COTSWOLD CANALS a GUIDE for USERS Eastington to Thrupp
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
STROUD VALLEYS CANAL COMPANY COTSWOLD CANALS A GUIDE FOR USERS Eastington to Thrupp Bowbridge Lock ISSUE DECEMBER 06 2019 www.stroudvalleyscanal.co.uk 2 KEY TO SYMBOLS NAVIGATION Road Railway Station HAZARDS Path (may not be Bus Stop CANAL LINE suitable for (selected) wheelchairs) Part navigable - Disability Route - Taxi Rank or office canoes etc see SVCC website Fully Navigable Railway Bridge Car Park - Navigable Infilled Railway Bridge Fuel Brown line - Not navigable shows towpath Toilets SLIP-WAY MOORINGS Toilets Disabled WINDING HOLE/ V Visitor TURNING POINT P Permanent / Showers Long Term LOCKS Launderette Lock - Navigable with FACILITIES landing stage or space Water Point Post Office Lock - Not navigable Refuse Disposal BANK Bank BRIDGES £ Modern V C Cotswold Canals Trust Cash Machine Visitor Centre Heritage Shop Heritage - Restored Cotswold Canals Trust Work Depot but not navigable Cinema FOOT Footbridge Pub E Lift - Electric Minor Injuries Unit LIFT with landing stages See p 11 Food Outlet E Lift - Electric FIXED LIFT Defibrillator Coffee Shop M Swing - Manual SWING with landing stages E Swing - Electric Vet - see p 11 SWING Hotel with landing stages INTRODUCTION 3 This guide covers a seven mile section of the Cotswold Canals. They comprise the Stroudwater Navigation to the west of Stroud and the Thames & Severn Canal to the east. In these pages you will find lots of information to help you enjoy the waterway in whatever way you choose. Much of the content will be especially helpful to boaters with essential instructions for navigation. The Cotswold Canals extend way beyond this section as you can see on the map to the right. As restoration has progressed, the canal has become more popular as a wonderful destination for those seeking the relaxing atmosphere as well as a place that’s well used by locals. Much of the work has been done by a volunteer workforce. Only the larger projects have been undertaken by contractors. Stroud Valleys Canal Company (SVCC) is responsible for the operation of the section of canal covered in this guide. SVCC asks for your understanding as they work with others to improve the waterway and its environs. Do enjoy your visit to the Cotswold Canals. DETAILS SUBJECT TO CHANGE E&OE To the best of our knowledge, the information in this guide is correct at the date of publication. Please check website for updates before planning your visit. MAJOR WORKS UNDERWAY AT DUDBRIDGE LOCKS CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR UPDATES www.stroudvalleyscanal.co.uk 4 EASTINGTON to THE OCEAN RAIL BRIDGE NAVIGATION NOTES BOATING FACILITIES Powered craft up to 32ft (9.5m) can use this SLIPWAY - Eastington short section if accessing the canal via the Requires Watermate key slipway. Limits of navigation are Pike Lock See section on Slipways on page 14 and Bonds Mill Bridge. Canoes can use the whole section. OLDBURY SERVICES FACILITIES Filling Station: 24 Hrs Dock Lock with small shop Part restored but not navigable. 01453 827309 Pike Bridge (GL10 3RT) Subway 01453 827468 New bridge in 2005 based on previous one which was demolished. The road to Starbucks 020 3510 0444 Eastington crosses. Whilst restored, the bridge is technically not navigable. Hotel: Travelodge Pike Lock www.travelodge.co.uk Part restored but not navigable. GL10 3SQ 08719 846054 Blunder Lock Navigable. EASTINGTON FACILITIES Do not leave craft unattended in this lock or leave it empty. Village is almost 1 mile from canal Bottom gates and paddles must be closed when boat passage is not underway. The Old Badger 01453 822892 www.oldbadgerinn.co.uk Newtown Lock Pub, Food and Real Ales Navigable. Kings Head 01453 822277 www.thekingsheadhouse.com Newtown Roving Bridge (GL10 3RW) Pub, Food & Rooms Navigable - Heritage brick humpbacked. Co-op (incl ATM & POST OFFICE) 01453 824785 Bonds Mill Bridge (GL10 3RF) Not navigable. Lift bridge installed in 1994 which is currently fixed down. Very limited Butcher: J Broomhall & Sons headroom - canoes should portage. 01453 823229 ‘Ocean’ Rail Bridge EASTINGTON - CANAL-SIDE Not navigable to large craft but a small culvert is passable with care by canoes and other Cotswold Canals Trust Western Depot craft with shallow draft and beam of less than (Mon & Weds mornings only) 4ft (1.2m) . Maintenance HQ, Log sales. Towpath runs through larger ‘tunnel’. Defibrillator (limited access) 5 M5 BOND’S MILL FACILITIES J13 N Cafe at the Mill 01453 828042 www.cafeatthemill.com Light snacks served weekdays A419 at heart of Bond’s Mill Estate. Oldbury Dock Services Lock V C Cotswold Canals Trust Visitor Centre - Bond’s Mill Pike Road Bridge Information centre run by To Eastington volunteers to provide 3/4 mile information about the canal 1 KM and its restoration to visitors. Learn about the history of the Pike Lock Eastington industrial estate too. Slipway & Open some summer Blunder Car Park (free) weekends - Lock check opening times at 01453 752568. www.cotswoldcanals.com Newtown Lock Newtown Newtown Roving Bridge MAP SCALE This Guide was produced to be Bond’s viewed as an A5 booket Cafe at The Mill Mill Lift Bridge Bond’s Mill A5 MAPS SCALE: E Visitor Centre 5cm to 1 km 3 ¼ inches to 1 mile V C Weekend visitors to Visitor Centre only. However, if you printed the guide Check signs! on to A4 sheets: A4 MAPS SCALE ‘Ocean’ Rail Bridge 7cm to 1km 4 inches to 1 mile 6 OCEAN RAIL BRIDGE to RYEFORD DOUBLE LOCK NAVIGATION NOTES BOATING FACILITIES Powered craft can use this section if Turning Space - The Ocean accessing the canal via the slipway at Max length 70ft - 21.3m Strachans Close - see page 8 & 14. but see notes on p8 re Dudbridge Lock P Permanent Moorings Canoes can use the whole section. Stonehouse Wharf Turning Space - Upper Mills Bridge Max length 50ft - 15.2m The Ocean Swing Bridge (GL10 3RA) Immediately to the east of the bridge Navigable. Manual Swing Bridge. Requires Windlass. Turning Space - Harpers Field Very difficult to operate at present Max length 55ft - 19.1m Nutshell Bridge (GL10 2BG) Navigable - Harper’s Field Facilities Heritage brick humpbacked P Permanent Moorings Downton Bridge (GL10 2BE) Navigable built 2000 Upper Mills Bridge (GL10 2BJ) CANALSIDE FACILITIES Navigable built 2010 Restricted height (8ft - 2.44m) Stonehouse Court Hotel 01453 794950 Skew Bridge www.stonehousecourt.co.uk Navigable ex railway bridge Dr Hayward’s Bridge (GL10 3HG) Navigable built 1997 Tunnel-like as it was built for the Ebley bypass Ryeford Road Bridge (GL10 2LE) Navigable - Heritage brick humpbacked Ryeford Swing Bridge Requires Watermate key Navigable - Manual pedestrian bridge Ryeford Double Lock Navigable - For operating instructions, see page 17 WESTERN LIMIT OF FULLY N NAVIGABLE SECTION 7 STONEHOUSE FACILITIES ft ‘Ocean’ Rail ‘Ocean’ Swing M 70 SWING 21.3m Bridge Town Centre is a quarter Bridge Stonehouse of a mile from canal at St Cyr’s Church Downton Bridge. Court Hotel Rail Station, car park, many shops, co-op Nutshell Bridge supermarket (incl. Post Office), 2 butchers, ATM, cafes, 2 pubs, P takeaways. Bridgend Stonehouse Filling station 1 mile away on Gloucester Road Downton Bridge with outdoor launderette. Upper Mills Bridge 50 ft The Woolpack RESTRICTED HEIGHT 15.2m 8ft - 2.44m 01453 822542 Pub, Food and Real Ales Nearest to canal on High Former Railway Street Skew Bridge The Globe Pub Dr Haywards 01453 297691 Bridge www.facebook.com/ Globe-Stonehouse Harpers Field facilities Stonehouse Station 55 ft P 19.1m Trains to Stroud, Ryeford Gloucester & beyond Ryeford Bridge M Buses to Stroud, SWING Ryeford Swing Bridge Gloucester & beyond Ryeford Double Lock 8 RYEFORD DOUBLE LOCK to STROUD NAVIGATION NOTES Chestnut Lane Swing-Bridge (GL5 3EB) Navigable. Electrically operated. Powered craft can use this section if Fully mechanised. Insert Watermate accessing the canal via the slipway at Key and follow instructions Strachans Close. but see notes below - Dudbridge Locks Lodgemore Lane Lift-Bridge (GL5 3EQ) Canoes can use the whole section. Navigable. Electrically operated. Insert Watermate Key and follow in- Oil Mills Bridge (GL5 4TR) structions. Navigable. Modern Structure built on DANGER - SHALLOW Depth 1.5ft heritage bridge foundation. Sewer crosses 0.5m 50 yards west of Wallbridge Lower Lock Cloth Mills Bridge (GL5 4BP) Navigable. - watch for markers Ebley Floodgate Wallbridge Lower Lock Navigable Single set of gates closed at times of high water levels - see page 18 Stroud Brewery Bridge (GL5 3JQ) Navigable under 4 lanes of road Ebley Mill Foot Bridge (GL5 4UN) Navigable Manual Swing Bridge. Wallbridge Bridge (GL5 3JS) Navigable Part heritage bridge Hilly Orchard Foot Bridge Navigable. Wallbridge Upper Lock Navigable Dudbridge Bridge (GL5 3ET) Navigable. Towpath not suitable for wheelchairs but alternate route signposted. BOATING FACILITIES Dudbridge Hydro Scheme SLIPWAY - Strachans Close Beware outfall below Dudbridge Bridge Requires Watermate key which may cause turbulence. See section on Slipways on page 14 Dudbridge Lower Lock EBLEY FACILITIES Rebuilding work under way Kitsch Coffee & Wine Bar 01453 350930 Closed to navigation until mid 2020 Canal-side Coffee Food Licensed Dudbridge Upper Lock Technically Navigable but affected by Coach & Horses 01453 825692 work on Dudbridge Lower Lock Pub TAKE CARE - Gas pipe Adequate depth Old Crown Inn 01453 821131 crosses under water for normal craft Pub 50 yards west of Chestnut Lane Bridge - watch for markers Shop: Best One Convenience Store 01453 759678 DUDBRIDGE - The towpath under Oil Mills N Dudbridge road bridge is not suitable Bridge 9 for wheelchairs. Alternate route is shown in dark