23 Comments
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Jane Baker's avatar

My sister who is a kind and loving person loved that whole story,the redemptive walk thing. So when the ,"real story by an investigative journalist" popped up in my Google news feed - without a paywall - almost as if they WANTED YOU TO READ IT,and I did,I thought ,how mean,how petty. I prefer my Sisters joy and hope to the dull grubby cynicism of the "true story" and I've got my doubts about that anyway.

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Wandering With Soul's avatar

It is what it is. Baby Reindeer in Cornwell? What it has done for me is to inspire me to write of my very own walk from Geneva to the Pyrenees. There is indeed healing in walking a bloody long way…. Maybe not in how Salt Path portrays? Who knows.

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Miranda R Waterton's avatar

The awkward thing is the benefits of walking the path may be the truest thing about the whole story. Question is, is that overshadowed by the other stuff?

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Wandering With Soul's avatar

Assuming the truth is actually being told by the other party it does create quite the shadow

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Alex Patterson's avatar

You should watch the documentary Anatomy of Lies. The emerging story around The Salt Path seems to be turning out just like the story of that documentary

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Jane Baker's avatar

We people create our own inner story that no one else knows or sees. It's our reality. The rest of the world calls it -lol - lies? Some people need self-delusion to cope with life. I know as im one of them. It's like that poet said,reality is too harsh for most people.

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Caroline Mellor's avatar

Thanks for this insightful commentary, written by someone with a real (and honest!) connection to the path.

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Adriana Spalinky's avatar

I just cried 😲, with laughter 😂 and some small enjoyment of a tale of walking adventure which I fear I'll never have the privilege of experiencing.

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Martin Hodges's avatar

While Sally Walker’s statement maintains that the story of the walk is true, the allegations of theft and the claims of destitution while actually owning property in France do little for a reader’s confidence in the central characters. Add to this, questions around Tim Walker’s diagnosis and prognosis, and things begin to feel distinctly shaky. I downloaded The Salt Path for my wife to listen to after she had undergone surgery for pancreatic cancer. She enjoyed the story but felt that something seemed a bit ‘off’. To date a CBD charity has severed associations with the Walkers and Sally Walker has pulled out of the Saltlines tour. Whatever the final outcome, I wonder if this whole episode will be the subject of book four?

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Jane Baker's avatar

It's all very dodgy I agree. And I'm sure the debunking is true. But I'm fed up with being SCEPTICAL and CYNICAL myself. I want Tinkerbelle to live. When I read an in depth magazine feature on this a few months ago,yes I felt it didn't ring true. I do not think any part of this country is packed to the brim with people who will let itinerant ramblers sleep in their barn ,or even house etc. It's a lovely idea and people like my sister believe it,so it probably would work for them,not that my sister would but No,that rang warning bells for me. I expect now this couple will write about their persecution by the media!

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Beth's avatar

In the sea of all the 'i told you so's', while I'm waiting to hear the best outcome. Thank you for sharing your insightful and balanced view. I loved the film, the cinematography, landscape and the reconnection with nature.

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Bill Sinclair's avatar

Think the only question to be answered honestly is, "Did Sally Waler (AKA Raynor Wynn) steal £ 65,000 from ger employer? YES/NO."

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Miranda R Waterton's avatar

Not quite because if they also lied about the illness it gives vulnerable people false hope.

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Sarah's avatar

I'm far more interested in whether Moth's illness is real

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Jane Baker's avatar

That is very relevant.

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Sarah's avatar

I can imagine an alternative explanation where he was misdiagnosed and it was picked up years later. I have a so-called "rare" neurological condition and misdiagnosis is very common.

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Jane Baker's avatar

Let the courts decide!

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Julie Dee's avatar

That book got me through lockdown. 💔

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Adriana Spalinky's avatar

🤣😂🤣😂

Forgive me, I haven't seen the film, not read the book,

But I am loving the messy after story, the debunking, the "it was magic for me, so there!"

I'm finding it all hilarious 😂😆

Your writing entertained me,

I'm glad you got to do the walk, I love walking, but struggle so much, knee, foot, ciatica and so it's really good for me mentally to hear stories about people walking distance.

But overall? 😂

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Andy2911's avatar

Await her response to the Observer. I feel sure there will be gross inaccuracies and misrepresentations in that headliner.

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Groucho Marks's avatar

Is this about a path where I can find lots of salt? I’m intrigued. I want to believe.

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Miranda R Waterton's avatar

I suggest you take it with a pinch of salt

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Graham Bloodworth's avatar

Naturally there appears to be more to the story than meets the eye?

The Salt Path author defends herself against claims she misled readers - BBC News https://share.google/BTlXPwmEoHJ6jGrOJ

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