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Thread 5: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?

1000 replies

DisappointedReader · 11/07/2025 12:48

The Observer The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...

Second article in the Observer
https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-salt-path-whats-in-the-book-and-what-the-observer-has-found

Third item in the Observer
https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-salt-path-the-truth-behind-the-blockbuster-book-video

Thread One ^www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5368194-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?^

Thread 2 Thread 2. To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film? | Mumsnet

Thread 3 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5369425-thread-3-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Thread 4 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5370609-thread-4-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Raynor Winn/Sally Walker's statement Raynor Winn

The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...

The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...

Penniless and homeless, the Winns found fame and fortune with the story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. We can reveal that the truth behind it is ve...

https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-real-salt-path-how-the-couple-behind-a-bestseller-left-a-trail-of-debt-and-deceit

OP posts:
Thread gallery
47
sualipa · 11/07/2025 16:25

Kermode and Mayo have released a follow-up to their original review, this time discussing the Observer revelations though it came out before the latest RW statement. I really enjoy their reviews and trust their judgment. Mayo emphasizes that authors have a responsibility to get their facts right, but it's also clear that both he and Kermode are seasoned, professional broadcasters unlike the Walkers, who are relatively new to the spotlight.

Mayo mentions that he’s met the Walkers and describes them as “incredibly beautiful people,” though he seems to be reserving full judgment until more information comes to light.

Redheadedstepchild · 11/07/2025 16:41

In the style of, "Private Eye" I should think that, "thirsty hacks" at the Mail and Express are clamouring to do some hard core investigative journalism in the well known wine producing Lot et Garonne at this time of year...

They can fling together a rough rehash of all the, "Outraged Welsh villagers" articles that have appeared over the last week, only this time they will have to visit all the cafés, bars and restaurants of the region to find out any local gossip about the Walkers...

AldoGordo · 11/07/2025 16:51

FurryHappyKittens · 11/07/2025 15:18

There's two there from Feb 2017, still.

Yes, I saw them. They were the only Iceland ones, which leads me to think this was their one and only Iceland trip that later gets inserted into the TWS narrative some years later and passed off as some get well walk for Moth. Given they posted loads of Cape Wrath trail and other photos of the walk in Landlines, it's telling there are no Iceland photos that coincide with living on the cider farm and TWS timeframe.

I might write a book about, say, scaling the Atlas mountains in response to losing my dad. Does it matter that it's actually based on a holiday I took in 2006 and my dad passed away years later?

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 11/07/2025 16:51

Still annoyed about her interaction with the housing officer, what was she was expecting from the council, a massive farmhouse? Does she expect the council to have empty houses just waiting for them? What has her Welsh voice got to do with it?

DisappointedReader · 11/07/2025 16:53

Redheadedstepchild · 11/07/2025 16:41

In the style of, "Private Eye" I should think that, "thirsty hacks" at the Mail and Express are clamouring to do some hard core investigative journalism in the well known wine producing Lot et Garonne at this time of year...

They can fling together a rough rehash of all the, "Outraged Welsh villagers" articles that have appeared over the last week, only this time they will have to visit all the cafés, bars and restaurants of the region to find out any local gossip about the Walkers...

I feel that this is a place the Mumsnet charabanc tour carrying interested parties (pathies) will need to call at.

ETA As long as we can avoid any 'thirsty DM/Sun/Express hacks' <shudders>

OP posts:
Barbadossunset · 11/07/2025 16:56

The few times in my own life when I’ve experienced shame and humiliation—albeit many years ago I remember feeling as though there was no hope.

@sualipa Sally doesn’t seem to have felt much shame or humiliation for stealing £64,000. She described it as a ‘mistake’.

Catwith69lives · 11/07/2025 16:59

Interesting comments on Reddit from somebody who claims to be a neuropsychologist about Moth's CBD symptoms

Thread 5: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?
FurryHappyKittens · 11/07/2025 17:00

Why would liquidators allow the Walkers to see documents?

She said they confirmed that the loan was a business loan.

PullTheBricksDown · 11/07/2025 17:04

DisappointedReader · 11/07/2025 16:53

I feel that this is a place the Mumsnet charabanc tour carrying interested parties (pathies) will need to call at.

ETA As long as we can avoid any 'thirsty DM/Sun/Express hacks' <shudders>

Edited

Sign me up! Just packing my Patsy and
Edina sunglasses now 😎

None of the narrative explaining the 'loan' and other financial details that SW has come up with make any sense at all. This is still clearly the root of all the problems with their story.

Wadadli · 11/07/2025 17:05

PhilippaGeorgiou · 11/07/2025 13:10

Bookmarking...

Me too 😉

Catwith69lives · 11/07/2025 17:11

Didn't one of the journalists (Helen Clifton) who worked with Chloe H on the original Observer story, suggest in an instagram post earlier this week that more was to come?

Thread 5: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?
Redheadedstepchild · 11/07/2025 17:16

DisappointedReader · 11/07/2025 16:53

I feel that this is a place the Mumsnet charabanc tour carrying interested parties (pathies) will need to call at.

ETA As long as we can avoid any 'thirsty DM/Sun/Express hacks' <shudders>

Edited

I'm kind of reminded of watching very old, "Crimewatch File" episodes on Youtube wherein DCI Gnasher of the Yard does a quick piece to camera:

"H't was found that David James or James David or Edward James David or David Edwards 'ad habsondend on a pathway, using various aliases to:

The Costa del Sol.
Ibiza.
Corfu.

'Hobviously, we liased with our collegues in Europol and DI Clinker and myself went on a fact finding mission across Europe. H'unfortunately we were too late and we finally caught up with him in Thailand..."

Uricon2 · 11/07/2025 17:20

DisappointedReader · 11/07/2025 16:53

I feel that this is a place the Mumsnet charabanc tour carrying interested parties (pathies) will need to call at.

ETA As long as we can avoid any 'thirsty DM/Sun/Express hacks' <shudders>

Edited

Mind you, they might get generous with the expense account drinkies after a few. (I'm probably might be harking back to the glory days of print journalism there though, but we could encourage the Old School vibe if we compare them to Woodward and Bernstein)

MrsKypp · 11/07/2025 17:25

Sorry for being thick, but when was Moth's job as Head Gardener, and why did he leave the job? Thanks.

Ammophila · 11/07/2025 17:25

Catwith69lives · 11/07/2025 17:11

Didn't one of the journalists (Helen Clifton) who worked with Chloe H on the original Observer story, suggest in an instagram post earlier this week that more was to come?

I was just thinking that too. Glad someone else has remembered that. They wouldn't have just made a "we might have more to come" comment. It was more than that. It felt that they definitely had more lined up to say.

User14March · 11/07/2025 17:27

Ammophila · 11/07/2025 17:25

I was just thinking that too. Glad someone else has remembered that. They wouldn't have just made a "we might have more to come" comment. It was more than that. It felt that they definitely had more lined up to say.

Might the Raymoth rebuttal have meant now a prudent pause?

diningiswest · 11/07/2025 17:30

MrsKypp · 11/07/2025 17:25

Sorry for being thick, but when was Moth's job as Head Gardener, and why did he leave the job? Thanks.

At a small National Trust property in Wales - someone has found an interview with him talking about the work, but about two threads back. No mention of why he left.

Fandango52 · 11/07/2025 17:31

Catwith69lives · 11/07/2025 17:11

Didn't one of the journalists (Helen Clifton) who worked with Chloe H on the original Observer story, suggest in an instagram post earlier this week that more was to come?

That’s what I thought, but others on here seemed to think the Observer wouldn’t be releasing anything further on this.

MyGodMyThighs · 11/07/2025 17:32

Catwith69lives · 11/07/2025 17:11

Didn't one of the journalists (Helen Clifton) who worked with Chloe H on the original Observer story, suggest in an instagram post earlier this week that more was to come?

She did. She also works for Panorama so if there is anything bigger behind what has already been revealed it may pop up there.

Uricon2 · 11/07/2025 17:34

MrsKypp · 11/07/2025 17:25

Sorry for being thick, but when was Moth's job as Head Gardener, and why did he leave the job? Thanks.

He was apparently head gardener at Plas yn Rhiw, a small National Trust property in North Wales. I'm not sure of the dates.

MrsKypp · 11/07/2025 17:35

@diningiswest thanks for your reply. I was wondering because if it was early on, it could have been good income for them. If he couldn't continue due to claiming ill health that makes no sense consdering he was able to walk the salt path. Plus he'd have been eligible for benefits as well.

The whole story all sounds so unbelievable I don't get it how so many people believed it. But I haven't read the book so i can't say I would or wouldn't have seen all the lies.

I certainly don't believe anyone with true CBD would go on a walk like they did. (1) Wouldn't be able to (2) wouldn't want to

MyGodMyThighs · 11/07/2025 17:35

Also I think Helen Clifton is from Pwllheli.

diningiswest · 11/07/2025 17:38

MrsKypp · 11/07/2025 17:35

@diningiswest thanks for your reply. I was wondering because if it was early on, it could have been good income for them. If he couldn't continue due to claiming ill health that makes no sense consdering he was able to walk the salt path. Plus he'd have been eligible for benefits as well.

The whole story all sounds so unbelievable I don't get it how so many people believed it. But I haven't read the book so i can't say I would or wouldn't have seen all the lies.

I certainly don't believe anyone with true CBD would go on a walk like they did. (1) Wouldn't be able to (2) wouldn't want to

The implication - although this is unprovable - is that he would have left the job at the point where she is being interviewed about the accountancy 'mistakes' and then disappears instead of coming to a police interview. Although only the National Trust could confirm or deny that and I doubt they will.

The conclusion I drew was that - although again will not ever be proved - they need to get out of town quickly and lie low for a while after that, and the SWCP was the answer.

Although how did they get down there? So many questions...

PrettyDamnCosmic · 11/07/2025 17:40

Uricon2 · 11/07/2025 17:34

He was apparently head gardener at Plas yn Rhiw, a small National Trust property in North Wales. I'm not sure of the dates.

He was the only paid gardener supervising unpaid volunteers so technically the head gardener I suppose.

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