to walk, depending on how far you want to go. Excellent play area for all ages of kids, with a little mobile trailer for coffee. Lots of benches dotted around the lakes to picnic. Which brings me to the cafe... Avoid at all costs.... The food is awful, cheapest ingredients they can lay their hands on, overcooked food, and the fryers smelt like they haven't been cleaned for weeks. Apart from this, a great place for a day out! They also have a recreation of a medieval village they found when they were building the park. Didn't go on this time, will save for another visit.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sue 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful nature reserve from former quarry. Level paths to walk around main lake, but others to explore if you're happy to go off the beaten track. Tourist information and coffee shop available with toilets at car park, which is pay & display. Children's adventure play area a short walk away on other side of main lake, where a little mobile coffee van serves hot drinks and cakes/biscuits. There are picnic areas, tables and benches scattered around and designated BBQ areas. So swimming allowed in lakes due to depth, underwater currents and obstructions but lots of wildlife to admire and information boards to tell you what you can see. There is also a reconstructed medieval village but not always open, but they do have events including re-enactments in the summer. Dog friendly if kept on a lead.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Darren L. 2 years ago on Google
    Quite a beautiful quiet place, even with lots of visitors. Three different walks of varying lengths around the lakes on good paths, some of which were suitable for wheelchair access. Lots of places to just stop and look. It was teeming with bird life despite the visitors. We took a walk around the lake, and finished with a coffee and cake in the cafe. A very enjoyable couple of hours.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Laura J. 9 months ago on Google
    This park is very large to wall around and is clearly mapped out so you can see where you want to go. I didn't have time to walk around all of it as you need a good full day to do that and appreciate it. All the land is clearly very well maintained and all paths were very neat and flat. The paths were great for pushchair and for my son to use his scooter. You can feed the birds and there is so many different types of wildlife and insects. We were able to see some baby birds which was lovely. I liked how the park had like different types of areas like the dragonfly pond and a reeds type pond where there was hundreds of tadpoles and different areas to explore. The cafe was reasonably price and so was the parking. Full day was £5 and up to four hours was £4 so it made sense for peace of mind to pay the £5 so you don't have to worry about time and you need plenty of time to appreciate the park. There was also a large playground for all age groups. My 4 year old was all over it. He loved it and although it was quite busy, he was still able to enjoy it without other kids getting in the way of his imaginary playing. The village was beautiful created and was worth having a look. I think they are still extending it but it was nice to look at and enjoy. Restrooms were located at the village and at the entrance of the park. There could have been some by the park as there is a fair distance to run if your child needs to go.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jase 2 years ago on Google
    Great fun, lovely walk around the lakes, more swans and ducks than I could count, which was great because we brought some seeds and oats to feed them. The play park was good, although very busy because of half term.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Darren P. 2 years ago on Google
    Really nice place to take the kids. Vast amounts of space in the fields so never feels too overcrowded. Lovely place to visit. Has lakes you can swim in. Very dog friendly too. Love it.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Brianne72 G. 9 months ago on Google
    Wonderful park and lakes. Extensive grounds with miles of walking , cycling and wheelchair pathways. Many of which were paved. Everywhere was dog friendly including the pleasant cafe. This was my first visit , but not my last !
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 haley j. 1 year ago on Google
    Great free place for a day out, paths suitable to cycle and scoot on as well as lots of paths for off lead dog walking, all very well sign posted. Plenty of places for picnics and bbqs. As well as a lovely medical village to look around and a great play area for all ages as well as a good selection of places to get coffee and cake or food.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Andrew K. 2 years ago on Google
    Excellent community asset; brilliant for families of all ages and physical abilities, accessible for wheelchair users and others with mobility needs, perfect for dog walking and horse riding, brilliant for runners and bike rides too. Have loved this park for over 40 years.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Aimee E. 1 year ago on Google
    Great place for a dog walk. All routes are marked with different coloured paw prints to let you know whether dogs can be off-lead or not. Cheap parking with plenty of spaces.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dawn S. 1 year ago on Google
    Lovely place to visit. Cafe on site. Plenty of parking. Good dog walking. Play park for children. Some of the walk is on boards over marshland with reeds either side. Disabled friendly. Charge for parking which is quite reasonable
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Asif S. 7 months ago on Google
    One of the beautiful parks with a lake at Penarth. Large area for walking, cycling, and for family day out. People can do barbecue. It's dog friendly. There is a museum inside the park that can give the feel of an archaeology view of the old village of Cosmeston. It's wheelchair friendly and opens 7 days per week.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tee A. 8 months ago on Google
    We were recommended this visit by our daughter and so glad we went . The views are beautiful, lots of activities and a huge amount of parking. We walked around the lake which is pram /wheelchair friendly. There is a lovely well stocked cafe and great visitor centre that sells nuts and seeds to purchase inorder to feed the wildlife. There are various trails all colour coded and of varying lengths. The nearby medieval village was an added delight which has been brilliantly reconstructed. The staff have great knowledge and it was lovely to walk back through time. The staff were all dressed up during our visit but this isn't a daily occurrence so it would be advisable to check first. Everyone was very friendly. Toilet facilities available at both the medieval village sight and near to the car park of the lake which is always handy to know. Thoroughly lovely visit not far from Penarth. Will definitely be returning.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dan R. 7 months ago on Google
    We spend quite a lot of time down here with our family. Wildlife here you can get really close to the birds and squirrels here. Beautiful walk around the lake with an easy guild around. A nice park to finish with.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Alun E. 6 months ago on Google
    Plenty of walks of varying levels but none difficult. The pathways go through fields, woodland and lakeside. The mediaeval village is not overdone like so many similar places, and each building has a description of its uses.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Yael B. 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful place, well kept paths and facilities. Cafe on site, nice coffee and cakes. Amazing play Park, just be aware they have two gates going in and out. Meaning your child can exit on the other side of the Park. Lots of wildlife great afternoon out.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Barbara W. 7 months ago on Google
    Great place for a walk with lakes, cafe, The medieval village was very interesting with explanations of what the buildings were used for. Pretty wild flower area too. Years ago people re-enacted village life here. That was cool, I hope that happens again.

  • 5/5 Elizabeth C. 8 months ago on Google
    Lovely lakes and cafes. The whole place is wheelchair accessible which really made our day as I am currently using a wheelchair with a broken ankle. You can buy feed to feed the ducks which was lovely, we also saw massive fish in the lake while we sat and had our picnic. Parking is cheap for £5 all day or a few pounds for hourly. Very clean and no dog mess anywhere, overall a lovely day out and will be visiting again.

  • 5/5 Luca C. 6 months ago on Google
    If you are looking for a nice and relaxing walk, cycle or run after a long day at work or during the weekend then I highly recommend coming to Cosmeston. Beautiful landscapes, clean roads and lots of different things to notice. From the lakes to the little squirrels walking around the picnic area!

  • 3/5 James P. 9 months ago on Google
    It was a nice enough place to walk around although parking is a bit expensive for how long you get considering it's just a country park. My main concern was the amount of rubbish around the bins including dog poo bags and also blowing around, it looked as though the bins hadn't been emptied for a while. The toilets also smelt like a zoo and I wouldn't use the cubicle as it was disgusting. I don't know if it's always like this or just on the day we visited. The park looked good but we didn't get to use it as it was packed, this isn't the parks fault it's clearly just popular.

  • 5/5 Anthony S. 4 months ago on Google
    Lovely, well-kept country park with many of the varied paths (lakeside, boardwalk, woodland etc.) being fully accessible. Plenty for all ages to see and do. Plenty of wildlife on view, including very many squirrels preparing for the winter! Reasonable car-parking fees. Pleasant cafe, and clean toilets.

  • 5/5 Huski 1 year ago on Google
    Really enjoyed a short walk around the lake, it was a damp wintery showery day, so we only done a short walk around the nearest lake and also the medieval village which was so interesting. Car park only £1 for two hours, which was perfect. Definitely going back soon when the weather is warmer and dry. So much wildlife to see, take your binoculars. Didn't try the cafe, will do next time.

  • 4/5 Kerry J. 1 year ago on Google
    Large carpark ( pay & display) toilets, cafe, lots benches & picnic areas, Medieval village (free entry) 2 large lakes, good level paths, lots of ducks & swans etc. Boardwalk through wetland area. Vast site with numerous trails suitable for walking & bikes. Poor signage. The downside. Very few information boards & signposts. Difficult too navigate the trails. Lots of numbered red & white posts that weren't on the free map/guide.

  • 4/5 Karin K. 1 year ago on Google
    Great place for a leisured stroll with dogs, including lakes they can splash in, very good in hot weather. Nice wooded areas as well, theoretically harboring wild birds. Beware the metered parking, we didn't notice it last time and it made for a really expensive dog walk...!

  • 5/5 mark c. 1 year ago on Google
    Lovely park and lakes, great cafe, good value food and helpful staff. Medieval village is a superb look at the past. Refreshment vans at the play area so really handy for parents to caffeine up!

  • 5/5 Peter C. 1 year ago on Google
    Nice walk round the lakes, and viewing the medieval village. Just have to pay for parking which is very reasonable

  • 5/5 Lydia D. 1 year ago on Google
    Visited recently with my husband and a friend, I have been before with my husband but not since 2019, it was the first time for our friend. Had a lovely walk around, place seems well kept and clean, lots of dog walkers and preschool kids around. Seems there's more for the kids now than there was last time I visited 😀

  • 5/5 Nigel C. 2 years ago on Google
    My favourite nature park, I love walking around it, the views are gorgeous and the walks are well sign posted, although it can be very muddy in some places.

  • 5/5 Joanne D. 1 year ago on Google
    First time here such a beautiful place.. Plenty of walks for your dog on and off the lead.. Plenty of picnic benches.. Coffee shop for snacks.. Toilets.. Pay to park but very reasonable.. Well worth a visit with your dog's and also if you have children there is a play area and medieval village.

  • 5/5 Dani L. 2 years ago on Google
    Went to the Halloween festival early evening as it was getting dark with our two children, 5 and 11 years old. Fantastic evening out! The medieval houses each had actors/actresses in telling stories which set up a really good at atmosphere. Vintage fun fair and pumpkin carving available. Food was expensive but the warm cider was lovely. Really enjoyed it. Hope they're planning something for Christmas because the whole family thoroughly enjoyed it.

  • 5/5 David M. 2 years ago on Google
    Lovely area for walks for all ages. We are staying close by and wanted to take our dog for a walk and it's perfect. Areas for a paddle as well!! Really pleased we found this spot. Cheap parking as well which is contactless, or The app paybyphone.

  • 5/5 Valarie T. 2 years ago on Google
    Fabulous place for all the family. All exhibits not fully.open yet due to covidvrestrictions but it is full of bird life like swans, ducks, geese, seagulls and lots of little birds. Around the lakes are many lovely walks and lots of different paths. Would highly recommend it to couples, families and groups of friends for walks, picnics, children's brilliant play grounds and just chilling.

  • 2/5 Jo P. 2 years ago on Google
    Rats, loads of rats!! Had a bit of a weird walk around Cosmeston. Some parts were pretty and peaceful, others were crowded near the playpark and then we saw about 15 rats near the end of the boardwalk. We pretty much ran back to the car park....won't be rushing back.


Call +44 29 2070 1678 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Pets
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed
  • Activities
    • ✓️ Hiking
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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