Andrew Lamb
Contact Details
Address: 44 Garden Suburbs, Pontywaun, Crosskeys, NP11 7GD
Mobile: 07830381930
Email: info@walesoutdoors.co.uk
Website: https://walesoutdoors.co.uk
Biography
With nearly three decades as a business owner, my journey has evolved from pioneering mountain bike guiding and rental in the Brecon Beacons to spearheading Wales Outdoors, the premier guided walks service delivering more 5-star hikes than any other provider in Wales. At Wales Guided Tours, I specialise in immersive day and multi-day excursions, showcasing Wales’ attractions and natural beauty to enthusiastic travellers. Our offerings are tailored to reveal the country’s beaches and hidden gems, thanks to our deep local expertise and professional guiding qualifications.
My mission has been to deliver enriching experiences in a professional and memorable manner. As a certified Mountain Leader and Green Badge Tourist Guide, I bring a wealth of practical skills to each tour. The transition from adventure activities to walking and tourism was fueled by a passion for sustainability in the outdoors and a commitment to responsible exploration. My role extends beyond guiding; I actively contribute to the tourism community and have a keen interest in networking and cooperative working.
I have been a Brecon Beacons National Park Part Time Warden and BBNP Volunteer and Guided Walks Co-ordinator, Chair of Brecon Beacons Tourism, a D of E and The Princes Trust Co-ordinator in Powys, in RCT and in Merthyr Tydfil. I was the instigator of the Brecon Beacons Environmental Charter, a statement of intent for best practice regarding environmental sustainability in outdoor activity provision and the catalyst for the South Wales Outdoor Activity Providers Group, a membership organisation bringing authorities and providers together. I also formed the Outdoor Professionals Co-operative, a membership by invite group that aimed for best practice in all aspects of activity delivery. I am a Mountain Leader with nearly 30 years of guiding in Wales and beyond…
Interests
Castles
Who doesn't like a castle? And Wales is the place for castles with more castles per square mile than any other country in Europe, over 600 in fact! My Three Castles tour is a classic day out from Cardiff that will fill your boots with ruins ;) But there are plenty more and bespoke tours can be arranged.
Coastline
The coastline of Wales is startling, with dramatic cliffs to serene sand dunes and long stretches of the golden stuff. Most of the beaches of Wales are relatively empty of people and make for fine day visits, especially if you know a guide who is in the know ;)
Countryside
Wales has three national parks and five AONB's (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) but you don't have to go far from any point in Wales to mix it up with nature and experience the green. Being a mountain Leader I am able to safely guide in remote locations such as the summits of the mountains of Wales or along remote coastal trails.
Geography and Geology
What defines Wales is the stuff underfoot. The end of the Ice age opened up Wales to human settlement and what lies beneath has shaped the partnership between us and the land. South Wales is the land of coal, an industry that shapes the built landscape of the Valleys to this day and just a little north the mountains of the Brecon Beacons provide an iconic barrier from South to Mid Wales.
History and Prehistory
I have a keen interest in the history of Wales and indeed of the world. The Romans are a particular favourite but medieval history and more recent histories such as the struggles of the working class through the industrial revolution to the 1984 miners strike are all topics I read. However, understanding pre-history, as much as is possible, has an enduring pull. How did the ancients move those massive stones?
Industrial Heritage
Without Wales the industrial revolution would have most certainly had a slow start. South Wales has some fine attractions, ruins and a wealth of 'lost' industrial centres and it lead the Industrial Revolution due to its geological luck, having all of the elements necessary for industry and all within close proximity.
Music, Culture and Poetry
I'm a published poet don't you know. Yes, one book down and two ready to go. Wales is the land of song and poets that leans heavily on its bardic traditions and heritage. Can you name a famous Welsh poet? A fine artist? A pop icon? I regularly see live music in Wales, with Cardiff in particular having a thriving music scene. But the Valleys too have abundant opportunities for song, with many pubs having live music on a regular basis. Some art is homegrown and some created by visitors enchanted by Wales.
Nature and Wildlife
Let's spice up our walk or tour with a little foraging, as we all know, the zombie apocalypse is coming... And what can we see in the wild spaces of Wales... Well, a great success story is the Red Kite, a majestic bird of prey once almost extinct in the UK and with care and beginning in Wales now a feature of much of the UK's skies. Or perhaps an interloper, the American Mink, definitely a pest that escaped from the now banned fur farms, but also definitely here to stay... What else might we see in Wales?
Politics and Government
I have met with two former First Ministers of Wales, Mark Drakeford and Vaughan Gething, attempting to hold government to account. Not much luck there then... In my forties, I did a politics and creative writing degree, fine credentials for a journalist ;) I do not hold much faith in any politician, or indeed the political system, but I do take a keen interest in Welsh, UK and global politics, as after all, the decisions made by those we give the reigns of power to, effect all of us.
