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

Wishing you better, faster, stronger.

I agree @BegazingBrandy the humour and intelligence both you and @Uricon2 have brought to these threads, even though things have been hard for you both, is very much appreciated. Losing your hair is not nice, I had a hair loss, not growing and brittle breaking off, side effect of undiagnosed illness thing, resolved once medicated and slowly the hair grew again. It was the least of the symptoms but upset me the most.

I do enjoy the discussion on here. We don’t have a telly, as such, and we go to bed pretty early- it’s not the holidays yet on the 15th! So I will try and work out how to watch the programme later on some sort of catch-up thing.

You are so right @Freshsocks !

An actual conversation

DH "You seem more upset about your hair than all the heart stuff"

Me (full Colonel Kurtz) "THAT'S BECAUSE I AM!!"

DH " Is there anything I can do to help?"

Bless.

Don't worry @WearyCat , between us we'll get all the details and make sure it's on here.

I think that Now TV is an on-demand service so if you get that you can watch at your leisure.
I took enjoy the commentary and general wisdom and wittiness of those contributing to these threads.

My 8yo likes all your usernames and has got me to eventually change mine for this new thread (prev stickymitts). Still hoping to go to the Jan Observer event, but still unable to book online.

And now for something completely different .... I was just reading about a fabric-selling scam. It is just that the different responses from people, mostly women and variously involved, remind me of the emotions generated by TSP. Some are clear that it is fraudulent and others think it is so beautiful they are more lenient:

Nerida Hansen: Shoppers loved Australia's 'fabric queen'. Then, order by order, her story fell apart - BBC News

Completely straying from the path. If you're watching TV, wasn't Balvinda's waltz just now beautiful?

It is indeed. I have no idea how the economics of it work, but Now is a fraction of the monthly cost of Sky, and yet shows all their programmes. We tend to take one of the streamers per month and then hit all the series we can on that service for said month, and then finish. I'm working away on 15 Dec (curses) but plan to get the Now trial later that week, especially as I can pitch to DH that we can finally finish 'Blue Bloods'. For those of you who have never come across this gem of American TV, it's a superbly terrible police show set in New York, with Tom Selleck as the lead, and Donnie Wahlberg as one of his sons. It's like The Waltons but with guns, and it's hilarious. Every week has a shoehorned in Moral Dilemma, which the family debate over Sunday lunch. Thoroughly recommend it, but don't take it as seriously as it takes itself.

If anyone goes to the Obs events tomorrow or in Jan, please do report back!

PS @Peladon, DH is watching (he's the fan) but on catch up, so we're a bit behind. Thanks for the hint, though 😍

Don't watch but will catch upon that recommendation!

Perhaps now CH is purporting to have evidence that SW has also defrauded the publishing industry in claiming the first novel prize then Penguin Books would also wish to offer an apology to their peers if not the general public.

Imagine being the CB Prize people trying to persuade SW to give back her £10k. Perhaps she will show up weeping with a few grand in a plastic bag, claiming she’s had to sell all TW’s bandanas, tweed climbing shorts, and his beloved copy of Beowulf, and send Monty the dog down a coal mine.

In terms of damage limitation by the Walkers my advice would be:

1. donate all future royalties from her books and the film to a CBD charity
2. provide a unambiguous and short apology for all their past behaviour
3. hand back the CB prize and prize money
4. pay off all her creditors
5. disappear to somewhere remote in another country
6. never publish anything again and close all social media accounts

But it won't happen - their sense of hubris and complete lack of humility will lead them to believe that they can always get out of any mess.

Good advice. I'd suggest they don't watch the upcoming television programme or any reviews of it and get back to living quietly as interest fades away. Somehow I don't think they will be able to leave it alone.

It is depressing how many scam artists and shysters are out there and especially when it is revealed, how some people still support them in their fraud.

Or Monty could develop a rare canine disease confounding vets everywhere; then he climbs Ben Nevis in 2 hours with SalRay and Timoth as his Sherpas. Monty then writes a book about his heroic climb called 'Top Dog' - written partly in Scottish Gaelic. Who'd play him in the film though?

It's really how they get away with it. Nice persona, people believe they couldn't possibly be ne-er do wells, and people don't want to accept they were taken in so they downplay what the fraudsters have done.

This is brilliant! There must be a canine equivalent of Tom Cruise somewhere.

Voiced by Hugh Bonneville.

He'd have to do all his own stunts to defy his runt of the litter tag. And then he'd get signed up to play Greyfriars Bobby and Chalky (Rick Stein's late companion who was adorable).

I think they will just brazen it out. I think they will always have people they have “discarded” who have been used, abused, like your Bill Cole or Martin Hemmings. The will have some less-close acquaintances like school friend, maybe some locals, who aren’t so deep in it to as feel they’ve been lied to.

Habitual liars really depend on people not speaking with each other and joining the dots. They would much prefer to spout their lies one-on-one, it’s more effective that way, when you can look a person in the eye and know you’ve ground them down into believing you. I wouldn’t expect a mea culpa.

I have basic compassion that they're not in a nice position. I don’t believe they are shunned by everyone. Most people find it easier to be pleasant in the shop (although SalRay could take offence at Jesus himself smiling and wishing her a good morning as she entered the post office, I’m sure!) and they aren’t ogres, I’m sure they’re pleasant enough if you don’t get tangled up in their “woes”.

I think Tim might have some ill health, which is unfortunate but Idont think he was ever previously terminally ill, not in France, not on the Salt Path, not at the Cider Farm.

At least you know where you stand with an ogre. With these two you will never be quite sure. Be pleasant if you want to but don’t ever trust them. “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

I dare say that’s the reason why there are family members speaking out.

What she'll possibly do:

1. Say something mealy mouthed like mistakes were made and artistic license was occasionally deployed
2. Claim that it was the medical experts led them to believe that Moth had CBS/CBD which is a very hard disease to diagnose until after death
3. Announce that Moth now has a serious cardiac condition which has been exacerbated by the Observer expose and is now in very poor health
4. Reveal the demise of Monty the dog (also caused by the stress of the Observer expose and consequent lack of walks on the SWCP)
5. Announce that their property in the Village du Dropt will be used as a writers' retreat where participants will get hands on experience of coming up with plot ideas as well as learning building and plastering skills.
6. Claim that a portion of future book sales will be contributed to PSPA
7. Hint that OWH is still scheduled to appear in October 2026
8. Announce a new range of Raynor Winn branded products including 'The Salt Path Board Game" an innovative new take on Snakes and Ladders and the Raymoth bandanna and sunhat clothing range for intrepid hikers..
9. Trumpet the fact that she is working on a new book that will involve a long walk and have all the details about what really happened on the original Salt Path walk
10. Divulge the fact that HNTDDD will be released in 2026 with special signed copies of the limited early bird edition hardback version available at a discounted price of £30.

Oh yes, she'll charge £50k for an exclusive interview to give her side of the story but she'll keep that under her hat!

Maybe Sal will set up her own folk band with Moth....

Mention of Hugh Bonneville reminded to about the brilliant Radio 4 play starring Stephen Mangan. I heartily recommend it, it’s so funny. Not sure if SalRay ever went on it but i can totally imagine her featuring in some of the rogue gangs of marauding celebrities.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00282hl