https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgyl2mpnjjo

The Strawberry Line Path in Somerset has been voted "Britain's favourite path".

I wonder where other railway paths such as Monsal Trail and Tiddington
Trail in Derbyshire, or Cinder Track in North Yorkshire, or Bath-Midford
track in Somerset, or Droxford-Wickham line in Hampshire came in
comparison. And then there's the Ridgeway (which obviously isn't a
railway track!).

I don't tend to think of the Holy Island tidal causeway as being a path because it's alongside a road, rather than being only for pedestrians, cyclists and horses.

I wonder what criteria people used to judge "favourite".

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* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

NY wrote:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgyl2mpnjjo

The Strawberry Line Path in Somerset has been voted "Britain's favourite path".

I wonder where other railway paths such as Monsal Trail and Tiddington
Trail in Derbyshire, or Cinder Track in North Yorkshire, or Bath-Midford track in Somerset, or Droxford-Wickham line in Hampshire came in
comparison. And then there's the Ridgeway (which obviously isn't a
railway track!).

I don't tend to think of the Holy Island tidal causeway as being a path because it's alongside a road, rather than being only for pedestrians, cyclists and horses.

I wonder what criteria people used to judge "favourite".

This was a vote by Ramblers Association members from a shortlist chosen from members' suggestions by a panel, which look like they were chosen to give a geographic spread:
<https://www.ramblers.org.uk/feature/discover-britains-favourite-paths>

Previous years shortlists <https://www.ramblers.org.uk/2025-britains-favourite-path-shortlist> <https://www.ramblers.org.uk/feature/explore-britains-favourite-paths-2024>

In 2023 the survey was conducted by RA & Ordnance Survey, based on data collected by the OS mapping app, which is a bit more objective:
<https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/jun/12/britains-10-most-popular-walks-according-to-the-os-map-app>

No other old railways were shortlisted.
Is there anywhere you can do a 'circular' walk, entirely on old railways?
--
Remove numerics from my email address

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 30/08/2026 17:59, Dave Royal wrote:

NY wrote:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgyl2mpnjjo

The Strawberry Line Path in Somerset has been voted "Britain's favourite
path".

I wonder where other railway paths such as Monsal Trail and Tiddington
Trail in Derbyshire, or Cinder Track in North Yorkshire, or Bath-Midford
track in Somerset, or Droxford-Wickham line in Hampshire came in
comparison. And then there's the Ridgeway (which obviously isn't a
railway track!).

I don't tend to think of the Holy Island tidal causeway as being a path
because it's alongside a road, rather than being only for pedestrians,
cyclists and horses.

I wonder what criteria people used to judge "favourite".

This was a vote by Ramblers Association members from a shortlist chosen from members' suggestions by a panel, which look like they were chosen to give a geographic spread:
<https://www.ramblers.org.uk/feature/discover-britains-favourite-paths>

Previous years shortlists <https://www.ramblers.org.uk/2025-britains-favourite-path-shortlist> <https://www.ramblers.org.uk/feature/explore-britains-favourite-paths-2024>

In 2023 the survey was conducted by RA & Ordnance Survey, based on data collected by the OS mapping app, which is a bit more objective:
<https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/jun/12/britains-10-most-popular-walks-according-to-the-os-map-app>

No other old railways were shortlisted.
Is there anywhere you can do a 'circular' walk, entirely on old railways?

There's a circular walk I often do in Edinburgh. Map links below.

From Fiveways, take the Caledonian's convoluted branch towards Leith
Docks, east along the Hawthornvale Path then south through Trinity Park
and Stedfastgate. The bridge over the Water of Leith is long gone, but
turn right (west) onto the North British line from Leith North to
Scotland Street Goods, upriver along Warriston Path. There's a tunnel
ahead into the New Town, but to complete the loop turn sharp right
(north) onto the North British line from Scotland St to Granton, on the Goldenacre Path back to Fiveways.

There's a shortcut across the middle on the North British line to the
rest of the world, now the Chancelot Path.

Continuing north or west from Fiveways, most but not all of the longer
loop via Granton is accessible on foot.

<https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=16/55.97119/-3.19639> <https://maps.nls.uk/view/144481830> (zoom in to north Edinburgh)

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* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)