Former railway line named Britain's favourite path

2 hours ago

Bea SwallowWest of England

BBC A former railway tunnel nestled below greenery and trees on the Strawberry Line walking path. — Starting in the late 1970s, local volunteers and societies began turning the disused railway into a walking route

An abandoned railway line which volunteers transformed into a much-loved walking and cycling route has been named Britain's favourite path.

The Strawberry Line path which runs through Somerset, was crowned this year's winner by walking charity The Ramblers following a month-long public vote.

The winning path follows the route of a disused Great Western Railway branch line which ran from Witham Junction to Yatton via Shepton Mallet, Wells and Cheddar.

The South West has now won the competition two years in a row, after a stretch of the South West Coast Path between Bude and Westward Ho! took the title in 2025.

'Grass fire devastated our business community'

Postal deliveries delayed for weeks, residents say

How can you see Friday's 'Magical' Blood Moon?

The Strawberry Line earned its nickname because it transported massive quantities of locally grown strawberries from the Mendip Hills to market until the late 1960s.

Local volunteers have since helped transform the track into a 20+ mile long path for walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users and mobility scooters, with some sections also open to equestrians.

An archive image of an old train pulling into a station during a time when the railway line was active. — Passenger service on the line ended in 1963 as part of the Beeching cuts, with freight closing soon after

Now in its third year, the annual competition was launched by The Ramblers charity to celebrate the importance, beauty and diversity of the nation's paths.

The "stunning" route was nominated by Amanda Jane Baldwin, who said she has trodden the path "more times than I can count" since moving to Winscombe seven years ago.

"It's accessible in all weathers, it goes on for miles, it's an absolute pleasure to walk on, it's beautiful and I appreciate the nature all around me whilst on the path," she said.

She added the fact it is maintained by volunteers "makes it all the more precious".

The runner-up was the Buttermere Circular Path in the Lake District, followed by the tidal Holy Island Causeway off the coast of Northumberland.

Ramblers Amanda Jane Baldwin's photo of the Strawberry Line footpath in North Somerset. It shows rays of sunlight piercing through a canopy of trees above and shining onto a dirt path through the woods. — The path cuts through different landscapes including woodlands

Rachel Mulrenan, Ramblers' campaigns manager, said local paths were "lifelines" which connected people with green space, fresh air, and mental and physical health.

"Right now, we need these things more than ever. But across Britain, millions are cut off from nature because local paths are missing, blocked or unusable," she said.

"The Strawberry Line Path is a fantastic example of how local communities can benefit from paths being opened up and expanded."

Since 2015, Ramblers has received more than £26m in funding raised by Postcode Lottery players, which it says has helped it protect and champion Britain's paths and green spaces.

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.