A SECTION of the Strawberry Line path near Winscombe has won the title of Britain’s Favourite Path 2026.

The traffic-free route from the Mendips to the sea, has been crowned as Britain’s Favourite Path 2026 by Britain’s walking charity, the Ramblers, after a month-long public vote.

The Strawberry Line Path faced fierce competition from seven other paths, including rural riverside routes to peak-summiting paths including the Buttermere Circular Path in the Lake District.

Since 2015, the Ramblers has received more than £26 million in funding raised by Postcode Lottery players for the annual competition which is helping the charity to protect and champion Britain’s paths and green spaces.

Amanda Jane Baldwin nominated the path saying: “The Strawberry Line is on my doorstep, my car isn't needed for this stunning walk.

“I moved to Winscombe, North Somerset over seven years ago and this path has been trod by myself more times than I can count. 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 winning path follows the route of a Great Western Railway branch line that ran from Witham Junction to Yatton via Shepton Mallet, Wells and Cheddar transporting locally grown strawberries until the late 1960s.

Campaigns manager, at the Ramblers, Rachel Mulrenan, said: “Local paths are lifelines. They connect people with green space, fresh air, and better 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.

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