Objective: cycle the canal from Saul Junction to Brimscombe, in both directions.

Trip Type: solo cycle, there and back

Distance: 23.4 miles (approx. 12 miles each way)

Time to complete: 3 hours 15 minutes

Nicholson Guide: Guide 2, pp 156-161

Costs: Pay & Display if using a car park

Difficulty: easy

Adjacent rides: Gloucester to Sharpness

Overview

A beautiful and fascinating stretch of canal, originally serving the mills and other industry of Stroud, and linking the River Severn in the west to the River Thames via the Thames & Severn Canal extension.

Easy to ride with good towpaths, lovely scenery, and plenty of stopping points. Some sections are under restoration so the towpath may be closed. The directions given are as of November 2021, with Phase 1b restoration underway. Towpath access will change as this progresses.

Start at any point that suits: pay & display parking at Saul Visitor Centre, GL2 7LA is convenient if arriving by car (directions assume you park here). Railway stations close to the canal are Stonehouse and Stroud.

1. Saul Marina to Stroud (8 miles)

If parking at Saul Visitor Centre continue up to the boat club and cross the footbridge. Walk your bike past the marina up to the road bridge. Alternatively, head back to the excellent Stables Café then cross the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal on Church Lane. At the end turn left on Whitminster Lane. Continue to the Stroudwater bridge.

There is no towpath (or indeed canal) along this section, so continue along the road, which becomes School Lane. At the A38 cross CAREFULLY, and continue on Grove Lane, crosses over the A5, to the roundabout on the A419.

Note: there is a footpath along the former route of the canal, but it is not suitable for cycling. There are plans to restore the section.

Cross the roundabout onto Spring Hill, where you can join the towpath. As of November 2021 you can only go as far as Bond’s Mill, where you must head back to the A419, cross and continue past terraced houses and a footpath as far as Stonehouse Court. Cross the main road and head past Stonehouse Court back to the canal.

Continue past the beautiful St. Cyr church opposite. The towpath continues through Stonehouse and Ryeford to Stroud, passing the best canalside redevelopment I’ve seen, along with superb canalside buildings, mills and industrial architecture.

2. Stroud to Brimscombe (4 miles)

The towpath is a little rough and narrow in places, but still generally very good. There is a tricky sharp slope under the Dudbridge Road bridge by the new Lidl store.

About 400m past Dudbridge Road is the railway viaduct. Double back up the slope just under Dr. Newton’s Way, cross the canal, go under the viaduct, and bear right to eventually rejoin the towpath. This is all well signed to Brimscombe.

At Bowbridge Lock there are awkward steps under the bridge, so use the wheelchair access route, and rejoin the towpath at the end of the newbuild houses.

Continue along the disused sections (the towpath is still decent) to The Ship Inn at Brimscombe Wharf, where the canal disappears completely.

You passed the Stroud brewery on the way, so treat yourself to organic beer and food on the way back (12 miles in total back to Saul Junction).