Please note that the canal is still undergoing restoration and some lengths are not available yet and those that are may not be fully completed and use may be restricted by ongoing work.
The canal is usually navigable with care from The Ocean near Stonehouse to Ham Mill Lock about 2Km east of Stroud, a distance of 7.5Km with 7 locks (one double).
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 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 Bagath 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
Use of the canal is entirely at the user's risk.
From Wallbridge Upper Lock to Ebley New Weir, a distance of approximately 1.5km, the canal shares its water with three streams that join at Wallbridge, Lodgemoor and Dubridge. The river water leaves the canal at Ebley New Weir when the navigation returns to canal only. After periods of heavy rain and potential flooding, extra care is needed to navigate the river section as the flow of the river may be considerably increased and the depth may rise unexpectedly. For this section of the navigation we need to follow strictly the rules for rivers laid down by the Environment Agency and this section is also subject to increased siltation as the fast flowing streams enter the relative slow pace of the canal, lending itself to encouraging material previously in suspension dropping to form silt.
In particular, there are a limited number of boat landing stages, and single-handed navigation is not recommended at this time. There are a number of winding holes including one at The Ocean and one at Capel’s Mill
The slipway at Strachans Close currently provides the only access for trailerable boats into the navigable length of Phase 1A. This is quite a steep slipway. The key needed to unlock the slipway chain and unlock some of the other padlocks along the canal can be borrowed by arrangement. The same key will unlock the Ryeford Swing Bridge and some of the other structures and paddle gear locks but these locks are likely to be changed to the (BW) Watermate type at some point. All other key operated structures use the standard Watermate key.
A Watermate key is needed to operate Chestnut Lane Swing Bridge, Lodgemore Lift Bridge and Ebley Swing Bridge.
In the Phase 1B length, both Blunder and Newtown Locks at Eastington are usable with care and accessible via the Eastington slipway above Pike Lock - please return the heavy stop plank into position after use.
Please note that there is a pile of underwater debris in the Eastington Slipway on the left hand (upstream side) - for best results, use the right hand side.