Thread 26 : To feel disappointed - and disgusted and vindicated now too - after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?

[DisappointedReader]

NO POSTS PLEASE UNTIL THREAD 25 IS FULL

Please see the OP of Thread 25 for all the links to The Observer's reporting and podcast series, our threads one to 24 and so on.

After 25,000 posts there are still new things to discuss:
BBC Sounds - Secrets of the Salt Path - Available Episodes
If you are posting about a podcast, please start your post with the episode number you are commenting on, for clarity and to help others avoid spoilers if they wish to do so.

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. The Observer's excellent podcast series The Walkers (link in Thread 25) covers most things.
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, especially where details are unclear or still emerging. Remember, even Hollywood rabbits attract the odd flea: please do not engage with drive-by scolders 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. For over 8 months we have done amazingly well together for 25 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.

As ever, as we embark on our 26th thread riding the community charabanc, keep to the path, no saltiness, eat fudge and drink cider.

NO POSTS PLEASE UNTIL THREAD 25 IS FULL: www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5485730-thread-25-to-feel-disappointed-and-disgusted-and-vindicated-now-too-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Mention of selling bottles of "healing water" OP reminded me of my time in Minehead many years ago now, when the local paper (The West Somerset Free Press) featured on the back page every week a humorous story written in the local Somerset dialect/pronunciation.
Entitled "Will Widden Says", one week the episode described an enterprising local who filled bottles with sea water which they sold to tourists, one of whom complained that "this bottle is only half full". Which prompted the reply - "Well zur, that's because the tide wur going out!"

A retired couple I know stay near Falmouth a lot. A while ago I mentioned TSP and Sky… they don’t gossip, but said “They’re awful people. Liars” .

Perhaps their daughter was the mastermind behind the fantasy.

You can't see the comments because that's an archived version. The actual version has 86 comments, readable here.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/10/salt-path-author-false-details-too-complicated/

If you hit a paywall via the link, try pasting it into google and click the comment box of 86 asap. For some reason that worked for me.

Endless debate about how much of a fortune the Walkers have amassed - is it really in the region of £10m as claimed in the DM article?

Apparently Sal claimed relative poverty when she was living at Haye Farm, that she was only receiving 50p royalties on each copy of TSP and didn't know where all the money went!

Multiple books, the first a bestseller over and over, and a feature film will very much boost one's coffers.

Apparently Sal claimed relative poverty when she was living at Haye Farm, that she was only receiving 50p royalties on each copy of TSP and didn't know where all the money went!

It's a rough rule of thumb that authors receive about £1 per book for hardbacks & 50p per book for each paperback sold.

that she was only receiving 50p royalties on each copy of TSP

It sold about 2 million copies I think so that would be a million for a start.

That's true but she would have paid tax on this and presumably have to have paid her agent as well. Since the Observer article broke, she has also had to repay the bulk of the outstanding £100K loan on Pen-y-Maes to the creditors, may have paid for Tristan's house in Newquay that was bought early last year, and is also paying rent on the 6 bedroom Gweek farmhouse.

Did TSP say that TW was on disability benefits?

Just had an advert to see Simon armitage at a local venue in October- have put a screenshot on. Very tempted actually. I’d not heard of him before this saga and now I’ve seen some of his stuff and like it. I have a friend who I am sure would love it too

Is that Simon Armitage's photo or TW's? I find it hard to tell the difference.

He came to a local venue near me in May and was sold out! Get tickets as soon as you can!

There have been the books, magazine and newspaper articles, appearances, tours, freebies. Interest earned.

He is in Bodmin the day after the Torrington one @WorthySloth posted.

😀😀

Just messaged my friend see if she can make it then I’ll book.

Just messaged my friend see if she can make it then I’ll book.

As far as I know, just the £48 tax credits - that reduces in amount in German (or Dutch?)interviews, iirc.

Booked it. Hope I get our Simon and not Moth 🤣🤣

If someone bounces out in a cravat and launches into Beowulf, ask for your money back. Especially if there's someone whispering and shuffling around in the background wearing a long white coat...

Oh absolutely. Have to fill my friend in on why I want to go 🤣🤣

Some more friends are going too. Already looking forward to it.

TSP scheduled to be released in the US on 28 Aug according to the article below!

Gillian Anderson, Jason Isaacs Drama 'The Salt Path' Gets U.S. Release

I believe it's actually around 2 million copies for all books combined across formats and languages. Personally, I think her wealth of £10 million is way off the mark, a bit like when entrepreneurs over value their businesses on Dragon's Den.

Yes, I think the DM misinterpreted the Nielsen stats. I'd be surprised if she'd earned that kind of money. I think the true figure is likely to be considerably lower.