Strawberry Line, Somerset

The Strawberry Line was the unofficial name of the Cheddar Valley Railway in Somerset, between Yatton and Witham, so-called because of its long-standing use in transporting locally-grown strawberries. The first section of the line opened in 1858 and it was in operation for over a century, until closed as part of the Beeching cuts in 1963.

Starting in the 1980s parts of the old railway have been converted to a cycle/walking trail, and the most complete section, 8 miles, is the westernmost portion, from Yatton to Axbridge, while further east are several shorter stretches. Eventually about two thirds of the line will be converted, to Shepton Mallet, following the original route apart from four short sections where the original course has been built over, through Axbridge, Cheddar, Draycott and Wells. A short westwards extension will link Yatton with Clevedon, also along a disused railway.


The path crosses varied landscapes; moorland, marsh, fields, woodland, and the high ground of the Mendip Hills, this via cuttings and the Shute Shelf Tunnel. One day the Strawberry Line will form part of the 76 mile Somerset Circle, a largely traffic-free route of which around 80% will be on old railways, also including the Bristol-Bath Railway Path and the former line between Bath and Shepton Mallet.

Yatton to Wrington Vale Junction

The north end of the Strawberry Line is at Yatton, next to the current railway station, on the south side; the path curves away to the south and soon is in the open countryside of the Somerset Levels, crossing flat farmland, lined by hedgerows and trees. After a mile it briefly leaves the course of the railway since the former bridge over the River Yeo has long since been dismantled; instead it crosses on a road ridge, follows Weston Road a short distance and rejoins at the site of Congresbury Station, the platforms of which are still visible. The old station is bordered by a patch of marshy woodland, just south of which is a junction, where the Wrington Vale Light Railway once branched off, to Wrington then Blagdon, also closed in 1963, and also proposed for conversion, though this is problematic since the majority is now privately owned.

Wrington Vale Junction to Axbridge

The main line continues south, dead straight for over a mile, still across the Levels, with one short diversion around a farm and orchards, and a second at Sandford, where a small housing estate has been built over part of the line. South of Sandford, the line soon reaches Winscombe, now getting close to the Mendip Hills; it climbs gradually, lined by some larger trees, and approaches the north end of the Shute Shelf Tunnel, 165 metres long, initially brick-lined where it passes through soft red marl, then bare rock as the marl is replaced by harder limestone. Beyond the tunnel is a deep, mossy cutting, then the line veers east, across the A38 to the town of Axbridge, where the original course is now occupied by the A371 bypass - marking the end of the most complete section of the Strawberry Line.

Axbridge to Cheddar

The designated cycle route continues on a lesser road through Axbridge, right across its ancient town square where historic buildings include Axbridge Drug Stores, built around 1450, and King John's Hunting Lodge, built around 1500. Both are traditional Tudor timber buildings, in the jettied style, where the upper floors project outwards, beyond the lower footprint. After a gap of one mile the Strawberry Line is picked up again on the far side of Axbridge, for another mile, curving southeast, close to Cheddar Reservoir, and ending in the suburbs of Cheddar. Past this town, the old line is as yet largely converted to a path.