Britain’s favourite walking path has been crowned for 2026

The UK has a huge, diverse network of walking paths. Some sit under the shadows of arching tree branches or cross wide open fields, others traverse dramatic cliffsides or gently loop around lakes. They’ll all have a special place in at least one person’s heart, but there is one path that has just been named the nation’s favourite. 

Over the summer, walking charity Ramblers launched a public vote to determine Britain’s most-loved path. Now, the results are in. The crown for the best walking path in the country went to the Strawberry Line in Somerset. 

The winning path was nominated by a lady named Amanda Baldwin. She told Ramblers: ‘This path is part of me and my life. I walk it. I talk it. I breathe it. It’s an escape, a release, a feel-good factor. It’s great for your health, wellbeing and your soul and to have the opportunity to share the green spaces with other people, wildlife and nature is just magical!’

The Strawberry Line follows the route of a disused Great Western Railway branch line, which closed in the 1960s. It takes its name from the immense volume of strawberries that were once carried on the line from the fields of Cheddar to market. If you walk the whole thing, you’ll pass through the adorable village of Yatton, the Mendips, the historic town of Axbridge and the dramatic valleys of Cheddar Gorge. 

Since 1977, volunteers have been hard at work transforming the old track into a flourishing green path for walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users. So far around 20 miles of the 29-mile route are open to the public to use. Once complete, it’ll run from Shepton Mallet to Clevedon. 

The Strawberry Line beat seven other shortlisted walks, each in a different region of the British Isles. They included the East Loch Lomond Path in Scotland, the Cwm Idwal Path in Wales, the Holy Island Causeway Path in the northeast of England and the Buttermere Circular Path in the northwest. 

Time Out’s favourite walks and hikes in the UK. 

ICYMI: A rare ancient village has been discovered in the Lake District. 

Plus: This historic British pilgrimage route is one of the world’s best places to visit in 2027. 

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