Cosmeston Lakes Country Park & Medieval Village
WHERE
Penarth
What it’s like
Lakeside walking trails, a proper adventure playground and picnic spots, with dogs welcome on the lead.
This one's built around wandering rather than one big attraction. The walking routes loop round the lakes and there's an adventure playground for when the legs give out on the trail before the enthusiasm does. Pack a picnic and you've got proper spots to eat it, just leave the BBQ and the disposable firepit at home, both are banned in the picnic areas.
Worth knowing before you plan a big day around the Medieval Village: it's closed for private hire until further notice, so don't build the visit around getting inside it. The park itself is still very much open and the walking and playground side of things carries on as normal.
Dogs are welcome round the whole park, which is a nice bonus if you're bringing one along with the kids, but they need to be on the lead in the car park and around the east lake. Swimming in the lakes isn't allowed either, so if it's a hot day and someone fancies a paddle, that's one to manage before you arrive rather than promise on the way.
There's a café for when everyone needs refuelling and baby change facilities if you've got a little one in tow. It's an easy one for buggies on the main paths, and the playground plus the lakeside loop is enough to fill a good chunk of an afternoon without you needing to plan much beyond turning up.
Facilities
Need to know
- Dogs
- Welcome, must be kept under control and on leads in car park and around east lake
- The Medieval Village is shut for private hire until further notice, don't plan the visit around it
- No BBQs or fires in the picnic areas, pack a cold spread instead
- Dogs need to be on the lead in the car park and around the east lake
- Baby change facilities are on site if you've got a little one
Plan your visit
Is the Medieval Village open to visit?
It's closed for private hire until further notice, so that part of the site isn't available at the moment. The rest of the park, including the lakes and playground, is open as normal.
Can we bring a picnic?
Yes, there are picnic areas dotted around, just no BBQs or open fires allowed in them.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs are welcome across the park. They need to be kept under control and on a lead in the car park and around the east lake.
Is there a playground?
There's an adventure playground alongside the walking routes, so it's not just a wander round the lake.
Can the kids swim in the lakes?
Swimming isn't allowed in the lakes, so it's a paddling pool job if anyone's after a splash.
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