The Salt Path Hardcover – International Edition, September 25, 2018

Pathetic. I know Ms. Winn achieved some fame for her book as a champion of the homeless. And I do feel compassion for her husband's illness and condition. But that aside, this story is one of true incompetence at so many levels, First, due to an ill advised business investment, they lose their home and farm. During a several years legal battle they produce and incompetent defense. Finally, just when she has the proof that will save them, again incompetent legal procedure forces them out of their home. And almost simultaneously, they learn of the husband's critical life threatening illness. So what are options for anyone in this situation. Well several come to mind like getting job(s), getting retrained in another skill other than farming, etc., but taking a 630 mile walk is really 101st choice out of 100 for a responsible adult. But that's what they do. They have no experience with camping; no hiking experience; are in terrible physical condition. They go on the cheap- cheap gear, cheap clothes, cheap everything. They forget to cancel bank drafts for utilities on the home they no longer own which puts them into a bind several times for cash on their walk. And the journal of the walk has two major recurring themes-- it's raining and cold and they are always wet. And the description of the towns and townspeople they meet along the trail are not flattering. And finally Ms. Winn shows open disdain for walkers on the trail who do it right-- right planning right gear, right amount of money to have shelter when they need it. In the end the Winn's are thieves- stealing everything from campsites to candy bars just to survive. Not recommended at any level and these people are not to be admired at all.

The medieval peregrinos were often sent on the Caminos to Santiago as a penance for crime. If they managed to get through flooded rivers, rough ranges and the grip of various bandits and other interested parties, to actually reach the city, they were considered absolved. The travellers in this memoir are destitute, homeless, one diagnosed with a terminal nerve disease, in their fifties, and they take to the English South-West Coast path because they have literally nowhere else to go. A very 21st century dilemma, but with a most resolute and heartening response, and almost a fairytale in real life postscript to the actual book.In between, the writing is excellent, alive, subtle, unself-conscious, and Winn manages that most difficult of travel memoir mixes, a balance between the landscape, the encounters with others, the internal and personal journeys, and the building of the overall narrative arch. Not telling if they get to the end of the Path, or what happens or has happened when they do. This is a journey that readers should make for themselves. It's worth every page.

An acquaintance in Devon recommended this book so I ordered it and started reading right away (not my usual habit). Something just compelled me. I finished it last night and declare it's the best memoir I've ever read. Raynor Winn writes about the injustice, loss, homelessness, and illness she and her husband, Moth, were hit with--all at once. How they decided to trek 630 miles along the southwest coast of England because it was either do something brave or give up. They knew Moth might die along the way. Happily, they did not give up. Love story, adventure tale, survival saga. Nature and society up close and personal.

As an American some things in this book was incomprehensible, apparently the differences between us and Britain are larger than I knew. I googled a lot, like “wine gums”, but the essence is there. Can you find hope when life strips you of everything material? It clearly helps to do it with someone you dearly love. Remarkable people who do not turn on each other, blaming each other for the bad decisions that lead up to the loss of their home.This is the kind of book that makes you think, are there people on the fringes of my community in similar circumstances? I know I will be offering many more meals to the people I come across. I have been hungry and poor and desperate, but not to the same degree and not for so long.Who would I be stripped of everything and trying to survive? Especially in the the appalling English weather. I hope that they thrive and that the book is a big success. I devoured it in two evenings.

On page 256, I finally realized what was bothering me about this book (that was as tedious to read as their walk due to her incessant 'oh-woe-is-me'ing): not one single highlight, scribbled note in the margin, nothing. I do such to all my books - fiction, non-fiction, everything. I found not one bit of inspiration.*I purchased this book due to a 5-star review by a friend whose sci-fi recommendations are spot on; I wish that I had instead saved my time and money.For a lengthy 1-star review that goes in to more detail for why you should save your time and money, see that by Spartan 6.*Yes, I did finish the remaining 14 pages....over the course of two days, which if the book was good would have taken me 20 minutes.

I so enjoyed this book! Whenever I had to put it down, I couldn't wait to get back on the path with Ray and Moth. Ray's writing style is both understated and superb, especially in her descriptions of the coast and the water (I highlighted several amazing metaphors on my Kindle so I could find them again). The story itself is one of great emotional and physical hardship, but not without large doses of wry humor and the mundane enjoyment of the little things like at hot cup of tea or a day without rain. While putting one foot in front of the other for over 600 miles, Ray and Moth enter a Zen-like zone of living each day as it comes and appreciating the joy of being together in the moment. As the old saying goes, it's the journey, not the destination, and this book (and the reading of it) is a shining example of that. My best wishes to Ray and Moth, and my grateful thanks for sharing this incredible part of your lives with me.

I had seen The Salt Path by Raynor Winn in a bookshop in St Ives. It appeared to be a book about her and her husband Moth's journey along the South West Coast Path. This book is so much more than a guidebook or travel log though. Their journey begins when they discover that Moth is terminally ill and then their home is taken away from them. They find themselves penniless and homeless. With no real options before them, they make the brave decision to walk the 630 miles along the South West Coast Path. They buy tents, sleeping bags and set off with the bare minimum they need to live with, as they have to carry everything. They live day to day, struggling with Moth's illness, the weather, having no money, no plan and to all intents and purposes no future. Wild camping in some of the most beautiful and spectacular scenery in Britain, their trip becomes not just a physical one but a spiritual one. One of discovery, of how much they can succeed in the face of adversity, and of how strong they really are. It also questions how we view homelessness in this country. It is all to easy to look at a homeless person and say, oh, yes, its because of drink or drugs, but there are many reasons why someone becomes homeless. I do have some knowledge of this, as I did work in the local authorities homeless section for a time. Anyone can become homeless, it can easily happen to anyone. I loved how Raynor and Moth were met with such kindness from some people.I really warmed to both Raynor and Moth, I hope that they are both doing well and do hope that Raynor thinks about writing another book. This is not a sad book, although in parts it did make me cry but it is an uplifting read, inspirational and makes you question what you would do if faced in their situation. This book is a joy to read, Raynor's writing is wonderful. From descriptions of the weather, scenery, wildlife, observations on society, nature, other people and their relationship. This is a wonderful story of coming to terms with grief (premature grieving, something I know about unfortunately) and about finding yourself and what is really important when it seems that everything is lost.

So, I live in Cornwall and as an avid reader felt compelled to read this book as it was based on the South West Coastal pathways and the loss of material items with the prospect of loosing her husband also.How disappointed I was on reading this TERRIBLE book, no conversations about his diagnosis, Moth (husband) barely spoke apparently the whole journey and her description of the South West Coastal path was incredibly offensive to locals here. Then, if you can stick this book out, you will be further DISAPPOINTED as the end there is no big revelation about Moths illness or diagnosis!!! WTF??!! (Probably to be revealed in a second book deal!).Also, I believe this book was written by TWO people as whenever she is describing a tourist attraction in Cornwall & Devon, the writing style completely changes to Wiki.com writing = Very suspicious.Overall, no idea what the hype is about this book?? - In my personal opinion, one of the worst books I've unfortunately paid for and read another book to gather dust in a charity shop.

I bought this wonderful book in hardback edition and included it in my 20 Books Of Summer titles to be read. Unfortunately life got in the way, didn’t complete the challenge but was desperate to read the book. Fans of Wild by Cheryl Strayed might also appreciate this bookThere is a saying that has made its way into popular usage during our times of austerity that we’re only ever one paycheck away from homelessness. The couple featured in this book, through no fault of their own, except for perhaps with the benefit of hindsight, made an unwise decision and found themselves without a home.After investing money in a friend’s business that eventually went bust owing creditors, Raynor Winn and her husband Moth spend months in endless courtroom battles trying to hang onto their home and livelihood after becoming liable for some of the company debt.Their home in Wales, a farm complete with a business something they’ve lovingly built up from virtually nothing and raised a family in is eventually repossessed and they end up homeless. And if fate hadn’t dealt them a cruel enough blow, they learn that Moth has a terminal illness that will eventually leave him debilitated bit by bit.They put their possessions into storage with a friend and using Paddy Dillon’s little brown book, The South West Coast Path: From Minehead to South Haven Point, decide to walk 630 miles of the South West Coastal Path, from Somerset to Dorset, via Devon and Cornwall carrying large backpacks that would hold the basic necessities for wild camping along the way. The South West coastal area is my neck of the woods at the moment, so of course as a lover of memoirs of this nature, the book held an added fascination for me as I was familiar with some of the places they visited.Through a shared love of nature and an unbreakable loving bond between this middle aged couple, they battle on through the elements, windswept and often soaking wet conditions, finding friendship and hostility, the kindness of strangers and the judgemental attitudes of those who regard anyone homeless as undesirable. Moth gradually starts to feel better. The pain from his illness abates the more they walk and his mind is clearer leading them to develop theories about treatments and the effects of his increased, enforced activity on a daily basis. When they first meet strangers who want to know their story and why they’re backpacking and walking the route, they invent a story of having sold up and having an adventure that others seem to find inspirational until they decide to just tell the truth about being homeless which brings mixed reactions ranging from horror and rapid withdrawals to understanding and kindness.They meet other homeless people and through their own situation discover an infinity and understanding with those similarly positionedWith breathtaking descriptions of the sights and wildlife they see along their journey and inspirational insights into their own lives, life itself and homelessness, this book is an absolutely fascinating read.“I tightened the hip belt on my pack, shut the door on the whining voice and kept walking. Life is now, this minute, it’s all we have. It’s all we need.”

I have great sympathy for the owners of small campsites and the like and have sympathized with, for example, the plight of such small family concerns in the Lakes after the floods, where every penny earned from tourism is vital for the local economy. So it was extremely hard for me to read about this couple climbing over fences at dead of night to pitch their campsite out of view of the owners and then depart without paying the next day - this was a repeated activity which made me feel both sick and very angry. Okay, I did feel sorry that the husband was incurably ill but that does not entitle him or his wife to sponge off everyone else and feel intolerably superior while they do so. Shoplifting on a very small scale was also mentioned and I didn't like that either, nor the pervading attitude that the world owed them - not a living but lots of free food and preferably anything else they could get their hands on.So sad, they made a bad investment and lost all their money - but in these hard times a lot of peole are in the same boat but continue to behave honestly and with integrity. Many more people never have any money to invest in the first place.To be fair, anyone who likes the coastal walks around the West Country might enjoy reading about that, & the descriptions of wild life are fine. BUT........a friend at book club asked "but what alternative did they have? Did you expect them to sign on for welfare & try to be re-housed in some awful place?" Well yes I did!! If they had the arrogance to think they were a cut above the rest of the population they deserved the physical hardships they (voluntarily) endured.It might have been good to have read more about Moth but his plight was swamped by all the descriptions of the thin sleeping bags etc etc.Don't buy this book unless you intend to frame the cover, which is beautiful!!

I finished this book and found it interesting. But half way through I started to find it quite deceptive because the author either has an absolutely incredible memory for minute detail - or she was spending a huge amount of time writing the book as they went on their way - of which there is no mention whatsoever (even though the book purports to record the details of their trip, down to bowel movements).Since the book must have been largely written en route, it’s misleading to imply that it’s all from recollection. The publisher’s disclaimer on the last page somewhat suggests they have similar reservations.