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Walking Home
- Travels with a Troubadour on the Pennine Way
- Narrated by: Simon Armitage
- Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
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Walking Home
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Summary
In summer 2010 Simon Armitage decided to walk the Pennine Way. The challenging 256 mile route is usually approached from south to north, from Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm, the other side of the Scottish border. He resolved to tackle it the other way round: through beautiful and bleak terrain, across lonely fells and into the howling wind, he would be walking home, towards the Yorkshire village where he was born.
Travelling as a 'modern troubadour' without a penny in his pocket, he stopped along the way to give poetry readings in village halls, churches, pubs, and living rooms. His audiences varied from the passionate to the indifferent, and his readings were accompanied by the clacking of pool balls, the drumming of rain and the bleating of sheep.
Walking Home describes this extraordinary yet ordinary journey. It's a story about Britain's remote and overlooked interior - the wildness of its landscape and the generosity of the locals who sustained him on his way. It's about facing emotional and physical challenges and sometimes overcoming them. It's nature writing, but with people at heart. Contemplative, moving and droll, it is a unique narrative from one of our most beloved writers.
Critic reviews
"He is diligent, prolific and wide-ranging. By balancing humour and gravitas, he generates great affection in his readers. If he is not careful, Simon Armitage will end up becoming a national treasure." (Mail on Sunday)
"Armitage has always been a wonderfully fluent writer, able to riff on almost any subject in either prose or poetry.... The result is a homage to an oddly old-fashioned Britain, full of glorious eccentrics and hearts of gold, but vividly believable for all that." (Financial Times)
"Armitage's great gift is his voice. He is able to make his walk talk as he does and I have never read a more fully inhabited book of walking. It is funny but moving, quiet but strong." (The Observer)
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What listeners say about Walking Home
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- M
- 16-02-19
Ok but a bit self indulgent
I got this in a deal and was happy with it based on what I paid but was glad I didnt pay full price. I enjoyed some of it but it felt like it had a fair bit of padding. I found the rationale for the end really self indulgent and also almost a pop at many people’s desire to complete the walk. This is probably unfair and just me being a bit grumpy about the end. Simon does an ok job of narration - a little Alan Bennetish at times. Sadly it hasnt led me to go and seek out any more of his books or poems. Recommended if buying in a deal but probably not at full price.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Laura Milne
- 27-11-20
Made me want to get some sturdy boots
It was an almost meditative listen, while stuck inside during a winter Covid lockdown - I was imagining myself going on this great adventure.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 20-12-21
Nowhere to nowhere
I found this was best listened on 1.2 as S A reads very slowly. It was a good listen on runs and dog walks and I was interested throughout. A freebie from audible that I appreciated.
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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
- Steve R
- 20-10-18
Wonderfully entertaining ramble down the Pennine Way
Simon Armitage is a master craftsman. The book is a joy. It takes you along with him every step of the way. It’s poetic, humerus & full of soul. I could listen to his mournful Yorkshire tones all day long. Brilliant. Thank you for suffering the Pennine Way on foot and in the writing, so we could come with you.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Steven
- 10-08-22
A great story…
Simon has a fantastic way of narrating but I found his delivery of prose really slow therefore recommend you listen on x1.3 playback speed.
(And I’m a Huddersfield Lad too)
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Sue McW
- 12-06-13
A relaxing and enjoyable read
Simon Armitage, who narrates his own book, has a very relaxing voice which makes this an enjoyable read. His narrative about walking the Pennine way - using no money except that which he earns from readings of poetry along the way - is charming and interesting. He includes a couple of his poems later in the book which are magical.
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20 people found this helpful
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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
- Kevin H.
- 08-03-21
Solitude in lockdown
Listened whilst walking the local footpaths and fields during the pandemic, a smile for every minute.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Louise the Manningtree Witch
- 31-03-23
I should have read this rather than listened
Lovely writing & great subject. I just found the flat east Yorks delivery along with the faint overly self absorbed ‘poet reading his work out’ style that poets seem to have a bit irritating & unharmonious to my picky ear. I feel terrible for saying that, but it’s the truth. I will read his work again tho for sure
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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
- Gregs
- 09-01-24
A poet on the moors
He brings the Pennine Way to life in an amusing true story. Having done it myself he brings the panic and joy back. Great book
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Roderic
- 07-10-14
Muted content; dire narration
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
No, though I admit I did finish it.
Would you recommend Walking Home to your friends? Why or why not?
No. I chose it for a perspective about the Pennine Way and that aspect of the book was dolorous. the poetical and observational perspectives were OK, but just OK.
What didn’t you like about Simon Armitage’s performance?
Armitage's voice drones terribly and has very little animation. The main reason I listen to audiobooks rather than read the text equivalent is to get the added value from the narrator: in this case there was none.
Do you think Walking Home needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?
No.
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2 people found this helpful