By Harry Mottram: I had numerous messages from friends and relatives telling me the Strawberry Line path was on the BBC news this week – which I initially missed but did the usual catch up on the website and i-player. It was a feature which highlighted the popularity of the path linking Yatton to Cheddar. From there to Wells and further on to Witham Junction it is only in small sections – although volunteers are actively trying to fill in the gaps.
The article on the BBC’s website by Bea Swallow explained: “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.”
It sounded like it was a recent project and the trains had only just stopped running, but fortunately the news item did go on to explain further that since the Beeching cuts of the 1960s the former line was slowly taken up as an unofficial footpath. The sad thing is that the former Woodspring District Council – now North Somerset – eventually adopted the line as an official footpath and cycle route which is why it is almost continuous from Yatton to the A38. Somerset County Council did not – which accounts for the fractured nature of the path from the A38 to beyond Shepton Mallet as parts of the line were sold or acquired by land owners and of course the line in Axbridge was turned into the bypass.
Bea Swallow continued: “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.
“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.’”
So, hats off to the volunteers who have formed effective working parties to keep the paths free of brambles and low hanging branches – in the 25 years I’ve been in Axbridge the paths have been massively improved. The section from KOW to Draycott Park is a delight with the bridge over the Cheddar Yeo – and the path from Westbury-sub-Mendip to Easton is a marvel of engineering. Back in the day the Strawberry Line groups had asked for help from the authorities – only to be given short shrift on the basis it only benefitted a minority. Fast forward to now and the amount of cyclists and walkers benefit the pubs, shops and cafes along its path – and it has even led to new business start-ups.
How short sighted the authorities were a few years ago about the Strawberry Line path and even more so in the 1960s when the decision to close branch lines led to thousands of job losses and a decimation of many rural economies that relied on the trains. Since then there’s been a collective hand wringing by Governments with the admission that successive Labour and Conservative administrations in the 1960s got it wrong. Portishead to Bristol’s branch line is to reopen next year at the cost of millions, while several stations such as Oakhampton are once again busy with trains with more ear-marked across the country for reopening.
To see the Beeb’s story visit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgyl2mpnjjo
There’s also a short film at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england/somerset
Axbridge Diary of Events
Some Axbridge dates coming up. Send Axbridge events to me and I’ll try to keep the list updated. Email: harryfmottram@gmail.com I’ll also post on my website at https://www.harrymottram.co.uk/diary/
Harry Mottram and Axbridge News
Note: I get asked this frequently so just to repeat I write up these stories from time to time out of personal interest – all the information is in the public domain – I put it together, so it makes sense to me. More at at www.harrymottram.co.uk and social media on X as @harrythe spiv, Facebook, Blue Sky, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads and God knows where else!
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