Canals to Stonehouse and Lights of Stroud Cycle Ride

A scenic cycle ride from Gloucester along the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and the Stroudwater Navigation to Stonehouse and Stroud in the south of England.

I had this all planned ready to go during early November and then when December came, we got Storm Darragh. I was so disappointed that it looked like I wouldn’t get a Christmas Special cycle ride out this year and then I decided to take a days annual leave from work and hope that the weather and trains would hold out and that I would get enough time to complete filming and editing.

We start in Gloucester heading over to Gloucester Docks and then following the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal heading south. Around half way we then head east picking up a little of the Stroudwater Navigation Canal which is currently under restoration, of which so much has already been done. We then take the road through a couple of villages and then join back up with the canal just before Stonehouse, a small idyllic town of stone buildings.

Heading further along the canal we eventually meet Stroud, an old market town that sits at the foot of the Cotswold Hills and take a look around the town, its buildings and the small independent shops that are lit up in the run up to Christmas.

I absolutely adored this trail. Not only was it a relaxing scenic canal ride but everyone I passed along the way were happy and content, most saying hello. Stroud town centre was just what I needed for an end of year Christmas cycle ride.

Thank you to Julian Hawker for the trail idea in the comments some time ago. I didn’t get to cycle quite as far as I had wanted but the late rearrangement meant I had to economise the trail, but this does mean we can return again some time and go further.

I hope you enjoy this one and I hope you all have a happy Christmas and a great New Year.Thank you to everyone who has watched, commented and subscribed this year and since the start. It is really appreciated and I never thought it would get this far.

Until next year..