Adrian Walters
I'm based in
Lympstone
It's Nice To Meet You
Hello, I’m Adrian
I’m lucky enough to call the beautiful village of Lympstone home, tucked along the Exe Estuary in Devon. After growing up in London, swapping the city skyline for sweeping coastline, rolling countryside and big open skies still feels like a daily privilege. When I am not designing trips for my clients, you will usually find me running or cycling, striding out along the South West Coast Path, or out on the water in a kayak or on a paddleboard.
Travel has shaped my life and career. I spent 11 years with a high street travel agency before becoming a Travel Counsellor in 2018, a move that allowed me to offer something far more personal, flexible and bespoke. Even through the challenges of recent years, my passion for helping people see the world, reconnect with loved ones and create memories has only grown stronger.
Over the years I have arranged everything from UK weekends away and European beach breaks to self‑drive adventures across the USA, tailor‑made journeys through Asia and once‑in‑a‑lifetime cruises to Antarctica. No two itineraries are ever the same: every trip is designed around the individual or family in front of me.
My own love of travel began early. More than twenty‑five years ago, my wife Pauline and I stepped away from the world of London finance and set off on a year‑long adventure around the globe. We have never really looked back. Since then I have visited over 40 countries across five continents: sleeping under the stars in the Sahara, backpacking through China and Southeast Asia, road‑tripping across the States and savouring five‑star luxury in Bali. Each journey has reinforced what travel can do: open minds, create connection and remind us what really matters.
If I had to choose favourites, South Africa would always be high on the list for its wildlife, landscapes and sheer variety, Thailand for its warmth, food and beaches, and Italy for, quite simply, everything.
As your personal Travel Counsellor, my focus is simple: you. I take the time to understand how you like to travel, what excites you and what you need from your time away. Whether it is a holiday of a lifetime, a relaxing family beach escape, a romantic city break, a ski adventure, a complex business trip or your honeymoon, I will shape every detail around you and look after you from the moment you get in touch until you return home.
I am completely independent and impartial, with access to a wide range of trusted travel partners across the world: from airlines and luxury hotels to specialist tour operators, cruise lines and car hire companies. I am also supported by a 24‑hour duty office and robust financial protection, including the Travel Counsellors Financial Trust and ATOL, so you can book with complete confidence.
Working from home means I can offer flexibility and a genuinely personal service that fits around busy lives. We can talk by phone, video call, email or over a coffee in person, whatever works best for you.
If you are starting to think about your next trip, I would love to help bring it to life. Get in touch and let us begin planning something truly special.
Travel guides
Explore my guides and blogs
From Street Food to Skylines: Our Malaysian Adventure
Fancy an adventure in Malaysia? Then why not read all about my recent trip to Penang & Kuala Lumpur?
23 Feb 2026 6 min read
Island Hopping in Greece: Our Sporades Adventure (and where to hop next)
🌊 Island Hopping in Greece: Our Sporades Adventure (and Where to Hop Next) When you think about island hopping in Greece, it’s easy to imagine the classic Cycladic postcard: blue-domed churches, whitewashed villages, and sunsets that set the sky on fire. But instead of starting there, our journey this time took us to the Sporades Islands — two lesser-known gems that offered something completely
25 Sept 2025 5 min read
South Africa – A land of contrasts: Culture, Wildlife and much more
South Africa has always been one of our favourite long-haul destinations, and our 2 week trip this February did not disappoint. We’d been before and had high hopes of another great visit to the Rainbow Nation If you haven’t been before, one advantage of South Africa, despite being over 11 hours away, is that you are pretty much on the same time-zone as the UK. So, if you can catch a bit of shut e
28 Feb 2025 5 min read
Get the ball rolling for your next sporting holiday
We had a wonderful trip to Portugal this October, built around me competing in the Lisbon Half Marathon. Having run many events over the last 30 years, this was the first one I’ve run abroad, and combining it with a week’s holiday, made the whole trip a much better experience (despite the rain!). So, it got me thinking about combining a holiday with a sporting event, whether that’s watching as a s
31 Oct 2024 5 min read
Luxury cruising with Silversea - an upscale. upbeat, ultra floating experience
Last month I was very lucky to be invited, along with 11 other Travel Counsellors, to spend 4 nights on board Silversea’s newest luxury cruise ship, Silver Ray. It truly was a 6* experience. Silver Ray is the latest, and largest, of the Nova Class ship in the Silversea fleet. The feeling on board was one of space and light, with the ship never feeling busy, even though this cruise had its full c
07 Aug 2024 4 min read
Tourist Taxes - a good or a bad thing?
Having recently returned from our lovely holiday in Greece, there was one issue that really grabbed my attention as we checked out of our two hotels. We were asked to pay a City Tax by both our hotels. So, for my latest blog, I thought I would veer off my normal path, and rather than writing about the specifics of our last holiday, I decided to look at this aspect of travel that affects nearly eve
10 Jun 2024 5 min read
Sri Lanka - Two weeks of culture, golden beaches, stunning countryside and delicious food
We had long looked forward to our holiday to Sri Lanka, having postponed it twice due to the Pandemic. When we finally got there in January, we were not disappointed. Sri Lanka is a jewel shaped island, perched in the Indian Ocean, just off the south-east coast of India, a country from which it takes a lot of influence. Whilst it doesn’t have quite the “organised chaos” of parts of India, there i
20 Feb 2024 6 min read
History, culture and amazing cuisine - a twin city stay in the Basque country
When looking for a week away, or just a long weekend, within a couple of hours’ flight, there are many options available. Well, I have just experienced a lovely twin-city break in northern Spain, that I hope may tick a lot of boxes for you. If history, fascinating culture, delicious local food and wine and friendly people appeal to you, then a visit to Bilbao and San Sebastian might be something t
25 Oct 2023 6 min read
Trains, buses, taxis, and a plane – a different way to see Europe
For our summer holiday this year we thought we would try something different. Flying to your ultimate holiday destination can be quicker, but if you have the time, and fancy enjoying a little bit more interesting scenery than an over-stocked Duty-Free shop and an over-priced café, then why not consider travelling on the train? So being lovers of beautiful scenery, fascinating history, superb food,
05 Jul 2023 6 min read
Winter sunshine in Europe? – it’s out there!
When it’s your wife’s birthday you always like to find something special as a treat, so this year we thought we would try something different and head off to hunt down some much-needed warmth and sunshine for a long weekend. It’s the first weekend in February though, so where can you go that is not too far to travel, and where there is a good chance of having some nice weather. Well, it seems the
14 Feb 2023 4 min read
Minarets, Markets and Mayhem - 4 Days in Cairo
If you are looking for somewhere different to have a ‘long weekend’ then why not consider a trip to Egypt’s fascinating capital – Cairo? It’s a 5-hour direct flight from London to the largest city in Africa, and you quickly realise what a different part of the world you have flown in to We spent 4 days there in early December on our way back from a beach holiday in Hurghada. Weather wise it's a l
09 Dec 2022 5 min read
When we travel again
A question I get asked a lot, at the moment, is “When do you think we’ll be travelling again?” It is a pertinent and relevant question for which, sadly, I have not got an answer. For me, however, the more thought-provoking question is - “HOW will we travel again?” As I write, whilst there are signs that we are getting on top of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, and there is an easing of the soc
19 May 2020 5 min read
Festive Frolics in Fuerteventura
I never get over the wonderful sensation of leaving a cold, damp British morning behind and stepping off the aircraft steps into a warming breeze of a sub-tropical evening elsewhere. Arriving for our recent 7-day holiday to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands felt no different, other than the fact…… IT’S CHRIIIISSSSTMAAAAS!! I’d previously only spent one Christmas in my lifetime outside the UK,
02 Jan 2020 5 min read
Medieval Mystery, Mountains and Mediterranean
Medieval Mystery, Mountains and Mediterranean For our late summer holiday this year, we decided we wanted to explore an area that was less than two hours from home, but offered spectacular scenery, lovely beaches and amazing culinary experiences – so where better than the south-west corner of France? From mountains to the Med, the Occitanie region of France is less visited than many others, but
20 Sept 2019 6 min read
One night in Bangkok? Never Enough!
I’ve been lucky enough to travel to the beautiful country of Thailand several times, and, though my main purpose is usually to get to one of the beautiful islands or beach resorts for some relaxation, no trip is ever complete without a few days in Bangkok. So, if a holiday to Thailand is on your horizon, here are my tips to make the most of a Bangkok stopover. The “City of Angels” is undeniably a
08 Apr 2019 5 min read
All Aboard!!
It’s early January and train fares have gone up again!! It’s always an annoying headline at this time of year, but it also made me think how enjoyable train journeys are, and how lucky I have been to experience different rail experiences everywhere I’ve visited. Ranging from the means to get around a country to top-end, dress-to-the-nines luxury experiences, trains are always worth thinking ab
03 Jan 2019 5 min read
California Here I Come
If it’s incredible scenery you are after, stunning beaches and majestic mountains, matched with superb food, wines, modern cultural icons and fascinating history, then spend a fortnight like we did in California. If you’ve never done a USA road trip before, then this is the perfect place to dip your toes in to the world of self-drive holidays. To begin with, getting there could not be easier, w
05 Oct 2018 6 min read
Busting the myths of cruising
Up until a couple of years ago, I did not believe I would ever want to go on a cruise, cruise holidays just weren’t for me. Now I have had the recent pleasure of two very different cruises, one on the luxurious Silversea Silver Wind in the Adriatic, and the other on the larger Crown Princess down to Spain. I thought it would be a good time to dispel some common myths about this great way to see t
13 Sept 2018 5 min read
South Africa Fly Drive - Beaches, Battlefields and Bobotie
South Africa is one of my favourite countries to visit, but for our most recent trip we decided to try somewhere different and visit the region of Kwa Zulu Natal in the east. This area is steeped in history, culture and natural wonders, with the stunning Drakensberg Mountains, the battlefields from the Zulu and Boer wars, and the modern city of Durban with its spectacular coastline on the Dolphin
23 Aug 2018 6 min read
A Visit to Captain Correlli country
Having been captivated by the book and the (slightly cheesy) Nicholas Cage film, we had always wanted to visit the beautiful island of Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea. So, armed with a headful of cinematic images, we headed there in late May. The 4-hour flight from Gatwick landed us at the small, but expanding, airport at Argostoli, and arrivals, luggage collection and car hire pick up was quick a
17 Jul 2018 4 min read
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Why use a Travel Counsellor
Let's plan your dream trip together
Tailor-made for you
Your holiday isn’t just a trip away. It’s a longed-for escape, time to reconnect with loved ones, or a dream adventure you never thought possible. That’s why I take the time to truly get to know you and understand your hopes and expectations, then use my experience, connections and passion for the destination to create a trip that makes those dreams a reality.
Personalised service. Always
When you plan a holiday with me, you’ll be given my personal mobile number from the very first call. I’ll listen to your thoughts and ideas like I would a friend and arrange accommodation, activities, and flights that are all personalised to you. And I’ll share my personal tips and recommendations, so you can experience the true beauty of each destination.
Stress-free travel, and more time for what matters most
I believe your time away should be stress-free, easy, and seamless from start to finish. So, I take care of all the details for you - from ATOL protection, insurance, and flexible payments to access to the myTC app, which keeps everything in one place.
Support when it matters most
If the unexpected happens, you can rest easy, knowing that I’ll handle any last-minute changes, flight cancellations, or disruptions before you even pick up the phone. So you always feel happy, carefree, and ready to make the most of every moment.
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