History of The Salt Path in Timeline

The Salt Path, a 2018 memoir by Raynor Winn, chronicles her and her husband Moth's transformative journey along the South West Coast Path in England. This challenging walk followed their devastating loss of home and Moth's diagnosis with corticobasal degeneration (CBD). The book explores themes of homelessness, resilience, and finding solace in nature amidst life's uncertainties. Critically acclaimed, it received several awards. A film adaptation starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs was released in 2024.

March 2018: BBC News item about the journey

In March 2018, BBC News featured a story about Moth and Raynor Winn's journey from crisis to coastal path, bringing their experiences to a wider audience.

2018: First Hardback Publication

In 2018, "The Salt Path" was first published in hardback by Michael Joseph, featuring original cover artwork (Cornish Path) by Angela Harding, based on her experiences walking the South West Coast Path. The book included a map of the path.

2018: The Salt Path Shortlisted for Awards

In 2018, "The Salt Path" was shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize and the Costa Book Awards in the biography category. The Costa judges praised it as "An absolutely brilliant story that needs to be told about the human capacity to endure and keep putting one foot in front of another."

2018: Publication of The Salt Path

In 2018, "The Salt Path," a memoir by Raynor Winn, was published, detailing her and her husband Moth's journey along the South West Coast Path after losing their home and Moth's diagnosis. The book deals with themes of homelessness and the unpredictability of life.

May 2019: The Salt Path Wins Inaugural RSL Christopher Bland Prize

In May 2019, "The Salt Path" won the inaugural RSL Christopher Bland Prize, marking a significant achievement for the book.

September 2019: Bestselling Book in UK Independent Bookstores

In September 2019, "The Salt Path" became the number one bestselling book in UK independent bookstores, demonstrating its widespread popularity and appeal.

2019: Paperback Publication by Penguin Books

In 2019, "The Salt Path" was published in paperback by Penguin Books, making it more accessible to a wider audience.

2019: The Salt Path wins RSL Christopher Bland Prize

In 2019, "The Salt Path" won the RSL Christopher Bland Prize. This was an honor recognizing the book's impact and quality.

2019: Dutch translation published

In 2019, a Dutch translation of "The Salt Path" by Annemie de Vries was published, titled "Het zoutpad – over oude wegen naar een nieuw begin" (The Salt Path – along old ways to a new beginning), expanding the book's reach to international readers.

2020: Publication of The Wild Silence

In 2020, "The Wild Silence", a sequel to the Salt Path, was published continuing the story, telling how the couple get the opportunity to rewild an old farm in Cornwall, and providing prequel detail of how they came to lose their farm.

2022: Over a Million Copies Sold

By 2022, The Daily Telegraph reported that Raynor had sold over a million copies of her books, marking a significant achievement in her writing career.

2023: Production began for Film adaptation

In 2023, production began for a film adaptation of "The Salt Path," starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs, bringing the memoir to a new medium.

September 2024: Film Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival

On 6 September 2024, the film adaptation of "The Salt Path" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, showcasing the story to an international audience.

2024: BBC News covers Thames Path walk

In 2024, BBC News covered the couple's plan to walk the 185-mile Thames Path to raise awareness for Moth's corticobasal degeneration.

2024: Film adaptation of The Salt Path

In 2024, a film adaptation of "The Salt Path" was made, featuring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs in the lead roles, bringing the story to a wider audience through cinema.

May 2025: UK Film Release

On 30 May 2025, the film adaptation of "The Salt Path" was released in the UK, allowing a wider audience to experience the story on the big screen.

July 2025: Inaccuracies reported in The Salt Path

In July 2025, Chloe Hadjimatheou of The Observer reported factual inaccuracies in "The Salt Path." Ros Hemmings claimed Raynor Winn (Sally Walker) embezzled money. Winn borrowed money to repay the company, securing it against her house, which was later repossessed. Doubts were also raised about the severity and duration of Moth's corticobasal degeneration (CBD).

July 2025: Disputes regarding the background events in the book

In July 2025, The Observer disputed some background events in "The Salt Path," alleging that Raynor Winn lost her home after stealing from her employer and casting doubt on Moth's CBD diagnosis. Winn denied these claims and pursued legal advice.

July 2025: Winn's response to Observer article

In response to The Observer article in July 2025, Raynor Winn stated the report was misleading and sought legal advice. Penguin Books defended their due diligence. On 9 July 2025, Winn issued an online statement contesting the claims, including letters from Moth's doctors.