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Thread 17: 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 · 02/09/2025 13:42

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
More from The Observer:
‘Hope is extinguished’: CBD patients respond to Salt Path...
The real Salt Path | The Observer (The Slow Newscast)
Links to more Observer videos can be found in an early post of this new thread and here: Observer YouTube Channel: The Observer UK - YouTube
Working timeline and references: can be found in early posts of this new Thread 17.
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?
Threads 13-14: Links in the OP of Thread 15
Thread 15:Thread 15: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film? | Mumsnet
Thread 16: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5395002-thread-16-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 are welcome. It would be helpful to get the background from at least some of the Observer items above before posting.
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 sixteen 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.

Yes, it really is Thread 17. I'm as in need of smelling salts as the next person.

We seek them here, we seek them there, mumsnetters seek them everywhere: just where are the elusive How not to Dal dy Dir and On Winter Hill?

#handwavium #appropriation

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
37
Tealeaf3 · 17/09/2025 21:09

From the Observer,July 13th 2025. “A few weeks later, the chef Rick Stein was due to film an episode of his BBC series with the couple at Hayes Farm. Bill says he watched as they demonstrated the cider making process, implying that they were involved in the farms production - something Bill says they had never done. “I felt like I was being gaslit” Bill says.”
In the episode, aired Feb 2023, Rick describes Moth as having “ thrown himself into the art of traditional cider-making”.

When Rick asks TW about his terminal diagnosis, TW replies “still going strong- thanks to walking the south west coast path”. He certainly looks extremely hale and hearty ( and balding). Looks like he’s got a lot more hair in the promotional stuff they did for the film. Wonder if he’s had a hair transplant.

LetsBeSensible · 18/09/2025 02:38

HatStickBoots · 17/09/2025 20:14

I know… it’s so typical of that type of person though. Just to “wing it”, cashing in on their fame and loving the money and attention. I must see if this is still available to watch. I don’t understand it either. They just have no shame whatsoever. If anyone did know the truth, they obviously just kept their mouths shut because they’re so “nice”, I imagine. Who is going to call out a terminally ill man who charms everyone and a feisty, protective wife who portrays herself as such an underdog? Aside from that…. I really don’t know… except that it’s what con merchants do 😕

This is it, it’s pathological. They are not the same as you and I. The way they experience people, emotions and life is different in a way we can’t understand. Not in a good way, either. They're just doing what they do, same as a squirrel buries nuts or a cow eats grass. It’s in their nature.

Catwith69lives · 18/09/2025 05:20

Did anybody manage to identify where/when this photo of TW was taken?

Thread 17: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?
Catwith69lives · 18/09/2025 06:23

I'm still gobsmacked by Moth's 2023 London Marathon time of 7hr 52mins. This is a pretty fast walking pace for an able bodied person let alone somebody supposedly suffering from CBS who apparently has difficulty moving their left leg when walking. By this stage he had been diagnosed with CBS symptoms for 15 years! How on earth did nobody at the PSPA smell a rat at this point?

Catsandcwtches · 18/09/2025 07:49

Tealeaf3 · 17/09/2025 20:23

Not sure if the link is working, but it’s Rick Steins Cornwall, series 3, episode 2. BBC iPlayer

@Tealeaf3 thanks for reminding me to have a watch. It felt very staged didn’t it. You could tell Ray had been practising that cheesy line ‘History in a glass’!

BeguiledSilence · 18/09/2025 08:43

Catwith69lives · 18/09/2025 06:23

I'm still gobsmacked by Moth's 2023 London Marathon time of 7hr 52mins. This is a pretty fast walking pace for an able bodied person let alone somebody supposedly suffering from CBS who apparently has difficulty moving their left leg when walking. By this stage he had been diagnosed with CBS symptoms for 15 years! How on earth did nobody at the PSPA smell a rat at this point?

I wondered about the occasion when he does the walk - and the last leg he is escorted by 40 PSPA supporters - but he collapses before he can finish with them? Sal is asked, on a programme, how he is now and I was struck by the way she just says he's fine.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 18/09/2025 09:01

Tealeaf3 · 17/09/2025 20:06

But why? What was the purpose? Why add to the untruths when they’d be so easily found out? For example, they could easily have said to Rick Steins producers that they only tended the orchards, someone else produced the cider. They must have known that BC and presumably lots of locals would see the program and know for a fact that they were misrepresenting themselves.

To be fair to the Walkers, there are LOADS of programmes like this. A TV company sees a going concern and wants to film it (with the concomitant terrific publicity for the factory/craft centre etc) and either owners, management or some other 'high ups' come in to behave as though they are on the floor every day running the place and making decisions - perhaps even making the final product. Anyone who works there will tell you that ALL the boots on the floor or creative stuff is done by others (who might be seen in a background shot being leaned over by a 'high up' who is telling them where they are going wrong).

Just look at Michael Portillo and his railway journeys or similar. The person telling you how the place works and how the product is made is almost never the person who's actually doing the work.

Peladon · 18/09/2025 09:16

This article from Irish Daily Mail https://www.pressreader.com/uk/irish-daily-mail/20250712/281925959032863 reports "an acquaintance" of the dynamic duo telling the paper: I hope they come out with the truth but they are the type of people that will keep telling themselves a story until they believe that it is true.

PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions

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https://www.pressreader.com/uk/irish-daily-mail/20250712/281925959032863

Pissenlit · 18/09/2025 09:21

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 18/09/2025 09:01

To be fair to the Walkers, there are LOADS of programmes like this. A TV company sees a going concern and wants to film it (with the concomitant terrific publicity for the factory/craft centre etc) and either owners, management or some other 'high ups' come in to behave as though they are on the floor every day running the place and making decisions - perhaps even making the final product. Anyone who works there will tell you that ALL the boots on the floor or creative stuff is done by others (who might be seen in a background shot being leaned over by a 'high up' who is telling them where they are going wrong).

Just look at Michael Portillo and his railway journeys or similar. The person telling you how the place works and how the product is made is almost never the person who's actually doing the work.

That’s entirely true. I suppose it just feels particularly odd when one of the two people pretending to make cider for the cameras (I seem to remember a poster on here who lived locally saying they’d left off something obvious from the press?) has written three successful books about their longing for the land, their lost farm which they cleared and restored by hand, their considerable, hands-on agricultural and horticultural knowledge, and about Moth being ‘rewilded’ like the cider farm, their fear of allowing themselves to trust BC etc etc.

When the reality is that they didn’t either farm the larger farm or tend the orchards and produce cider, as they pretended in the books and for Rick Stein.

I suppose one thing to remember, which of course isn’t touched on at all in either of the two books SW wrote at Haye Farm, is that during the course of their time there, they became quite rich.

Maybe that’s the unspoken subtext to the fact that they don’t appear to have done anything other than live in the farmhouse. We’ve got plenty of money now. We don’t need to keep BC onside.

BeguiledSilence · 18/09/2025 10:08

Peladon · 18/09/2025 09:16

This article from Irish Daily Mail https://www.pressreader.com/uk/irish-daily-mail/20250712/281925959032863 reports "an acquaintance" of the dynamic duo telling the paper: I hope they come out with the truth but they are the type of people that will keep telling themselves a story until they believe that it is true.

Yes, thanks it was interesting to see that some of the things we have touched on in the last few days were covered. Not with any names (acquaintance, associates, family) - which is presumably why The Observer didn't carry on with stories that would have less power, than the well-substantiated ones they had published.

UpfromSomerset · 18/09/2025 10:41

Pissenlit · 18/09/2025 09:21

That’s entirely true. I suppose it just feels particularly odd when one of the two people pretending to make cider for the cameras (I seem to remember a poster on here who lived locally saying they’d left off something obvious from the press?) has written three successful books about their longing for the land, their lost farm which they cleared and restored by hand, their considerable, hands-on agricultural and horticultural knowledge, and about Moth being ‘rewilded’ like the cider farm, their fear of allowing themselves to trust BC etc etc.

When the reality is that they didn’t either farm the larger farm or tend the orchards and produce cider, as they pretended in the books and for Rick Stein.

I suppose one thing to remember, which of course isn’t touched on at all in either of the two books SW wrote at Haye Farm, is that during the course of their time there, they became quite rich.

Maybe that’s the unspoken subtext to the fact that they don’t appear to have done anything other than live in the farmhouse. We’ve got plenty of money now. We don’t need to keep BC onside.

Haven't viewed the Rick Stein programme but did follow the link given earlier in this thread to a BBC radio programme "On the Farm" I think the title was - from Haye cider farm, where both WWs took part. She explained to the interviewer in great detail the cider making process and the role that the addition of straw plays. I'm sorry to admit that, despite coming from Somerset, I have forgotten the straw's purpose! (I was surprised she didn't mention other ingredients, such as a few dead rats to add flavour!) (Only joking.)
The discussion then turned to rewilding. Some clearing had been done, as evidenced by piles of timber. TimMoth then explained that he strimmed the undergrowth at three different height levels - so as to encourage bio-diversity! Really? Did he learn this at college or was he taking the proverbial. I personally think the latter.

Catsandcwtches · 18/09/2025 12:48

UpfromSomerset · 18/09/2025 10:41

Haven't viewed the Rick Stein programme but did follow the link given earlier in this thread to a BBC radio programme "On the Farm" I think the title was - from Haye cider farm, where both WWs took part. She explained to the interviewer in great detail the cider making process and the role that the addition of straw plays. I'm sorry to admit that, despite coming from Somerset, I have forgotten the straw's purpose! (I was surprised she didn't mention other ingredients, such as a few dead rats to add flavour!) (Only joking.)
The discussion then turned to rewilding. Some clearing had been done, as evidenced by piles of timber. TimMoth then explained that he strimmed the undergrowth at three different height levels - so as to encourage bio-diversity! Really? Did he learn this at college or was he taking the proverbial. I personally think the latter.

@UpfromSomerset it’s often discussed how leaving undergrowth at different height levels can help biodiversity in wild gardening circles. But I would be more impressed if he had scythed by hand, anyone can throw a strimmer about!

Tealeaf3 · 18/09/2025 15:21

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 18/09/2025 09:01

To be fair to the Walkers, there are LOADS of programmes like this. A TV company sees a going concern and wants to film it (with the concomitant terrific publicity for the factory/craft centre etc) and either owners, management or some other 'high ups' come in to behave as though they are on the floor every day running the place and making decisions - perhaps even making the final product. Anyone who works there will tell you that ALL the boots on the floor or creative stuff is done by others (who might be seen in a background shot being leaned over by a 'high up' who is telling them where they are going wrong).

Just look at Michael Portillo and his railway journeys or similar. The person telling you how the place works and how the product is made is almost never the person who's actually doing the work.

In that case, you would think that it would have been polite to run it past the actual owner of the farm, “ Look Bill, I know we weren’t actually making any cider, but we demonstrated the process as that’s what the programme makers wanted. Hope you’re ok with that”. It seems they kept him out of the loop entirely.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 18/09/2025 16:01

Catsandcwtches · 18/09/2025 12:48

@UpfromSomerset it’s often discussed how leaving undergrowth at different height levels can help biodiversity in wild gardening circles. But I would be more impressed if he had scythed by hand, anyone can throw a strimmer about!

I would have been even more convinced if they'd used selective browsing grazers to reduce the undergrowth, as this is a far more 'authentic' way of rewilding. Rewilding involves careful management of the land in order to encourage a diversity of species, not just leaving it to grow wild and hope that something noteable re-colonises the land.

This is why Exmoor ponies are used in some places, in others they use rare breed cattle, because these animals are selective grazers and will leave some plants alone whilst eating down competing plants. I don't think that the Walkers understood what rewilding actually meant.

AncientHarpy · 18/09/2025 16:09

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 18/09/2025 16:01

I would have been even more convinced if they'd used selective browsing grazers to reduce the undergrowth, as this is a far more 'authentic' way of rewilding. Rewilding involves careful management of the land in order to encourage a diversity of species, not just leaving it to grow wild and hope that something noteable re-colonises the land.

This is why Exmoor ponies are used in some places, in others they use rare breed cattle, because these animals are selective grazers and will leave some plants alone whilst eating down competing plants. I don't think that the Walkers understood what rewilding actually meant.

If only SW hadn't killed off Smotyn in TSP, she could have staged an emotional reunion with her in TWS and installed her in the orchard.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 18/09/2025 16:58

AncientHarpy · 18/09/2025 16:09

If only SW hadn't killed off Smotyn in TSP, she could have staged an emotional reunion with her in TWS and installed her in the orchard.

There seems to have been so much invention put in the books that I would not at all have been surprised at the introduction of a zombie sheep.

BeguiledSilence · 18/09/2025 17:15

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 18/09/2025 16:58

There seems to have been so much invention put in the books that I would not at all have been surprised at the introduction of a zombie sheep.

I think a tortoise would have aced the grazing job. Then when Tim was 'moving out in the fields all day' he could have 'walked with a tortoise'.

BeguiledSilence · 18/09/2025 17:24

@User14March I have never seen this - thanks. So good to see it referenced by him (or anyone who is anybody really - but particularly him),

Very subtle.

Pissenlit · 18/09/2025 17:25

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 18/09/2025 16:58

There seems to have been so much invention put in the books that I would not at all have been surprised at the introduction of a zombie sheep.

Someone could write ‘The Salt Path and Zombies’. Along the lines of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but with anyone who doesn’t like them wild camping or being homeless or tries to object to them not paying attention campsites being the Hostile Undead.

And they escape a zombie attack in St Ives because Moth’s staggering walk and Raynor’s mad hair and scarlet nose trick the zombies into thinking they’re Undesd too.

And a zombie Simon Armitage keeps trying to bite them.

ThisTookAWhile · 18/09/2025 17:30

Re earlier comments:

Even more convincing would’ve been to undertake some survey work first, before attempting any kind of practical management!

Any competent or conscientious land manager (and especially on someone else’s property) would initially find out what was actually present: ascertain what habitat types (woodland, wetland, grassland, hedgerow, etc.) were represented; whether there were any notable or important plant and animal species /
communities there, or recorded in the past; any protected species (e.g. bats, barn owls, great crested newts, etc. etc.); ancient woodland; veteran or ancient trees, or any sites of archaeological / heritage interest. Otherwise any work undertaken could run the risk of damaging or destroying something already of value.

How would it be possible to come up with TW’s fabled ‘Biodiversity Plan’ for the farm, without deciding what the management priorities were, in the light of proper investigation and knowledge of the local nature conservation context?
Instead, the obviously clairvoyant SW constantly asserts in her press interviews and book festival tours that there was ‘no’ wildlife there when they arrived, that the farm was neglected and ‘dead’ (she must just ‘know’).

Miraculously, the following spring and summer, after reducing chemical inputs, clearing rubbish and a spot of dedicated differential strimming of grass, ‘weeds’ and bramble, biodiversity has been ‘brought back’ and the soil is healing.

Hurrah! Stuff the science, all you need for effective conservation land management is Psychic Sal and Mystic Moth to scatter their own particular brand of fairy dust over your property, and you’re sorted.

Uricon2 · 18/09/2025 18:10

Well said Simon A and thanks @User14March I hadn't see that either.

RainyTuesdaysAndSunnyWednesdays · 18/09/2025 18:31

There is no wildlife on the farm. Although at the start of their stay, she does mention buzzard, owl, mice, toads, deer, moles and voles. Bats and hedgehogs would have been hibernating at that time. She also mentions an old oak tree and they have their own books about their ecosystems. There is also a pond and stream near the house but of course if the WWs say there is no wildlife until they worked their magic we must believe them!

Catwith69lives · 18/09/2025 19:02

RainyTuesdaysAndSunnyWednesdays · 18/09/2025 18:31

There is no wildlife on the farm. Although at the start of their stay, she does mention buzzard, owl, mice, toads, deer, moles and voles. Bats and hedgehogs would have been hibernating at that time. She also mentions an old oak tree and they have their own books about their ecosystems. There is also a pond and stream near the house but of course if the WWs say there is no wildlife until they worked their magic we must believe them!

The previous owner of the farm had a slightly different perspective!

Thread 17: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?
BeguiledSilence · 18/09/2025 19:07

@RainyTuesdaysAndSunnyWednesdays (or is that Rainy Days and Mondays?)

Why do birds
Suddenly appear?
Everytime you are near
Just like me
They long to be
Close to you

Why do stars
Fall down from the sky?
Everytime you walk by
Just like me
They long to be
Close to you

(Close to You, The Carpenters)

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