St David’s Day tour to take in national icons

Feb 27 2008 by Gareth Rogers, South Wales Echo

TOURISTS will have a special St David’s Day treat this year when a new city tour is launched on the national day.

The tour of Cardiff’s main landmarks, including Cardiff Castle, Millennium Stadium, Senedd and Wales Millennium Centre, will be run by the SeeWales team.

Managing director Paul Harris, 36, said: “As well as the must-see sights of the city, the tour will also allow the chance for some shopping or to purely admire the unique glass-canopied Victorian and Edwardian shopping arcades.

“The tour concludes at the open-air National Museum of Welsh Life, St Fagans, which will give you a flavour of the Welsh way of life through the ages.”

The Aberdare-born entrepreneur, who spent most of his 20s travelling the globe, added: “To book a tour with SeeWales is to try a few words of the Welsh language, walk in a Welsh woodland, swim at a Welsh beach, listen to Welsh music, eat some Welsh food and, of course, meet the Welsh people.

“That’s why it was important to include our capital in what we offer.

“We want to work alongside the current sightseeing bus to give visitors a different, more detailed option.”

Other SeeWales tours include Heart of the Valleys, which starts at the Big Pit Mining Museum, Blaenavon, before moving on to the Brecon Beacons, Castell Coch and Caerphilly Castle.

The tours, which have been running for three and a half years, are suitable for individuals or small groups to suit all ages, abilities and interests.

Each tour leaves from outside the National Museum Wales, Cardiff, and prices start from £35 per person per day.

St David's Day events
6.30pm to 8.30pm, Wesley Community Hall, Nottingham Street, Canton, an evening of entertainment by Lansdowne Primary School. Tickets at £3 (£1 children) available at the door.

11am to 3pm, St David’s Day market with stalls, history exhibition and performances from local groups, Communities First building, 69B Splott Road, Splott, Cardiff. Call Communities First on 029 2087 3898.

12.30pm to 3pm, Churchill Way Bandstand, free music and street entertainment.

3pm, Sophia Close, The St David’s Day Parade through the city centre.

9am to 5pm, Cardiff Market, stalls will be offering visitors free Welsh cakes, free daffodils and the chance to win a Welsh hamper.

7.30pm, St David’s Hall, The BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales conducted by Grant Llewellyn will be joined by harpist Catrin Finch for a special celebration.

Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay, will be celebrating with a variety of activities on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

gareth.rogers@mediawales.co.uk