Strawberry Line shortlisted for Britain’s favourite path

By Laura Linham 1st Jul 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 1 hour ago

The Strawberry Line has been shortlisted for Britain's Favourite Path 2026, putting one of Somerset's best-loved routes in the running for a national Ramblers title.

The former railway route has been chosen to represent the South West in the shortlist, alongside paths from across England, Scotland and Wales. Voting is open through the Ramblers, with walkers being asked to pick their favourite from the national selection.

The Strawberry Line was nominated by Amanda Jane Baldwin, who described it as a path she has walked "more times than I can count" since moving to Winscombe more than seven years ago.

She said: "The Strawberry Line is on my doorstep, my car isn't needed for this stunning walk.

"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.

"It is maintained by volunteers which makes it all the more precious to walk on."

The Strawberry Line takes its name from the old Cheddar Valley railway line, which once carried locally grown strawberries from Somerset to markets further afield. The historic line ran through places including Shepton Mallet, Wells, Cheddar and Yatton before closing in the 1960s.

Today, sections of the route have been transformed into a traffic-free greenway for walkers, cyclists and other users. The longer ambition is to create a continuous route between Shepton Mallet and Clevedon, using the old trackbed wherever possible.

For Wells, the route includes the stretch east of the city towards Dulcote, with links to the wider Strawberry Line network and views back towards Wells Cathedral. For Shepton Mallet, the path is part of a bigger push to reconnect the town to neighbouring communities by safe, off-road active travel routes.

The Strawberry Line Society says more than 20 miles of the planned 29-mile route are already open, with volunteers helping to maintain existing sections and support new ones. The path is intended to be suitable for walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users, mobility scooters and, on some sections, equestrians.

The Ramblers shortlist includes Buttermere Circular Path in North West England, Little Ouse Path in East England, Pinnacle Hill Path in the Midlands, Holy Island Causeway Path in North East England, East Loch Lomond Path in Scotland, Devils Dyke Path in South East England, Cwm Idwal Path in Wales and the Strawberry Line for the South West.

People can vote for the Strawberry Line through the Ramblers Britain's Favourite Path 2026 shortlist.

For local walkers, the nomination is another reminder that the Strawberry Line is not just a handy route for a weekend wander. It is a piece of Somerset's railway history, a wildlife corridor, a volunteer-led community project and, if the voters agree, maybe even Britain's favourite path.