Skip to main content
Digital Audiobook
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn

Listen to a sample

00:00
00:00

The Salt Path

Narrator
Raynor Winn
Publisher
Penguin Books Ltd
Publish Date
19 September 2019
Run Time
9 hours 2 minutes
Format
Audiobook
Rating
4.5 (8 reviews)

Not available in your country

We don't have the rights to sell this audiobook where you are. If it's already in your library you can still listen to it in My Books.

What to expect

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.

Read by author Raynor Winn, this deeply felt, personal tale is a beacon of universal strength.


'A beautiful, thoughtful, lyrical story of homelessness, human strength and endurance' Guardian

'The landscape is magical: shape-shifting seas and smugglers' coves; myriads of sea birds and mauve skies. It's a tale of triumph: of hope over despair; of love over everything' Sunday Times

'An astonishing narrative of two people dragging themselves from the depths of despair along some of the most dramatic landscapes in the country and ultimately finding themselves' Independent

'Luminescent. A literary phenomenon' Mail on Sunday
Sunday Times bestseller, September 2023
Raynor Winn's books have sold over two million copies across all formats and languages, March 2025

© Raynor Winn 2018 (P) Penguin Audio 2019

Critics Review

  • 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

See more reviews
  • 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

User Reviews

Book 4.5

Narration 4.1

  • 5.0 4.0

    A very engaging listen. An inspirational story of determination, willpower and love.

    Molly wj 2024-03-16
  • 5.0 5.0

    Really enjoyed this and especially liked that you read your own book.

    hitresa@hotmail.com 2022-03-09

Details

Author
Raynor Winn
Narrator
Raynor Winn
Duration
9 hours 2 minutes
Release Date
19 September 2019
ISBN
9781405944786
Format
Audiobook
Publisher
Penguin Books Ltd
Genre
Memoirs, Nature and the natural world: general interest, Coping with / advice about illness and specific health conditions, Walking, hiking, trekking, Housing and homelessness
Rating
4.5(8 reviews)
Narration
4.1(8 reviews)

Synopsis

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 WORLDWIDETHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERINCLUDED IN THE SUNDAY TIMES 2024 LIST OF THE TOP 100 BOOKS OF THE PAST FIFTY YEARSWINNER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE CHRISTOPHER BLAND PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITINGSHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA BIOGRAPHY AWARDJust 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.Read by author Raynor Winn, this deeply felt, personal tale is a beacon of universal strength.'A beautiful, thoughtful, lyrical story of homelessness, human strength and endurance' Guardian'The landscape is magical: shape-shifting seas and smugglers' coves; myriads of sea birds and mauve skies. It's a tale of triumph: of hope over despair; of love over everything' Sunday Times'An astonishing narrative of two people dragging themselves from the depths of despair along some of the most dramatic landscapes in the country and ultimately finding themselves' Independent'Luminescent. A literary phenomenon' Mail on SundaySunday Times bestseller, September 2023Raynor Winn's books have sold over two million copies across all formats and languages, March 2025© Raynor Winn 2018 (P) Penguin Audio 2019

About xigxag

xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.

There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.

Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.

Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.