The Salt Path (by Raynor Winn)

(Amazon UK link)

I hadn’t heard of Raynor Winn, and don’t often buy biographical books, so I might never have come across ‘The Salt Path’. But it was the book allocated for this month’s reading group, so I acquired it some months ago, and finished reading it yesterday. What an amazing story it is!

The first chapter - after a hopeful prologue - is harrowing. Raynor and her husband Moth (I have no idea if that’s his real name) are on their final appeal in a court case against a former friend. Due to an administrative issues, their latest evidence is not accepted, and they lose. Not just their life savings, but their home, their land, their possessions, and their business. They have just a few days to get out, and no idea what they might do.

To add to this nightmare, Moth is diagnosed with an auto-immune disease which, the doctors assure them, is going to progress and take his life within a few years. He must take it easy, avoid anything strenuous, and use a drug - one I had not heard of - to ease the pain. Unfortunately the side effects of the drug include tiredness, brain fog, and many other unpleasant symptoms.

They stay, at first, with a friend - they have two young adult children, away at university, who are unable to accommodate them. But they’re anxious not to overstay their welcome, and want to do something different - albeit crazy, given Moth’s state of health. They determine to walk the South West coast path, including the whole of Devon and Cornwall.

This coastal trail is over 600 miles from start to finish, and they have under fifty pounds a week (in tax credits) to survive on. But Raynor is full of enthusiasm, and Moth wants to do something before his health deteriorates further. So they spend the small amount of money they have left on large backpacks, and some basic camping equipment, and set out.

The middle of the book charts their walk, and I admit I skimmed some of the details of the scenery and coastline - some of it was interesting, but I find descriptive passages mostly leave me cold. I could appreciate the writing style, however; it borders on poetic at times, and there was only ever a paragraph or two at a time that caused my eyes to glaze over. Mostly there’s action - a surprising amount going on, despite the inevitable sameness of much of the path.

I knew, from the prologue, that Moth’s health was going to improve, but there are many setbacks along the way.; There are aches and pains, blisters and worse, but the mood is mostly upbeat; the problems described without complaint. What came through most powerfully was the committed, close relationship between Moth and Ray. They’re best friends as well as a married couple of over thirty years. And there’s a surprising amount of gentle, low-key humour.

As well as physical changes, and much discomfort, Moth and Ray find their priorities changing, too. They meet some delightful people, and some who distance themselves as soon as they mention being homeless. There are side comments - and one chapter - outlining the problem of homelessness in the UK, and the way it’s either marginalised, or caricatured. Yet every homeless person is different, many of them in this state through no fault of their own.

Overall, I thought the writing excellent, and the ending extremely encouraging. The events of the book took place in 2013 and from what I gather online, Moth is still alive. The success of this book must have helped their finances considerably - and apparently there’s a sequel - but they didn’t know that was coming when they finished the path and moved on to the next stage of their life.

Very highly recommended.

Review copyright 2021 Sue's Book Reviews