Stroudwater Canal Walk

7.8 miles (12.5 km)

This walk follows the Stroudwater Canal from Saul Junction Canal to Stroud. The route follows the Thames and Severn Way east from Saul, passing along the old canal and the River Frome to Churchend.... Here you rejoin the canal and continue past Stonehouse into Stroud.
The Stroudwater Navigation was completed in 1779 to link the woollen mills of Stroud with the River Severn, providing an important transport route for cloth, coal, timber and agricultural goods. Today much of the canal has been carefully restored, while other sections are being rebuilt as part of one of Britain's largest inland waterway restoration projects. The walk combines peaceful canal towpaths with riverside paths, offering an excellent introduction to the history and scenery of the Stroud Valleys.
Between Saul Junction and Churchend the Thames and Severn Way provides an attractive alternative where parts of the original canal were lost to modern road construction. The route follows the River Frome through open meadows, wetlands and quiet countryside before returning to the restored navigation. Kingfishers, herons, swans and dragonflies are regularly seen along both the river and canal, while the surrounding hedgerows and grasslands support a rich variety of wildlife.
Beyond Stonehouse the canal becomes increasingly urban, passing restored locks, historic bridges and former mill buildings that reflect the area's industrial heritage. The final section leads into Stroud, one of the Cotswolds' best-known market towns. The town is renowned for its thriving arts scene, award-winning farmers' market, independent shops and cafés, and its rich textile history, with many historic mills surviving alongside the River Frome and canal.