evenings, look out for glow worms. worms. glow for out look evenings, Sedge Warbler Sedge

We hope you enjoy your visit! your enjoy you hope We bats and, on warm summer warm on and, bats

common spotted orchids, ferns, ferns, orchids, spotted common

the distant whistle of an approaching train! approaching an of whistle distant the

Along the line there are early and and early are there line the Along

you can almost see the engine smoke and hear hear and smoke engine the see almost can you

The railway was part of rural life for 100 years… 100 for life rural of part was railway The

clothed in oak and ash. ash. and oak in clothed

The wooded hillsides are are hillsides wooded The

a walk or cycle through a tunnel! a through cycle or walk a

range of plants and animals. animals. and plants of range

history and has abundant wildlife. It even offers offers even It wildlife. abundant has and history

conditions and a different different a and conditions

stunning Mendip Hills the route is steeped in in steeped is route the Hills Mendip stunning

limestone is reflected in drier drier in reflected is limestone

the Levels and Moors of the Northmarsh and the the and Northmarsh the of Moors and Levels the

the Mendips. The change to to change The Mendips. the

Passing through the contrasting landscapes of of landscapes contrasting the through Passing

changes as the line enters enters line the as changes

Here the landscape and scenery scenery and landscape the Here

and the road constructed at the original track level. track original the at constructed road the and

Thatchers Cider Company. Company. Cider Thatchers

A370 over the railway at could be demolished demolished be could Congresbury at railway the over A370

tradition of cider making by by making cider of tradition

The closure of the railway meant the bridge carrying the the carrying bridge the meant railway the of closure The

orchards support a long local local long a support orchards

© Gerald Peacock.

Further south, around Sandford, Sandford, around south, Further

providing valuable organic material for the fields. fields. the for material organic valuable providing

is cleared annually (a process called keeching) called process (a annually cleared is

carefully controlled by sluices whilst vegetation vegetation whilst sluices by controlled carefully

management. Water levels in the rhynes are are rhynes the in levels Water management.

farming today, is the result of centuries of of centuries of result the is today, farming Hairy Dragonfly Hairy

The Levels landscape, mainly used for cattle for used mainly landscape, Levels The

pass from one area to another. to area one from pass Marbled White Butterfly White Marbled Bat Pipistrelle

Route 26. Route

natural corridors allowing wildlife to to wildlife allowing corridors natural

heritage trail incorporating National Cycle Cycle National incorporating trail heritage

Strawberry Line itself, are important important are itself, Line Strawberry

has been upgraded to become a high quality quality high a become to upgraded been has

and bats. The rhynes, and the the and rhynes, The bats. and

from to the A38 south of Winscombe Winscombe of south A38 the to Yatton from

many varieties of butterflies, birds birds butterflies, of varieties many

With the benefit of grants the 13km section section 13km the grants of benefit the With

grass snakes, toads, newts and and newts toads, snakes, grass

The area is frequented by otters, otters, by frequented is area The

worked tirelessly to acquire the track bed. bed. track the acquire to tirelessly worked

cave spiders! cave

supported by Council, Somerset North by supported

bat species and rare rare and species bat Scientific Interest (SSSI). Interest Scientific

the Cheddar Valley Railway Walk Society, Walk Railway Valley Cheddar the

tunnel is home to several several to home is tunnel up the Biddle Street Site of Special Special of Site Street Biddle the up

When it closed to passengers in 1963 in passengers to closed it When

marl to hard limestone. The The limestone. hard to marl and ditches, known as rhynes, make make rhynes, as known ditches, and

geology from brick faced soft soft faced brick from geology The mix of tall hedgerows, rough grassland grassland rough hedgerows, tall of mix The

served the village communities along the line. line. the along communities village the served

clearly see the change in the the in change the see clearly before entering the foothills of the Mendips. Mendips. the of foothills the entering before

Wells. For nearly a century several trains a day day a trains several century a nearly For Wells.

In Shute Shelve Tunnel you can can you Tunnel Shelve Shute In The trail passes across the ancient Northmarsh Northmarsh ancient the across passes trail The

Bristol-Exeter line at Yatton with Cheddar and and Cheddar with Yatton at line Bristol-Exeter

This rural railway opened in 1869 linking the the linking 1869 in opened railway rural This biodiversity: returning wildlife returning biodiversity:

Changing landscapes… rich rich landscapes… Changing Welcome to the Strawberry Line Strawberry the to Welcome

The Strawberry Line Want to learn more? Discover the

The Bristol and Exeter Railway Company If you want to discover more about the history and secrets of the... constructed the Strawberry Line in broad wildlife of the Strawberry Line why not go to the gauge. Francis Fox, who was educated at following websites: Sidcot School near Winscombe, supervised North Somerset Council: www.n-somerset.gov.uk the construction assisted by his brother John. Yatton and Congresbury Wildlife Action Group: The first train ran on 3 August 1869 and for the www.yacwag.org.uk next 93 years there were several trains a day. Cheddar Valley Railway Walk Society: As well as the famous strawberries from Cheddar www.cheddarvalleywalk.org.uk the line was used to transport stone, milk and coal. The stations were central to village life and several Mendips Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: www.mendiphillsanob.org.uk had camping coaches allowing families to stay on holiday. Environment Agency: www.environment-agency.gov.uk Natural England: www.naturalengland.org.uk National Trust: www.nationaltrust.org.uk British Geological Society: www.bgs.ac.uk/mendips/localities/crookpeak.html © Mark Warburton.

2-6-2T No 5511 arrives at Sandford and Banwell Station with Sustrans: www.sustrans.org.uk a train from Yatton on 21 June 1958. The signalman waits to Traveline: www.traveline.org.uk exchange the single line tokens with the locomotive fireman. Heritage Trail For up to date travel services visit: The 6 mile Wrington Vale branch linked Congresbury www.n-somerset.gov.uk/transport/travel/bus/travelmap.html to Blagdon and opened in 1901. Despite early enthusiasm, however, usage of the line soon Nearest Tourist Information Centres declined and the passenger service closed in 1931 Cheddar Tourist Information Centre: although freight was carried to Wrington until 1963. 01934 744071. www.visitsomerset.co.uk Open 2 April – early November After the Second World War better roads, motor (only Sundays in Winter) vehicles and bus services led to a gradual decline in Weston-Super-Mare passengers and, despite protests, the Strawberry Line Tourist Information Centre: was closed to passengers by Doctor Beeching on 7 01934 888800. www.visitsomerset.co.uk September 1963. Open daily Easter – September (Monday – Sunday) October – Easter (Monday – Saturday)

This leaflet has been researched and written by Parkin Heritage and Tourism, designed by Imagemakers Interpretive Design & Consulting and produced for the North Somerset Council by Imagemakers. © SSPL/National Railway Museum. Family enjoying a camping coach holiday at Chedder in 1950s. Places to visit along the trail Bristol Yatton To King’s Wood Train services from 660 Congresbury A370 The 13km trail passes through contrasting Yatton YATTON Weston-super-Mare, to Portishead. Station Cadbury Hill Worle, and 351, 352, 353 landscapes and yet is close to attractive WC 1 (Local Nature Reserve) Backwell and Bristol. Weston-Super-Mare villages, all of which have visitor services re a Urchin Wood to Bristol. including pubs and restaurants, shops -M Bus services er 600 Yatton to 8 Cleve to Weston and toilets. Many offer fresh produce. -sup College. n Cribbs Causeway. to s Biddle Street 2 We SSSI Congresbury To y Station WC wa ail River Yeo t R River Yeo igh CONGRESBURY e L A37 al © R. Lacey Collection. 0 n V to A branch train from Blagdon arrives at Wrington in 1903 with three ng ri four-wheeled coaches. A total of 11,020 passenger tickets were issued f W Barn Owl t o Moor en from the station that year. nm () ig Al A coffin is loaded onto a passenger train in 1963 Congresbury to mark the end of the famous Strawberry Line. Bus services 351, 352 and 353 B313 Yatton was a well established village in Weston-super-Mare to Bristol. 3 1 8 Cleve to Weston College. Norman times with evidence of an Iron A38 601 Upper Landford to Age hill fort on Cadbury Hill. St Mary’s Cribbs Causeway. Church was built in the 14th century. X2 Nailsea to Burnham on Sea. A368 The town developed an important cattle market with the coming of the railway. CHURCHILL 2 A port in Roman times, Congresbury, locally Sandford pronounced ‘Congsbry’, owes its name to Bus Services the Celtic missionary St Congar who settled From collections of North Somerset Museum. 121 and 834 Bristol to in the area in the 5th century and is reputed © Derek Phillips. Weston-super-Mare. to have performed three miracles. St Andrew’s Early stagecoach travelling over A 0-6-0 sadddle tank with six 126 and 826 Weston-super-Mare Shute Shelf before 1850. coaches about to leave for Yatton SANDFORD (Avon Wildlife Trust) Church was built in the 13th century and the to Cheddar and Wells. 3 market cross dates from around that time. whilst a freight train, also bound 793 Bath to Weston-super-Mare. Sandford for Yatton, waits its turn. 4 WC w The town developed strong associations Hill 834 Weston-super-Mare to Stone Sandford Station with Bristol from the 16th century and this Reed Bunting Dormouse Bishops Sutton. Quarry Railway Heritage can still be seen as the Ship & Castle’s sign 835 Weston-super-Mare to Centre Sandford STAR features the Bristol coat of arms. Chewton Mendip. Wood 3 Sandford is the home of Thatchers cider Banwell Fort Plain SANDFORD which celebrated its centenary in 2004. BATCH The orchards generate over 25,000 tonnes A368 of apples a year and the produce can be Banwell sampled in the Railway Inn. Wood WINSCOMBE To Banwell SIDCOT 4 The former station building has been carefully WC w restored by St Monica Trust in the traditional Winscombe Winscombe 5 Stone Station Quarry GWR livery and has opened as a Heritage But please remember… Bus Services Centre managed by a local group. Why 121 Weston-super-Mare not pay the centre a visit? that the Strawberry Line is a heritage trail to Bristol. for walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users. 126 Weston-super-Mare Shute Shelve 5 Winscombe existed in Saxon times. Cyclists should make themselves heard and to Wells. Tunnel The Church of St James dates from the give way to walkers. Dogs should be kept 831 Weston-super-Mare Rose 15th century and is well worth a visit. under control at all times… and respect to Shipham. Way Wood A Millennium Green has been established A371 the Country Code: st Mendip Kings Wood on the former station site. We r da Leave no litter KEY Wavering d he The trail continues south across the A38 Down C Parking West Mendip Way To to the attractive town of Axbridge on the Do not pick wild flowers or disturb animals Golf Strawberry Line southern edge of the Mendip Hills, which Marbled White AXBRIDGE also has an illustrious history dating back Leave only Butterfly Angling On-road section to Roman times. footprints… WC W Toilets National Trust property take only pictures CROSS So much to enjoy… definitely worth a A38 and memories! repeat visit!

2.8 km / 1.8 miles 5.6 km / 3.5 miles 2.3 km / 1.4 miles 2.1 km / 1.3 miles Shute Shelve 2.3 km / 1.4 miles The maintenance of the Strawberry Line path Yatton J30 mins x8 mins Congresbury J60 mins x15 mins Sandford J25 mins x6 mins Winscombe J20 mins x7 mins A38 J25 mins x8 mins Axbridge is supported by Natural England through a permissive access Agri-Environment scheme.