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've been absent from the threads for ages (you know - Life Gets In The Way!) but it is so good to see more truth coming out.

I can't imagine how the WWs are ever going to set foot into the outside world again as I can't imagine how they are ever going to be able to brazen this out. But then again, I'm not of the WW ilk!

I'm laughing at how apparently none of the family wanted to help them out of this terrible spot they found themselves in at the beginning of TSP saga!

Try to keep up! They were innocent & nothing has changed, all a private dispute with a family member…Second statement says so…

Even more than CH's revelations what I find jaw dropping are two things:

1. Sal appears to show zero remorse for anything she has done. Zero. She doesn't seem to possess a moral compass.

2. Significant numbers of people simply don't care whether Sal is a con artist, a fraud, a pathological liar, whether Moth has or hasn't got CBD and whether they did walk the 630 miles of the SWCP over 18 months as claimed in TSP. They enjoyed the book and that's all there is to it!

Shocking..

Huge thanks to the Documentary Correspondents. Very interesting 🧐

Moth may have not been ‘determined’ at all but camping out for a couple of days & off to a luxe B&B for a shower.

Agree re absence of remorse. I don't know why some people are unable to see that something sold as "unflinching honesty" (etc, etc) but is actually "a pack of lies" might not be the absolute good they think it is, but I'm still hoping the scales will fall from at least some eyes.

I don't like to whine about 'modern society' but think there is a general tendency to be more concerned by how things look rather than how things are and I sense a crossover with the wretched #bekind movement in terms of sloppy thinking. It's one reason why journalists like Chloe are so important.

(Got 30 seconds in to the doc and was interrupted by a Person from Porlock so will try later)

Blimey. I haven't been following the threads for a while. Will we ever find out why they had to skedaddle to N Wales or what happened to her job in the hotel? Apologies, I haven't read all of this thread but what happened to his parents if they were living in the barn when the house was repossessed?

Were you interrupted by a blindman doing tai chi who issues premonitions about walking with tortoises?

😂nothing so interesting sadly!

@dapsnotplimsolls if I had to hazard a guess (and it is only a guess, I have no knowledge) as to the fate of the robbed blind parents, I'd imagine social housing, them being older and over 55s accommodation being slightly easier to obtain than other types in some areas. Wouldn't suit Lord and Lady Raymoth of course.

Perhaps other members of the family stepped in though, they do not appear to be morally bankrupt.

I think a lot of people simply can't acknowledge that they were fooled. They are going to carry on saying 'I don't care what's said about the Walkers, I enjoyed the books, so there.' Because to admit that what Sal and Tim did was absolutely dreadful is to have to admit that they were duped by the books into believing everything about them, and therefore that they are fallible.

And many people won't, or can't, do that. So they will hold the line just so that they don't feel stupid.

Oh for heavens sake…. I despair. You get more truth and motivation from the label of a zen teabag. I wish these people would wake up to the fact that Sal loves taking money from people by lying to them. Anyone can sell you a lie. Is that really what you want?

You're probably right Vroomie. I do respect the people who loved the book but are able to accept that so very much of it has been called into question.

Totally agree. I also think there's a depressing number of people out there who describe everything printed between two covers as 'stories' (qv the poster on FB replicated above), and don't appear to understand the distinction between fiction and non-fiction. Even non-fiction that's published as a memoir, and is described as 'unflinchingly honest'. Is this out of the same box as 'my truth', do we think, or are a lot of folk just ... well ... thick?

I very much think there is an intersection with the 'my truth' (as opposed to 'the truth') thing.

As some say, there is only ‘the truth’ & ‘your opinion’.

They seem to be enticing viewers to watch by releasing tiny excerpts in dribs and drabs:

Bing Videos

I’ve got the best cure for huffing and puffing and for those who are disappointed by the lack of HNTDDD in the documentary ie dear Vroomie.

One minute is all you need!

It’s Dr SalRay in the Lab coat again!

(I needed some light relief and a laugh in between work meetings.)

Knittingintherooouund…..(swirly hand gesture)...on Two Point Pins (accusing tone of voice)…..and fiiiiiiiine worsted yarn…..tick tack…tick tack… tick tack….

@Thelandsthatmustnotbementioned Noooooooo ......

The Independent has written it up well (like our home-grown scribes):

The Salt Path Scandal: Everything we learn from new documentary, from the ‘confession letter’ to the bombshell tip-off | The Independent

Don't Put Your Wife On The Stage, Mr Walker

'Moth’s multiple miraculous recoveries across Raynor’s various memoirs,'

The Indie really went for it. Thanks @BegazingBrandy

Personally (and i haven’t watched the doc yet but based on excellent précis so far) I do wonder whether things like the Grant chapter are just unhelpful red herrings.

i don’t mean that it’s fine to just make up anything, I just mean it’s kind of meaningless and allows people to view all this as a bit of pedantic nastiness rather than thorough exposure?

i mean all the people who say “yes but the broad story is amazing” or similar - it’s far more key surely to focus on illness (made up) and theft (proven) than points about whether or not someone was compared to Simon Armitage?

I know it’s all a pattern of behaviour… I just don’t know that it helps.

I think what would really break through into the news cycle proper would be proof he isn’t ill. But that’s going to be legally hugely challenging.

I feel better now, thank you....

HNTDDD is possibly a way in to show that serious fraud committed it’s NOT just a barney with a disgruntled family friend. It’s all later planned IMO -.they both have a script & Tim only makes guest appearances so no one twigs.

@PinkPanther57 you’d think so yes, which is why it’s strange it’s not in there - sorry if I’ve misunderstood something but didn’t CH write that she had tracked down a copy?

of course, it might be that it’s not possible to definitively prove who it was by…

“Fraud is easy, gullible idiots fall for YARN, but hark!.. Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, time and buttered eggs wait for no man! They slowly cotton on”.