Thread 20 : To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?

[DisappointedReader]

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

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

Links to threads 2-16, the other 20 Observer articles and videos to date, Raynor Winn/Sally Walker's statement, our timeline and sources can all be accessed in the OP and first few posts of Thread 17: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5403285-thread-17-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Thread 18: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5422393-thread-18-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Thread 19: www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5437058-thread-19-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 exposé items 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 drive-by scolders and ploppers 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. Over five months we have done amazingly well together for 19 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.

Keep to the path. No saltiness. May the fudge and cider be with you.

Up and coming:

• Salt Path: A Very British Scandal, Monday 15th December 9pm Sky Documentaries and NOW
• Sunday Papers Live, The Real Salt Path with Chloe Hadjimatheou, Sunday 7th December (see image below for tickets and further details)
• Observer Newsroom: The Real Salt Path Story, Thursday 8th January 2026 6.30-7.30pm. More information and to book via this link observer.co.uk/our-events/the-real-salt-path-story

I do think it all got a lot worse today though. Some people will back off.

Yes!

Psychologist here (though not a forensic one, which might be more helpful) but finding myself loathe to give an opinion without knowing more facts.

That said, listening to TWS there was quite a lot about her childhood and family which, if true, could be helpful in understanding all this.

I wonder which of her early emotional needs were met and which unmet? That would be my starting point.

Where did the sense of insecurity - and need for “more” (Attention? Validation? Approval? Sense of importance?) start?

What did her first relationships teach her about honesty, integrity and morality? About getting along with others and playing by the rules?

Early relationships are crucial but the problem is knowing what to believe from the information she’s given.

Was she really silenced, neglected and sometimes ridiculed by her parents in the way she describes, for example?

And as others have said, is the pathological lying and stealing HER issue or tied up with the relationship with TimMoth?

There’s so much we now know but still so much we don’t know.

Sorry - I was one of the original psychology correspondents but I feel I’ve failed in my work! No fudge for me….Maybe one of the others will give a better answer 😊

It does make me chuckle when someone says it's the 'last word they'll have' ... and then can't help themselves but say more.

Could ‘Bob’ be one of ‘them’? - throw in a the odd spelling & grammatical error & ‘everyman’ will get behind you.

I don't think so. He is fairly easily identifiable from his FB feed. I just think he is deluded.

I skimmed this to see if it contained the word "headland".

Thanks. Why is it the blind supporters, the bigots & racists can never spell? :)

It's like when people flounce out of threads then come back ten minutes later.

Where can I find these comments?

Its in the comments about a FB article about the Salt Path scandal by The Bookseller Magazine on 30 July

But he isn't a bigot or a racist, the opposite in fact. Though it's ironic he calls out blind supporters of Farridge and Laxley Lennon.

Lol - I mean in general terms…

One thing we still don't know, unless I've missed it, is just why they moved to Wales. Were they running away from more legal troubles?

There was an incident when one of their children was nearly run over on a road outside their house. Property prices were lower on the Llyn Peninsula compared to where they were living, so they were able to move up the housing ladder.

Salray peddled a dream of hope and love and overcoming adversity. I don't blame people for wanting to cling to it as a bit of a bright light in a sorry world, but hopefully most will see that this is now not smoke without fire but massive great, carefully built pyres of reality and accept the truth.

I think that the Walkets already explained that? A child walked out of the garden, and therefore they packed up, sold their house and moved to a nee location within a fortnight (or something like that)? Sounds plausible to me.

As a work of fiction it has its merits. As an unflinchingly honest memoir it has no redeeming features.

That's what Tim said prompted the move for sure, but who knows.

I wouldn't believe them if they said it was raining without checking.

Playing devil’s advocate for a moment, is it possible the letters that have come to light are forged & story of further thievery phoney?

That's also something that never made sense to me. Having lived in in rural Wales, a small lone child is potentially at more danger in that countryside , from nature, than escaping from the house and being grabbed by one of the numerous passers by, because clearly at risk.

The ways of Raymoth are strange and I imagine there is also more to this than meets the eye, perhaps only trying to pile on the drama, though.

There's the emails trail.

Also she said she didn't write the typed confession but hasn't denied the rest.

I believe she’s getting a cut of the box office profits. Maybe not a huge one, but a cut.

Why would her/his family do this? They aren't going to get any real benefit and risk having the behinds sued off them if they were faking it. Also, Ros Hemmings. It's part of a pattern of behaviour.