Gloucestershire Tourist Guide - Articles

The Cotswold Canals traverse some of the most beautiful parts of the country. A long distance footpath, the Thames & Severn Way, links the Rivers Severn and Thames following as closely as possible the towpath of the Stroudwater Navigation and Thames & Severn Canal.

This footpath begins at Framilode church on the banks of the River Severn, near the entrance to the Stroudwater Navigation and ends at Halfpenny Bridge, spanning the River Thames at Lechlade, just downstream from the end of the Thames & Severn Canal at Inglesham. Between these two rivers lie 36 miles of wonderful and contrasting scenery.

Leaving the River Severn's own long distance footpath, the Severn Way, the level farmland of the river gives way to the gentle rise in the land towards Stroud, past mills, former railway lines, hanging woods and rushing water. The junction of the two canals, in their urban setting at Wallbridge Stroud, contrasts the narrowing valley of the River Frome as the climb towards the summit pound of the Cotswold Canals begins in earnest.

The Stroudwater Navigation approaches Stroud's suburbs and at Wallbridge, once the terminal basin, becomes the Thames & Severn Canal. The Thames & Severn passes very close to the town centre as it continues its slow climb to the summit level.

The "alpine" village of Chalford marks the entrance to the Golden Valley - an autumn visit confirms the name. Locks come thick and fast as the valley becomes ever steeper and narrower until, finally, the summit pound is reached at a height of 310 feet above sea level at Daneway.

The canal passes through the Cotswold Hills in Sapperton Tunnel but the Thames & Severn Way follows the towing horses over the hills to the Coates portal and on to the source of the River Thames which marks the end of the Thames Long Distance Footpath.

The summit level twists and turns along the contours through open countryside and comes close to Cirencester as it begins a more gradual descent into the Thames Valley through flights of locks at Siddington and South Cerney. Beyond Cerney Wick Lock is Latton Junction where the former North Wilts Canal wound its way round Cricklade to Swindon and joined the Wilts & Berks Canal either to Abingdon on the Thames or Semington on the Kennet & Avon Canal.

The Thames and Severn Canal now passes through remote countryside as it heads towards the River Thames. It passes Eisey Manor and the village of Kempsford before reaching the last of five round houses which overlooks the junction with the river at Inglesham, near Lechlade. This spot is best approached from Lechlade along the Thames-side path or better still, by boat!

The volunteers of the Cotswold Canals Trust have established a Heritage Centre at Saul Junction, which is open on Saturday and Sunday afternoons throughout the year and on Sunday mornings from April to October. Trust members have long campaigned for the restoration of the Stroudwater and Thames & Severn Canals, and the Centre aims to inform visitors about the history of the link to the Thames and the prospects for re-establishing it. The Trust volunteers also welcome the public on their boat Perseverance, on weekends during the summer. To promote additional public interest in the restoration project, the Trust organises the Saul Canal Festival in July each year. Click the link below for more informatio on the Cotswold Canals Trust.