Rob Soldat is a storyteller, folklorist and historian based in Hay-on-Wye, specializing in Celtic tales, Welsh folk tales and the Mabinogion. He also is a well-known tour guide covering local historic sites.

After a varied education with several gaps to ’study life’, Soldat gained a Humanities degree at the University of the West of England with a thesis on the Wars of the Roses in Wales. He has lived in Wales for a number of years and has actively studied its culture and history.

Now a storyteller, he seeks out the point where history and story cross over; he also enjoys exploring the countryside and historic sites seeking out traditions to build a view of the cultural landscape. A wide repertoire of tales, including most of the Mabinogion, with Celtic themes predominating but including material from all over the globe. Training in History, Ecology, Philosophy and Comparative Religion means that he can provide a programme where story and academic subjects combine to give a painless and interesting method of learning. He sees story as an end in itself but also as an aid to those who struggle with reading and writing. It also helps develop hearing and concentration skills, and can lead to greater appreciation of the beauty of spoken language and of the culture the stories derive from.