Wayfarer
Love, Loss and Life on Britain’s Ancient Paths
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Wayfarer
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Narrated by:
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Phoebe Smith
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By:
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Phoebe Smith
About this listen
Shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year 2025
A Financial Times best summer travel book of 2024
'A powerfully delicate book of love, loss and discovery, along paths of emotional understanding and physical wonder.' Raynor Winn
On an assignment to walk the most famous pilgrimage in the world – the Camino de Santiago, in northern Spain – Phoebe Smith somehow lost her way.
Having spent a lifetime exploring unfamiliar places, she quit her dream job, ended her long-term relationship and headed home to North Wales to discover the point to… everything.
In her search for answers she found herself – quite by accident – walking some of Britain’s oldest pilgrim paths. And by following these old ways, she ended up confronting past traumas that she thought she had laid to rest.
But while it follows holy trails, this is not a book about religion. From losing her mother as a teenager to surviving toxic relationships, Phoebe offers an unflinchingly honest look at her battle with an eating disorder, depression, and the pitfalls of newfound singledom.
Skilfully weaving together Phoebe’s own story with those of countless travellers past and present, Wayfarer reveals how nature and place can heal past wounds, offering a pathway to salvation she’d never thought existed.
©2025 Phoebe Smith (P)2025 HarperCollins PublishersListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
‘Raw, honest, powerful. I couldn't put it down.’ Cerys Matthews
'Moving, uplifting and utterly relatable.' Kate Humble
'A candid, personal memoir.' Financial Times
'A poignant reminder that the internal journey is as sacred as the external journey. Beautifully written.' Levison Wood
‘Brave, bold and fearless.’ Steve Backshall
‘Unflinching and tender. It will make you want to live boldly, open your heart, find your next adventure and sprint headlong towards it.’ Helen Mort
'Full of tender, honest reflections and sharp observations.' Wyl Menmuir
'Lyrical and revelatory. … A moving tribute to the power of pilgrimage, illuminating Smith’s journey to find her authentic voice.' Sharon Blackie
'Pilgrimage is about getting to know yourself and Wayfarer finds Phoebe learning to sing out her soul.' Guy Hayward, Director, British Pilgrimage Trust
'An inspiring journey of honouring our memories while living a life in defiance of the past.' Jade Angeles Fitton
‘Memoir, travel diary, and historical and ecological companion, this book will grab and hold its readers’ attention as they follow the complicated path of a spiritual seeker.’ Church Times
'As she walks, Smith reveals her love of nature and the countryside in poignant, finely observed prose.’ Country and Town House
'Timely and revelatory.' Geographical
'This multi-faceted book is a gem … Inspirational, honest and powerful.' Nation.cmyru
'One of the Best Travel Books of 2024, Wayfarer shows that the UK wilderness has restorative powers far beyond an invigorating view.' Wanderlust
'I devoured it over a couple of days and kept creeping back because I just had to know what happened next.' Penny Post
What listeners say about Wayfarer
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Marie-Claire Mullan
- 15-08-24
Honest and real
A brilliant insight into pilgrimage and the history of Pilgrims and a great honest and heartfelt story of the uos and downs of life from the author. I enjoyed hearing all the amazing stories of her adventures and how she has overcome many hurdles.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 07-05-24
Highly personal and emotive
A gripping memoir showing how ancient traditions can help with the ups and downs of the modern world
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 18-07-24
Navigating the paths of life through pilgrim paths
A wonderful story through the ups and downs of life. Phoebe’s narration makes it even more personal and I love her voice. I thoroughly recommend this audiobook!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sal B
- 11-07-24
Smith takes you in her footsteps as a women battling her way through her life with each step of the pilgrim paths.
I've just finished listening to Wayfarer. Wow, very brave of Smith to be so raw and brutally honest about her feelings and heartbreaking life experiences. She has clearly survived a lot as a women, and that is a true warrior! Beautifully written about the natural world she encounters and alot of research into the pilgrim paths she's taken to help heal her wounds. Clearly one of the best female travel writers around - which we need more of!
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