The Salt Path: From Literary Phenomenon to Controversy
The Story That Captured Millions
Raynor Winn’s memoir The Salt Path became an overnight bestseller upon its release in 2018, as millions became captivated by this true story of financial ruin, terminal illness, and healing through nature. It details the long-distance walk along the South West Coast Path, in South West England, by Winn and her husband, Moth, after they lost their home, and Moth was diagnosed with fatal corticobasal degeneration (CBD). Her books have sold over 2 million copies in English and have been translated into over 25 languages.
A Scandal Unfolds
The Observer’s findings hit the headlines on July 5th 2025 and stunned the public. Now, with exclusive access to Chloe’s ongoing investigation as new whistleblowers come forward with their own versions of events, this Sky Original documentary from multi award-winning Candour Productions digs deeper into the truth. This year, an Observer exposé suggested Winn stole from her employer and cast doubt on Moth’s diagnosis (claims she denies).
A documentary film, The Salt Path Scandal, hosted by Chloe Hadjimatheou and based on her Observer investigation, was broadcast on 15 December 2025, on Sky Documentaries. Among the biggest revelations is a letter purportedly written by Winn in which she admits to stealing money from her relatives.
The Author Responds
In December 2025, upon release of the documentary, Raynor released a statement via her website refuting the show’s new allegations. The Salt Path remains my honest recollection of the time when we lost our house and found hope on the Coast Path. Except in limited cases, where names of people or details of places and events were changed to protect privacy, as explained at the front of every copy. He has a neurological condition, but experts say that the lifespan of someone with CBD is eight years, whereas Moth is still going strong 18 years in.
Impact on Publishing and Memoir
The Salt Path perhaps being the ideal form. From the fall of Charles Ingram – a privately educated British Army major – to the questions facing Raynor Winn, there is a golden narrative thread we cannot resist: the middle-class setback. Memoir is a wholly different genre to fiction and should be respected as such, and the contract that we authors have with our readers is sacred. That truth is subjective, that memory is fallible, but that I have done my best to be as honest as I can to write as truthfully as possible, because it’s a responsibility not just to me, and my family, but also to my readers. On Friday, publisher Penguin Michael Joseph agreed with author Raynor Winn to delay the publication of her next book, according to long-time specialist magazine The Bookseller.