The Salt Path
Published on 31. January 2019
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-1-4059-3718-4 (ISBN)
Description
One of the most talked about books of the decade, an inspiring true story of hope and the healing powers of the natural world.
OVER 2 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
INCLUDED IN THE SUNDAY TIMES 2024 LIST OF THE TOP 100 BOOKS OF THE PAST FIFTY YEARS
WINNER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE CHRISTOPHER BLAND PRIZE
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING
SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA BIOGRAPHY AWARD
_________
Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, their home is taken away and they lose their livelihood. With nothing left and little time, they make the brave and impulsive decision to walk the 630 miles of the sea-swept South West Coast Path, from Somerset to Dorset, via Devon and Cornwall.
Carrying only the essentials for survival on their backs, they live wild in the ancient, weathered landscape of cliffs, sea and sky. Yet through every step, every encounter and every test along the way, their walk becomes a remarkable journey.
The Salt Path is an honest and life-affirming true story of coming to terms with grief and the healing power of the natural world. Ultimately, it is a portrayal of home, and how it can be lost, rebuilt and rediscovered in the most unexpected ways.
_________
'A beautiful, thoughtful, lyrical story of homelessness, human strength and endurance' Guardian
'A tale of triumph: of hope over despair; of love over everything' Sunday Times
'Mesmerising. It is one of the most uplifting, inspiring books that I've ever read' i
'The most inspirational book of this year' The Times
'Luminescent. A literary phenomenon' Mail on Sunday
'This is what you need right now to muster hope and resilience . . . a beautiful story and a reminder that humans can endure adversity' Stylist
'A beautiful book, it really lives up to the hype . . . an enjoyable, gentle yet moving read' Pandora Sykes on The High Low
_________
Sunday Times bestseller, June 2025
Winner, Royal Society of Literature Christopher Bland Prize, 2018
Raynor Winn's books have sold over two million copies across all formats and languages, March 2025
*Cover may vary
OVER 2 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
INCLUDED IN THE SUNDAY TIMES 2024 LIST OF THE TOP 100 BOOKS OF THE PAST FIFTY YEARS
WINNER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE CHRISTOPHER BLAND PRIZE
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING
SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA BIOGRAPHY AWARD
_________
Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, their home is taken away and they lose their livelihood. With nothing left and little time, they make the brave and impulsive decision to walk the 630 miles of the sea-swept South West Coast Path, from Somerset to Dorset, via Devon and Cornwall.
Carrying only the essentials for survival on their backs, they live wild in the ancient, weathered landscape of cliffs, sea and sky. Yet through every step, every encounter and every test along the way, their walk becomes a remarkable journey.
The Salt Path is an honest and life-affirming true story of coming to terms with grief and the healing power of the natural world. Ultimately, it is a portrayal of home, and how it can be lost, rebuilt and rediscovered in the most unexpected ways.
_________
'A beautiful, thoughtful, lyrical story of homelessness, human strength and endurance' Guardian
'A tale of triumph: of hope over despair; of love over everything' Sunday Times
'Mesmerising. It is one of the most uplifting, inspiring books that I've ever read' i
'The most inspirational book of this year' The Times
'Luminescent. A literary phenomenon' Mail on Sunday
'This is what you need right now to muster hope and resilience . . . a beautiful story and a reminder that humans can endure adversity' Stylist
'A beautiful book, it really lives up to the hype . . . an enjoyable, gentle yet moving read' Pandora Sykes on The High Low
_________
Sunday Times bestseller, June 2025
Winner, Royal Society of Literature Christopher Bland Prize, 2018
Raynor Winn's books have sold over two million copies across all formats and languages, March 2025
*Cover may vary
Reviews / Votes
A beautiful, thoughtful, lyrical story of homelessness, human strength and endurance * Guardian * An astonishing narrative of two people dragging themselves from the depths of despair along some of the most dramatic landscapes in the country, looking for a solution to their problems and ultimately finding themselves. * Independent * A gem of a book * Guardian, Best Books of Summer * This is what you need to read right now to muster hope and resilience. A beautiful story and a reminder that humans can endure adversity * Stylist * Ray's account of their incredible journey is a tale of triumph, of hope over despair * Pick of the paperbacks, The Sunday Times * The landscape is magical, shape-shifting seas and smugglers' coves; myriad sea birds and mauve skies . . . It's a tale of triumph: of hope over despair; of love over everything . . . home was no longer about bricks and mortar. It was a state of mind * The Sunday Times * An inspirational nature memoir for fans of H is for Hawk about losing everything and finding yourself between the elements of sea and sky * Waterstones * The Salt Path is a life-affirming tale of enduring love that smells of the sea and tastes of a rich life. With beautiful, immersive writing, it is a story heart-achingly and beautifully told. The most inspirational book of this year . . . In some ways The Salt Path reads like the ultimate drop-out odyssey, except that this journey isn't a life choice . . . What the book chiefly conveys is the human capacity for endurance and the regenerative power of nature . . . The Salt Path also serves as a reminder that Britain is a land criss-crossed by footpaths and that we take this 140,000-mile national glory for granted at our peril . . . The Salt Path has reminded me to scrape last year's mud from my walking boots and get rambling again. I hope it has the same impact on millions of others. * The Times * Moving and beautifully evocative * i *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 195 mm
Width: 125 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
202 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4059-3718-4 (9781405937184)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Raynor Winn
The Salt Path
The prize-winning, Sunday Times bestseller, now a major film featuring Gillian Anderson
E-Book
03/2018
1st Edition
Penguin Books Ltd
€14.99
Available for download
Person
Since travelling the South West Coastal Path, Raynor Winn has become a regular long-distance walker and writes about nature, homelessness and wild camping. She lives in Cornwall. This is her first book.