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?

The images are 100% AI generated. One doesn't even look like RW! 😆

It seems she has created a cult. I think that is what saddens me most...the realisation that many people in society are more than happy to disregard truth and an utter con if it means they get "inspired". These people are among us and get to vote. And sadly, RW can't even be blamed for this collectively ignorant mindset. I really despair.

Although most people have only lost the price of a book or two, I think coming to terms with the fact that you have been scammed can be really hard, especially if a 'true' story has resonated with you emotionally. I can think of a couple of books that really helped me when close family members had cancer. I would be devastated to discover that the authors had lied.

I remember Chloe saying that a lot of people expressed their disappointment to her as if they had been cheated on.

The latest Instagram photo (hiking pack items) is so odd. Lots of gushy comments taking it as literal preparation for her next walk, but I just assumed it was yet another old and curated photo. Expensive gear - that backpack is Abisko (though looks like an older model) and the sandals look like the Keen Clearwater range.

Well done to whichever one of us posted on IG as wholelottafudge!

Tell me more .... tell me more

Someone defended Sal by saying that “at least she didn’t write anonymously” (having a dig at the poster who said “don’t forget to embelish and lie about your trip”) but wholelottafudge retorted “err she did though, eh?”

Iirc it is an old photo from pre C2C walk. She posted sonething v similar anyway that has since been deleted.

A la Boris Johnson.

ETA: with apologies to those mums who still revere him.

Interestingly this exchange was hidden on my IG. I had to click on hidden comments to see it. Particularly brilliant comment I thought.

I find this section very strange since RayMoth have not made any real life or online appearances for over 11 months
Where Raynor Winn Is Now
As of the mid-2020s, Raynor Winn remains an active public figure within British literary culture. She continues writing, appearing at events, and speaking about themes connected to nature, homelessness, health, and resilience.
Her books remain widely stocked in bookstores and libraries across the UK. Walking culture and nature writing also continue enjoying strong popularity among British readers, which helps sustain long-term interest in her work.
Financially, she appears far more secure than during the period described in The Salt Path. Still, Winn has generally avoided presenting herself as wealthy or disconnected from the experiences that shaped her writing. Much of her appeal depends on that grounded perspective.
What’s surprising is how durable her story has proven to be. Many memoir sensations fade quickly once media attention moves elsewhere. Winn’s work has stayed relevant because readers continue discovering it through recommendations, reading groups, and personal connection rather than hype alone

It must be all AI generated by a bot somewhere.

It's bot written. The bots crawl through all the available literature and produce what they are told to produce, basically AI slop.

There was another rather clever comment from them that i saw this morning. Made me laugh. Something about honesty as a way of being.

Good Lord, where to start?! 😱 Thank you so much everyone for these enlightening posts!

I haven't looked at the photo showing everything laid out on the ground, but I know I’ve seen one before of that description taken at Haye Farm, is that the same one?

The photos with the article which you all rightly point out seems to have laughingly been put together by AI, seems to contain one selfie of them both in which the Ai bot has merged her face with Gillian Anderson’s because it has resulted in a much stronger looking face. Either that or their daughter has applied some tech wiz to it.

I completely agree that their plan is to scuffle over the crap they’ve left behind and pretend it never happened. I suppose this is what standing up and sticking your face into the wind translates as in their terms. I’m absolutely shocked. These people who enjoy the Raynor and Moth characters refuse to acknowledge the actions of Sal and Tim. It’s like the transition between Sal and Tim to Ray and Moth is complete. Of course, this is a PR stunt as we’ve already decided and a few paid “hangers on” are being used to once again push that agenda, but I do hope it won’t succeed in making the wider public trust them again.

I feel the same way @HatStickBoots, Sally has to continue to live her life, have her Instagram to interact with those that are her friends and people who love her, but this is Sally continuing as Raynor Winn unflinchingly honest author. There has been no remorse, no apology, the expectation seems to be that people just quietly forget and let poor Raynor carry on with her nonsense, Sally could have set up a new account for her interactions, a fresh start, but this is just an effort to keep doubling down and pushing on as Raynor Winn.

If it is any small consolation, her IG following continues to drop with each post she makes. Around 300 unfollowed her since the boot lacing post.

It’s this one, @HatStickBoots

It's the eggs in the pan that crack me up. It looks like someone read 'How to curate your hiking prep photo 101' and decided to throw in a garnish.

A bit like the Instagram photo from April of a small tent set dramatically facing across open moorland to a sunset, with the guyropes hanging loose, no equipment anywhere in sight, and no evidence of human occupation. It could only have been bettered with a lone pair of boots sitting bravely alongside the tent, symbolising the many inspirational miles to go.

Thank you @NervesofSteel that's very kind of you to post that. Has anyone already said that they think this was taken as a PR shot for OWH? “Moth” is very much in the background now, at least since comparisons were drawn between the premise of OWH and his jaunty appearances on the red carpet and various other photo opportunities last summer. There’s only the one pair of boots in that photo despite telling everyone that walking saved him. What a conundrum. Moth might be too healthy to walk. His non appearances could be explained as being that he daren’t show his face any more and can no longer embark on healing LDW. He obviously fully supports this ongoing charade or he’d have filed for divorce long ago, so is more than happy to laze back and keep out of the public eye.
I agree @Freshsocks, that’s exactly right.
Yes that is some consolation @YourMoneyforFrothingandYourChipsforFree , It’s evidence that their performance isn’t having the desired effect on everybody.

Fine analysis. It all does have an air of hiking cosplay doesn't it? Appropriation is what they do best.

@YourMoneyforFrothingandYourChipsforFree Totally agree about appropriation. First she wanted to be seen as daughter of a tenant farmer, and a shy wild child of nature - neither of which bear scrutiny in terms of the known facts of her early life. Then she started on Welsh cultural appropriation. Then Cornish. With alongside that, the trappings of hiking but with hardly any actual hiking. It all says to me that she has a very insecure sense of self. Who is she really when she's not trying to be a farming Welsh Cornish hiker? I doubt she knows.

to which SW replies 'Hope life and health are being kind'.

Let me know if you think I am being far-fetched (I'm sure some of you will} but I found this very interesting. It is short and trite but we have it from the horse' s mouth. I've mentioned a few times that I joined in this Thread because I was incensed how unfair Humankindness was being to one of our regulars. There had been a theme of defending Sal but then it turned to saying how aggressive someone was being, they weren't.

We had a similar line with our AMA with Chloe. Amongst the questions was one which was very unfair - about how would she feel if SW harmed herself. There was even a link to a site. It was really off. I do wonder if we were ever graced with the presence of the woman herself (or her deputy daughter)?

Remember, I'm the one that no way believed OurChloe was, well, Our Chloe ...

A few of the old posts to show what I mean:

Humankindness · 17/07/2025 20:42
happy to challenge the BS cloaked in moral high ground on this thread. For example, the characterisation of the wife who did not sign the NDA but who knew that it existed and what it was signed for (ie non disclosure) who felt it ok to reveal all as victim.
I’m just asking folks on here to get a grip and think about the impact of what they’re doing/saying. Does this author - who has given so much pleasure to so many - deserve to have her entrails ripped out by a group of hungry hyenas? I say no.
I’m not a plant. I just disagree with many of you that Winn is evil personified.

Humankindness · 17/07/2025 22:30
Isn’t that obvious? Because they all have an axe to grind / money to make as a freelance journalist.
Why are you so convinced that Winn is the devil personified? These armchair detective activities might seem enjoyable, but they have devastating impacts.
I’m going to bale out now.
Hace a nice life and be kind.