Stella Thomas
Contact Details
Address: Crud Yr Awel Gwaelod Y Garth CARDIFF CF15 9HH
Mobile: 07977 559 224
Email: stellathomas@btinternet.com
Biography
I’m a very experienced Blue Badge Guide based in Cardiff – or Caerdydd, the Welsh name for our splendid capital city. As a fluent Welsh speaker I take great pleasure in introducing our visitors to our ancient Celtic language and to our unique traditions, our rich culture and history. I also guide in the Welsh language.
I’ve worked in tourism in Wales for a number of years in a number of different roles including marketing Wales/Cymru in the UK, Europe, the USA, Canada and further afield. Achieving a 1st Class Hons degree in Guiding enabled me to be a guide trainer in Wales. I have frequently been invited by Visit Wales and Visit Britain to guide travel writers and tour operators on educational visits throughout Wales.
You can be assured that you or your clients, whether your groups be large or small, will have an informative and entertaining tour from me in any part of Wales. I greatly enjoy sharing my knowledge, enthusiasm and passion for Wales.
Driver guiding. Whilst I am not a driver guide I regularly guide groups up to 6 persons working with drivers based in Wales. Vehicles include a Mercedes Vito and VClass. This might be a good option for those who prefer to have a dedicated guide and a separate driver either for a half day, full day or an extended tour of Wales. (Rates are competitive with driver guides.)
Whatever the special interests of you or your clients I will ensure they have a very warm Welsh welcome and a memorable and hugely enjoyable visit.
WELCOME TO WALES! CROESO I GYMRU!
Interests
Best of Wales - general interest tours
I offer:
Coach tours to any part of Wales, day or extended tours.
Car tours, with a separate driver, day or extended tours.
Walking tours in Cardiff and Cardiff Bay. Also walking tours in other towns and cities in Wales, eg Hay on Wye, Brecon, Swansea and St David's.
Most of the tours I am asked to guide are of general interest.
Castles
Wales is a land of castles - more per square mile/kilometre than any other country in the world! CADW (Government Organisation) does a brilliant job of looking after 44 of them and they are all worth visiting.
Usually my half day and day tours in Cardiff include a visit to the magnificent Cardiff Castle to see the extravagant Victorian restoration. The charming Castell Coch, to the north of Cardiff is also a splendid example of a similar restoration.
Coastline
Wales has a magnificent coastline (870 miles/1400 kilometres) and it gives me great pleasure to show the most scenic stretches of the coastline along the Wales Coast Path. From the golden beaches of the Gower peninsula and the world class beach at Rhosili to Pembrokeshire where there are wonderful walks along the Coast Path and yet more world class beaches, such as Barafundle.
Countryside
The glorious countryside of Wales is easily accessed from any base. We are so fortunate in having 3 National Parks: Bannau Brycheiniog/Brecon Beacons National Park, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and Eryri/Snowdonia National Park. In addition, visitors always enjoy visits to protected beautiful areas, such as to the romantic ruins of Tintern Abbey in the Wye Valley and to the Gower Peninsula.
Food and Drink
From cockles and laver bread to the finest Welsh wines and whisky. There is an abundance of high quality local foods to be savoured in Wales, in markets, restaurants, traditional pubs and cafes. In my tours I always include 'a Taste of Wales', from tasting freshly baked Welsh cakes on our walking tours of Cardiff to a warming bowl of Welsh Cawl, our traditional soup. There is an abundance of local produce on offer, as can bee seen in our indoor markets eg Cardiff, Swansea and Carmarthen.
Gardens and Stately Homes
I am particularly interested in our historic houses and gardens, such as the National Trust properties - Tredegar House near Newport, Dyffryn Gardens in the Vale of Glamorgan and Bodnant Gardens in the Conwy Valley in North Wales. The grounds and gardens at the National History Museum of Wales at St Fagan’s, near Cardiff are well worth seeing and a visit to the top attraction is highly recommended (free entry too!). There are many more historic houses and gardens throughout Wales for our visitors to visit .
History and Prehistory
Wales has a fascinating history and I like to tell the stories and legends of our past as we travel through Wales, meeting the people and seeing the contrasting landscapes. I really enjoy giving visitors a real Sense of Place so that they take home memories of having visited a country which has a very deep and rich history.
Industrial Heritage
Visitors are often fascinated to learn of the social and industrial history of the South Wales Valleys. A very popular tour traces the story of iron and coal in the Valleys and includes a visit to the World Heritage Site of Blaenafon and a truly unique experience of an underground tour at the Big Pit National Coal Museum. This day tour is easily achieved from Cardiff, Newport and Swansea and indeed from any base in Mid Wales. In North Wales the slate mining was once the main industry. The slate landscape of north-west Wales has recently been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Welsh Language
Welsh is my first language and I enjoy guiding Welsh language groups. Visitors from all parts of the world are really interested in hearing our ancient Celtic language and like to learn how to say a few words and to hear people naturally speaking in Welsh. With Welsh having equal status to English visitors can see the language on road and other signs and want to know the meaning - often a description of the place.
I always start my tours with 'Croeso / Welcome!'
