Thames & Severn Way 2
Route facts
Waterways:
Thames & Severn Canal »
Distance: 9.5 miles / 15 km
Duration: Four hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Suitable for: Everyone
Starts at: Wallbridge, Stroud, Gloucestershire
Ends at: Sapperton Tunnel, Gloucestershire
The Cotswold Canals traverse some of the most beautiful parts of the Cotswold countryside. A countryside of hills and valleys and flowing water, where the abundant mills once gave the area prime importance in the woollen industry, and indeed provided the necessity for the canals. A long distance footpath links the rivers Severn and Thames following as closely as possible the towpath of the Stroudwater Canal and Thames & Severn Canal - the Thames & Severn Way.
The Thames & Severn Way begins on the banks of the River Severn and ends at Halfpenny Bridge spanning the River Thames at Lechlade, just downstream from the end of the Thames & Severn Canal at Inglesham. Between them lie 36 miles of the most wonderful and contrasting scenery.
This second stage of the walk starts at the junction of the two canals in their urban setting at Wallbridge, Stroud. The narrowing valley of the River Frome then makes a highly scenic contrast as the climb towards the summit pound of the canal begins in earnest.
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.
The walk is reproduced by kind permission of Richard Attwood and the Cotswold Canals Trust. It is split into four stages, each just under ten miles long.
[Thames_Severn_Way_1River_Severn_to_Wallbridge.html Stage 1], [Thames_Severn_Way_2Wallbridge_to_Sapperton.html Stage 2] [Thames_Severn_Way_3Sapperton_to_Cotswold_Water_Park.html Stage 3] [Thames_Severn_Way_4Cotswold_Water_Park_to_Lechlade.html Stage 4]
Getting there
Parking: Parking is available in Stroud town centre and (for customers) in the car park of the Daneway and Tunnel House inns at each end of Sapperton Tunnel.
Waypoints
1. Wallbridge
The Thames & Severn Canal begins at Wallbridge, in Stroud. If you are continuing from the Stroudwater Navigation, follow the path to the left of the large green steel structure to Wallbridge Lower Lock. Continue along the towpath and across the A46 road to Wallbridge Middle Wharf, which is a good starting point for those joining the walk. Pass the restored Wallbridge Upper Lock, and the Bell Hotel, and continue on to where the canal stops at the "dry" bridge under Dr. Newtons Way. Pass under the bridge and follow the footpath under the railway viaduct and over the old rubbish tip to re-join the towpath at the River Frome aqueduct. Follow the towpath past Arundel Mill pond.
2. Bowbridge Lock
Continue along the canal past Bowbridge Lock (1113/857044) and Griffin Mill Lock. Just past the lock is the very attractive Jubilee Bridge. Continue on past Ham Mill Lock to the Air Plants factory. The factory site covers Hope Mill Lock and was once the thriving Abdella & Mitchell boatyard, where ocean-going vessels were built in parts and shipped down the canal for assembly. Follow the towpath past Goughs' Orchard Lock to the Ship Inn at Brimscombe.
3. Brimscombe Port
The Thames & Severn Way now crosses the historic site of Brimscombe Port. From the Ship Inn cross over the road and follow the factory road for a short way and then straight on along a footpath to the A419 opposite the Brimscombe shops. Turn right along the footpath and turn right again just before the office entrance to the Fenworth factory.
4. Road beside River Frome
Walk down the path and turn left around the offices. Note the plaque recording this site as being Brimscombe Port and a plate from a milepost on the factory wall. Walk across the parking area to join the road which follows the River Frome. Follow at first the road and then a footpath, with the river to the right, along the edge of the old port to Bourne Lock.
5. Bourne Lock
Walk under the arch of the railway viaduct and follow the towpath past Beales Lock to St Mary's Lock. This lock is named after the nearby St Mary's Mill. The railway crossing at the former St Mary's Halt above the lock is listed and cannot, therefore, be automated. The embankment blocking navigation at the head of the lock was once spanned by a massive wooden viaduct designed in 1845 by the great Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel as part of the Cheltenham & Great Western Union Railway. From St Mary's Lock pass through the tube under the railway line and continue along the towpath past Illes Lock and the infilled Ballingers Lock, which has a row of garages built on it.
6. Chalford Round House
Just past the infilled Ballingers Lock comes the first of five round houses along the canal. Some roofs are upwardly conical, like this one. Others have downwards conical roofs which acted as a funnel to gather rainwater for storage in underground tanks. Note the plate from a milepost above the culvert leading into the canal opposite the round house.
7. James Smart advert
The end wall of the first building past the culvert has the faint remains of an advertisement on it. This is best seen from Chalford Church up on the A419. The advertisement reads "James Smart........ Boats, Barges.......". Passing below the James Smart advert the canal disappears and only the towpath remains following road widening in the 1950s. Chapel Lock lies buried in the grass verge opposite the Noah's Ark cycle shop. The towpath follows the boundary wall of the onetime Bliss Mills complex past Chalford Chairs factory to the crossing of the A419. The copious springs flowing into the canal are part of what is known locally as the 'Black Gutter'.
8. A419 road crossing
Cross the A419 and pass the infilled Bell Lock. The head of the lock can still be seen although the rest of the lock chamber was filled in as part of the Cowcombe Hill road widening and straightening in the 1930s. Follow the towpath past Clowes Bridge and Red Lion Lock. The track over the bridge and up the hillside was closed by the building of the railway. The top of the offside bottom quoin has carved in it the inscription "Herbert Stansfield, 4 December 1784": he was the stone mason who built this lock. The canal now clings to the edge of the valley to avoid what was once the millpond of Sevilles Mill and is now usually patrolled by a flock of geese. Like the millpond, the mill has also vanished. The canal becomes wide and reedy and is fed by more outflows of the Black Gutter.
9. Valley Lock
Valley Lock lies above a mill leat which now the main course of the River Frome. The remains of the mill culverts and the circular marks made by a water wheel can be seen just below the lock. All of the locks from Valley Lock, over the summit, to Wildmoorway Lower Lock were shortened soon after the canal was opened to save water. They were shortened by building new top gate recesses over an arched extension to the top cill. "Double top gate recesses" are a unique feature of the Thames & Severn Canal. The Thames and Severn Way now enters the Golden Valley and the steep climb to the summit pound begins. This is the most heavily locked section of the canal and perhaps the most picturesque, passing Bakers Mill Locks and reservoir, Puck Mill Locks, Whitehall Locks, Bathursts Meadow Lock, Siccarage Wood Locks with their side ponds and finally the Daneway Locks.
10. Daneway Inn
The Daneway Inn, whose car park is the infilled top lock, marks the start of the summit pound at 106 metres (310 feet) above sea level. The now level towpath winds along the hillside to the Daneway Portal of Sapperton Tunnel. This Gothic structure has been restored to its former glory by stone masons commissioned by the Cotswold Canals Trust and English Heritage: boats once passed through into Sapperton Tunnel, which passes for 3.5 kilometres at a maximum depth of 70 metres under the Cotswold Hills. There is no towpath in the tunnel, so you can end the walk here, or continue across the hill to rejoin the canal at the eastern portal.
11. Sapperton Tunnel (Daneway Portal)
To cross the hill, follow the Thames & Severn Way above the portal and diagonally up across the field towards Sapperton village, following the route taken by the horses. The field path turns into an upwards path between the cottages. At the road, turn left towards St Kenelms Church and then turn right at the church up the lane past the Bell Inn. Follow the lane out of the village, turn right and after 100 metres turn left at the cross roads. The clumps of beech trees on top of small mounds mark construction shafts to the canal tunnel below. These shafts are capped by rotting timber and earth covers and are very dangerous. Do not investigate these mounds. Follow the road for one kilometre and then follow the path downwards across the field on the right. Cross the A419 and the opposite field to enter Hailey Woods. Follow the track through the wood passing through the bridge under 'God's Wonderful Railway' to arrive at the Tunnel House Inn and the Coates Portal.
Other stages
Thames & Severn Way 2
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