Britain's Favourite Path

Which path will be crowned Britain’s favourite this summer?

This summer, we’ve been on the hunt for Britain’s Favourite Path. And with the help of hundreds of entrants and thousands of voters, we’ve found it.

Whether criss-crossing the countryside or weaving through our cities, paths have connected us with nature, and each other, for centuries. It’s time for them to have their moment in the sun. So over the summer, we teamed up with Cotswold Outdoor to find Britain’s favourite.

From July until 8 September, we invited people from all across Great Britain to send us a picture of their favourite path and explain why they love it so much.

Hundreds of you got in touch and we treasured seeing every single one.

After that, our panel of expert judges weighed in, whittling down all of the fantastic entries we received into a shortlist of eight.

Then it was over to the public, with thousands of votes cast from all over Britain.

Now, all that remains is to crown the winner. So without further ado, we’re thrilled to present Britain’s Favourite Path, Thursley Common boardwalk in Surrey.

the winning britain's favourite path image of thursley common

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When we kicked off this competition, we wanted to give our fantastic paths, tracks and trails their moment in the spotlight and find out what they mean to the public.

It’s fair to say we were blown away by the response we received – it was an honour to look so many fantastic photos and read many wonderful, and often personal, stories.

And while the competition may be closed, that doesn’t mean you can’t explore some of the very best entries we received, a testament to the wonderful variety of paths we have across Britain.

The shortlist

East England, The Pegsdon Hills

"These small chalk downs offer beautiful views over the surrounding area and are a haven of wildlife. Walking there lifts my spirits, every single time I visit."

Midlands, Pennine Way

"The path connects past and future and weaves together the history of our common pasture land. It speaks of a distinct and clear beauty that has been fought and cared for. It speaks of hope."

North West England, Loughrigg Fell to Todd Crag

"The path from Loughrigg Fell to Todd Crag holds a special place in my heart, not just for its breath-taking views but for the deep connection I’ve built with this landscape over the years."

Scotland, The Clyde Walkway

"This stunning path is called the Clyde Walkway. It meanders some 40 miles through rural, industrial and urban Lanarkshire, through towns and countryside, passing churches, farms and spectacular views of Lanarkshire."

South East England, Thursley Common

"I grew up in Elstead so have walked this area all my life and when I was young the wetlands didn't exist, they have evolved overtime, with the help of conservation, bringing a vast range of wildlife & the beauty of nature to the common."

South West England, South West Coast Path

"I started walking the South West Coast Path a couple of years ago while waiting for cancer treatment to start. I promised myself that when I was through treatment, I would complete a walk to Lands End from my home in Hampshire. Last year I got to Lands End."

Wales, Hafren Forest

"Last year, I struggled a lot with my depression and worked so hard to find myself again. Hafren Forest is a beautiful place and made me fall back in love with nature. And for that, it holds a special place in my heart."

Want to find out more about our network of paths, tracks and trails? Unsure of the difference between a byway and a bridleway? Download our free guide to our paths tracks and trails to find out the amazing history of our path network and why we’re making such a noise about them.