Gloucester & Sharpness Canal - Purton to Parkend Bridge Paddle Trail

3-5 hours

Duration

15 miles

Distance

Out and Back

Easy to Moderate

Difficulty

GL13 9HU

Start Postcode

GL13 9HU

End Postcode

A. Get on the water from the landing stage and turn right towards Gloucester.

B. From Purton northwards there are fields on both sides. In the distance the Forest of Dean can be glimpsed on the left, with the Cotswolds to your other side.

C. It should take about an hour up to Slimbridge, which has a café and toilets next to the canal. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Reserve is half a mile up the road towards the Severn, and this area is the busiest on your route, with much traffic going up the road to see the birds, and many boats moored.

D. Travel along flat horizons for the next couple of miles, until you reach Splatt Bridge, with a small car park.

E. Pass Frampton on Severn before reaching Saul Junction at just over 6 miles. Again, there is car parking and a cafe here. The Stroudwater navigation leaves to the right here. It is long closed but you are able to paddle it for around 500yds.

F. Continue for another 2 miles before reaching your turning point at Parkend Bridge.

Discover More

A gentle out and back trail with views of the Forest of Dean in the distance and the mighty River Severn close by, the longest of the trails on this canal is a great way to spend a day.

The Sharpness to Gloucester canal is a new experience for most English paddlers – much more like a continental European canal, or like the Caledonian Canal in Scotland, easily wide enough to avoid anglers’ lines, and with large ships going up to Gloucester docks at times. This trail is the last of four possible trails on this wide and quiet canal.

The Gloucester & Sharpness Canal was built and opened in 1827, after a period of stops and starts on the project due to ongoing financial difficulties. The purpose was to bypass a long and dangerous bend on the Severn estuary at Arlingham.

The paddle steamer ‘Oliver Cromwell’ used to ply up and down the canal, but she unfortunately sank off the coast of Anglesey in 2018 whilst on the way to her new home in Ireland.

The Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Reserve is home to a large number of Nene (Hawaiian geese) which were saved from extinction by researchers there, and then successfully reintroduced to their homeland. If you go visit, you can feed them!

Purton is a quiet area and is mainly known for having the largest ship graveyard in maritime Britain. It is an important locality for studies of vertebrate paleontology and is also an SSSI.

Further information can be found on the following websites:

Licence Information

The waterways in this trail are managed by the Canal & River Trust, and it is a requirement for paddlers to hold a licence. Paddle UK’s On The Water membership includes an annual licence for here as well as other waterways.

When paddling, have your membership card with you as proof of licence; otherwise, you could face a fine. Get your digital membership card straight away with your licence and liability insurance included from www.paddleuk.org.uk.

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Safety Information

We want you to have fun and a safe paddle! Here are some helpful tips to ensure you paddle responsibly and stay safe on your journey. Please take a moment to review these important safety tips:

– Always wear a correctly sized buoyancy aid

– Carry a mobile phone – in a waterproof case

– Tell Someone Where You’re Going

– Check the weather and conditions

– Know your limits

Check out some useful blogs and e-learnings on how to keep safe

Environment

Wherever and however you paddle, our Paddlers’ Code helps to ensure we can all enjoy and share the water safely and protect our precious environment.

Don’t get sick doing what you love. We know water quality is a concern for many paddlers. Click here for some simple advice on water quality and how to protect yourself.

Get informed, stay safe and make good decisions by checking the National Storm Overflow Map

Paddlers can play a vital role in keeping our waters free of harmful non-native species. It is crucial you Check, Clean and Dry you boat and equipment to prevent the spread. Click here for more information on Invasive Non-Native Species.

For more environmental advice and guidance, see our Blue Space Blogs section on the Paddle UK website.