Those of you who live and study in Cathays are well aware that spooky sightings are not just reserved for Halloween. Horrors big and small loom around every corner, ready to give you a fright and leave you wishing you could return to the safety of the YOLO queue (which is a horror in itself, I know).
With spooky season upon us, I’ve compiled a list of the scariest areas that lurk in the heart of Cardiff’s student area, and show you which places to avoid if you want to sleep well at night.
1. Maindy Road
You may think of Maindy Road as a safe haven, with The Woodville nestled at the top, and the SU in your sights. This is not the case, however, when you step foot into Lidl, specifically between the witching hours of 4pm and 6pm. Hordes of people swarm the aisles, bleeding not only the shelves dry, but also your will to live.
Then there’s the torture of the till queues. You may think you’re used to queues after attending many a Wednesday YOLO, but nothing can compare to the hangry, tired, chain of zombie-like students.
2. Woodville Road
Woodville Road is unfortunately home to a horrific number of creepy-crawlers and birds of prey. Not only are the famous Cathays rats out in full force on the daily, but the lesser-reported killer crows are about too. In this case, the term “murder of crows” could not be more fitting.
These shiny beasts guard the residents’ bins and swarm on scraps of forgotten Lidl pastries. They can also be heard signalling their evil plans through all hours of the day. One wrong look towards these gargoyles, and you may find yourself fleeing from the “murder” of talons that await.
3. Miskin Street
The sight of Misfits on any given night is a horror in itself, but with Halloween around the corner, the hordes of ghoulish students planning their “Halloweekend” are likely to make Miskin Street even more terrifying. The ghosts of partygoers will haunt Misfit’s new virtual queue, so be prepared to hear Banshee wails as people realise they now have 1,000 people ahead of them, instead of the usual 100.
If you seek refuge from the chaos Halloween will unleash upon Miskin Street, run to T&A’s or Mama’s Kebabs over the road for a safe haven.
4. Column Road
Column Road is only a dark place to find yourself if you happen to be stuck in the stampede of Taly students on their commute; however, this isa scarily common occurrence as these freshers are a different breed of ghoul.
Be warned, you may get horror flashbacks to your own days in these nocturnal (and notorious) accommodations. I would advise avoiding Column Road if you value your sanity.
Leave the days of Taly behind you, and to those trapped there now, don’t worry – it leaves you better equipped to face the further horrors that await you in Cathays.
5. Park Place (The SU!)
Finally, the most horrifying place of them all, Park Place on a Wednesday night. Although Cardiff Uni has begun closing this road on Wednesdays, it is now more volatile than ever.
The sheer amount of drunken, costumed students that spawn here every week is enough to make anyone’s stomach turn; this is not for the weak.
If you have the guts to survive the hours of queuing, I applaud you, but the horrors of Park Place get worse after Angels has signalled the masses to return from YOLO. If you can find your friends and get home before falling victim to the crowd, you really can survive anything Cathays may throw your way!
As you have now seen, Cathays can be a scary place, Halloween or not, so keep your eyes peeled for these horrors. You HAVE been warned!
