Cardiff Aberdeen Train

Cardiff is bordered to the west by the rural district of the Vale of Glamorgan—also known as The Garden of Cardiff— to the east by the city of Newport, to the north by the South Wales Valleys and to the south by the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel. The River Taff winds through the centre of the city and together with the River Ely flows into the freshwater lake of Cardiff Bay. A third river, the Rhymney flows through the east of the city entering directly into the Severn Estuary. Its location and geographic features were influential in its development as the world's largest coal port, most notably its proximity and easy access to the coal fields of the south Wales valleys.

Today, Cardiff is the main financial and business centre in Wales and the city was recently placed seventh overall in the top 50 European cities and also ranked seventh in attracting foreign investment. Cardiff is one of the most popular tourist destination cities in the United Kingdom, receiving around 18 million visitors in 2010 and generating £852 million for the city's economy. There are a large number of hotels of varying sizes and standards in the city, providing almost 9,000 available bed spaces.

Located in north east Scotland, The Granite City, as Aberdeen is sometimes known as, is a hustling and bustling city but is also known for its wide range of parks, gardens and outdoor activities for those who crave city life coupled with the great outdoors. The city has a great beach, ideal for surfing and kit boarding as well as wildlife watching at Torry Battery. There is also BMX cycling facilities and a rock climbing wall. Duthie Park is Aberdeen's most famous park. Within the park are the David Welch Winter Gardens, which house many exotic plants including the largest collection of cacti in Britain. The park is an ideal setting for the perfect day out with the family, with activities from boating in the ponds to cricket on the lawns. Aberdeenshire has many Nature Reserves and one of the most popular is Glen Tanar Natural Nature Reserve located in a beautiful glen at the heart of Royal Deeside. At the reserve you might be lucky enough to glimpse a red squirrel or a Scottish crossbill might be above your head as you wander through ancient trees. You might also see the silvery flash of a salmon powering upstream from the banks of the river.