Wayfarer: A Journey Along Britain’s Ancient Paths

A woman’s tale of the transformative power of walking Britain’s ancient pilgrim paths

’Raw, honest, powerful. I couldn’t put it down.’ Cerys Matthews

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.

Phoebe Smith is an award-winning adventurer, presenter, broadcaster, author, photographer, and speaker. She hosts the Wander Woman Podcast and is Sleep Storyteller-in-Residence at Calm.com. She is the author of 10 books, including the bestselling Extreme Sleeps and has worked with a range of clients from the BBC to ITV, Radio 4, the Guardian, Ordnance Survey, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Rolls Royce, Lowe Alpine and Berghaus.