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Thread 15: 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 · 14/08/2025 10:52

The Observer's original exposé: The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...

The 14 Observer items currently available on their online 'The real Salt Path' page: The real Salt Path | The Observer

4 more from The Observer:
‘Hope is extinguished’: CBD patients respond to Salt Path...

The real Salt Path | The Observer (The Slow Newscast)

(Live/online event)

The Observer YouTube Channel: The Observer UK - YouTube

Raynor Winn/Sally Walker's statement: Raynor Winn

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?^

Threads 2-11: Links all in the OP of Thread 12

Thread 12: www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5384574-thread-12-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Thread 13: www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5386458-thread-13-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Thread 14: www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5388981-thread-14-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

New posters joining us in the genuine spirit of our civil discourse welcome. It would be helpful to get the background from at least some of the Observer items above before posting. There are currently a number of interesting items on The Observer website and linked to above.

To all - Please be extremely cautious when it comes to naming or implicating people and addresses not in the public eye or with no direct connection to the story, and around the understandable health speculations, especially where details are unclear or still emerging. Remember, even Hollywood rabbits attract the odd flea. Please do not engage with visitors who seem to have their own agenda and seek to derail. Avoid @'ing and quoting them as - from experience - this will only encourage them back to the threads. We have done amazingly well together for fourteen very interesting, very serious and very silly threads so far. I can't be here as much as I'd like so all help with keeping our discussion walking along in our usual reasonable and respectful fashion is very welcome.

#Pinchofsaltpath
#Fudge
#Cider
#OurChloe
#OurSimon
#Correspondents
#Salray
#Timmoth
#MistakesWereMade
#EmbellishedBollox
#JustBollox
#DriveByScolding
#Glumwashing
#ThereBeSharks
#Scones
#NakedHikers
#TurquoiseGString
#BudleighSalterton
#SallyForth
#YesItReallyIsThread15
#Rabbits

Keep to the path. No saltiness. May the fudge be with 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
59
HatStickBoots · 16/08/2025 19:54

Catwith69lives · 16/08/2025 19:39

Moth's ability to constantly recover from adversity reminds me of a Marvel comic all action hero.

😂
It seems that Sally had nothing to worry about when she did the coast to coast walk! Moth is absolutely fine and dandy!

WhispersInTheFlowers · 16/08/2025 19:54

HatStickBoots · 16/08/2025 19:43

I agree, it will be published.
The blurb says she walked “unexpectedly alone” and that “Setbacks in his health have led him to believe his decline is now inevitable, something Raynor refuses to accept. With Raynor feeling trapped and tormented” yada yada
This so ridiculous as others have pointed out. Firstly, why is it unexpected? How many years has it been now? Frankly everyone declines after a certain age so that doesn’t really mean anything. Everyone’s decline is “inevitable”. I think she’s still writing for the alter egos and thinking in the third person. This certainly sounds like it. If he was at that time thinking his time was up, she wouldn’t leave him. The way she’s described their relationship (at least the Raymoth one) she’d be caring for him. I think Sal and Tim had a big row, she was obligated to write another and he said fine, you can do it without me.

I also think PRH will have had a hand in brainstorming ideas for book 4 before they all hit upon "off you go for a winter holiday walk of more bs self-discovery - go alone this time and we'll cloak it in a snowy "winter/I'm walking towards the cold darkness of imminent loss" metaphor. Ps I'm not on the marketing team at PRH but I'm beginning to think I should be!

HatStickBoots · 16/08/2025 20:01

WhispersInTheFlowers · 16/08/2025 19:54

I also think PRH will have had a hand in brainstorming ideas for book 4 before they all hit upon "off you go for a winter holiday walk of more bs self-discovery - go alone this time and we'll cloak it in a snowy "winter/I'm walking towards the cold darkness of imminent loss" metaphor. Ps I'm not on the marketing team at PRH but I'm beginning to think I should be!

That sounds about right!

SwetSwetSwet · 16/08/2025 20:06

WhispersInTheFlowers · 16/08/2025 19:41

Book 4 with the drama of Moth's decline removed ( if indeed the book is severely edited) will lose the emotional hook/ deceit that has sustained it through the previous 3 books). Without the emotional hook it's a woman going for a week' s walk musing about nature = so what.

Unless the emotional hook is SW's fear of being found out... the lonely hike with fearful thoughts, the film released against a background of phone calls from Chloe, and culminating in her frantically scouring Mumsnet for marketing ideas to see the latest lies that have been uncovered...

SimoArmo · 16/08/2025 20:10

Catwith69lives · 16/08/2025 17:41

I think we need to appoint somebody as tortoise special agent/007 with immediate effect....

Licence to track down tortoise walkers past and present in the Polperro area.

Guilty confession - I did try and access the Polperro community FB page in search of the elusive tortoise walker, but my innocent inquiry was torpedoed by an overzealous admin on the grounds of privacy concerns!

Edited

I recently noticed a news story from 2023 about a giant tortoise and its owner walking into a Cornwall pub. Maybe TSP inspired him.

https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2023-09-05/pub-goers-shell-shocked-after-pet-tortoise-walks-in-for-lunch

Catwith69lives · 16/08/2025 20:14

hang on a mo - surely that's book 5 - Return to the Salt Path - a walk of redemption/rediscovery/reaffirmation/resurgence/revelation (delete as appropriate)

TheBrandyPath · 16/08/2025 20:14

Catwith69lives · 16/08/2025 17:15

They are 5 years older but difficult to say with the sunglasses.

I have just been catching up... is it me .... this isn't the same couple surely? Which are the older ones?

Fandango52 · 16/08/2025 20:16

HatStickBoots · 16/08/2025 19:54

😂
It seems that Sally had nothing to worry about when she did the coast to coast walk! Moth is absolutely fine and dandy!

I think Moth is going to outlive us all.

Fandango52 · 16/08/2025 20:17

Catwith69lives · 16/08/2025 20:14

hang on a mo - surely that's book 5 - Return to the Salt Path - a walk of redemption/rediscovery/reaffirmation/resurgence/revelation (delete as appropriate)

Maybe she’ll a Taylor Swift-style rebrand and release ‘The Salt Path (Sally’s Version)’? 😂

Catwith69lives · 16/08/2025 20:19

Fandango52 · 16/08/2025 20:17

Maybe she’ll a Taylor Swift-style rebrand and release ‘The Salt Path (Sally’s Version)’? 😂

The point is that the true story is probably a deal more compelling than the fictional one. However, can a leopard change its spots?

Freshsocks · 16/08/2025 20:20

TheBrandyPath · 16/08/2025 20:14

I have just been catching up... is it me .... this isn't the same couple surely? Which are the older ones?

I don't think they look the same either, the five years older Julie looks younger, but maybe it's the walking.

TheBrandyPath · 16/08/2025 20:22

Freshsocks · 16/08/2025 20:20

I don't think they look the same either, the five years older Julie looks younger, but maybe it's the walking.

But the man looks older in one and the woman looks younger and vice versa?

Catwith69lives · 16/08/2025 20:25

TheBrandyPath · 16/08/2025 20:22

But the man looks older in one and the woman looks younger and vice versa?

Maybe there is a reason for them wearing sunglasses. I know it sounds crazy, but nothing is beyond the realms of possibility in regard to TSP. Maybe it's no coincidence that GA from the X Files was recruited to play SW! Maybe Raymoth had some sort of prize draw to play the part of Dave and Julie!

Catwith69lives · 16/08/2025 20:27

Catwith69lives · 16/08/2025 20:25

Maybe there is a reason for them wearing sunglasses. I know it sounds crazy, but nothing is beyond the realms of possibility in regard to TSP. Maybe it's no coincidence that GA from the X Files was recruited to play SW! Maybe Raymoth had some sort of prize draw to play the part of Dave and Julie!

Edited

The X Files..

Thread 15: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?
TheBrandyPath · 16/08/2025 20:35

@GogleddCymru Thanks for your thoughts on TSP and 500MW - I agree with both.
Here are some extracts that I shared over a series of posts.(500MW in Bold TSP in italics)

We changed at Barnstaple for the connection to Westward Ho!

The bus took us to Barnstaple, and then we changed on to another for Westward Ho!

... Westward Ho! despite its punctuation, is little more than a line of holiday accommodation.

We arrived in Westward Ho! disorientated by the unexpectedness of it and surprised by its greyness. The exclamation mark had made me expect something spectacular, but nothing I was seeing quite matched the ostentatious name.

-----------------------

We reached St Mawes and I strolled around the waterfront trying to beg a lift over to Place.

We walked away from the ferry and hung around the harbour trying to find a private boat going over to St Mawes
-----------------------

(Another one is being called a tramp. 500MW has him camped just off the coast path and a family bump into his guyropes.)

The children buried themselves in their mother's skirt....And then the whole family backed away and made an unsubtle detour round me. There was much whispering and I heard the word tramp mentioned once or twice.
-----------------------

The National Trust now owned about a third of the Cornish and Devon coast.

Slowly though, local feeling had become embittered. No-one liked the National Trust making the rules. The locals claimed that Cornwall was now in tune with the visitors 'needs rather than their own, and that they, the natives, knew how best to manage their own land.

We’d heard mutterings amongst the locals of a dislike for the National Trust who own over a third of the coastline of Devon and Cornwall, bought by Project Neptune to save the coastline from development. There were complaints that the Trust are too restrictive and don’t understand the need of local people to make a living.

-----------------------
My nose in particular was suffering. Everywhere I went I left bits of it behind. My original one had shed itself in a couple of days. A new model had burst through red and throbbing, but now that too had dropped off ...

As we walked on I didn’t see much of the view, most of my attention being taken by large pieces of skin peeling from my nose, and I passed more than a mile cross-eyed, trying to pull bits off.....My nose was glowing red, the new skin burnt before the old skin had shed.

TheBrandyPath · 16/08/2025 20:39

Catwith69lives · 16/08/2025 20:25

Maybe there is a reason for them wearing sunglasses. I know it sounds crazy, but nothing is beyond the realms of possibility in regard to TSP. Maybe it's no coincidence that GA from the X Files was recruited to play SW! Maybe Raymoth had some sort of prize draw to play the part of Dave and Julie!

Edited

Now we are being silly!

Catwith69lives · 16/08/2025 20:42

TheBrandyPath · 16/08/2025 20:39

Now we are being silly!

Being silly! (Yes my previous post was slightly ironic)

Thread 15: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?
TheBrandyPath · 16/08/2025 20:44

Catwith69lives · 16/08/2025 20:42

Being silly! (Yes my previous post was slightly ironic)

Edited

Can we take a vote on it - who thinks it is them? Who doesn't? I'm happy to be persuaded... the only thing that looks similar to me is the beard!

Catwith69lives · 16/08/2025 20:51

TheBrandyPath · 16/08/2025 20:44

Can we take a vote on it - who thinks it is them? Who doesn't? I'm happy to be persuaded... the only thing that looks similar to me is the beard!

I can't believe they aren't the same couple but I have to admit the photos don't look that similar. Crazy.

Thread 15: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?
Thread 15: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?
DisappointedReader · 16/08/2025 20:52

Catwith69lives · 16/08/2025 20:51

I can't believe they aren't the same couple but I have to admit the photos don't look that similar. Crazy.

Edited

Same woman.

OP posts:
Catwith69lives · 16/08/2025 20:55

DisappointedReader · 16/08/2025 20:52

Same woman.

My mind has probably become addled over the last 6 weeks due to over focussing on TSP. At this stage nothing would surprise me!

mycatismyworld · 16/08/2025 20:55

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heather_Mills
I was so taken in by her story until one day I wan on a coach and she was on the radio.

I listened to her " regurgitating " her speil ,and then the penny dropped. I felt almost betrayed and a little bit foolish that I'd believed everything she had said about her life.

Heather Mills - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heather_Mills

TheBrandyPath · 16/08/2025 20:59

DisappointedReader · 16/08/2025 20:52

Same woman.

All right I concede - but she has lost weight in her face. The man looks younger in the other photo, I think?

Divegirl65 · 16/08/2025 21:00

DisappointedReader · 16/08/2025 15:31

He was after his Mars Bar.

😂

LetsBeSensible · 16/08/2025 21:06

Maybe book 4 is where SalRay goes on a long walk alone and ponders why she got so muddled up as to think TimMoth was terminal and approaching his last.

Maybe she reflects on how damaging it is to peddle a narrative that people who cannot sustain gentle exercise, who struggle to avoid falling, who are facing a daily physical, mental and emotional battle, should undertake daily strenuous extreme exercise on low-nutrition snack food. Then returns home and tells TimMoth that they must face the truth…he isn’t dying of CBD.

It’s unlikely, but I’d read it.

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