At first, it was the ultimate underdog story.
Raynor Winn’s bestselling memoir The Salt Path touched hearts around the world—a tale of love, resilience, and finding freedom on the windswept cliffs of Cornwall after losing everything.
But now, new revelations are casting shadows over the story that once inspired so many.
A Kind Stranger Offers a Lifeline—But Things Reportedly Sour
Moved by the couple’s journey, a wealthy businessman named Bill Cole, who once worked in investment banking and now runs a cider farm in Cornwall, reached out to the Winns—real names Sally and Tim Walker.
Without ever having met them, he offered them a place to live in his countryside farmhouse near Lostwithiel.
Raynor spoke publicly about the gesture just last month, telling Country Living that Cole had messaged her with “an incredible offer.”
She and her husband, known in her books as Moth, eventually accepted and began living on the farm, throwing themselves into a rewilding project and helping with the cider-making.
They even appeared on a BBC show alongside Rick Stein, showcasing traditional cider-making methods.
But behind the scenes, things apparently didn’t go so smoothly.
Reports Suggest the Relationship Ended in a Falling-Out
While Cole declined to speak publicly when approached this week—saying only, “Please leave, I’m the farmer here, I’ve got stuff to do”—locals told a different story.
According to one neighbor, what started as an act of generosity eventually led to a breakdown in relations.
“Bill was initially really taken with Raynor,” a local shared, “but it all ended badly. There was some sort of falling out.”
Another resident of nearby St Veep echoed this sentiment, adding: “Moth was lovely.
But Raynor always seemed a bit closed off. You never really got close to her.”
The Memoir’s Truth Now Under Scrutiny
The controversy doesn’t end at the cider farm.
Raynor and Moth are now at the center of a growing scandal surrounding some of the details in The Salt Path.
The memoir, which claimed their journey began when they became homeless due to unfortunate circumstances, is now being called into question.
A recent report from The Observer alleged that the couple’s housing troubles actually stemmed from a £64,000 embezzlement case involving Raynor and a former employer.
She was reportedly arrested, then used borrowed money from a relative to avoid prosecution—but later lost their Welsh farmhouse when the loan couldn’t be repaid.
Raynor has admitted to mistakes and expressed “deep regret,” but insists the financial dispute had nothing to do with the events depicted in her memoir.
She said the book was based on a different incident involving a “bad investment” with a friend.
Accusations About Husband’s Illness and Property in France
Further allegations claim that Raynor may have exaggerated or misrepresented her husband’s illness, suggesting it might not be as terminal as readers were led to believe.
The couple was also said to have owned a home in France during the time they claimed to be homeless—a point many critics have seized on.
In response, Raynor has described the accusations as “grotesquely unfair” and maintains that her husband’s condition remains serious, though his health improved when they were living close to nature.
Dusty Windows and an Empty House Raise More Questions
When reporters visited the Cornish farmhouse this week, they found it seemingly abandoned.
The windows were dusty, most of the furniture was gone, and only a few scattered belongings remained.
Neighbors say the couple hasn’t been seen in quite a while.
One local commented, “They were around for a good amount of time, but now it looks like they’re gone for good.”
The Legacy of The Salt Path Now Feels Complicated
For many readers, The Salt Path was more than just a book—it was a symbol of hope, showing that even in the worst of circumstances, nature, love, and perseverance could guide you forward.
Now, the emotional connection fans had with the story is being tested as inconsistencies emerge.
While Raynor and Moth haven’t publicly addressed their apparent move from the cider farm, the combination of legal history, blurred facts, and strained relationships has left a once-inspiring story clouded by uncertainty.