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Heading further south-east from Saul Junction there are several little pieces in good shape, and a lot of repair work ongoing. You can read all about that work right here in this second article.
Saul Junction
As mentioned in the previous article, the Stroudwater Navigation continues straight across the much larger Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. Looking south-east across the ship canal you can clearly see Stroudwater Navigation continuing, not only full of water, but still in use. We’ll cross the footbridge and follow it from that point. (Hint: Click the map icons for larger, draggable and scalable versions. Click the photos for full size, too.)
Walking south-east across the footbridge (see pointer on map) there is a right-hand bend and then an opening from the canal to a thriving marina.
The canal itself is very wide at this point and there are many moored boats alongside the towpath, The photo shows the widened Stroudwater Navigation in the foreground and the marina entrance. From here, the towpath continues to Walk Bridge.
Originally built as a swing bridge, Walk Bridge was replaced by a concrete and brick constuction, so a new opening bridge must be constructed to replace it. Cross the road and it’s clear that the canal is still in water at this point, but there’s no towpath. Enter the field by the stile, turn left, and walk diagonally across the field to the far side leaving the canal behind and to your right.
This brings us to Whitminster Bridge and Lock where there’s another glimpse of the canal’s remains. The photo below shows the point marked on the map. Turning a couple of metres right along the farm track will give you a view of the old canal lock. There was another swing bridge at this point.
The small footpath to the left in the photo is part of the towpath and this is the route to take next. As you follow this path you’ll see the River Frome on your left. The canal has been filled in and would have been on the right.
The path and the river both bend to the right and then the path enters a strip of woodland along the river bank.
Through the wood
The path is poor, with large potholes filled with mud after prolonged rain. Care is needed and there are many roots that form real trip hazards, but the woodland doesn’t continue for very long (250 m or so) so slow and careful won’t reduce progress very much overall.
Once again, the river and footpath bend to the right, look for a concrete farm bridge (photo) across the river and take it, you’ll soon have the canal on your right. There was an aqueduct close to this point where the canal crossed over the river, but it no longer exists and the canal has been filled in for a short distance.
The map marker points to the bridge mentioned above; if you expand the map you can see the end of the woodland at top left and the canal section in water as well as the filled in part.
The next major feature is a crossroads of tracks and footpaths, there’s a post here with a blue Cotswold Canals sign which you should follow. The canal is in water again at this point, stand on the track where it crosses the canal and you can see it for a long way in both directions. you’ll also have a clear view of the canal as you continue along the towpath (photo). At the time of writing dredging work is underway on some days. If you’re unlucky parts of the towpath will be closed and you’ll be redirected. But most likely it will be open (and is always open at weekends and on summer evenings).
On to the bridge and pillbox
The final section of this walk is quite straightforward – just keep following the towpath. There are some interesting things along the way though, and an unexpected treat at the end as well. On your way you may see evidence of the dredging work still active along this section.
When you come to a stile, cross it into the next field and continue on the towpath. A little further and you’ll notice a large pipe acros the canal and just beyond it a brick-built bridge, this is ‘Occupation Bridge’. The pipeline was constructed during World War II, part of a network to carry aviation fuel for the RAF. It is still in use and will need to be diverted beneath the canal.
Beyond the bridge you’ll find a pillbox (also WW II) near the right bank of the waterway, and shortly afterwards you’ll arrive at the destination for this article, the A38 roundabout. Here comes the unexpected treat I mentioned earlier. Make your way through the galvanised steel gate and turn left, a short downhill scramble. Here you can pick up the towpath again and explore a newly built section of canal crossing the centre of the roundabout. So astonishing to see a newly built canal in the middle of a major intersection!
The canal here was built by National Highways who also constructed the roundabout. When you reach the far side you’ll see that the canal currently ends at this point. The ‘Missing Mile’ begins here and we’ll explore it in the next article, ‘Canal Walk 3’.
See also:
- Exolum fuel pipeline – Wikipedia
- Historic maps online – National Library of Scotland
- Map images © OpenStreetMap – OpenStreetMap
- More about the Stroudwater Canal – Cotswold Canals Trust*
- Recent events – The Restoration Blog
- Photos, history and more – Cotswold Canals in Pictures
*This is a great source of canal images, history and all sorts of detail. Highly recommended and well worth exploring!
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