Strawberry Line
The Strawberry Line’s Cheddar Valley Branch is a local group seeking to link Axbridge and neighbouring communities with the existing Strawberry Line Multiuser shared path to allow safe, off-road travel between the villages and the towns to the East and West.
The group is a part of the Strawberry Line Society which represents several such local groups, across mid and North Somerset with similar objectives. You can follow the Society on their website , Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
The Cheddar Valley group, responsible from the A38, Axbridge to Wells, has been active for many years and while local progress in the past was slow, that has now changed with ten new sections opened since 2020, the most visible being a Permissive shared path within a neighbouring parish from Station Road, Westbury sub Mendip to Ebbor Lane, Easton completed in 2023, and a short eastwards extension towards Haybridge from Easton in December 2024.
A report on wildlife on the Strawberry line highlights some of the benefits of our endeavour to biodiversity as well as to people. The commitment by central and local government to promoting sustainable transport demonstrated that the time was right for a further push. Somerset Council, following on from Mendip District Council’s lead, has developed its active travel plan to enable more people to walk or cycle to work, having engaged with parish councils regarding plans for reducing motor vehicle use.
Currently there are endeavours underway to extend the path that leads from Wells to Dulcote Quarry beyond Churchill Batch Lane, a further section towards Wells from Shepton Mallet up to Summer Hill Lane, as well as a section from Collett Park, Shepton Mallet up to Windsor Hill as part of the wider 76-mile Somerset Circle project, which is approaching 70% complete. Noting a new bridge was installed at Shepton in October 2024 as part of the West Shepton Link, where aspirations remain to do the same over the busy A38 close to Axbridge in the future, Further sections that close the remaining gaps are in the development stages, in partnership with Greenways & Cycle routes; such as Easton to Haybridge, Draycott to Cheddar as well as the final gap between Westbury sub Mendip and Rodney Stoke. This will not only enable people to get to work & school without using a car but will be important steps towards linking Axbridge, Wells, Shepton Mallet and beyond.
To find out more about Strawberry Line Cheddar Valley Branch or how you can help us achieve our goals please get in touch using the form below, as we are always welcome new volunteers.
Become a part of the story as a member or volunteer.