STROUD VALLEYS CANAL COMPANY COTSWOLD CANALS A GUIDE FOR USERS Eastington to Thrupp 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 Green 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. There are still finishing touches to be made and lots of ongoing maintenance. 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. 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 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. Do not leave craft unattended in this lock or EASTINGTON FACILITIES leave it empty. Bottom gates and paddles must be closed Village is almost 1 mile from canal when boat passage is not underway. The Old Badger 01453 822892 Newtown Lock www.oldbadgerinn.co.uk Pub, Food and Real Ales Navigable. Kings Head 01453 822277 Newtown Roving Bridge www.thekingsheadhouse.com Navigable - Heritage brick humpbacked. Pub, Food & Rooms Co-op Bonds Mill Bridge 01453 824785 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 1 Mile information about the canal and its restoration to visitors. Learn about the history of the Pike Lock Eastington industrial estate too. Slipway & Open some weekends - Blunder Car Park (free) check opening times at Lock 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 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 70ft - 21.3m Nutshell Bridge Navigable - Harper’s Field Facilities Heritage brick humpbacked P Permanent Moorings Downton Bridge Navigable built 2000 Upper Mills Bridge 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 Navigable built 1997 Tunnel-like as it was built for the Ebley bypass Ryeford Road Bridge 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. Rail St Cyr’s Church Station, car park, many Court Hotel shops, co-op supermarket (incl. Post Nutshell Bridge Office), 2 butchers, ATM, cafes, 2 pubs, takeaways. Bridgend P Filling station 1 mile Stonehouse away on Gloucester Road with outdoor Downton Bridge 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 70 ft P 21.3m 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 Lodgemore Lane Lift-Bridge Navigable. Electrically operated. Powered craft can use this section if Insert Watermate Key and follow in- accessing the canal via the slipway at structions. Strachans Close. but see notes below - Dudbridge Locks DANGER - SHALLOW Depth 1.5ft Canoes can use the whole section. Sewer crosses 0.5m 50 yards west of Wallbridge Lower Lock Oil Mills Bridge - watch for markers Navigable. Modern Structure built on heritage bridge foundation. Wallbridge Lower Lock Navigable Cloth Mills Bridge Navigable. Stroud Brewery Bridge Navigable under 4 lanes of road Ebley Floodgate Single set of gates closed at times of Wallbridge Bridge Navigable high water levels - see page 18 Part heritage bridge Ebley Mill Foot Bridge Navigable Wallbridge Upper Lock Navigable Manual Swing Bridge. Hilly Orchard Foot Bridge Navigable. BOATING FACILITIES Dudbridge Bridge - Navigable. Towpath not suitable for wheelchairs SLIPWAY - Strachans Close but alternate route signposted. Requires Watermate key See section on Slipways on page 14 Dudbridge Hydro Scheme Beware outfall below Dudbridge Bridge which may cause turbulence. Dudbridge Lower Lock EBLEY FACILITIES Heavily Restricted Use! Phone 07986 351412 if passage is planned Kitsch Coffee & Wine Bar 01453 350930 Dudbridge Upper Lock Canal-side Navigable Coffee Food Licensed DANGER - SHALLOW Depth 2.0 ft Gas pipe crosses 0.6m Coach & Horses 01453 825692 50 yards west of Chestnut Lane Bridge - Pub, Bar Snacks lunchtime watch for markers Old Crown Inn 01453 821131 Chestnut Lane Swing-Bridge Pub Navigable. Electrically operated. Fully mechanised. Insert Watermate Shop: Best One Convenience Store Key and follow instructions 01453 759678 DUDBRIDGE - The towpath under Oil Mills N Dudbridge road bridge is not suitable Bridge 9 for wheelchairs. Alternate route is shown in green dots. Best One Convenience Store DUDBRIDGE FACILITIES Cloth Mills Coach & Horses Accessed from Dudbridge Bridge Old Crown Inn Road Bridge Ebley Filling Station - M Ebley Floodgates see p 18 Dudbridge Garage incl. Spar Conven- SWING Ebley Swing Foot Bridge ience Store Kitsch 01453 762345 Coffee & Wine Bar Sainsbury’s