Cardiff Bay Barrage

Tiger Bay, as it was colloquially known, has changed beyond recognition over the last twenty years. The construction of the barrage across the bay between Penarth Head and the former docks area has created a magnificent freshwater lagoon, that still provides access to the Bristol Channel via a number of sluice gates.

If most men would ask their wives or girlfriends to walk six miles to enjoy the fresh air you probably know what the answer would be, but for some totally illogical reason they will happliy walk more than this distance window shopping! So I'm afraid it was a visit to walk the rim of Cardiff Bay basin on a glorious spring day in temperatures that only occassionally occur in July!



Leaving the popular waterfront area, the walk passes the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) and the Norwegian Church, where Roald Dahl was christened. After leaving the Queen Alexandria docks you start the walk across the barrage itself which is 1.1 km long.

Construction started in 1994, following the successful passage of the Cardiff Bay Barrage Act of 1993. It was completed in November 1999, at a cost of £120 million. The barrage has played an important role in the regeneration of the area. Attractions such as the Wales Millennium Centre, the National Assembly for Wales, restaurants and watersports have since moved onto the waterfront.

After a number of disputes over access were resolved the barrage was finally opened to the public on Monday 30 June 2008, allowing public access from Mermaid Quay to Penarth Marina.



The concept of a barrage was first suggested in the 1980s as a way to help regenerate Cardiff's largely disused docklands. The bay was part of the Bristol Channel which has the second largest tidal range in the world. As a result, for 12 hours a day, the bay was drained of water, leaving large area's of exposed unsightly mudflats.



The engineering work including the hydraulics for the sluice gates is amazing.



After completing the crossing of the barrage the walk takes you through Penarth Marina, across Pont Y Wern footbridge (which was opened in 2010) and past the Cardiff International White Water Centre.



It was near this point that Marconi transmitted the first wireless communication over open sea in 1897, to Flat Holm Island.

The walk then returns past Cardiff Yacht Club and the wetlands area back to Cardiff Bay waterfront.

The total distance covered was 10 kilometres (6.2 miles). There was no 'upness' because the walk remained at sea level at all times.