Huge Demand Calls for Extra Guided Tour

2nd September 2011

Due to huge demand a third walk has been added to the programme of free walks offered by Cardiff Council and Cardiff History and Hauntings as part of the European Heritage Days Open Doors Events 2011.

Following the success of last year's walks, Cardiff Council’s Tourism Team is once again working with Jim Cowan of Cardiff History and Hauntings as part of their contribution to Open Doors 2011. Three free guided walks of the city centre will take place later this month uncovering more of Cardiff’s hidden secrets and giving people an insight into the city’s forgotten past.

The 90 minute walks will take place on Saturday September 10th and although the 9.45am and 11.45am slots are fully booked, further places are available on the additional walk at 2.00pm.

Starting at the Old Library in the Hayes, the walk will take a gentle pace through parts of the city once bounded by the medieval town wall, revealing the story of a town long gone which was reconstructed by the explosive growth of Cardiff in the 19th century.

This year the walk reveals new stories, including some surprising Royal connections and the sinister beginnings of some of the city's elegant arcades.

Jim Cowan says there’s a lot more to Cardiff than meets the eye. He says:

"I hope these stories delight others as much as they've delighted me but the lesson from last year’s Open Doors walks is that the people of Cardiff are also a fantastic source of anecdotes and odd facts which help build a bigger and better picture of our fascinating city, and they all add to the tales I'll be sharing on these walks.”

Cllr Nigel Howells, Cardiff Council’s Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture said the popularity of the walks last year shows there's a real interest in the city's history and heritage of Cardiff.

"A number of Council venues are participating in the Open Doors programme and we're very grateful to Jim for working with us again. His walks link in well with The Cardiff Story, where visitors can call in before or after the walks to learn more about the work of the curators, and delve a little deeper into Cardiff's past."

The walks start at the Tourist Information Centre in the Old Library. They are free but places are limited so places must be booked in advance, either in person at the Tourist Information Centre or by calling 029 2087 3573.

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