Stonehouse Circular

Sean Meek

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Stonehouse is a small town to the west of Stroud, lying at the bottom of the Cotswold Edge. The walk does not enter the town, but completely encircles it, exploring the countryside around it. The Cotswold Way passes close to the town as it passes between Stonehouse and Stroud and the walk begins by following the national trail, passing through vineyards and woodland. It gently climbs to the top of the Cotswold Edge with the only real climb of the walk. You are rewarded with fine views overlooking Stonehouse and Stroud, the horseshoe bend of the River Severn and beyond.

Descending, the walk passes through the grounds of the now closed Standish Hospital, which is also a former park and country house. It heads across fields and pleasant countryside to the north and west of Stonehouse, passing through the small village of Nastend.

The walk heads back to the start via the towpath of the Stroudwater Canal. It follows the canal as it passes through The Ocean, where the canal opens out to a much larger body of water. It is possibly the remains of an old fishpond, that was part of Stonehouse Court, which you will also see here. Today, it provides a habitat for water birds, insects and amphibians. This section of the canal has been recently restored; the canal banks have become a linear nature reserve where you will see ducks, moorhen and dragonflies as well as the occasional flash of a kingfisher or an early morning deer.

England - South West England - Gloucestershire - Cotswolds