Salt Path author dropped by charity as questions raised over story

A healthcare charity has severed its ties with Raynor Winn, the author of the best-selling memoir The Salt Path, after key aspects of her book were disputed, including the portrayal of her husband Moth’s illness.

The Winns at a screening for the film adaptation. Picture: Hugh R Hastings/Getty Images

A healthcare charity has severed its ties with the author of the best-selling memoir The Salt Path after key aspects of her story were disputed, including the portrayal of her husband’s illness.

The PSPA said that it was “shocked and disappointed” and had taken the action because “too many questions remain unanswered” about Raynor and Moth Winn.

The couple enjoyed close ties with the charity after the phenomenal success of the book, which charts Mr Winn’s diagnosis with a debilitating neurological condition.

The book, which was recently adapted into a film starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs, tells the “true” story of how the Winns were kicked out of their rural Wales home shortly after the diagnosis. With seemingly nowhere else to go, they embarked on a 630-mile walk along the South West Coast Path.

Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs in a scene from the movie The Salt Path.

The book sold more than two million copies and led to two sequels, with a fourth book, On Winter Hill, due to be published in October.

Several elements of the story have now been questioned by people who knew the couple under their real names, Sally and Tim Walker.

An investigation by the Observer disputed the book’s claim that their beloved farmhouse was lost after a business deal went wrong and it was repossessed to cover a debt. It is instead claimed that the loss of the property was linked to a loan taken out after Mrs Winn allegedly stole about £64,000 from her estate agent employer in Pwllheli, north Wales.

Several neurologists also questioned if Mr Winn was really afflicted with corticobasal degeneration, (CBD), given the way his experience with the condition is presented.

Questions have also been asked if Penguin, the publisher of the books, did any due diligence around the story and whether it will continue to be marketed as a truthful account.

Penguin described the book as “an unflinchingly honest, inspiring and life-affirming true story of coming to terms with grief and the healing power of the natural world”.

The PSPA, the only UK charity that supports people with CBD and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), said that fellow sufferers had been left “angry, let down and eager for clarity” after the revelations.

In a statement, the charity said: “We were shocked and disappointed to learn of the allegations made about Raynor and Moth Winn by the Observer this weekend. We know the article has taken everyone by surprise and has made people affected by corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy feel angry, let down and eager for clarity.”

Mr Winn completed the London Marathon in support of PSPA in 2023, and a fundraising walk to the capital to coincide with the race last year in support of the charity.

Questions have been asked if Penguin, the publisher of The Salt Path, did any due diligence around the story.

The charity said that it had accepted the family’s offer of support in good faith. It added: “Whilst we are thankful for the awareness opportunities their story has provided, too many questions currently remain unanswered. Therefore, we have made the decision to terminate our relationship with the family.”

It has removed posts from its website featuring the couple, including a video featuring Mr Winn as an ambassador.

The Winns have not responded to requests for comment on the claims made. In a statement, they described the Observer article as “highly misleading”. Their representatives did not elaborate when asked to explain what elements of the reporting were misleading.

The statement added: “We are taking legal advice and won’t be making any further comment at this time. The Salt Path lays bare the physical and spiritual journey Moth and I shared, an experience that transformed us completely and altered the course of our lives. This is the true story of our journey.”

The producers behind the film adaptation last night said that they did not know about the claims.

A spokesman for Number 9 Films and Shadowplay Features said: “There were no known claims against the book at the time of optioning it or producing and distributing the film.”

The Times