This comprises about 10 miles of canal from Walk Bridge, close to Saul Junction, through open countryside, the towns of Stonehouse and Stroud and beyond to just past Bagpath Bridge, close to Stroud Brewery, Brimscombe.
Unpowered craft (canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, rowing boats) are welcome on our canal provided they are removed by the end of each day. We do not currently have a licensing requirement for unpowered craft.
Outboard motors below 2.5hp or the electric equivalent may be used.
Work is underway to restore our canal and reconnect it to the national network. It is now planned to achieve this in 2029 with the completion of the current phase of the Cotswold Canals Connected project. The location, number and type of moorings together with facilities for boaters, which will be available at that stage, have yet to be confirmed. Please note that moorings along the towpath side are for use by workboats and CCT trip boats. We do not have visitor moorings prior to reconnection to the national network.
Long term and visitor moorings are planned at points along the canal at locations that are yet to be confirmed. If you wish to express an interest in a long term mooring, please complete this form and email it to admin@stroudvalleyscanal.org to register your interest.
Please note that a long term mooring would not entitle you to permanently live aboard. We will keep a record of expressions of interest in long term moorings and invite applications at the appropriate time. We will require any boaters to whom we grant a mooring to have insurance, a boat safety certificate, proof of identity and residential address and pay fees that will be set by the company.
The only location at which it is envisaged that some future residential moorings, where permanent occupation would be permissible, will be at Brimscombe Port.
Since 2004 plans has been discussed for a mixed use development including a port basin, re-opened canal, energy efficient housing, employment, visitor and community facilities.
Stroud District Council remains committed to this development and is seeking ways to deliver the project following withdrawal of the previous developer in 2025. Unfortunately no timescale can currently be given for development of Brimscombe Port, other than to say that it will be beyond reconnection of the canal to the national network.
Under no circumstances should unauthorised craft be craned into the canal. Those with a permitted long term mooring may crane in. Any other boat found to be craned it without having first obtained a long term mooring, will be treated as unlicenced, and that Stroud Valleys Canal Company reserves the right to remove such craft from our canal and to dispose of them to recover costs we incur in the process.
Stroud Valleys Canal Company is the navigation authority for the canal making it responsible for licencing, moorings and the management and removal of hazards to navigation. Boaters should also appreciate that facilities for boaters are currently almost non-existent. There is a water point by the towpath at Ebley, but that is all. There is currently neither pump out nor Elsan disposal facility.
There are no designated waste disposal points, and there are no arrangements in place for car parking. There are restrictions relating ongoing restoration.
It should be noted that an old sewer pipe immediately west of Wallbridge restricts passage until its removal by Severn Trent. There are currently two winding holes: one at The Ocean and one at Capel’s Mill. In 2026 a third is being constructed just beyond Bagpath Bridge at a location opposite Stroud Brewery. This is likely to be close to the end point of navigable canal for the foreseeable future until Brimscombe Port is redeveloped.