The Salt Path Brings Somerset to the Big Screen
Not many films manage to turn real-life hardship into a celebration of hope and the healing power of nature, but The Salt Path is set to do just that—and it’s putting Somerset’s dramatic coastline in the spotlight. Based on Raynor Winn’s bestselling memoir, the adaptation follows Raynor (played by Gillian Anderson, known from The X-Files) and her husband Moth (Jason Isaacs, of Harry Potter fame) as their lives take a sharp turn: they lose their home and get hit with a devastating diagnosis. With little left, they set out on a 630-mile hike along the South West Coast Path, starting right in Somerset.
The production team went all in last year, filming key scenes in some truly breathtaking local spots. Think sunrise over Minehead, dramatic walks along Culvercliffe and North Hill, the rolling green of Bossington Hill, the shingle banks at Porlock Weir, and those wild, windswept views of the Exmoor coast. Each of these locations shapes the opening act of the film, grounding the Winns’ epic journey in real places that UK audiences—or anyone, really—can actually visit.
Screen Tourism and Somerset’s Star Turn
If you haven’t heard the phrase 'screen tourism,' here’s what it means: fans head out to visit locations from their favorite movies and shows. And it’s not some tiny trend—before the pandemic, it pumped nearly £900 million into the UK economy in just one year. Somerset’s leaders are clearly hoping that The Salt Path will do for the region what shows like Broadchurch and Poldark did for Dorset and Cornwall, making Somerset a hot spot for film-inspired travel. Councillor Mike Rigby, spearheading Somerset Council’s push for economic growth, says it best—the film lets the county’s landscape help tell the Winns’ story, and that means real opportunities for local businesses and tourism operators.
The draw isn’t just stunning scenery, though. At the heart of The Salt Path are themes of resilience, partnership, survival, and how raw nature can force us to keep going even when the odds are stacked against us. The original memoir sold over a million copies, so this story has already hit home with readers around the world. Now, with a national cinema release set for 30 May 2025, those same landscapes are about to get a whole lot more attention—and locals are ready for their close-up.
For Somerset residents, there’s a sense of pride at seeing places like Porlock Weir and Exmoor on the big screen. For potential visitors, the film is a perfect love letter to some of the most unspoiled coastline in England. So if you see crowds with walking boots and cameras in the months after the film drops, you’ll know exactly what inspired them.
