Thursley Common Boardwalk in Surrey Voted Britain’s Favourite Path

The Thursley Common boardwalk, located in Elstead, Surrey, has been selected as Britain’s favourite path following a competition organized by The Ramblers, a walking charity. This boardwalk, which previously suffered destruction from a wildfire, received its nomination from Michelle Presley, who spent her formative years exploring the area on foot. More than 600 paths from England, Wales, and Scotland were initially put forward for consideration. Judges then narrowed this extensive list to a shortlist of eight, from which the public cast their votes to determine the winner. Commenting on the boardwalk’s recognition, Ms. Presley stated: “It might be one of the underdogs, but it’s a little hidden gem.” In May 2020, a fire devastated the boardwalk, extending across over 20 hectares of surrounding woodland. Ms. Presley expressed her desire for recognition for “the people who put so much into protecting and conserving Thursley Common.” She further remarked, “I just loved the way the whole community came together after the fire to bring it back.” Measuring 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) in length, the boardwalk is an integral component of the Thursley National Nature Reserve, which falls under the management of Natural England. James Giles, representing Natural England, conveyed his pleasure, stating: “I’m delighted that the boardwalk is being celebrated by the public and recognised as a special place to enjoy the countryside.” The Ramblers organized this competition with the aim of highlighting less prominent paths cherished by local communities. Jack Cornish, who served as the head judge, described the path as “picture-perfect” and noted it possessed a “powerful story behind it.” Among the eight paths that made the final shortlist were The Pennine Way in the Midlands, Hafren Forest in Wales, and The Clyde Walkway in Scotland. As a reward for her nomination, Ms. Presley is set to receive a Cotswold Outdoor voucher, and the path will be showcased on a billboard during the upcoming year. To stay updated, follow BBC Surrey on Facebook and X. Story ideas can be submitted to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 08081 002250. This content is Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Further details regarding our approach to external linking are available.