Mike Parker (writer)


Mike Parker is a British travel writer, currently living in Wales.
He was the co-author of the Rough Guide to Wales, and has also written books on four British cities, and on the gay scenes of Scotland, Ireland and Northern England. In addition, Parker has worked as a stand-up comedian.
After moving to Wales in spring 2000, he became involved in television, writing and presenting a one-off Saint David's Day special for HTV Wales in 2002. This led to him being commissioned to write and present two series of Coast to Coast, where Parker took twelve journeys in different boats around the Welsh coast. He made three series of Great Welsh Roads for HTV Wales, which saw Parker and his dog tour the country in a camper van.
His 2019 book On the Red Hill was shortlisted for the 2020 Wainwright Prize for UK nature writing.

Political career

In June 2013, Parker was chosen by Plaid Cymru to be its candidate for the UK parliamentary constituency of Ceredigion, one of the party's target seats. In the 2015 United Kingdom general election he came second to the incumbent Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams.