29 October 2024

A Surrey boardwalk, restored by the local community following a devastating fire, has won the title of Britain’s Favourite Path.

The path at Thursley Common was nominated after Britain’s walking charity, the Ramblers, asked the public to help find Britain’s Favourite Path this summer. The competition was designed to shine a spotlight on the lesser-known paths that people love to walk, and why they are special.

Michelle Presley, who won the competition said “I was absolutely thrilled... I want the people who put so much into protecting and conserving Thursley Common to be recognised. It’s important, looking after places and paths like this, because how do people fall in love with a place if they're not able to go and visit it? I just loved the way the whole community came together after the fire to bring it back. It might be one of the underdogs, but it's a little hidden gem.” 

Jack Cornish, Head of Paths at the Ramblers and head judge for the competition said “We have an incredible network of paths in Britain, from long distance hiking trails to quiet city cut throughs. At the Ramblers, our mission is to open the way for everyone to get out walking, so through this competition we wanted to celebrate the paths that are cherished by communities but often overlooked. The winning path at Thursley Common is easy for everyone to use, helps people connect to nature and really brings the local community together. It’s a picture-perfect path, with a powerful story behind it.”

Thursley boardwalk is part of Thursley National Nature Reserve (NNR) which is managed by Natural England.

James Giles, Natural England said “I’m delighted that the boardwalk is being celebrated by the public and recognised as a special place to enjoy the countryside. In over 20 years managing Thursley National Nature Reserve, I have seen how popular this walk is – it’s highly accessible and loved by locals. What’s even more special is the history of this boardwalk. It was sadly destroyed by a wildfire in 2020, but having benefitted from a huge community restoration project and reopened, it’s stood the test of time. If we look after this natural space with the help of responsible walkers, it can be enjoyed by generations to come”.

As well as winning a £200 Cotswold Outdoor voucher, Michelle will see her winning path featured on a billboard next year, as the Ramblers celebrates 90 years of fighting for everyone’s right to access nature and get out walking.

Across Britain, there are around 200,000 miles of mapped paths for people to explore and enjoy. For almost 90 years, the Ramblers have been opening the way for everyone to get out and explore them with confidence. Thousands of Ramblers volunteers, who are at the heart of their communities, work alongside local authorities to protect and maintain public paths. Without this vital work, paths can become blocked, lost or impassable.