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The Old Ways

A Journey on Foot

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About this listen

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

SHORTLISTED FOR THE SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZE

The original bestseller from the beloved author of UNDERLAND, LANDMARKS and THE LOST WORDS - Robert Macfarlane travels Britain's ancient paths and discovers the secrets of our beautiful, underappreciated landscape

'The Old Ways confirms Macfarlane's reputation as one of the most eloquent and observant of contemporary writers about nature' Scotland on Sunday

Following the tracks, holloways, drove-roads and sea paths that form part of a vast ancient network of routes criss-crossing the British Isles and beyond, Robert Macfarlane discovers a lost world - a landscape of the feet and the mind, of pilgrimage and ritual, of stories and ghosts; above all of the places and journeys which inspire and inhabit our imaginations.

'Sublime . . . It sets the imagination tingling, laying an irresistible trail for readers to follow' Sunday Times

'Read this and it will be impossible to take an unremarkable walk again' Metro

'He has a rare physical intelligence and affords total immersion in place, elements and the passage of time: wonderful' Antony Gormley

 Europe Great Britain Hiking Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Science Travel Writing & Commentary Walking Haunted Sailing

Critic reviews

A wonderful book: Macfarlane has a rare physical intelligence, and his writing affords total immersion in place, elements and the passage of time (Antony Gormley)
A naturalist who can unfurl a sentence with the breathless ease of a master angler, a writer whose ideas and reach far transcend the physical region he explores
[Mountains of the Mind is] a distinguished book that jolted my heart. Adventurous, passionate, intensely romantic . . . fizzes with insights (Roger Deakin)
A new naturalist to set beside the classics in our literature
The Old Ways confirms Robert Macfarlane's reputation as one of the most eloquent and observant of contemporary writers about nature
Macfarlane relishes wild, as well as old, places. He writes about both beautifully . . . I love to read Macfarlane
Read this and it will be impossible to take an unremarkable walk again
All stars
Most relevant

Would you consider the audio edition of The Old Ways to be better than the print version?

The audiobook was excellent. I have bought the print version - the first time I have done this after listening to an audiobook - because of the wealth of references and my need to revisit parts of this book.

Absolutely Brilliant. A book to be revisited

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Where does The Old Ways rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I listened to this on one rainy weekend and it brightened my mood no end.

What other book might you compare The Old Ways to, and why?

If you have any interest in nature or walking or history you 'll love it too.

What does Roy McMillan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Really well narrated , his narration kept me listening

Loved it !

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This for me is one of the best written books that I have ever encountered.The author's descriptions of time and place are such that the reader/listener could believe they are actually there. The correlation between the ways and the etymology of such I found particularly interesting. I have to read this book again and I suspect it will not be only once. I loved it.

Engaging

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I really enjoyed this audiobook, I can't wait to listen to the others by MacFarlane, his stories make me dream of travels. Beautifully performed by Roy McMillan

Excellent!

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Great but difficult to hear a couple of chapters. Heartily recommended for how Robert visits the idea of thoughts of senses through walking!

Great inspection of what it is to walk!

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