By Raynor Winn
Penguin, Paperback, £10.99
Last year I embarked on a long-distance walk myself (in the North of Spain) and after such an incredible experience, I have vouched to slowly work my way through some of the books that talk about long-distance walking. Despite my reasons to undertake such a challenge were quite different from the reasons that forced Raynor Winn and her husband Moth to walk 630 miles, I strongly related to their experience, and their story brought back so many great memories of my own journey.
The Salt Path is the tender yet occasionally heartbreaking recount of how Raynor and Moth ended up losing their home, their money, and the security of being able to have a place to call ‘home’ for them and for their children. Setting out on the Cornish coastal path (officially known as the South West Coast Path) might seem like the last sensible thing to do, and yet it ends up being the start of the rest of Raynor and Moth’s lives.
‘Had the walk been coming for years, waiting on our horizon to be unleashed on us only when there was absolutely nothing left to lose?’
Raynor’s words initiated a chain of thoughts that made me reflect on the meaning of life, on what is really important and how sometimes the lessen obvious route is the one that will actually make sense. Sometimes this sense will be revealed to Raynor and Moth halfway through a long, difficult hike, and sometimes this sense will be revealed through the kindness and generosity of the strangers they’ll meet along the way. And there’s so much beauty in that.
I have now booked tickets to the cinema and I cannot wait to experience The Salt Path once again on the big screen.
Review by Martina