Cotswold Canals Route
This Routes covers:
- Thames and Severn Canal
- Stroudwater Navigation
Including:
- River Thames at Lechlade
- Sapperton Tunnel
- Saul Junction
Description of the Route
Cotswold Canals
This name is used to describe the combined route of the Thames and Severn Canal and the Stroudwater Navigation which once provided a through route from the River Thames to the River Severn. The route is being restored when it will again be possible to navigate from Thames to Severn.
Thames and Severn Canal
The Thames and Severn Canal starts at the junction with the River Thames at Lechlade. This is the practical limit of navigation for boats heading upstream on the Thames. Although the statutory right of navigation on the Thames extends to Cricklade the passage can only be made in very small boats and canoes.
At the roundhouse to the west of Lechlade the Thames and Severn Canal diverges to the right and climbs through locks 44-42 to reach Dudgrove and a long pound. Climbing through locks 41-40, where a short new section of canal will be required as the original routes has been lost in a road scheme, we reach the junction with the North Wiltshire Canal (also under restoration) near Latton.
The canal continues the climb through locks 39-29 when the summit level is reached. The former Cirencester Branch diverges to the right at the start of the summit level. There are no plans to restore this branch.
Sapperton Tunnel is at the end of the Summit Pound. Some 3817 yards (3490m) long this was the longest canal tunnel at the time of its construction.
Shortly after the tunnel the descent begins towards the Severn from lock 28, passing the roundhouse near lock 13, to lock 1 at Stroud.
The canal and railway both run close together towards Stroud as they share the valley of the River Frome. Finally the canal meets end on with the Stroudwater Canal near Stroud.
Stroudwater Navigation
The Stroudwater Navigation starts on the outskirts of Stroud where it meets the Thames and Severn Canal. It descends through locks 1-10 until the line of the canal is blocked by the M5 and A38 roads. Restoration of the canal will require a route to be found under these roads.
After lock 11 the canal reaches Saul Junction where it meets the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. Today you can navigate south to Sharpness where a lock allows access to the tidal River Severn or north through Gloucester to the rest of the canal network.
The Stroudwater Navigation once continued beyond Saul Junction to make its own connection with the River Severn. There are no plans to restore this section of the canal, although you can still walk along most of the route and enjoy the fine views over the River Severn.
History
The Stroudwater Canal was opened in 1779 from the River Severn at Framilode to Stroud. In 1789 the Thames and Severn Canal completed the link to join the River Thames at Inglesham near Lechlade.
This included the construction of Sapperton Tunnel some 3817 yards (3490m) long which was the longest canal tunnel at that date. Even now there are only 2 longer tunnels in this country.
Competition from the developing railways closed the canal east of Chalford in 1893. Some restoration work continued in the early 1900s but the canal was formally abandoned in 1927.
In 1966 British Waterways undertook a study into the benefits of restoration, commissioned by Gloucestershire County Council.
Now the Cotswold Canals Partnership is working to restore navigation from the River Thames to the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal.
Dimensions and Features
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(NOTE these canals are under restoration and NOT navigable) |
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Thames and Severn Canal
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Length: Beam: Headroom: Speed Limit |
65' 0" 12' 0" 8' 0" 4 mph |
19.81 m 3.65 m 2.43 m 6.4 kph |
Locks: Miles: Moveable Bridges: Tunnels: Hours (single journey): |
44 29 (46 km) 3 1 25 |
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Stroudwater Navigation
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Length: Beam: Headroom: Speed Limit |
65' 0" 12' 0" 8' 0" 4 mph |
19.81 m 3.65 m 2.43 m 6.4 kph |
Locks: Miles: Moveable Bridges: Tunnels: Hours (single journey): |
11 7 (12 km) 6 0 7 |
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Operator
British Waterways |
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South West |
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Address: |
Harbour House West Quay The Docks Gloucester GL1 2LG |
Phone: Fax: Email: |
01452 318 000 01452 318 076 |
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General |
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BW Emergency: |
0800 47 999 47 |
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Links
DVDs
Waterway Routes produces a DVD filmed along the route of the Cotswold Canals.
Your chance to sit back and relax as you watch our progress from the River Thames at Lechalde to Saul Junction and the River Severn.
Walks
Waterway Walks produces a set of 10 walking booklets based along the route of the Cotswold Canals.
Each has photographic directions and a map with added descriptions and all packed into a shower proof clear plastic wallet.