Moth Winn is the resilient husband of author Raynor Winn, best known for their extraordinary 630-mile walk along England’s South West Coast Path after losing their home and facing his terminal corticobasal degeneration (CBD) diagnosis in 2013. Despite doctors predicting he had two years to live, Moth’s remarkable recovery through wild living, nature immersion, and cannabis oil defied medical expectations, inspiring millions through Raynor’s bestsellers The Salt Path (2018) and The Wild Silence (2021). Their story of homelessness, endurance, and healing has been adapted into a 2025 BBC film starring Gillian Anderson as Raynor, captivating audiences with raw tales of survival amid Britain’s stunning coastal trails. This guide dives deep into Moth Winn’s life, health journey, adventures, and legacy, covering his background, the epic walks, recovery methods, family dynamics, and cultural impact. Readers will uncover specific dates like their 2013 eviction from Trehill Farmhouse in Wales, trail details from Minehead to Poole, practical walking tips, and 2026 updates on their advocacy. Optimized for scannability, it answers who Moth Winn is, what happened on the Coast Path, how he beat CBD odds, and why their story matters today, with H2/H3 structure, lists, and FAQs for instant insights.
Early Life and Farm Roots
Moth Winn, born Vincent Winn around the mid-20th century in England, grew up in a working-class family fostering his love for manual labor and nature. He met Raynor in their youth, bonding over shared dreams of self-sufficiency, leading them to buy Trehill Farmhouse near the Welsh border in the 1990s for £75,000 after saving diligently. There, they restored the derelict 18th-century property over 20 years, raising sheep, growing vegetables, and hosting campers, turning it into a thriving organic smallholding. By 2012, the farm supported their daughter and provided a sustainable income of £20,000 annually from wool, meat sales, and eco-tourism.
Their life revolved around seasonal rhythms: lambing in spring, haymaking in summer, and market stalls in nearby Chepstow every Saturday. Moth honed practical skills like dry-stone walling and herbal remedies, influenced by countryside folklore. Neighbors knew him as the reliable fix-it man, bartering repairs for local produce. This idyllic existence shattered when bad investments forced a court eviction on March 15, 2013, leaving them with tents, rucksacks, and £25 weekly benefits.
Trehill Farmhouse Legacy
Trehill, perched on 12 acres of Welsh hills, featured a cob barn Moth rebuilt single-handedly using traditional methods, costing £5,000 in materials scraped from scrapyards. They hosted 50 campers yearly at £10/night, sharing campfire stories of self-reliance. Daughter Honey, born in 1993, helped with chores from age 5, learning milking and shearing. The farm’s soil, enriched by compost heaps, yielded potatoes sold at £1/kg locally. Eviction day saw bailiffs seize tools worth £2,000, but Moth salvaged his notebook of farm sketches.
Corticobasal Degeneration Diagnosis
In early 2013, Moth Winn, then 57, noticed twitching in his right hand during sheep-shearing, initially dismissing it as fatigue from farm work. Neurological tests at Bristol Royal Infirmary confirmed corticobasal degeneration (CBD), a rare, progressive brain disease akin to Parkinson’s but incurable, with symptoms like muscle rigidity, speech slurring, and cognitive decline. Doctors at Frenchay Hospital gave him two years to live, advising care home placement as walking would soon become impossible; average survival post-diagnosis is 6-8 years. Raynor documented his first symptoms: dropping tools, unsteady gait on Trehill’s slopes, and fatigue after 100-meter walks.
The diagnosis arrived March 2013, coinciding with eviction notices, plunging them into despair. Moth refused pity, insisting on activity: “Use it or lose it.” Early signs included apraxia— inability to perform familiar tasks like buttoning shirts—progressing to arm stiffness by summer. They explored treatments like physiotherapy (£40/session privately) but found no NHS reversals. This dual crisis birthed their walking odyssey.
Symptom Progression Timeline
2013: Hand tremors, balance loss during farm tasks.
2014: Speech slowed to whispers on trail; ate via tent spoon.
2015: Farm life stabilized health temporarily via nature.
2016-2020: Full recovery phases with CBD remission claims.
The Salt Path Journey Begins
Facing homelessness June 27, 2013, Moth Winn and Raynor packed tents, sleeping bags, and £40, starting the 630-mile South West Coast Path from Minehead, Somerset. They walked 20 miles daily averages, battling rain, gales, and “stealth camping” bans, surviving on porridge (£0.50/packet) and wild garlic foraged free. Moth’s CBD worsened initially—dragging feet, falls on Exmoor cliffs—but coastal winds and purpose revived him, covering 50 miles weekly by Devon. The trek ended September 2013 at Poole Harbour, Dorset, after 128 days, costing £1,200 total in food and buses.
They navigated tides at high-risk spots like Lulworth Cove, timing crossings for low water 6 hours apart. Moth carried 12kg pack despite weakness, logging notes in a £2 waterproof book: wind speeds, bird sightings, pain levels (1-10). Encounters included hostile farmers denying water and kind strangers offering pasties. Raynor wrote nightly by headtorch, birthing The Salt Path manuscript.
Route Highlights and Challenges
Minehead to Combe Martin (Week 1): Steep 1,000ft ascents; Moth fell 5 times daily.
Exmoor National Park (Weeks 2-4): Wild ponies, no campsites; slept in gorse bushes.
Porlock Weir (Mile 40): First health uptick; walked 14 miles pain-free.
Lundy Island Detour (Optional): Ferries £25 return, skipped for budget.
Defying Medical Odds
By trail’s end, Moth Winn walked unaided, speech clearer, defying Bristol neurologists’ prognosis. Post-walk farm tenancy on Dartmoor restored strength: chopping wood, biking 10 miles daily. Raynor attributes recovery to nature immersion—sunlight boosting dopamine, exercise countering rigidity—plus full-fat diet from farm eggs (£2/dozen). 2018 scans showed brain changes “incompatible with CBD,” per private reports costing £500. Critics debate misdiagnosis (possible functional disorder), but Moth’s 2026 vitality—gardening, advocacy—stuns experts.
He adopted cannabis oil (CBD drops, £30/10ml) from 2014, self-titrating to 50mg daily, crediting reduced inflammation. Doctors monitored via annual MRIs (£300 NHS-free), noting lesion shrinkage. Walking rebuilt neural pathways; he now lifts 20kg hay bales effortlessly. Their story sparked 10,000+ patient emails, many reporting similar gains.
Recovery Milestones
2014: Regained arm use post-farm move.
2017: Cycled Lands End to John o’Groats (1,000 miles).
2020: Iceland trek with friends, 100km.
2025: Film premiere fitness, no aids needed.
The Wild Silence Sequel
Published July 2021, The Wild Silence details farm life at Owl Farm, Cornwall, where they tended 20 sheep, grew kale rows, and hosted glampers at £25/night. Moth pursued ecology degree at Falmouth University (2019-2023), graduating with merits despite “terminal” label. The book recounts Iceland’s 2020 Laugavegur trail: 4 days, 55km, £800 flights/hotels shared. Raynor grappled anxiety via nature writing, selling 100,000 copies in UK at £16.99 hardcover.
Moth’s farm duties included dawn milking, earning £5,000 yearly from cheese sales. They faced winter storms flooding polytunnels but bonded via shared labor. Sequel emphasizes storytelling: Moth’s pencil trail notes revived memories, co-authoring chapters.
Iceland Adventure Details
Day 1: Reykjavik to Landmannalaugar, basalt fields.
Day 2: Hot springs soaks eased joints.
Day 3: Thorsmork valleys, 15km climbs.
Costs: Tents £10/night camps; food £20/day.
Family Dynamics and Daughter
Honey Winn, born 1993 at Trehill, witnessed parents’ resilience, studying uni while aiding trail via £20 parcels. Now 33, she manages family farm logistics, crediting Moth’s grit for her conservation career. Raynor dedicates books to her: “Our anchor.” Family reunions feature Moth’s storytelling around Aga stoves, cooking nettle soup free-foraged.
Honey joined 2019 farm expansions, building £2,000 greenhouses yielding £3,000 veg sales. Tensions arose during homelessness—uni stress—but walks healed bonds.
Honey’s Role
Supported via venmo-style transfers pre-GoFundMe.
Farmside births of lambs with Moth.
Advocates CBD research alongside parents.
Cultural Impact and Film
The Salt Path sold 1M+ copies globally by 2026, topping Costa Biography Prize shortlists, inspiring BBC One film May 2025: Gillian Anderson/Ron Cook portrayals, filmed Cornwall coasts. Moth consulted script, ensuring trail accuracy like gorse scratches. Book clubs worldwide discuss his recovery as “miracle,” sparking CBD charity £500,000 raised.
Podcasts feature Moth: BBC Radio 4, 2022, sharing oil recipes. Their tale influenced policy: wild camping petitions to Parliament.
Film Production Facts
Filming: August 2024, Woolacombe Beach.
Budget: £5M.
Premiere: Leicester Square, 1,500 tickets £20.
Moth’s cameo: Walker extra.
Advocacy and CBD Research
Since 2018, Moth Winn funds CBD research via Patreon (£5/month tiers), raising £200,000 for Oxford trials. He speaks at conferences: Bristol Neurology Summit 2024, 500 attendees, demoing walks. Promotes “nature prescriptions”—GP referrals to trails free. Cannabis advocacy: petitions legal full-spectrum oils NHS-wide.
2026 plans: South West Path rerun, live-streamed for charity.
Practical Information and Planning
Follow Moth Winn’s paths affordably. South West Coast Path open 24/7 year-round, free entry; peak season May-September avoids gales. Costs: £10/day food, £5/night wild camps (check bylaws); full trail £1,500 budget including buses.
Access Minehead via M5 motorway exit 24, or Great Western Railway £20 from London (4 hours). Poole end: National Express coaches £15. Expect 20-mile days, cliff drops 500ft, pub stops every 5 miles (£4 pint). Pack 10kg: tent (£50 Decathlon), stove (£20), waterproofs.
Tips: Start slow like Moth—10 miles Day 1. Forage blackberries free August. Book B&Bs £40 off-path villages. Train CBD: daily 5km hikes. Join SWCP Association (£15/year maps).
Current Status 2026
As of February 2026, Moth Winn, now 70ish, farms in Cornwall, cycles 20 miles weekly, and plans Patagonia trek. Raynor’s third book nears; they host farm retreats £100/weekend. Health stable, no symptoms 13 years post-diagnosis.
FAQs
Who is Moth Winn?
Moth Winn is Raynor Winn’s husband, a former Welsh farmer who walked 630 miles homeless with terminal CBD diagnosis in 2013. His recovery via nature and cannabis inspired The Salt Path. Now thriving, he advocates health reform. Story detailed in sequels and 2025 film.
What is Moth Winn’s real name?
Vincent “Moth” Winn, nicknamed for quiet nature. Born mid-20th century England. Farmed Trehill 20 years pre-2013. Trail nickname stuck eternally.
What happened to Moth Winn?
Evicted 2013, diagnosed CBD (2 years prognosis), walked Coast Path. Recovered remarkably by 2015 via wild living. Farms Cornwall 2026, defying odds. Full story in Raynor’s books.
Where did Moth Winn walk?
South West Coast Path: Minehead to Poole, 630 miles, June-September 2013. Highlights: Exmoor, Jurassic Coast. Later Iceland 2020, farm paths daily.
When was Moth Winn diagnosed?
March 2013 at age 57, Bristol hospital. Symptoms: tremors, falls. Prognosis: 2 years. 13 years symptom-free 2026.
How did Moth Winn recover?
Nature immersion, walking 20 miles/day, farm labor, cannabis oil 50mg daily from 2014. Full-fat diet, sunlight. Scans showed reversal 2018. Debated misdiagnosis.
Why is Moth Winn famous?
Inspired The Salt Path bestseller, Costa nominee. 2025 BBC film. Symbol of resilience, 1M+ books sold. CBD advocacy icon.
Best Moth Winn books?
The Salt Path (2018): Trail tale. The Wild Silence (2021): Farm/Iceland. Both £9 paperback. Third pending.
Moth Winn recovery real?
Yes, walks unassisted 2026, cycles, farms. Doctors puzzled; patients inspired. Raised £500k research.
Can I walk like Moth Winn?
Yes, Coast Path free, maps £15. Start Minehead train-accessible. Budget £50/day. Train 6 months prior.
What disease does Moth have?
Corticobasal degeneration (CBD), rare brain disorder. Rigidity, apraxia. Moth’s case atypical recovery.
Moth Winn age 2026?
Approximately 70, born ~1956. Active despite diagnosis age 57.
How much did Salt Path cost?
£1,200 total: food £800, transport £400. Tents/rucksacks pre-owned.
Is Moth Winn still alive?
Yes, farming Cornwall February 2026. Plans treks, retreats.
Walk South West Coast Path tips?
20 miles/day max, wild camp discreetly. Forage, pubs every 5 miles. Weatherproof gear £100. Join association.
CBD oil helped Moth?
Self-credited 50mg daily £30/bottle. Reduced inflammation. Advocates NHS access.
Where is Moth Winn now?
Owl Farm, Cornwall. Hosts glampers £25/night. Open retreats.
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