The 102 travels pretty much the same route as the 101 except it goes around St Mellons and Llanrumney in opposite directions. It is still another 4.5 hour route and not one I had the stamina for completing in one go especially as it seems to take in most of the speed bumps in the city on route.
My walk for today took me down through Bute Park and into Cardiff, along the River Taff. The equipment from the Blackweir concert venue and the grass now resown. The recent rain should help that recover quickly.
Most people stick to the paths in Bute Park but if you wander off them slightly you are in the middle of the arboretum.
I kept to the bank of the Taff and down past the Principality stadium admiring the skill of some of the street artists.
I had lunch in Central Square and continued to read Book of Sport Obituaries: Wilfred Wooller (never realised he was so right-wing), John Arlott (I could hear his rich voice in my head when reading it), W G Grace (he wasn’t always the size he is portrayed in pictures and Leon Stukelj, Slovenian gymnast, lived to be 100.
Wow! The 101 and the 102 are the longest routes operated by Cardiff Bus and it takes a whopping four and a half hours to complete the route. The same driver drives the whole route with just the occasional break to get off and stretch their legs. That must take some doing. I still find it hard to believe. What I found staggering was the answer to a question I asked the driver at the end of the route. “Is that you done for the day then?” and the answer I got was “Nah, I’ve got another three and a half hour route to drive later”. Staggering. Hats off to all bus drivers but in particular the 101 and 102 drivers.
I remember doing an annual defensive driving course when I was working. The advice then was to stop at a service station every couple of hours and have a coffee. Nowadays I have to stop that regularly for a pee. These 101/102 drivers must have strong bladders!
The book I had with me today was ‘Tales from the Fast Trains’ by Tom Chesshyre. Tom and his partner go on weekends away in Europe on the Eurostar. Now here’s a fact. The Eurostar takes 2hrs 16 mins to get to Paris so 4 hours 30 mins to do the round trip. That’s the same time as the 101 takes to do the route around Cardiff. And the Eurostar drives probably get a decent break in Paris before making the return leg. And they don’t have to contend with idiots like me asking them questions when all they really want to do is go for a pee.
I don’t know how the 101 route came about. My guess is that it was the winner of a children’s competition on a Cardiff Bus Open Day. Children were given a blank map of Cardiff and a box of crayons and told to draw a bus route. There’s probably a better explanation but that what it looks like to me. I rode Europe’s longest bus route once, the 360 around Coventry. I’ve also ridden the famous No.11 around Birmingham but to 101 must take the biscuit.
You might have guessed by now that I didn’t do the whole four and a half hour journey in one go. Not even two goes actually. I did it over three legs. I had coffee in Bean’s to Coffee on Colchester Avenue. And to answer the obvious question – why do they have an apostrophe in the name? Three reasons probably: a) to annoy pedants b) to create a talking point c) it is in a shape of a coffee bean on their shop sign.
For my walk I went around the Howardian Local Natrure Reserve set up by members of the Natural History Society at Howardian High School in 1973. It still seems a tranquil area even though it borders onto some busy roads.
This trip took me back to my 1960s childhood, being taken to Cold Knap in the holidays by my grandparents. Cold Knapp, what a name! No wonder it gets less visitors than neighbouring Barry Island. That, and the fact it has a pebbly beach as opposed to a sandy beach. Mind you, the pebbles are real classy at Cold Knap. Not your stones bordering on shingle. These are stones bordering on boulders. Perhaps global warming will lead to Cold Knap being renamed in time?
The No.96 takes yet another different route out of Cardiff compared to the other busses in the 90’s series. This one goes out through Ely to Culverhouse Cross, then down past Wenvoe and into Dinas Powys and finally into Barry. I alighted at the closest point to the Knapp then walked around Romilly Park, named after the local landowner Sir Samuel Romilly who was of such notoriety that he even had a Wetherspoons named after him too.
There were no model boats in the lake today. A bit too windy I guess. The outdoor lido was filled in years ago. The car park on the front is virtually on the beach and offers a good place to come to admire the sea for those feeling frail. A film crew were busy doing what film crews tend to do, hang around for long periods of time waiting for the action.
I tested by balance again by teetering down to the water’s edge over the pebbles.
After all that excitement I was ready for some lunch. I was spoilt for choice. I’m sure last time I was here there was only one food outlet. All five properties in the little row of shops now seem to be offering sustenance of some sort. I sat, ate and read Muriel Spark’s Symposium. Well written but I fear far too many character in it for my small brain to keep tabs on.
Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside! I felt like a real tourist today going to Barry Island for the day. The No.95 took me a different way out of Cardiff than I have been used to on all the Penarth buses.
This bus exited the city at Leckwith, did a loop around Llandough Hospital and then went through Dinas Powis before taking in quite a few areas of Barry and eventually arriving at Barry Island. Yes, the train is way faster but the bus is fun once in a while. The days when Barry Island was an actual island have long gone so there was no ferry crossing involved today.
The days when the beach was crammed with tourists have also gone. Today there was a healthy sprinkling of people to keep the cafes and kiosks busy but not like it was in the 1960s.
On getting off the bus I was immediacy greeted by the thumping noise of the funfair, the screeching wheels of the roller coaster and smell of the candy floss. I needed to stretch my legs though after that journey so first headed west out onto a breezy Friars Point.
I came back to Barry Island and had coffee outside John’s Café looking at the palm trees and reading my book for the day ‘If only they didn’t speak English – Notes on Trump’s America’ by Jon Sopel. So far it’s been interesting in explaining why Hilary Clinton wasn’t popular. It still hasn’t explained how a man such as Trump managed to become President. When I worked for an American company swearing was outlawed and we had much tuition about respecting other people. And now the President appears just the opposite. Has the culture within companies and in the population changed accordingly I wonder? And if not, how can they tell their employees to behave one way when their leader is behaving just the opposite. Riddle me that! It seems very odd to me.
A further walk took me east around Nell’s Point and into Jackson’s Bay where I was a few weeks ago. A smashing walk in the sunshine. And now to get back on the bus and see if the book offers me any answers.
My thinking today was that as there are quite a few buses that go to Barry there aren’t that many that travel the Penarth to Barry coast road. I therefore decided on a trip to Cosmeston Park, just west of Penarth.
This meant that to make sure I took in all the delights of the No.94 route it would be a long first leg of the journey, starting in Cardiff, and staying on board all the way to Barry and back to the Cosmeston Park stop.
Cosmeston Park with its lakes isn’t natural. It was an old limestone quarry and then a landfill site before it opened as a country park in 1978. People mainly arrive by car, some of the more energetic ones by bike or walk in from the north and a few by bus. It was certainly busy today on a fine summer day in school holidays. The reconstructed medieval village was closed for filming but everything else was open as normal.
I did a figure of eight walk around the lakes stopping to get a coffee at Willmore’s kiosk and taking it to a quiet bench to enjoy the wildlife. There were some peaceful water sports for youngsters talking place, seemingly not interfering with the wildlife, and not of the scale that the water park that had caused protests in recent years.
My book for the day was Spymaster by Martin Pearce, a biography of Sir Maurice Oldfield and his time in MI6. It’s an interesting insight and seems to support of things I have read recently that spying in often more about befriending and influencing rather than covert listening devices etc. An interesting rather than a riveting read I thought.
My No.94 didn’t take the little detour down to Bendricks, that’s only in the early mornings and evenings. Will I return to complete it? I’ll have to think about that.
The No.91 is a summer special that runs for a month or two over the summer months so you have to be on the ball to catch it. The advantage of catching it however is that it’s a pretty fast way to get to Penarth pier. It heads out of the bus station a different way to the other Penarth buses, over to Callaghan Square and you are on Penarth Road before you know it. It is the only Cardiff bus to go through Penarth town and then down the hill to the seafront, terminating at the pier after a 25 minute journey.
Cardiff Bus No.91 at Penarth Pier
I strolled along the pebbly beach practicing trying to stay upright. To think that I used to walk miles of this terrain when I walked the coast. Not now. But the sound of the waves is still special.
My book for the day was Flat Holm Island by Bob Jory and Friends. A good book to read sat on a bench on the pier looking ut to Flat Holm Island. I went there a few years ago on one of those bumpy ribs – speedy but not relaxing. There’s a lot of history associated with the island; a cholera hospital, wartime armaments, a lighthouse, a pub (well that’s a bit of an exaggeration – a hatch selling bottled beer) and dive bombing noisy seagulls.
Flat Holm Island – Bob Jory
Things on Penarth Pier were a lot more sedate. Memories of being brought here by my grandparents probably 60 years ago. I’m sure the gaps between the wooden planks on the pier were wider then.
Two dummies on Penarth Pier
We had coffee from one of the kiosks on the pier and sat in the shade. A lovely way to spend a summer morning. Margaret nudged me and told me there was a Welsh actress sitting next to us. I’ve always been a bit sceptical of her celebrity spotting claims after she came home and said she’s just Gareth Bale in M&S, only because he tuned out playing for Real Madrid the next day.
That’s what you get when you agree to pay a signwriter per letter.
The No.93 is a bus to Barry – the long way round, It goes via Penarth and Dinas Powys. So if you are in a hurry you may want to look at alternative routes but if not then climb aboard and enjoy the journey.
The No.93 drops you at Morrisons. I nipped in for a comfort break and was stopped on the way out by a young man asking me if I paid for my electricity and gas? No, I tap into my neighbours supply for free. From there I chose to walk to Jackson’s Bay, a nearby sandy cove. The walking route took me past Barry Docks and up onto Barry Island before dropping down into Jackson’s Bay. It was once called Breakwater Cove and is named after Sir John Jackson who built the harbour between the breakwater and the dock entrance.
I had a stroll across the sands, saw a dog throw up and was stopped by a man who had picked up a bit of broken bottle. I told him to give me a minute, I’ll solve world starvation, all wars and global warming and get back to him later this afternoon with a way of solving the litter problem. What is it about Barry! Just leave me alone.
I visited the Knotty Yachty Beach Café and had a read of my book Eight Detectives by Alex Pavesi. I picked it up at a book exchange having read on the cover that the mysteries had a mathematical element to them. That’s stretching it but it is a reasonable book with novel ideas.
I stopped off at the ruins of St Baruc’s Chapel.St Baruc was a follower and student of St Cadoc of Llancarfan and according to legend, Cadoc and other religious men went on a retreat to Flat Holm Cadoc realised that they had left his religious handbook behind. Cadoc sent Baruc and Gweldes back to Flat Holm to retrieve it. When they were returning their boat capsized and they were drowned. This tragedy did not seem to have upset Cadoc too much as he sent his men out fishing for his supper. They caught or found a gigantic salmon which, when opened up, was found to contain the book completely undamaged. A miracle! Baruc became a saint and his grave a place of pilgrimage. It is said that four pilgrimages to Barry Island were equal to one to Rome, but if you ever visit don’t forget to pay for your electricity and don’t drop any litter.
Top marks to Driver 6413 on the ride back to Cardiff, a very smooth drive and they dealt with some demanding situations very well indeed.
The 92b is another unusual Cardiff Bus. It goes from Cardiff Bus Interchange out to Penarth Cemetery. The outward journey takes place just four times in the early morning and the return journey twice in the afternoon. That means if you want to do the whole route on the same day you need to spend six hours in the cemetery. I do enjoy a wander around a cemetery but not for six hours so my 92b experience would have to be spread over a couple of days. The 92b is sporting the new orange and pink livery which reminds me of those little ‘four for a penny’ sweets we used to get in my youth.
The difference between the 92 and the 92b is that the later takes in Bessemer Road which is jam packed full of small industrial units ranging from companies selling windows, paints, radios to embroidery. Many years ago I think I recall there being a market down here. We rejoin Penarth Road and go past the Post Office sorting office and over the River Ely. The presence of the nearby dogs home is evidenced by people out doing some volunteer dog walking.
Penarth Cemetery chapel
After travelling through Penarth and out the other side we arrive at the cemetery. I do like the brick chapel and town-hall like clock outside. I am less convinced by the presence of a defibrillator outside the entrance. Someone with a dark sense of humour arranged for that to be put there.
Penarth Cemetery Entrance and Defibrilator
I head down to the cliff top where impressionist artist Alfred Sisley once visited and painted a few pieces. I grabbed a coffee from Willmore’s and luckily found the only bench with some shade on the cliff path under a tree. I read my book ‘Men are from Mars and Women from Venus’ in the hope of understanding why men like catching buses in numerical order and women don’t. It didn’t tell me.
Early on in our marriage we both read a similar book that explained that when a woman offloads she isn’t expecting you to solve the problem more just to listen. That was a complete revelation to me. More recently I’ve been told that my advice can be welcome and appreciated. Now I’m left trying to gauge whether I need to be in listening mode or problem solving mode. Another 30 years of practice and I may get it right.
Penarth Lifeboat Slipway
I head down onto the Esplanade and out onto the pier before walking up through Alexandra Gardens and into Penarth.
There was a strange happening on my return visit to catch the 92b back to Cardiff. At the bus stop outside Penarth Cemetery there was a young woman wearing a black silken mourning outfit, her face half covered in a veil and she was carrying an old fashioned lamp. A photographer turned up to take some pictures. I’ve no idea what was going on there.
I took a break from catching the Cardiff buses in numerical order in order to take a ride on the Skycar, Cardiff’s open-top summer-only bus, my thinking being that if I left it to the end of the challenge it may be mid-winter and not running.
It starts off in the civic centre and attempts to take in everything Cardiff. There is a quick circuit of the Portland stone civic buildings, university buildings , Alexandra gardens, police stations and law courts. If you are lucky you can catch sight of a perpetrator going in to be sentenced.
Law Courtsc with City Hall and Museum behind.
We then drive past Cardiff Castle, the building we pretend is very old but Cardiffians know is more of a Victorian folly built by the Bute family. It must be said however that the ornate clock tower is lovely. If visitors had wanted to see something truly old they would have looked the other way at St John’s church tower dating back to second half of the 15th century.
Cardiff Castle
As we round the corner into Westgate Street we see another place of worship, Cardiff Arms Park and the Principality Stadium. That was true until a few years ago when Welsh rugby descended into the doldrums. Always a good conversation starter if ever you meet a Welshman, ask them ‘What’s wrong with Welsh rugby?’ but make sure you have an excuse ready to stop the conversation after 45 minutes of listening.
Cardiff Rugby Stadiums
There’s a treat in store for any bus enthusiasts next as we visit the bus station and get views not often seen from normal buses.
The next section of the journey, down to Cardiff Bay showed the changing face of Cardiff. As we go around Callaghan Square road lanes were being fenced off in preparation of the new tram lines that will be constructed from Cardiff Central down to the Bay. We pass the new Bute Street Station nearing completion and then see the cranes working on the 16,000 capacity Cardiff Bay arena.
The Skycar route seems to have changed this year. Although you still get a good view of the Millennium Centre you then are whisked off to Mermaid Quay, the less successful side of the transformation of Cardiff Bay from an architectural point of view. Previously the Skycar went down to past the Norwegian Church and offered views across Cardiff Bay and the barrage but now if you want that you have to alight and take a walk.
Cardiff Millennium Centre
I stay on the bus enjoying the breeze and sunshine but the route back is pretty much the route we took there so I entertain myself by telling complete lies to the tourists on board, ‘This is the route Julius Caesar took to into town when he visited Cardiff in 36AD’, ‘Calling a Welshman Taffy is regarded as a term of affection and highly recommended’, and ‘You were lucky to catch the bus this year as next year all motor vehicles are going to be banned from Cardiff and tourists made to ride bicycles’.
After being dropped back at the museum I went over the road and got a coffee at Brodies and read some of Bill Bryson’s ‘Down Under’, still one of my favorite authors.
I’m writing this in the middle of the June 2026 heat-bomb and the highest Wales June temperature has just been smashed with 35.9oC recorded in Bute Park in Cardiff. Last week however when I took the No.92 Cardiff Bus out to Penarth it was very different, heavy drizzly rain all day.
After arriving in the centre of Penarth I stayed onboard whilst it did its route along Stanwell Road and up around Penarth Cemetery area before returning to the town centre. The bus drivers deserve a medal for driving this route with its busy suburban streets and badly parked cars. I hopped off and quickly made the decision that this wasn’t the weather for going down to the Esplanade so instead nipped in for a Subway lunch.
Grave of Samuel Arthur Brain in Penarth with the inscription ‘IIn loving memory of Samuel Arthur Brain entered into rest Feb 19th 1903 aged 52 years. Thy will be done. Grant him O Lord eternal rest. Let perpetual light shine upon him’.
I then walked up to St Augustine’s church on the hill and found the grave of Samuel Arthur Brain. Like many Cardiff business men of the Victorian era he started life in Somerset before coming to Cardiff and starting Brains Brewery with his uncle. His name lives on with his initials being used in the name of the popular Brains S.A. I strolled up to Penarth Head Park and looked down over the seafront and pier looking very grey today.
My beverage for the day was obtained in The Pilot, a fine pint of ‘Believe in Lilt’ from the Bristol Beer Factory. This is a regular CAMRA award winning pub but the first time I have visited and well worth the ten minute walk from the main street.
The Pilot, Penarth
I sat and read ‘Insufficiently Welsh’ by Gryf Rhys Jones. It’s another great read written presumably off the back of at TV series.
Cardiff Capers 