The 17th-century Welsh farmhouse that formed the poignant backdrop to Raynor Winn's bestselling memoir The Salt Path has been placed on the market for £618,000. The property in Y Ffor, near Pwllheli in Gwynedd, north Wales, is at the heart of a story that captivated millions but later faced scrutiny over its accuracy.
From Family Home to Literary Phenomenon
Raynor Winn, whose real name is Sally Walker, and her husband Moth (Timothy Walker) lost the farmhouse after a failed investment in a friend's company. This event, coupled with the shattering diagnosis that Moth had the terminal condition corticobasal degeneration (CBD), precipitated their homelessness. Their subsequent year-long, 630-mile trek along the South West Coastal Path, documented in Winn's 2018 book, turned their personal tragedy into a publishing sensation. The memoir was later adapted into a film starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs.
The Walkers had lived at the isolated property for over 20 years, raising their two children there and making improvements, including adding slate flooring. Moth, a master plasterer, even inscribed 'Tim [heart] Sally xxx' into the plasterwork of a converted barn on the grounds.
Controversy and a New Chapter
However, an investigation by The Observer newspaper in 2023 cast a different light on events. It alleged the couple were forced to sell their home after £64,000 was stolen from Winn's employer, a property firm run by Martin and Ros Hemmings, for whom she worked as a bookkeeper in the early 2000s. The report claimed the house was repossessed after they failed to repay a loan taken out with a relative to cover the stolen sum—an arrangement allegedly made to avoid further police involvement.
A spokesman for the Walkers called the allegations 'highly misleading' but declined to comment on specifics, stating the couple were seeking legal advice. They maintained that The Salt Path was 'the true story of our journey.'
The Farmhouse Today
The current owner, 63-year-old Maxine Farrimond, purchased the damp and dilapidated farmhouse for £280,000 in July 2016, nearly four years after it was repossessed. She has since invested over £150,000 in extensive renovations.
'It’s a magical property and I’ve been very happy there,' Ms Farrimond said. 'The Walkers said they loved it there... I feel very sad to be going but I’m at an age where I’ve got to move. It’s been a project I’ve done all by myself and I hope someone else will now enjoy the property.'
Set in two acres, the three-bedroom farmhouse now boasts a converted stone barn used as a holiday let, a stream, paddocks, and woodland. It stands as a fully transformed home, its value significantly increased, yet forever linked to a tale of loss, resilience, and disputed truth.
