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Thread 7: 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 · 14/07/2025 14:32

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

Fourth item in The Observer
‘I felt I was being gaslit’ – the landlord who helped Ray...

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?

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

Thread 6
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5372494-thread-6-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

New posters welcome. It would be helpful to read at least the four Observer items above before posting.

To all - Please be careful when it comes to naming or implicating people and addresses not in the public eye or with no connection to the story, and around the understandable health speculations, especially where details are unclear or still emerging. Please do not engage with possible visitors who seem to have their own agenda and seek to derail.
Keep on the path as we have done together amazingly well for six threads so far. No saltiness. Thank you.

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
36
Bruisername · 14/07/2025 17:28

Given their stated past there’s. I reason o assume they bought the Welsh house mortgage free - they most likely extended the loan in order to cover the French house. A foolish thing to do really!!

as for what they did with all the money - I would imagine they weren’t earning much and they had a lot of work to do on the house so they stole and took out credit cards to cover that gap

i know 64k sounds a lot of money but when you are doing the sort of work they were and potentially bad with money anyway it can easily be blown through

i I don’t think there’s anything more to it than that tbh

FlyAgaricc · 14/07/2025 17:28

Redheadedstepchild · 14/07/2025 17:15

@FlyAgaricc

They remind me of this classic song:

"We are each other."

Something sinister about it. I was thinking of Clarice and Cora from Gormenghast

Bruisername · 14/07/2025 17:29

I read somewhere they think they’ve made 2-3m on the books and associated and 500k-1m for the film

Uricon2 · 14/07/2025 17:31

tighterthanaducksarse · 14/07/2025 17:26

Did anyone else spot that she set up a go fund me page last year to help. Cover the cost of printing the " journals," for her up coming gig with the hurdy gurdy band?

I don't understand that either. I don't believe they are on their uppers after a bestselling book (million plus and still going), plus 2 more.

sualipa · 14/07/2025 17:36

GertyFreely · 14/07/2025 14:50

No offence but you lot are obsessed 😂

Correct - meanwhile they are weathering the storm by hunkering down wherever they are whilst counting their loot cackling like Bond villians. Whilst multiple publishers are in a bidding war for "Walking back the Walkers - OUR True and Untold Story ".

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 14/07/2025 17:36

Get it written quick @crackofdoom , there's currently a walking based book gap in the pre Christmas market.

Merrymouse · 14/07/2025 17:37

tighterthanaducksarse · 14/07/2025 17:26

Did anyone else spot that she set up a go fund me page last year to help. Cover the cost of printing the " journals," for her up coming gig with the hurdy gurdy band?

Did they actually use 'Go Fund Me'? I thought they were more for charitable donations?

I would have thought Kickstarter or Patreon would be more appropriate for a commercial venture.

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 14/07/2025 17:37

tighterthanaducksarse · 14/07/2025 17:26

Did anyone else spot that she set up a go fund me page last year to help. Cover the cost of printing the " journals," for her up coming gig with the hurdy gurdy band?

Jesus. They really are the same as your username!

Uricon2 · 14/07/2025 17:39

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 14/07/2025 17:37

Jesus. They really are the same as your username!

I think they seem to have a marked aversion to spending their own money but less of an issue with other peoples.

LostSunglasses · 14/07/2025 17:39

Redheadedstepchild · 14/07/2025 17:05

It's a long entry and whilst we're not in the realms of delusion suffered by the Swedish twins etc - there is a theme of, "Social and psychical isolation" and I would draw your attention to the heading titled, "Biopsychological effects."

It's just a theory and there's much more at play here but the interesting thing about Raymoth - is that they are Raymoth. At no point in any of these seven threads has anybody said with great conviction, "I bet he'll divorce her now." Or the other way round. They are one.

Well, the effect of all of the books is that they only have one another and, at a safe distance, their adult children, who have walk-on parts as dispensers of money for train tickets, advice (when their daughter says she's going to buy them a new mobile that holds its charge better so they can phone her daily from the path and Raynor complains she's acting like her mum) or dogsitting for Monty the dog. (Which, in fairness, may be at the behest of their children. Many people don't want to feature in family members' books.)

The message of all of the books is that this is the way to be properly married, not having low-voiced fights in supermarkets at the weekend and veging out watching TV -- you should walk off into the sunset together, with nothing but your burning love and wild nature to sustain you.

I assumed when I first read TSP that their farm was actually remote, so, if they had spent 20 years restoring it, farming it themselves, bringing up two children, and running a holiday let, while doing other odd jobs to top up a farm income, they had probably become isolated from the rest of the world and withdrawn a bit from friends and extended family.

But now it seems that it was only really a smallholding/hobby farm, and not particularly remote, and that they had family close by, I'm assuming it's just poetic licence that suggests it's just the two of them against the world.

Merrymouse · 14/07/2025 17:39

Merrymouse · 14/07/2025 17:37

Did they actually use 'Go Fund Me'? I thought they were more for charitable donations?

I would have thought Kickstarter or Patreon would be more appropriate for a commercial venture.

Can't find the crowdfunding site, but it looks as though people were offered goods in return for money.

From Instagram:

"We did it - the Saltlines Journal is fully funded.

Huge thank you to everyone who took part - your journals, bundles, signed copies and backstage passes will be with you as soon as we have them back from the printers.

Until then - THANK YOU!!"

Merrymouse · 14/07/2025 17:41

Merrymouse · 14/07/2025 17:39

Can't find the crowdfunding site, but it looks as though people were offered goods in return for money.

From Instagram:

"We did it - the Saltlines Journal is fully funded.

Huge thank you to everyone who took part - your journals, bundles, signed copies and backstage passes will be with you as soon as we have them back from the printers.

Until then - THANK YOU!!"

It's kickstarter funded:

"The beautiful Saltlines Journal is nearly ready - we've captured the wonder of the Saltlines show and transformed it into this utterly beautiful journal. It holds all the prose and lyrics from the show, alongside reflections from the band - and me! More than that it carries a stunning array of photographs from both the show and backstage.

But we now need your help to bring it to life! This is your opportunity to help bring the Journal to the shelves - by either, simply buying a book, or a Saltlines bundle, or taking the opportunity to grab a full backstage pass, which will give you access to a pre-show soundcheck.

All the information is here - ://www.kickstarter.com/projects/saltlinesajournal/saltlines-a-journal"

Orangesandlemons77 · 14/07/2025 17:41

tighterthanaducksarse · 14/07/2025 17:26

Did anyone else spot that she set up a go fund me page last year to help. Cover the cost of printing the " journals," for her up coming gig with the hurdy gurdy band?

Really? Surely she must have had enough money by then? And she is selling them is she not?

placemats · 14/07/2025 17:42

Bruisername · 14/07/2025 17:28

Given their stated past there’s. I reason o assume they bought the Welsh house mortgage free - they most likely extended the loan in order to cover the French house. A foolish thing to do really!!

as for what they did with all the money - I would imagine they weren’t earning much and they had a lot of work to do on the house so they stole and took out credit cards to cover that gap

i know 64k sounds a lot of money but when you are doing the sort of work they were and potentially bad with money anyway it can easily be blown through

i I don’t think there’s anything more to it than that tbh

If you're siphoning money from your employer, i.e. embezzling, then to do it without being caught would mean over the years in bits and drabs. So 64K over 6 years is approximately £10,000 a year. I can't see how that goes towards the refurbishment, unless they put it into a fund - highly unlikely given the history of money trouble. It's not like they took the lot out in one lump sum.

ETA I do agree with your post.

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 14/07/2025 17:43

Uricon2 · 14/07/2025 17:39

I think they seem to have a marked aversion to spending their own money but less of an issue with other peoples.

Definitely. And it seems to be quite a skill they've honed. Maybe they'll bring a guide book out about it, if someone bungs them a few quid first!

Bruisername · 14/07/2025 17:45

placemats · 14/07/2025 17:42

If you're siphoning money from your employer, i.e. embezzling, then to do it without being caught would mean over the years in bits and drabs. So 64K over 6 years is approximately £10,000 a year. I can't see how that goes towards the refurbishment, unless they put it into a fund - highly unlikely given the history of money trouble. It's not like they took the lot out in one lump sum.

ETA I do agree with your post.

Edited

I suspect they were doing the house up in bits so needed money here and there. Needed the new Rayburn - dip into the employer. That kind of thing. They don’t strike me as people who cut their cloth

and they clearly go through their money as it also says she paid for her shopping with it so they were probably constantly robbing Peter (martin) to pay Paul

tighterthanaducksarse · 14/07/2025 17:47

Merrymouse · 14/07/2025 17:37

Did they actually use 'Go Fund Me'? I thought they were more for charitable donations?

I would have thought Kickstarter or Patreon would be more appropriate for a commercial venture.

I'm not sure,she had said they needed £600 more to get them printed

Aspanielstolemysanity · 14/07/2025 17:50

Just idly pondering now, but based on their past history and response so far do you reckon they will

a) double down on the lies and gaslighting and try and face this one out;

b) try and fade away from the public eye; or

c) do another midnight flit and identify change ?

sualipa · 14/07/2025 17:52

https://www.thebookseller.com/news/the-salt-path-bookshops-give-refunds-and-recommendations-after-controversy-as-new-book-delayed

Tim Batcup, the owner of Swansea’s Cover to Cover, said that Winn’s debut memoir was "still here, and selling, though for different reasons than it was before", adding that he would not be stocking the new book.

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 14/07/2025 17:54

@Aspanielstolemysanity I'm going to go for A but wouldn't mind asking the audience or phoning a friend.

FlyAgaricc · 14/07/2025 17:54

Still doesn't add up for me. Did they buy a property with land and an outbuilding cash? If so, where did they get that money from? How much renovation needed doing? If Tim has building skills, and they're probably the type of people to get others to do free labour for them, they would only need to pay for materials. So then they would have no mortgage to pay and low basic expenses but two incomes coming in and income from the holiday let...

FurryHappyKittens · 14/07/2025 17:54

LostSunglasses · 14/07/2025 15:34

Has anyone else on the thread flirted with the idea that Dave and Julie are imaginary?

It's just never particularly clear why Raynor and Moth appear to like them so much. Maybe it's partly that if they are real, she doesn't want to write about them in any identifying way, or, as I sometimes suspect, that her writing about people is more vivid when she actively dislikes them or is suspicious of them.

Dave= big and loud and talks a lot.
Julie= small and quiet.

Hi everyone, just caught up after an afternoon of catching up on sleep lost during the hot and sticky nights!

Yes, I think I might have mentioned I thought they might be made up fifty threads back.... 😆

Sally writes them quite unsympathetically, imo, and I didn't like them.

So, if they do exist, they're probably nothing like how she portrays them. But I do wonder if they are figments of her imagination. Just because she makes up so much else.

Treesdostandtall · 14/07/2025 17:58

Another thing that interests me is Moths degree. It seems like he did it for vanity reasons as he doesn’t seem to have done anything with it after he finished (in 2018). If anything he just got sucked into doing more walks for Sally.

Or did he even graduate?!

This whole story is so bat crazy..

www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/14607378.eden-students-take-award-winning-garden-to-hampton-court-flower-show/

Bruisername · 14/07/2025 17:59

FlyAgaricc · 14/07/2025 17:54

Still doesn't add up for me. Did they buy a property with land and an outbuilding cash? If so, where did they get that money from? How much renovation needed doing? If Tim has building skills, and they're probably the type of people to get others to do free labour for them, they would only need to pay for materials. So then they would have no mortgage to pay and low basic expenses but two incomes coming in and income from the holiday let...

They most likely got a 100% equity mortgage to buy the property, pay the stamp and take some out to pay to turn the barn into holiday house. All we know about their previous life was that they left suddenly because they were worried about the kids after one ran into the road. Perhaps they brought debt with them

rent on the holiday house was not going to be massive and their jobs won’t have been particularly high earning. If they were then doing the main house up then the materials would have cost - particularly as they weren’t going for low end stuff!!

then they added to the mortgage to buy the French house

plus their attitude to money - they have their son money for a trip to Rome the xmas before the bailiffs turned up. That suggested they don’t see debt as something they owe

Uricon2 · 14/07/2025 18:01

From the Kickstarter link shared by @Merrymouse

"Going In" online writing workshop
£200
Reserve your space on this very special online writing workshop. In a masterclass that is sure to inspire, Raynor Winn will guide you through the world of nature writing, revealing her thoughts about writing the wild, and her writing process. Whether you are interested in Ray's work, or looking to rewild your own writing, this will provide a very special experience for writers and readers alike.
Backers
0
Estimated delivery
Sep 2025
Limited quantity
5 left of 5

ETA any takers? 😂

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