What do you think?
Rate this book
The Wayfarer: Through the pain. Towards redemption. Along the Pennine Way.
In May 2021, Andy Kind set off from Edale in an attempt to walk the Peninne Way, something he had tried – and failed – to do twice before. From Derbyshire to Scotland, struggling against the weather and terrain and hindered both by himself and others, we follow his journey towards what he hopes will not just be an ending, but a redemption.
A cross between Bill Bryson and Jerome-K. Jerome, with subtle hints of Evelyn Waugh, The Wayfarer is a laugh-out-loud memoir that deals with the topics of grief, reconciliation and mental health, and asks the
What do you do when hope falls off a cliff?
The
Keep moving forward, one foot in front of the other, one step at a time.
“Andy Kind has always been a masterful storyteller but he seems, ironically, to have climbed to new heights with this. The Wayfarer is a triumph of humour and pathos.”
Paul Kerensa. British Comedy award-winning co-writer
Capturing the profound soulfulness of Raynor Winn's The Salt Path alongside the observational brilliance of Bill Bryson, Andy Kind brings a fresh, hilarious voice to the Great British trail."
A cross between Bill Bryson and Jerome-K. Jerome, with subtle hints of Evelyn Waugh, The Wayfarer is a laugh-out-loud memoir that deals with the topics of grief, reconciliation and mental health, and asks the
What do you do when hope falls off a cliff?
The
Keep moving forward, one foot in front of the other, one step at a time.
“Andy Kind has always been a masterful storyteller but he seems, ironically, to have climbed to new heights with this. The Wayfarer is a triumph of humour and pathos.”
Paul Kerensa. British Comedy award-winning co-writer
Capturing the profound soulfulness of Raynor Winn's The Salt Path alongside the observational brilliance of Bill Bryson, Andy Kind brings a fresh, hilarious voice to the Great British trail."
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2025
3 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 1, 2025
One way (but not the only way) for me to assess how much I enjoyed a book is by how quickly I read it. I finished this in just a few days, and often late into the evening when I could have watched something on Netflix instead. Andy is an excellent storyteller, well read, and also occasionally funny. As someone who tends to only read philosophy, theology, and other thrilling disciplines, it was a weird experience laughing out loud (I counted 14 separate instances). If you like reading and occasionally laughing out loud, then you should read it. I hope one day to meet Margot and Geoffrey on a walk.
June 30, 2025
Spent a few (well, more than a few. But fewer than many. What comes in between? Quite a few, perhaps? But I find it troubling that quite a few is somehow more than a few. Anyway, back to the sentence…) hours in the delightful company of The Wayfarer. Charming, absorbing, poignant, funny. With a liberal sprinkling of literary erudition that made me think I need to read more classical writing. A joyful diversion accompanying a purposeful hike.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
July 2, 2025
Beautifully observed and thoughtful.
Almost like being there.
Almost like being there.
June 26, 2025
If you like 'a man goes on a journey' type of a book rather than 'a stranger comes into town' then this is the book for you as Andy relates his sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes uneven (both literally and metaphorically) tale of his pilgrimage on the Pennine Way. I really enjoyed it. I knew a bit of the back story but this was told well and sensitively when necessary. It also made me want to walk the Pennine Way - but perhaps not all at once..
July 17, 2025
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that Andy Kind is a superb storyteller. But this book was even more of an incredible read than I expected. I already knew the story and so was ready to jauntily skip through the chapters, giving a quick friendly wave as I traversed the literary miles enjoying maybe a passing quip with Andy’s travelling companion, Alan, along the way. But no! Every word, every sentence, every page, every chapter is so carefully crafted that it deserved complete immersion to savour the incredible use of language which stirred emotions, inviting the reader to smell, to taste, to observe, to be alongside.
I laughed, I cried, I reflected, I dissected, I devoured.
This is not a book to read just once, dear reader. It’s one to join you as a lifelong friend.
I laughed, I cried, I reflected, I dissected, I devoured.
This is not a book to read just once, dear reader. It’s one to join you as a lifelong friend.
July 4, 2025
An amusing and entirely readable book with some hilarious anecdotes and poignant moments. Well written, well researched and a very brave sharing of a key passage in the author’s life.
August 16, 2025
This book is BRILLIANT!!
I know phrases like 'page turner' and 'I couldn't put it down' are cliche, but honestly.......I couldn't put it down!!! Gave myself a week to read it, done in 2 and a half days.
Firstly, as the author is comedian, as you can imagine, it's hilarious. If you aren't laughing at the Hebden Bridge chapter you need to call your doctor and demand an X-Ray to check for a lack of funny bone. While poignancy and self-reflection are the main themes, Kinds comidic chops are never in doubt, you will be chuckling throughout.
Secondly, and this much more important. Kind is a beautiful and very poetic writer, his descriptions of landscapes, trees, hills, dales and even clouds are incredible. He paints a picture in the minds eye that is truly stunning and will make you want to go out and buy some walking boots. He's obviously well read and references classic works throughout, to be honest making me a little embarrassed how little of them I had read. Keats, Bronte, Defoe, Bryson, Carroll, Lewis are just a few of the many writers seasoned in throughout the book which reminds us that so many of the paths we walk (like the Pennine Way itself) in life have been trodden before. Not to mention, of course, given it is about a long walking journey the Tolkien-esque nature of the whole venture.
Given Kinds wonderfully poetic nature, and the fact that he his walked trails shared with everyone from Romans to Victorians, there is a delightfully timeless quality to this book. There are times when you could easily think that it was written 50, 100 or even 200 years ago, then all of a sudden you are smacked in the face with words like 'Toyota Prius', 'Duolingo' 'Pointless' (The Tv show) and 'Missgendered' which remind you that this is written in the 2020s. I can imagine this is intentional to give the reader a sense of the walk itself. You are walking past a hill unchanged since the time of the dinosaurs, towards a village unchanged since the industrial revolution, where in which you buy a pint using ApplePay. The modern world snaps us, the reader, out of the marvalous time-warp that Kinds walk gives us.
The book is very episodic in nature, each leg of the journey, each pub or lodging house stayed at, each side character met along the way, even for just a page, act as a mini-parable, a story within a story of Kinds search for redemption. It is clear that our hero, Kind, has one obvious superpower, he is deeply likeable and makes friends with almost everyone he meets. Chance encounters, which for most people would equate to little more than 'Good morning, lovely weather isn't it' for Kind turn into life long friendships, people who want to support him and help and without whom is quest would be impossible. Much like how The Fellowship joins together because they like Frodo and the Hobbits and respect his bravery, Kind forms a fellowship around him due to his charming, affable, vulnerable yet brave nature.
If I had any criticism of this book, and I'll be honest there are very few, it's just so good! Is that I do disagree on a philosophical level with Kinds search for redemption. To me, redemption means to make amends for something you did wrong. Kind never really full explains what, if anything, he has done wrong. To me anyway, it is as though autumn would be seeking redemption for no longer being summer. Though, I am sure that is very easy for me to say as an outsider, but it is very easy to blame oneself for things outside of anyones control. (I can't say too much more without spoilers)
Anyway, that aside, this is an incredible read and I will be recommending it to everyone I know. More of the same please Mr Kind!
Final thought, Alan is an absolute legend and he needs his own spin-off.
I know phrases like 'page turner' and 'I couldn't put it down' are cliche, but honestly.......I couldn't put it down!!! Gave myself a week to read it, done in 2 and a half days.
Firstly, as the author is comedian, as you can imagine, it's hilarious. If you aren't laughing at the Hebden Bridge chapter you need to call your doctor and demand an X-Ray to check for a lack of funny bone. While poignancy and self-reflection are the main themes, Kinds comidic chops are never in doubt, you will be chuckling throughout.
Secondly, and this much more important. Kind is a beautiful and very poetic writer, his descriptions of landscapes, trees, hills, dales and even clouds are incredible. He paints a picture in the minds eye that is truly stunning and will make you want to go out and buy some walking boots. He's obviously well read and references classic works throughout, to be honest making me a little embarrassed how little of them I had read. Keats, Bronte, Defoe, Bryson, Carroll, Lewis are just a few of the many writers seasoned in throughout the book which reminds us that so many of the paths we walk (like the Pennine Way itself) in life have been trodden before. Not to mention, of course, given it is about a long walking journey the Tolkien-esque nature of the whole venture.
Given Kinds wonderfully poetic nature, and the fact that he his walked trails shared with everyone from Romans to Victorians, there is a delightfully timeless quality to this book. There are times when you could easily think that it was written 50, 100 or even 200 years ago, then all of a sudden you are smacked in the face with words like 'Toyota Prius', 'Duolingo' 'Pointless' (The Tv show) and 'Missgendered' which remind you that this is written in the 2020s. I can imagine this is intentional to give the reader a sense of the walk itself. You are walking past a hill unchanged since the time of the dinosaurs, towards a village unchanged since the industrial revolution, where in which you buy a pint using ApplePay. The modern world snaps us, the reader, out of the marvalous time-warp that Kinds walk gives us.
The book is very episodic in nature, each leg of the journey, each pub or lodging house stayed at, each side character met along the way, even for just a page, act as a mini-parable, a story within a story of Kinds search for redemption. It is clear that our hero, Kind, has one obvious superpower, he is deeply likeable and makes friends with almost everyone he meets. Chance encounters, which for most people would equate to little more than 'Good morning, lovely weather isn't it' for Kind turn into life long friendships, people who want to support him and help and without whom is quest would be impossible. Much like how The Fellowship joins together because they like Frodo and the Hobbits and respect his bravery, Kind forms a fellowship around him due to his charming, affable, vulnerable yet brave nature.
If I had any criticism of this book, and I'll be honest there are very few, it's just so good! Is that I do disagree on a philosophical level with Kinds search for redemption. To me, redemption means to make amends for something you did wrong. Kind never really full explains what, if anything, he has done wrong. To me anyway, it is as though autumn would be seeking redemption for no longer being summer. Though, I am sure that is very easy for me to say as an outsider, but it is very easy to blame oneself for things outside of anyones control. (I can't say too much more without spoilers)
Anyway, that aside, this is an incredible read and I will be recommending it to everyone I know. More of the same please Mr Kind!
Final thought, Alan is an absolute legend and he needs his own spin-off.
October 5, 2025
When you read this book, you will no doubt be distracted by the density of the beautiful language he has used to describe his travel, “This should be part of the curriculum” I’m sure you’ll think! “My children’s children will have virtual tattoos of this down their arm” you’ll tell the postman. You will then be caught off guard by the absolutely wonderful, cheeky sense of humour that makes Andy so delightfully enjoyable.
You WILL laugh out loud and probably snort or worse. So find a non judgey cafe or library, or best, read it in the toilet. I didn’t. I read it in a cafe, snort laughed, cried and left without paying. I realised this at 3am and spent what felt like 3 hours tracking the owners down on Facebook to apologise and promise of immediate payment in the morning.
Not only had I become a coffee thief, but I had gone for an inspired long walk the afternoon of the offence in a different town; my destination being a second coffee shop for my spree. But by the Lord’s favour and the police; on arrival, it had been turned into a house.
If you’ve experienced any kind of grief, loss, or enduring pain, you’ll relate to this book, and haven’t we all? I found it incredibly cathartic. I felt like I’d gone on this journey with him, and boy did I deserve my treats at the end! (a yummy smashed avocado on toast if you must know) If you manage to surmount this read of deeply enjoyable adventure with Andy and some very rich friends he meets along the way, (both in character and capitalé) you’ll no doubt feel like one of his closest friends by the end of it. And having the privilege to know him well, that’s not a bad thing at all. A Prisoner of Hope, he calls himself, which is actually very freeing.
You WILL laugh out loud and probably snort or worse. So find a non judgey cafe or library, or best, read it in the toilet. I didn’t. I read it in a cafe, snort laughed, cried and left without paying. I realised this at 3am and spent what felt like 3 hours tracking the owners down on Facebook to apologise and promise of immediate payment in the morning.
Not only had I become a coffee thief, but I had gone for an inspired long walk the afternoon of the offence in a different town; my destination being a second coffee shop for my spree. But by the Lord’s favour and the police; on arrival, it had been turned into a house.
If you’ve experienced any kind of grief, loss, or enduring pain, you’ll relate to this book, and haven’t we all? I found it incredibly cathartic. I felt like I’d gone on this journey with him, and boy did I deserve my treats at the end! (a yummy smashed avocado on toast if you must know) If you manage to surmount this read of deeply enjoyable adventure with Andy and some very rich friends he meets along the way, (both in character and capitalé) you’ll no doubt feel like one of his closest friends by the end of it. And having the privilege to know him well, that’s not a bad thing at all. A Prisoner of Hope, he calls himself, which is actually very freeing.
June 28, 2025
This humorous, heartwarming and heartbreaking pilgrimage journal pays homage to all the great travel writers and certainly earns a place alongside those tales of adventure, self-discovery and comradeship.
An incredibly entertaining read, this reminds me of Chaucer’s General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. I didn’t expect to encounter such a rich and colourfully depicted crew of strangers who become friends, encourage introspection and allow for plenty of opportunities for hilarious observational humour.
Breathing new life into the travel/memoir genres, there is much to discover about ourselves, Britain’s natural and man-made landscape, the healing power of friendship, the mystery of memory, the genius of Simon and Garfunkel, redemption that arrives cloaked in disguise, one man’s treasure (and his beloved ibuprofen gel).
Sweet motifs and themes are carefully embroidered throughout the journey, adding to the pathos and increasing our investment in the author’s pain and emotional struggle.
I didn’t want this book to end but couldn’t stop reading, so there I was on the last page after less than a week. I’ll be going back to re-scale a few of the heights and continue to uncover more of the stories, poetry and particularly apt quotes that emerge from the peat bogs and peaks of The Pennine Way.
Buy this book for yourself and anyone with a heart. You won’t regret it (or forget it).
An incredibly entertaining read, this reminds me of Chaucer’s General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. I didn’t expect to encounter such a rich and colourfully depicted crew of strangers who become friends, encourage introspection and allow for plenty of opportunities for hilarious observational humour.
Breathing new life into the travel/memoir genres, there is much to discover about ourselves, Britain’s natural and man-made landscape, the healing power of friendship, the mystery of memory, the genius of Simon and Garfunkel, redemption that arrives cloaked in disguise, one man’s treasure (and his beloved ibuprofen gel).
Sweet motifs and themes are carefully embroidered throughout the journey, adding to the pathos and increasing our investment in the author’s pain and emotional struggle.
I didn’t want this book to end but couldn’t stop reading, so there I was on the last page after less than a week. I’ll be going back to re-scale a few of the heights and continue to uncover more of the stories, poetry and particularly apt quotes that emerge from the peat bogs and peaks of The Pennine Way.
Buy this book for yourself and anyone with a heart. You won’t regret it (or forget it).
August 10, 2025
Numerous times in this winsome memoir Andy makes it clear that the manner and duration of his journey is not going to impress anyone remotely accustomed to multi-day hikes in the great outdoors. Some of his travelling companions are doing comparatively long distances and while Andy enjoys the comfort of a B&B they must brave their own travel stink as they set up camp for the night.
So what makes Andy’s odyssey along the Pennine Way so readable? It’s numerous factors: it’s the self-deprecating inner monologue, the well-crafted comedic observations, the eyebrow-raising AirBnB experience, the slow burn of a grown man trying to prove something to his former self or his family or his future self.
There’s a strangely deterministic feel to the narrative. I was expecting an adventure teeming with chance encounters, near-misses and serendipity. But instead, I felt a sense of the inevitable, of providence’s steady hand. Jonah was destined to wipe his sandals on Ninevah’s welcome mat. Frodo was destined to stumble into the Mount Doom motel. Andy was destined for a reckoning, a spiritual purge.
It’s an easy read, dotted with highlightable wisdom, Tom Waits-esque embellishments, perfectly placed literary quotes and wanton anthropomorphization. However despite the emotional striptease, we only get a few glimpses of Andy’s inner world war and ultimately it’s the unwritten chapters straight after the journey is complete that I can’t help but want to read.
So what makes Andy’s odyssey along the Pennine Way so readable? It’s numerous factors: it’s the self-deprecating inner monologue, the well-crafted comedic observations, the eyebrow-raising AirBnB experience, the slow burn of a grown man trying to prove something to his former self or his family or his future self.
There’s a strangely deterministic feel to the narrative. I was expecting an adventure teeming with chance encounters, near-misses and serendipity. But instead, I felt a sense of the inevitable, of providence’s steady hand. Jonah was destined to wipe his sandals on Ninevah’s welcome mat. Frodo was destined to stumble into the Mount Doom motel. Andy was destined for a reckoning, a spiritual purge.
It’s an easy read, dotted with highlightable wisdom, Tom Waits-esque embellishments, perfectly placed literary quotes and wanton anthropomorphization. However despite the emotional striptease, we only get a few glimpses of Andy’s inner world war and ultimately it’s the unwritten chapters straight after the journey is complete that I can’t help but want to read.
September 16, 2025
Andy Kind doesn’t so much recount a walk as slip your feet into his blistered boots and let you hobble beside him through hills and valleys traversing the pain and beauty of the Pennine Way. Within a few pages I could feel the pain in his knees and the throb of those developing blisters. His meteorology alone deserves its own forecast: hail described with the panache of a drum solo, rain given personality, purpose, and somehow comic timing.
Andy Kind’s prose carries the twinkle of Bill Bryson spliced with the grit of The Salt Path - minus the controversy. His route intersects with other people’s journeys mid-redemption arc, and he treats them not as parables but as people with their own funny, fractured, generous, surprising and revealing (cough cough, Werner) lives. Beauty, grace, and hope abound.
Kind knows an indecent number of big words. Crucially, he deploys them with the restraint of a good guide, not to preen but to beautify - so that my own vocabulary finished the hike noticeably fitter.
This is clever travel writing with a pilgrim’s heart and a stand-up’s timing. If Bryson makes you smile and The Salt Path made you feel, The Wayfarer will do both but not only that, it will then send you out for a walk with a pocket full of plasters, a novelty door stop companion and a bergen full of hope.
Andy Kind’s prose carries the twinkle of Bill Bryson spliced with the grit of The Salt Path - minus the controversy. His route intersects with other people’s journeys mid-redemption arc, and he treats them not as parables but as people with their own funny, fractured, generous, surprising and revealing (cough cough, Werner) lives. Beauty, grace, and hope abound.
Kind knows an indecent number of big words. Crucially, he deploys them with the restraint of a good guide, not to preen but to beautify - so that my own vocabulary finished the hike noticeably fitter.
This is clever travel writing with a pilgrim’s heart and a stand-up’s timing. If Bryson makes you smile and The Salt Path made you feel, The Wayfarer will do both but not only that, it will then send you out for a walk with a pocket full of plasters, a novelty door stop companion and a bergen full of hope.
November 3, 2025
I'll start by saying I am often only moved to review books when they are a bit crap and "Disappointed from Scotland" can't believe she was reading the same book as the previous reviewers.
I can assure you this is NOT the case with The Wayfarer.
To be fair I didn't read any other reviews before I bought it so I had no expectations other than I hoped it was going to be better than The Salt Path and Landlines (what a dreary book!) in style and truth.
All I can say is, what a complete joy this book is. As a woman of a certain age who seems to have lost access to emotions (happy or sad) reading this gently teased out many unsolicited giggles and the occasional guffaw - I even had a catch in my throat at one point - which is serious emotional progress!
It's open, honest, very funny and draws you into Andy's mind to reveal someone who is just trying to walk his journey in life like the rest of us - offering nuggets of wisdom along the way, in the shape of walking companions, his faith in God - and Alan.
You don't need to be a walker or a believer to read this. It's more uplifting than the strapline might suggest, a book for anyone who has ever experienced a life that doesn't necessarily go to plan.
I can assure you this is NOT the case with The Wayfarer.
To be fair I didn't read any other reviews before I bought it so I had no expectations other than I hoped it was going to be better than The Salt Path and Landlines (what a dreary book!) in style and truth.
All I can say is, what a complete joy this book is. As a woman of a certain age who seems to have lost access to emotions (happy or sad) reading this gently teased out many unsolicited giggles and the occasional guffaw - I even had a catch in my throat at one point - which is serious emotional progress!
It's open, honest, very funny and draws you into Andy's mind to reveal someone who is just trying to walk his journey in life like the rest of us - offering nuggets of wisdom along the way, in the shape of walking companions, his faith in God - and Alan.
You don't need to be a walker or a believer to read this. It's more uplifting than the strapline might suggest, a book for anyone who has ever experienced a life that doesn't necessarily go to plan.
August 1, 2025
This book surprised me. I was suspecting, as you would from Andy Kind, hilarious tales of incidents and characters that he encountered as he walked along the Pennine Way - and that’s exactly what I got …… but also a whole lot more.
I knew I would laugh. I didn’t expect to cry. I knew I’d read about the pain in his body. I didn’t know I’d read about… I won’t say any more as I want the read to be as surprising to you as it was to me.
One chapter was hilarious. One chapter I cried. One chapter was so deep that the wisdom in it should be in some self help counselling book.
I want to meet some of the characters, I don’t want to meet others, I want to be a ‘fly on the wall’ in some of the guest houses. I want to know if Kevin is ok?
Andy’s talents reach further than his comedic skills in this book. Don’t just read it if you’re interested in walking the Pennine Way, read it for entertainment and intrigue and comedy and meaning. As in The Pilgrim’s Progress, it’s more than just a book about a man going for a very long walk.
I knew I would laugh. I didn’t expect to cry. I knew I’d read about the pain in his body. I didn’t know I’d read about… I won’t say any more as I want the read to be as surprising to you as it was to me.
One chapter was hilarious. One chapter I cried. One chapter was so deep that the wisdom in it should be in some self help counselling book.
I want to meet some of the characters, I don’t want to meet others, I want to be a ‘fly on the wall’ in some of the guest houses. I want to know if Kevin is ok?
Andy’s talents reach further than his comedic skills in this book. Don’t just read it if you’re interested in walking the Pennine Way, read it for entertainment and intrigue and comedy and meaning. As in The Pilgrim’s Progress, it’s more than just a book about a man going for a very long walk.
August 4, 2025
I was super excited to read The Wayfarer long before I received my copy, having journeyed vicariously via Andy’s daily updates as he made his way Pennineward. The writing was so good even in that unpolished form, and the story so compelling and hilarious (yet wince-inducing at times), I knew the book would be something special. I was not disappointed.
The Wayfarer is an utter delight—funny, moving, sharp and tender, and utterly relatable (especially if you’ve ever cursed your way up Pen-Y-Ghent). Andy Kind writes with rare honesty, self-awareness and humour, and his descriptive, poetic style is a joy. He’s a very talented storyteller—able to hold both the ridiculous and the profound in the same paragraph.
I laughed out loud, read out bits to my (long-suffering) family, and wept openly by the end. This isn’t just a book about walking the Pennine Way—it’s about life, faith, food, friendship, nature’s awesomeness, and the ridiculous beauty of trying to keep going when you’re completely knackered and not even sure why you’re doing it. I completely loved it.
The Wayfarer is an utter delight—funny, moving, sharp and tender, and utterly relatable (especially if you’ve ever cursed your way up Pen-Y-Ghent). Andy Kind writes with rare honesty, self-awareness and humour, and his descriptive, poetic style is a joy. He’s a very talented storyteller—able to hold both the ridiculous and the profound in the same paragraph.
I laughed out loud, read out bits to my (long-suffering) family, and wept openly by the end. This isn’t just a book about walking the Pennine Way—it’s about life, faith, food, friendship, nature’s awesomeness, and the ridiculous beauty of trying to keep going when you’re completely knackered and not even sure why you’re doing it. I completely loved it.
September 25, 2025
Oh man, I immensely enjoyed this book. I chuckled every chapter and endured the more emotional but necessary parts of Andy Kind’s journey.
Alan is certainly a highlight (read the book to know who Alan is, it’s worth it I promise).
Why should you read this book?
‘The Wayfarer’ by Andy Kind sits at the intersection of spiritual memoir, travel writing, and personal reflection. It’s certainly travel writing unlike I’ve experienced before and I’d be happy to experience it again. While Kind is a comedian (and a great one I should add) this book does include heavy themes of grief, faith, and brokenness and while being a sort of spiritual memoir it’s not preachy.
He’s walking the Pennine Way, and he almost had me thinking “I’d like to do that”. The walk is filled with thoughtful metaphors and is an extremely heartfelt journey filled with humour and ruggedness, which is expected on a long walk.
I found Kind to be an impressive writer and he had me returning to his journey to find out more.
And once again, Alan was fantastic!
Alan is certainly a highlight (read the book to know who Alan is, it’s worth it I promise).
Why should you read this book?
‘The Wayfarer’ by Andy Kind sits at the intersection of spiritual memoir, travel writing, and personal reflection. It’s certainly travel writing unlike I’ve experienced before and I’d be happy to experience it again. While Kind is a comedian (and a great one I should add) this book does include heavy themes of grief, faith, and brokenness and while being a sort of spiritual memoir it’s not preachy.
He’s walking the Pennine Way, and he almost had me thinking “I’d like to do that”. The walk is filled with thoughtful metaphors and is an extremely heartfelt journey filled with humour and ruggedness, which is expected on a long walk.
I found Kind to be an impressive writer and he had me returning to his journey to find out more.
And once again, Alan was fantastic!
July 29, 2025
The Wayfarer is a gem amongst Andy’s work and will sit atop the pile, not only for its aesthetically pleasing colour scheme on the cover.
Andy Kind has crafted a story that’s both funny and emotionally rich, with a depth that sort of sneaks up in you in the best way. From start to finish, the story is full of wit and grounded in really human experience, making it feel fresh yet completely relatable.
It’s a delicate balance - there are moments that will make you laugh out loud but they’re never at the expense of the deeper, more reflective moments. The way Andy weaves these elements together is effortless and authentic.
Even though I knew the way the story would unfold, the ending of chapter 33 was so raw and vulnerable that it caught me off guard.
This book is a brilliant read - funny, authentic and full of heart, much like the author himself. Kudos to you, Andy, for crafting a story about your own story that leaves us richer and wiser by the end.
Andy Kind has crafted a story that’s both funny and emotionally rich, with a depth that sort of sneaks up in you in the best way. From start to finish, the story is full of wit and grounded in really human experience, making it feel fresh yet completely relatable.
It’s a delicate balance - there are moments that will make you laugh out loud but they’re never at the expense of the deeper, more reflective moments. The way Andy weaves these elements together is effortless and authentic.
Even though I knew the way the story would unfold, the ending of chapter 33 was so raw and vulnerable that it caught me off guard.
This book is a brilliant read - funny, authentic and full of heart, much like the author himself. Kudos to you, Andy, for crafting a story about your own story that leaves us richer and wiser by the end.
June 28, 2025
Wayfarer by Andy Kind is one of the funniest books I’ve ever read, but something happens about halfway through (not quite sure what exactly) where it just changes in tone and you start to realize what it’s really about. There isn’t a lot of jeopardy in the first few chapters, and I did wonder where it was going in an emotional sense, but it starts to get under your skin after a bit and when it does, you’re in for the long haul. It isn’t all epic and it isn’t all hilarious, but at its funniest it’s as good as it gets and there are passages that are just achingly beautiful. The cover says it’s a bit like Bill Bryson, but Kind is significantly funnier and better at pulling the heartstrings. I think I’ll probably be thinking about this book for a while.
August 5, 2025
If like me, you have never even once contemplated walking the Pennine Way, you may have zero interest in a book about someone else who did. Allow me to change your mind.
The Wayfarer is a brilliant memoir by preacher/comedian (promedian) extraordinaire Andy Kind. It charts his journey from Derbyshire to Scotland, battling gruelling weather and rough terrain in search of… well, you’ll have to read it to find out why!
Andy is a masterful storyteller, the king of the callback, and this is his magnum opus. When I was a teenager, my Gran used to give me newspaper clippings of Bill Bryson’s column. I remember the glee with which I devoured them, and then in time his books. That very same feeling returned while reading this on holiday. It’s tightly and beautifully written, with lovable characters, perfect turns of phrase, and laugh-out-loud moments in every chapter. I genuinely had fellow-bathers staring at me while I was giggling on my sunbed.
It's also profound. One of Andy’s life messages is that of redemption – he barely goes a conversation without talking about it. And it’s a thread that runs right throughout this book. Whether he’s discussing the walk, his fellow travellers, or themes like marriage or faith, he’s able to spot the potential for redemption even in the bleakest of moments.
Highly recommended!
The Wayfarer is a brilliant memoir by preacher/comedian (promedian) extraordinaire Andy Kind. It charts his journey from Derbyshire to Scotland, battling gruelling weather and rough terrain in search of… well, you’ll have to read it to find out why!
Andy is a masterful storyteller, the king of the callback, and this is his magnum opus. When I was a teenager, my Gran used to give me newspaper clippings of Bill Bryson’s column. I remember the glee with which I devoured them, and then in time his books. That very same feeling returned while reading this on holiday. It’s tightly and beautifully written, with lovable characters, perfect turns of phrase, and laugh-out-loud moments in every chapter. I genuinely had fellow-bathers staring at me while I was giggling on my sunbed.
It's also profound. One of Andy’s life messages is that of redemption – he barely goes a conversation without talking about it. And it’s a thread that runs right throughout this book. Whether he’s discussing the walk, his fellow travellers, or themes like marriage or faith, he’s able to spot the potential for redemption even in the bleakest of moments.
Highly recommended!
July 31, 2025
This week I finished reading 'The Wayfarer' by Andy Kind. It is marvellous. Even as someone totally uninterested in walking, I thoroughly enjoyed his depiction of travelling along the Pennine Way and the physical and emotional trial that accompanied it. Written by a comedian you expect humour and it did not disappoint. Many are the moments I must have annoyed my husband as I chuckled and snorted away whilst reading it, but the book is more than that, and not without its insightful and deeply touching moments too.
I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who, in this sometimes difficult world, would like to read something uplifting and pleasant. And at times just slightly irreverent (those were my favourite bits!).
I hope he takes another trip and writes another soon!
I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who, in this sometimes difficult world, would like to read something uplifting and pleasant. And at times just slightly irreverent (those were my favourite bits!).
I hope he takes another trip and writes another soon!
August 28, 2025
This book is brilliant! Andy has a rare gift of writing in such a way that on one moment on his journey, you’re laughing out loud at the picture in words he is painting, and the next he comes up with a deeply moving and profound insight. What also makes this book so readable, is the way in which Andy’s raw honesty and vulnerability shine through, more than once bringing me to tears. I also loved learning about his travel companions, and the way in which Andy makes connections over the course of this challenging physical and demanding journey with his Christian faith, in such a real and natural way; that faith sometimes offering comfort, and at other times raising more questions than answers. Buy it, read it or better still buy two and give one away as a birthday or Christmas present!
July 30, 2025
It sounds very cliche to say that this book was so good I couldn't put it down, but that was exactly the case. The Wayfarer is eloquently written; Andy not just documenting his journey, but taking you with him. The friends he makes seem to become your own; the landscape so beautifully described it's like you're there alongside them. I expected a good story with the odd bit of humour, but was left with much more than that - a refreshed perspective on life, faith and friendship. It's pretty much how I would imagine a perfect book would be written.
August 20, 2025
I've just finished reading The Wayfarer and I have to say it's one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. It has plenty of laugh out loud moments, but equally peppered with touching references to family and loved ones which, I admit, made me tear up a little. It has wonderful, endearing characters, evokes great imagery and overall, it is a very lovely and brilliant book. I cant believe I forgot to mention, the true hero, Alan the Fox. Go on treat yourself, or put it on your birthday list.
November 29, 2025
I read this quickly (for me) and didn’t want to put it down (had to as I have a job!). The reviews say it’s ’laugh out loud’ and I’m always suspicious of this claim, but I did laugh out loud on several occasions. I even cried once. It’s an excellent book and definitely worth reading. And what I loved was short chapters, so I felt I was achieving every day, and Andy’s raw honesty and excellent humour. Read it! You’ll be glad you did. I’m not yet sure if I’m inspired to walk the Pennine Way myself, but I feel I almost have… without the actual effort, just the enjoyment.
December 4, 2025
What a book. Devoured this in a weekend on holiday. As others have said Andy is a master storyteller. Characters pop to life on the page and I looked forward to meeting them as they reoccurred throughout. Andys written account is bravely honest about his struggles and will no doubt help others in similar situations, as he interweaves this and lightens with humour as part of the (true) story. It's one of those books which I'll be reccomending to people and will likley stay on my shelf for me to read again in a few years, probably again ridiculously quickly.
July 25, 2025
Andy's latest book is a triumph! Few could turn a grueling 15-mile daily trek through repetitive English countryside into a gripping, laugh-out-loud tale. With raw honesty, he lays bare his personal pain while guiding us toward a hopeful, redemptive stride. You'll meet a colorful cast of wayfarers who join his 16-day epic quest—some sparking joy, others pushing him to flee his lodgings for the next tough slog. A must-read!
August 16, 2025
It's the funniest book I've ever read. Hands down. 'Kindy' keeps you engaged and wanting to know more throughout as every good comedian sets up a joke and ties it in later it is continuous in the laugher factor. But man, did I weep at the end, which I wasn't expecting to after having laughed all the way through . Very relatable. My neighbour is buying a copy and I would thoroughly recommend you do too.
August 16, 2025
Loved this book, it’s funny, warm and soothing. The description of the scenery has a real James Herriot feel to it. The characters are brought to life and provide chuckles aplenty. There’s no denying the Bill Brysoness about the story and by the end you’ll want to walk the Pennine Way - but maybe not all at once. Oh and the chips, I really want to try the chips - read it to find out about the chips.
September 21, 2025
Honestly, this is one of the best books I've ever read.
I've never really asked myself what ingredients go into a good read, but I'm pretty sure this book has them all.
I laughed and cried, felt hope and despair, but most of all I felt like Andy's friend as we enjoyed the Penine Way together. His story somehow shone a bit of light into mine - and I'm very grateful for that.
I promise you will love this book.
I've never really asked myself what ingredients go into a good read, but I'm pretty sure this book has them all.
I laughed and cried, felt hope and despair, but most of all I felt like Andy's friend as we enjoyed the Penine Way together. His story somehow shone a bit of light into mine - and I'm very grateful for that.
I promise you will love this book.
September 27, 2025
A fun, compelling, and easy read. Andy's reflections on himself and his life made me likewise reflect on myself. When things weren't so deep, the book made me laugh and I especially appreciated the characters Andy met along his journey. Each one brought something unique to the table. Ultimately I enjoyed following Andy's journey and was interested to see what would happen next and how it would change him.
October 12, 2025
Andy Kind is a wonderful storyteller and this true retelling of his journey along the Pennine Way is beautifully crafted.
You’ll be taken along on both his physical and emotional journey as he tackles both natures elements and his own inner struggles. Andy’s wordmanship is brilliant in its descriptions of the amazing (and sometimes downright bizarre!) places he visits and people he meets. Buy this book, read it and enjoy both laughing and crying out loud.
You’ll be taken along on both his physical and emotional journey as he tackles both natures elements and his own inner struggles. Andy’s wordmanship is brilliant in its descriptions of the amazing (and sometimes downright bizarre!) places he visits and people he meets. Buy this book, read it and enjoy both laughing and crying out loud.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews