Mike Parker’s books take his sense of place as their starting point, and mix in memoir, history, identity, politics and belonging. They include the bestselling Map Addict HarperCollins, 2010), its popular follow-up The Wild Rover (HarperCollins, 2012), the cult Neighbours From Hell? (Y Lolfa, 2014) and The Greasy Poll, a political diary (Y Lolfa, 2016). He has also written and presented numerous TV and radio series, including On the Map for BBC Radio 4, and for ITV Wales, Coast to Coast and Great Welsh Roads. For the past eight years, he has been working on a loose trilogy. Two books have so far been published: On the Red Hill (Cornerstone, 2019), an evocation of the queer rural, won the 2020 non-fiction Wales Book of the Year, and was runner-up for the Wainwright Prize for UK nature writing. Next was All the Wide Border (HarperCollins, 2023), an examination of the England-Wales frontier as a line on the map, a line through history and a line in our heads. It was named by Waterstones as one of the ten best travel books of the year.
Walking and Writing under the Sun/Moon- Light
Join us for an active and creative weekend combining memoir, travel and nature writing workshops with outstanding local walks. Over the weekend, you’ll let the great outdoors be your inspiration as you immerse yourself in the beautiful natural surroundings around Tŷ Newydd and experience them by day and thrillingly – by night.
During the day, you’ll enjoy a mix of group writing workshops and guided walks led by award-winning travel and memoir writer, Mike Parker. You’ll delight in the wildlife found along the trails of the river Dwyfor and discover other magical spots in the local area. In the evenings, you’ll be expertly led by Dani Robertson, writer and Dark Skies Officer for Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and learn to appreciate the full beauty and mystery of the night.
The course is designed to help you become the creative non-fiction writer you want to be by encouraging you to focus on the details of your surroundings, create a strong sense of place, build original sensory descriptions and crucially, reinvigorate your creativity and strengthen your connection with nature. This weekend is perfect for both absolute beginners and more experienced writers alike looking to build their skills, style, and confidence.
Bursaries
One £150 bursary space is available for this course. To apply, please complete this application form
Deadline for applications: Sunday 10 August 2025
For further information about the support available, please visit our Financial Assistance page: https://tynewydd.wales/courses-retreats/financial-support/
Tutor
Mike Parker
Guest Reader
Dani Robertson
Dani Robertson works as a Dark Sky Officer for Snowdonia National Park, and is originally from Greater Manchester but moved to the Welsh countryside at an early age. She is prolific in conservation work, championing the darkness for all, and is a regular speaker at public outreach events. Her advocacy for night skies was recognised by the International Dark Sky Association in 2022, when she received the Dark Sky Defender Award. All Through the Night is her first book and was published by HarperCollins in 2023.