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
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 PublishersCritic reviews
‘Raw, honest, powerful. I couldn't put it down.’ Cerys Matthews
'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. On this expedition into both ancient Britain and the self, Phoebe is the ultimate companion.’ Steve Backshall
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