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 found the following to be the best, most succinct, article on the legal side. Also, it is where Chloe says that they tried to meet the Walkers all through the investigation - Sally lies again.

Inside The Observer's Salt Path investigation: Legal hurdles, 'AI' book and putting new version of paper on the map - Press Gazette

I decided to conduct an exhaustive and forensic survey of journalistic practice in such situations (OK, I put the scenario to DH, who had forgotten previous discussions about Raymoth)

My findings

"HAHAHAHAHA! Why would she agree to that? What would she get from it?"

I don't find this response altogether unreasonable.

He also has a LOT of faith in the legal departments of all forms of media, having much experience of them. He says "They protect the paper first and foremost, it's their job and if it doesn't get past them, forget it ".

Really thinks this applies to everything Chloe has done to date and is forthcoming. I imagine documentaries have the same oversight and strictures.

@Uricon2 I can only imagine that Sal thought CH would be put off by the mention of legal processes? That she'd be quaking in her boots at the thought that she might get something wrong and that she'd be keen to talk to Sal in the first instance (although it doesn't explain why she didn't talk to CH before the investigation when she was offered the chance) to make sure that she didn't say anything wrong? Because Sal doesn't have the first idea how a journalistic investigation is run and what checks and balances newspapers have to put into place to prevent wrong information being published? Because, basically, Sal thinks 'because I say so' is a good enough reason.

Absolutely ridiculous to think that the Observer and CH would sign any kind of agreement not to talk about something so clearly in the public interest just on Sal's say so. What on earth could Sal imagine that she had to say that would make it all go away?

You seem to be trying to make the same point I was making. I certainly wasn't saying that we should "be kind" to Salray and shut up for her benefit.

I wrote:
If we do as some people say and "be kind" to SalRay. We're not being kind to the people they have cheated and lied to, while they get their own way.
It's just less obvious so people can hide from their conscience.

Isn't that what you're saying too?

CH knew it was in the public’s’ interest to tell the truth because frankly the whole charade was getting well out of hand. When Chloe first got in touch with Sally she no doubt wanted to talk about Mrs. Hemmings’ claims which must have been a shock. She’d paid the Hemmings and forced them to sign away their right to ever talk about that theft. I do think that is a nasty thing to do and not what you’d expect from somebody who likes to compare herself to a wild rabbit, frequently, in her books. Of course this must have enraged Sally and she was determined to tell the public that she had asked for a meeting with Chloe so that she could explain away the loss of money as actually having something to do with an economic crash or some sort of meddling by a gremlin in the software or that Mr. Hemmings was vague and disorganised, or that he lent it to her. Chloe knew she wouldn’t get the truth out of her.
She can’t still be in discussion with lawyers after five months if they had any case at all.
I think we’ve agreed that Sally has some sort of grandiose complex that makes her feel immune to consequences of actions.

Have you read the comments under this article? I’m quite speechless 😞

Yes, suggesting the author of the article was after clickbait. I just have an inbuilt sieve with a fine mesh!

@MargaretThursday yes absolutely, I was agreeing with you and reiterating your point by adding another more general context where I see it being used. Or at least was trying to reiterate, rather than snatch your point away from you and wave it as if it were my own. If I did do that, I apologise.

No worries. I initially read it as you resented me using the phrase "be kind" then re-read it and thought you were agreeing, so wanted to confirm. Thanks for coming back.

Agree. As my old grandmother would have said "There are none so blind as those that will not see".
We'll find out if the blinkers come off after 15/12, I suppose.

I nominate Dragon Theatre Barmouth, whose showing of the film in September was advertised with this unhedged statement:

"The Salt Path is the fictional story of husband and wife, Raynor and Moth Winn’s 630-mile trek along the beautiful but rugged Cornish, Devon and Dorset coastline."

PS: perhaps "unfudged" would have been a .more appropriate word that "unhedged".

If there’s one thing SalRay has, it’s (someone else’s) fudge!

The mystery of The Salt Path and the stolen fudge bars is something that Superintendent Charles Wycliffe would have liked to get his teeth into!

Thank you I am thrilled to hear of another subtle, but appreciated, acknowledgement. Well done to the 🌺 Dragon Theatre, Barmouth💥

I don't know if anyone has noticed and I've missed it in which case apologies, but I've just been on to Our Chloe's Instagram and guess who's following her? Angela Harding. (Shows up because I'm following AH)

I'm not an Insta whizz by any means, but it does not appear AH is following Salray or vice versa. Salray is following Simon A but he is not following her.

It's like a 21st C Jane Austen, who is on bowing terms with each other or snubbing/being snubbed! Perhaps I'm overreading

@Vroomfondleswaistcoat Because Sal doesn't have the first idea how a journalistic investigation is run and what checks and balances newspapers have to put into place to prevent wrong information being published?

Yes, I think this is correct and you prompted me to remember another of the better articles:

A book billed as a “true story” is subject to far less scrutiny than this article.
The Economist

The moral of “The Salt Path”, an embellished bestseller

Good article,. The elderly man doing Tai-chi near Culbone Church does exist, but he isn't blind!

The World's Happiest Walk - Digital Party

Sal can shout all she wants about how everyone has got the wrong end of the stick - and I imagine that, as @HatStickBoots says, she was going to explain away the financial loss to the Hemings with some explanation about computer errors or inept management - but Our Chloe will have dotted every i and crossed every t I would imagine. Which won't leave her with anywhere to go.

But I'm wondering if Sal herself now believes that the loss of the money was an error rather than direct theft? If she stole the money in small amounts here and there, promising that she'd pay it back 'later', then didn't she just do what she said she would do? She paid it back, 'later', the fact that this was after she'd been discovered and was therefore forced to pay it back won't matter in her head. She'd done what she'd always intended to do and therefore she has no case to answer.

I'm trying to make sense of what on earth she might have thought she could say 'off the record' to CH that would make this all go away.

I don’t think you’re over reading at all! How interesting! I don’t suppose you can remove followers otherwise Simon A might have tried to lose that one. Are you imagining them all now at one of those balls, dancing and chatting amiably when Raymoth enter the room and after a sudden hush there’s a collective switch to awkward and icy politeness? Of course there’ll be at least one person who “never got the memo” who rushes up, glowing and gushing until they’re sidled up to later and whispered to in a corner. The shock probably causes an attack of the vapours and a carriage will have to be called to take that lady home.

Love it @HatStickBoots ❤

...Mr Darmitage glowered. "You, madam, have the temerity to claim my acquaintance, when your actions could have sullied the reputation of the house of Darmitage, indeed the very office of Poet Laureate itself. For shame! Come, Miss Chloe, I see the good Lady Harding near the door. She looks most diverted."

Mrs Walbennet collapses in swoon. (I'm getting a real Alison Steadman vibe here)

I've finally got my hands on a copy of Landlines. As if we need any more inconsistencies at this juncture, I nevertheless spotted one to share. It is minor yet shows up just how willing SalRay was to fictionalise even small details and perhaps reflects her entire writing approach of mixing real with imagined...

In LL they wake next to Suilven with the tent frozen shut. Then walk (calculated to approx 8 miles) in deepening snow to Elphin Tearooms just as it is closing (4pm closing). "The landscape is white and doesn't seem to correspond to the features in the landscape."

Now, according to a video on her IG next to a snowless Suilven, she states it is publication day of TWS paperback. That date being 27 May 2021. So the events in LL described above must be either 27 or 28 May 2021 (i.e the day they left the vicinity of Suilven.)

Helpfully, Elphin Tearooms posted on FB on 28 May 2021 with the following:

"Yep... the picnic tables definitely got a work out! And the carpark continues to be popular with motorbikes. This was yesterday (too busy to post things until now) and the sun even came out in the evening! Today was glorious sunshine for most of the day."

No sign of any snow on either day. The snow seems to be an excuse for them to avoid the long trudge through hills and bog to Ullapool and take a taxi instead, of course at the insistence of the tearoom owner despite their protests of it being cheating. How INSPIRATIONAL.

Why does RW invent so much?

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😂 thank you so much for the laughs!

I was inspired by your scenario @HatStickBoots !😂

Brilliant spot @SimoArmo , thanks