Another saga: The Salt Path author fell out with millionaire pal when living in his farmhouse

The Salt Path author Raynor Winn and her husband Moth have been at the centre of a scandal this week after the Observer published allegations accusing the bestselling book of being not completely based on truth. It also accused Winn of embezzlement – allegations she’s addressed in her statement on her website. The backlash to the saga in that article has seen the film adaptation producers also release a statement, as well as a charity affiliated with Raynor Winn and Moth pull out of their association with the Salt Path authors. Now, a new saga has been reported that The Salt Path author fell out with millionaire pal after moving into his farmhouse with her husband when the farmer had been moved by their story in the book. Here’s what we know about it all so far.

The relationship deteriorated

According to a report in the Mail Online, millionaire banker and cider maker Bill Cole became a fan of Raynor Winn and Moth after reading The Salt Path. After being moved by the back, he got in touch with them without having ever met the pair and invited them to live at his historic farmhouse down in Cornwall. The couple were living there apparently when they appeared on the BBC with Rick Stein in 2023, showing him how to make cider.

Bill Cole refused to speak to Mail Online when they approached him at the farmhouse. However, an insider spoke to the Mail and told the publication about how Bill Cole and Raynor Winn and Moth’s relationship deteriorated once the couple had moved in.

Raynor Winn (Shutterstock)

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“Bill was initially very taken with Raynor and it seemed like a perfect set up but then there was some trouble between them and we understand it all ended badly with them falling out,” the insider said.

The Salt Path author Raynor Winn gave an interview last month that people believe is referring to her farmhouse stay with Bill Cole. She said in that article for Country Living “When a stranger contacted me on Twitter with an incredible gesture, I wasn’t sure how to respond. He owned a disused farm, nestled in the Cornish hills, and asked if Moth and I would like to live there. We agonised for months over the decision. It was yet another risk, to give up our home and to trust a stranger, but we decided to do it.

“When we arrived, the land felt abused and polluted, but we’ve been hard at work removing plastic sheeting, nourishing the soil and bringing wildlife back to the hedgerows. It’s become a big rewilding project – and it’s worked. A year ago, there were no birds here. Now, there are woodpeckers, yellowhammers and blackcaps. It’s amazing how quickly nature bounces back if you let it. Like humans really…

‘I like to think we’re rewilding Moth as well as the land. By putting him back into his natural state – moving out in the fields all day – his health has improved almost miraculously, just as it did when we were walking the Coast Path. As the landscape has become healthier, so has he. Nothing will cure his disease, but we’ve found a way to keep it at bay.”

Raynor Winn and Moth – Sally and Tim Walker real names – have called out the Observer for the article and stand by the book.

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