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

Was this the suit he had taylor made as described in TWS? I always found that at odds with a sudden elopement to Skye. Though we know they did indeed get married there. Was this an after party back south or were family invited to Skye? Another mystery and inconsistent jumble of a story.

That's what I thought @Thelandsthatmustnotbementioned . She's in a (quite modest), standard 80s meringue but his suit was like nothing I ever saw a groom in at that time, reg office or not.

Chloe is planning a series of podcasts for January, she couldn't cover everything in this documentary (even if I would have liked her to) I think we will get more answers in the podcasts, things will become less and less deniable, but I don't think that will stop Salray denying them.

I'd put money on it being a buffet held for them after they got back, parents house, probably hers. Her Dad especially is very informally dressed for him to have been at any sort of ceremony.

Not sure why they would have got back into their wedding clothes though? I got married in the 1980s and once the ceremony was over my mum took my dress and hung it up in her wardrobe! I don't think I saw it again until after she died...

This is a daily routine, but I really have to thank @NaughtyNoodler - for the second time today already. This time for sharing this link, below.

Ruth has very sensitively, and painfully, gone into detail about why she chose to take part in the documentary. This is a must read for anyone who is still a 'true believer'.

The reasons she carefully outlines are why I don't relate to the devotion at all - but I will leave that, for now, as I don't want to spoil the warm endorsement of her contribution I have just given.

The Salt Path | ruthsaberton

It doesn’t matter - but it does potentially give a little information about him/their relationship/the differences between them…and many of us are here trying to understand what makes them tick, what the mutual attraction is, etc. So no, not relevant to the larger narrative of wrongdoing, just of interest to me and maybe some others. When her words can’t be trusted, photographs can tell a story.

And the way he is gripping her wrist when she has both hands held in front of her doesn't look natural. I'd expect them to stand hand in hand, but he looks almost possessive here.

If they 'eloped', maybe family wanted to see them in the dress and Suit of Magnificence at the party (said party hardly speaking of Montagu/Capulet levels of disapproval)

Oh yes, of course, that could be it, although both she and he seem to have their hair done as they would have on their wedding day - they both look very smart and 'put together', not as if they just put the clothes on to show mum.

And Mum and Dad (IS it mum and dad?) look rather - um, casual, if this is a big 'welcome to the family' buffet party.

ETA although 'mum' could well be wearing her wedding finery, it's a bit hard to tell, and dad might have just taken his jacket and tie off.

SW is fortunate to have a publisher and readership stand by her. However, I still can't help but think that promotional appearances and newspaper reviews will be tricky for OWH.

The contrast between them is notable in the wedding pic. He looks relaxed, confident, elegant - I actually like the suit and it looks expensive. She looks like a submissive milkmaid, and very nervous and ill at ease. I know wedding photos can be awkward, but you can see a similar contrast in their later pics.

After recent revelations, I feel a bit of light entertainment is required, and this particular kind I don't think has been seen on these here salted threads before.

Presenting you with this fun segment Sal participated in for an interview with what appears to be a German outlet. Intriguing choices for a veteran long distance walker I would say. In my experience, blisters are entirely avoidable with correctly fitting footwear and a two sock system, and teabags are a luxury (or am I being too harsh on British tea-loving sensibilities?). For me necessity always comes first. But, it was just for fun I guess. Sal, never one to avoid a freebie.

www.instagram.com/reel/DL9Wzm_qo4R/?igsh=N3M5NnpwMHFobDZ2

I can’t recall the exact story but the book, on wedding attire, speaks of the power imbalance between them. She gets a charity shop number at last minute, or something like that, he gets a bespoke, planned suit with bells & whistles.

Having watched the doc, I started thinking about what on earth they will do now. They have their money, but everything else is over for them in this country isn’t it? Literary reputation gone, family alienated - the only thing I could think of is to move somewhere like Panama (remember the Canoe Man story?) where nobody had ever heard of the Salt Path and they could blend in as a couple of wealthy expats.

On the other hand I’m still seeing posts online about how the book was ‘just a story’ and how the distinction between fact and fiction isn’t really important and people should just shut up about it. I think the distinction is important, which is why I got interested in this strange scandal in the first place. I thought Amanda Fairley (not sure if name is right) made an important contribution to the doc, because she raised this issue about what readers are entitled to expect from publishers selling them ‘non fiction’ books.

She’s committed quite serious fraud, three times. Do others go to prison for less? She claims to have mental illness here (?) The compulsion?

Sally's recent Instagram post/rebuttal has only 1600ish likes compared with over 9000 for the one in July. And John Spiers, who defended her on X in July, has said nothing so far.

At this point I'd say they're more or less finished.

This is a very interesting photo - especially the way he stands at an angle in front that partially obscures her. It's clear who wants to be centre of attention and I bet the "illnesses" are a part of that.

I would lay odds on Moth being one of those men who has cultivated an "I'm really laid back" persona but in reality is pretty controlling and manages to get everyone to do what he wants and run around after him by being the "faux nice guy".

Thanks for sharing the pic not quite as outlandish as I was expecting!

She looks nervous, he looks confident and assured.

Reading Ruth Saberton's article, it's interesting that initially she took the books at face value. She'd met the WWs, liked them, and the book tugged the heartstrings and made her worry about her new "friends".

It wasn't until others raised questions that she began to smell a rat and decided to re-read the books more forensically, picking up on some discrepancies on the rereading.

She's a writer, she has an MA in English and is an erstwhile teacher of English. So if TSP could pull the wool over her eyes with its emotional hooks, it's not surprising that so many other people were also sucked in.

So funny @FurryHappyKittens, were you expecting more Willy Wonka style :)

I think it (the suit) looked more yellow and less of a refined cream in the newspaper image. Or maybe that’s just my jaundiced memory 😊

Another journalist that found the Sky doc well-ordered. This stood out for me, very unusual within the medical profession to speak up - really appreciate this:

A neurologist agrees that Moth’s demonstrable good health over 18 years on from diagnosis is not consistent with the disease, and in fact, he’s amazed that the specialist they say showed them improved scans of Moth’s brain didn’t write it up for a medical journal.

Shared before but here without ads:

The Salt Path doc finds Raynor Winn guilty of a lifetime of appalling behaviour

There are some intelligent comments on X etc that say ‘the theme of the redemptive power of nature to heal the body & spirit is compelling’. This might trump all for most?

Others saying ‘it’s hard to blame them for doing it when you see how much easy money can be made from writing such manipulative BS’.

’I haven’f seen any comments from Gillian Anderson & Jason Issacs as you would have thought they’d want to distance themselves from them’. I recall the One Show where Jason says ‘you can’t say it but I will, you were CONNED!’.

Good points. I’ll come back to this later, there’s more to say.