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Raynor Winn’s new book postponed amid controversy over truthfulness of memoir The Salt Path

Penguin delays On Winter Hill release following reports questioning truth behind The Salt Path

A photograph of author Raynor Winn, who finds herself in the middle of a controversy, and the cover of her forthcoming book, On Winter Hill. (Wikimedia commons and Penguin)

Penguin has announced the postponement of Raynor Winn’s forthcoming book, On Winter Hill.

The publication of Raynor Winn’s forthcoming book, On Winter Hill, has been postponed by Penguin amid mounting controversy over the accuracy of her bestselling memoir, The Salt Path. The publisher said the decision was made in order to “support the author”, following what it described as “intrusive conjecture” about her husband’s medical condition.

Winn’s debut memoir, The Salt Path, became a runaway success after its release in 2018, charting the story of how she and her husband, Moth, walked 630 miles along the South West Coast Path after being evicted from their home and receiving a devastating diagnosis of corticobasal degeneration (CBD), a rare and terminal illness. The book has sold more than two million copies worldwide.

The poster of the film adaptation of Raynor Winn’s Salt Path and the cover of the book

Raynor Winn’s book bestselling film The Salt Path was adapted for film. (Wikimedia Commons, Penguin)

The controversy

An investigation by The Observer last weekend raised serious questions about the veracity of Winn’s account. The report alleged that the couple’s homelessness may have been misrepresented, and that Moth’s diagnosis may not have been as described. It also claimed that Winn, whose real name is Sally Walker, had taken approximately £64,000 from a former employer.

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In a detailed response posted earlier this week, Winn refuted many of the claims and published medical letters discussing Moth’s CBD. She also acknowledged mistakes from her past, saying: “Any mistakes I made during the years in that office, I deeply regret, and I am truly sorry” (The Guardian, 10 July 2025).

In a statement shared with The Bookseller, Penguin Michael Joseph said: “Given recent events, in particular intrusive conjecture around Moth’s health condition which has caused considerable distress to Raynor Winn and her family, it is our priority to support the author at this time.” As such, the release of On Winter Hill, originally scheduled for publication this October, has been delayed. “We will announce a new publication date in due course,” the publisher added.

The BBC reported that the charity PSPA, which supports those affected by CBD, has cut ties with Winn and her husband in the wake of the allegations. She has also withdrawn from the Saltlines tour across the UK.

Raynor Winn’s oeuvre

The book cover of Winn’s other books, The Wild Silence (2020) and Landlines (2022) both Sunday Times bestsellers

On Winter Hill is set to be Winn’s fourth book, following The Wild Silence and Landlines

On Winter Hill is set to be Winn’s fourth book, following The Wild Silence (2020) and Landlines (2022), both Sunday Times bestsellers, as well as her breakout debut The Salt Path. According to Penguin’s synopsis, the new memoir sees Winn embark on the Coast to Coast walk across northern England alone, as her husband’s worsening condition leaves her struggling to come to terms with the possibility of his decline. “Feeling trapped, she is drawn north, like a migratory bird, seeking the peace and hope that walking brings her.”

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As debate continues over truth in memoir, the fate of On Winter Hill remains uncertain. But for many of Winn’s readers and supporters, the question now is not just when the book will be released – but whether the story it tells will be met with the same trust as her earlier work.