Strnai one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 75.00% of reviewers

Generally, I prefer walking to Nailsworth by sticking to the Railway path/cycle route, with the slight deviation through houses when the old line reaches Dudbridge. But this Slow Ways route offers a nice variation.

I walked this route from Stroud to Nailsworth early on Sunday morning, 29 May 2022. Yes, it's a bit more varied than using the old railway line out of Stroud to connect to the old railway line into Nailsworth, but it is not the most direct route and there were a couple of inaccuracies in the mapping. As a dog walker, I'd opt for the old railway line to Dudbridge as there's no requirement to have my dog on a lead (canal path dog owning walkers are required to keep their dogs on leads). Also, some fitness will be required to climb the hill up to Selsley. All of the stiles we passed through allowed my dog to pass through too. The route leaves Stroud station from Platform 1 and this involves crossing some roads to leave town behind. If you leave from Platform 2, it's a bit quicker and fewer intersections to cross. Once onto the canal path, it's a flat, gravel path to Ebley Mill where Stroud District Council have their offices. You pass several former mills and the old industrial heritage is interesting. You leave the canal path at Ebley Mill (there is a good café here on the opposite side of the canal btw), turning left to walk in front of the mill. Keep it to your left as you follow around left and into the car park. Cross a stone bridge, admiring Ebley Mill from the rear, and you're into a field (quite overgrown today). Turn right initially and then left with the tall bank in front of you. Don't walk out underneath the bridge as per the route because you'll end up on the bypass with no pavement. Instead, just to the right of the underpass, you'll see some steep steps heading up. At the top, you're on a cycle / foot way. Turn left and go to the traffic lights where there's a pedestrian crossing. On crossing over, there's still the option to pick the flat, old railway crossing that takes you all the way into Nailsworth. This route, however, turns right and you will climb up through a field - today there were lots of sheep and lambs, in the past, there have been cows. Cross on the little stone bridge and the path will head left. Out on the road, turn briefly left, before heading right and uphill towards Selsley and not Kings Stanley. At the Bell Inn, turn left just before and you're on a track which for me was the highlight of the walk. It was mostly gently downhill and you pass through some fields with fabulous views. In the final field where the remains of an old Priory are behind a wall on the left, the route mistakenly tells you to turn right by the stile as you exit. There is no path here to Water Lane. Instead, just walk out onto Church Lane and you'll find yourself in Woodchester. A right uphill and then left in front of the The Royal Oak takes you towards Woodchester's parish church of St Mary's. You'll see a stile in front of you as you're passing the church on your left. This next section is also very lovely and then you'll find yourself in South Woodchester emerging on to High Street. Again, I think it's unnecessary to turn left here to walk backwards in effect. You can turn right, go down the hill and also pick up the old railway line into Nailsworth. The old railway line is very pleasant to walk along, especially when it's wet or hot as you're sheltered by the overhanging trees. You'll pass Dunkirk Mill, a visitor attraction, which might be worth a visit. Then it's not far into Nailsworth where the walk finishes by the public toilets. Lots of food and drink options in Nailsworth.

This is a good route and far more varied than following the National Cycle Network route 45.

Just north of North Woodchester the route makes use of a field where there is no path. Instead of heading for Water Lane, use Church Lane and connect to the public path there.

I'll be uploading a correction and adding an alternative to walk via the cycle route.

A nice walk along the canal from the centre of Stroud to Dudbridge then over hills and fields to Woodchester where it joins the cycle path to Nailsworth. I experienced a slight problem as I approached The Priory as I couldn't find the footpath indicated along the side of the field to the right, however the waymarked footpath straight ahead led to the same place and it was easy to pick up the road to Woodchester.

Toilets and refreshments available as you leave the canal path and at the Sainsbury's about 100m off the path where it crosses the A419.

For those who prefer a totally flat route it is also possible to join the cycle path to Nailsworth at the Sainsbury's roundabout.

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