Hello! My name is David, and I am an experienced locally based guide, now coming into my seventh season with Tours By Locals.
My profession as an accountant has allowed me to travel extensively in Europe and in particular in Spain, France, and Sweden. I always tried to learn about the local culture and history of the cities that I have visited, and a walking tour from a local guide has always been a must do experience.
From my own personal experiences as a tourist, I have learned what makes a good walking tour and I hope to deliver this as I convey to my clients the rich history of my home city and county of Derry/Londonderry.
I encourage visitors to "Linger longer in Londonderry" and enjoy a "Dander around Derry" and I can arrange a tour to suit you.
My mission is to provide informative and entertaining historical tours of interest to visitors to the area. I always strive to be "politically neutral" and "historically accurate". Due to the wealth of historical information that exists about the city, the biggest challenge has not been what to include, but what to leave out !!!
Although I am some-one who lived in the city during "the Troubles" of 1969-1994, in my tours I deliberately do not focus on the details of that difficult period of the city's recent history, preferring to concentrate on a wider period from its origins to the present day.
I was born, bred and am a lifetime resident of the city. I am a passionate student and reader of history. I am an "Old Boy" of Foyle College and a graduate of Queen's University, Belfast. I am a member of Tour Guides NI, and as such am public liability insured. I am also a long-time member of "The Friends of the Derry Walls" and other local Historical Societies.
I am steadily developing my contacts with other local tourist organisations and attractions and work as part of a connected and collaborative network for the benefit of visitors to the area. I am currently able to offer a number of add-on visits to attractions in the area, including the Guildhall, St Columb's Cathedral, the Tower Museum, the Playhouse, the Blue Coat Heritage Centre and the St Columba Heritage Centre.
I have also developed a young person's treasure hunt to keep the younger visitor engaged during my tours around the Derry Walls.

For your safety, a radio microphone system can be provided on request. Please specify at time of booking. (Although headphones are provided, I would encourage guests to bring their own).

As Sustainability is a very important aspect of the Tourism Trade, I have recently undergone Leave No Trace Awareness Training and am also Certified as Carbon Literate through Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.

See you in Derry/Londonderry soon.

OCN Level 3 Award in Tour Guiding (2020)
OCN Level 2 Award in Tour Guiding (2017)
Member of Tour Guides NI - Public Liability Insured
Member of Visit Derry
World Host Ambassador Training Completed

My tours are normally only walking tours of Derry/Londonderry. In exceptional circumstances I may offer a pick up or driving tour of the city.

The detail of this your will be worked out with customer in advance.
Will include visits to City Walls, Street Art and Murals and Specialised History.





Derry/Londonderry Jane Fitch Rest of DayCity Private Walking Tour

The history of the shirt factory history in the city of Derry/Londonderry is a fantastic one.
At one time employing 18, 000 people, mainly women, and occupying in excess of 40 buildings, this tour looks at the history and heritage of this industry and what legacy it has left to the city, in the buildings and in its people.

Shirt Factories Heritage - Private 2 Hour Walking Tour

This is a tour about people and places. The places are the locations of the blue and other commemorative plaques erected at certain sites around the city centre.
The half day walking tour lasts for approx 4 hours with a refreshment stop and goes on an Extended City Route.
It can also be made available as a 2 hour walking tour on request.

However, the most important part of the tour is the history of the people connected with the city who have been honoured with the plaques - people who have influenced history not just of the city but throughout the world.

These people have been giants in the arts, music, literature and include:

Cecil Frances Alexander - the hymnwriter
Bishop Berkeley - philosopher
George Farquhar - playwright
Francis Ledwidge - war poet
Mabel Colhoun - pioneering female archaeologist
Amelia Earhart - aviator
Martha Magee - benefactor to Magee College (University of Ulster)
Kathleen Coyle - acclaimed novelist
and many more.

Tour guide in Londonderry Northern Ireland David D.

English

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