The Gloucester Canal Path

Gloucester Canal Path Cycle Route Overall Rating: ⭐⭐

The Gloucester Canal Path is a 16 mile canal path along the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal in Gloucestershire. It is a shared path and popular with walkers and people fishing. It runs from Gloucester to Sharpness. As is expected from a route along a canal, it’s very flat.
Most of the information here, as well as the photos, was kindly provided by Alwin Wiederhold. Any errors or inaccuracies are entirely mine.

Surface on the Gloucester Canal Path

From Gloucester, the first four miles is smooth tar and is rideable in all weather. The four miles after that is self-compacting gravel, but quite good.
After Saul Junction, the surface deteriorates massively, and becomes grassy, with a lot of bumps and ruts.

Bikes

From Gloucester to Saul Junction, the route is rideable on pretty much any kind of bicycle. Beyond Saul Junction you will need thicker tyres (ideally knobbly).

Toilets

Toilets are available at Gloucester Docks, at The Black Shed, at the Pilot Inn, Saul Junction, at The Bell in Frampton and again in Sharpness.

Ratings

Safety: ⭐⭐
Hilliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Flat)
Refreshment stops: ⭐⭐
Barriers: ⭐
Surface: ⭐⭐

Overall: ⭐⭐

The grading system I use is explained here.

Points of Interest

Gloucester Cathedral is a beautiful ancient place of worship, while Gloucester Docks is a good place for a meal or drink. Saul Junction hosts the Cotswold Canals Trust Visitors Centre and the Stables Café. The Bell Inn at Frampton on Severn, just off the route, is a lovely place for a drink or food and in summer cricket is played on the world’s smallest oval, right next to the pub. Slimbridge Wetland Centre is an excellent place to see birds, both wild and caged. This is slightly off the route via a quiet road.

See also  Cambridge Guided Busway

Routes in Gloucestershire

Barriers

At road crossings there are gates but most of these should be passable with tandems, panniers and other bikes. One such barrier will allow normal bikes, but will block most cargo bikes, trikes or tandems.

Bike Hire

You can hire bikes directly in the canal from Adventure Bike & Canoe Hire.

Forecast for the Gloucester Canal cycle route

What the Gloucester Canal looks like

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DayCycle

DayCycle routes are routes can can easily be cycled by most people in a day, or part of a day. Do have a look at all the other DayCycle routes available on WillCycle. Many contain detailed route guides, as well as embedded maps (like the one below) from which you can download the GPX file for the route.

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