Former railway line named Britain's favourite path
The traffic-free route has been maintained by volunteers since the railway closed in the late 1960s.
An abandoned railway line, once known as the Strawberry Line, has been named Britain's favourite path. The South West has won the competition two years in a row, following the South West Coast Path's victory in 2025. The Strawberry Line, which runs through Somerset, was chosen by The Ramblers charity following a public vote.
The line, once used to transport strawberries from the Mendip Hills, is now a 20+ mile long path for walkers, cyclists, and mobility users. Local volunteers maintain the path, making it accessible in all weather and a pleasure to traverse.
The annual competition, launched by The Ramblers in 2015, aims to celebrate the importance of Britain's paths. Rachel Mulrenan, Ramblers' campaigns manager, emphasised the vital role local paths play in connecting people to green spaces and promoting mental and physical health.
The competition's runner-up was the Buttermere Circular Path in the Lake District. The Ramblers have received over £26 million in funding from Postcode Lottery players since 2015, which has helped protect and promote Britain's paths and green spaces.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
