Darryl Walters

Why did you join myguide Britain?
I joined myguideBritain for a new and fresh challenge. I had been working abroad for a number of years but realized that our own country has so much to offer travelers. I decided to return to my roots in the UK but wanted to continue to work in the travel industry, finding myguideBritain was the perfect solution.

What is you favourite part of Britain?
My favourite part of Britain is the small town of Conwy. This small peaceful town with its local market and small harbour is my the perfect getaway from city life. The castle is very impressive and you can literally walk around the town on the gangways and walkways of the medieval town wall which is almost fully in tact.

What is your favourite visitor attraction?
Stonehenge is incredible. It is really eerie and you can feel the history and magic surrounding the stones. However I think my favourite attractions are the Castles of North Wales and those in the Wye valley in South Wales. These are the probably the best preserved castles in the UK and are really visually impressive. In many, like Raglan Castle, you can still climb the towers, walk the moat, visit the dungeons and imagine the feasts that the medieval Kings would have had on the flagstones of the main halls.

What is your favourite British food and restaurant in Britain?
I love the traditional Sunday Roast Dinner with Roast Beef, Yorkshire Pudding, and a selection of seasonal vegetables. Pubs all over the country do huge Sunday dinners so you should definitely make space in your itinerary (and you stomach) to try one.

Where do you like to shop?
Edinburgh is just fantastic for shopping. Take a walk down Princes Street and you can't fail to spot something that will catch your eye. But don't forget to explore some of the little arcades too. They are great for picking up knick-knacks, gifts and unique souvenirs of Scotland. The best thing is that while shopping in Edinburgh you are almost always in view of the Castle overlooking the city, it really is a unique atmosphere.

Your favourite getaway in Britain?
I think Chester is a great getaway, especially if you are working on limited time. The city itself is beautiful and really different to other cities. The shop fronts on mains streets are on 2 levels with some basement shops and some raised above normal street level. All of the shops have authentic Victorian and Georgian era facades. The city was also an original roman dwelling and they are currently excavating the roman amphitheatre. The real bonus for Chester is that it is near to so much, in just 25mins you can be in Liverpool enjoying the pop-history of the sixties with the Beatles exhibitions, sights and the Magical Mystery Tour. Or in 45 mins you can be in the heart of North Wales being over looked by the great Snowdon Mountain, enjoying the countryside and viewing the castles.

What advice would you give to people coming to Britain?
Take the open-top bus tours in the larger cities as it is easier to park your car in one spot for the full day. The tours themselves are a really cost effective way of getting around and they will take you to places you didn't even know existed. The commentary is always top class and you come away having learnt something as well as having loads of great photos!