The Sapperton Canal Tunnel

Sean Meek

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A circular walk which visits both ends of the Sapperton Canal Tunnel, as well as the villages of Sapperton, Tarlton and Frampton Mansell. The canal tunnel at just over two miles long is the fourth longest in the UK. It carries the Thames and Severn Canal underneath the highest part of the Cotswolds along the route, enabling the two rivers to be connected. The canal was abandoned in 1927, but is currently being restored, which may eventually lead to the tunnel being re-opened.

The walk starts in the village of Sapperton, and follows the two-mile route of the tunnel, initially along country lanes and then through woodland. For much of this part of the walk, the tunnel is directly below your feet. The southern tunnel entrance and the Tunnel House Inn are visited, which accommodated many of the men who dug out the tunnel. It is now a popular Cotswold pub in an isolated location. The walk continues across fields to Tarlton and Frampton Mansell. The walk then descends into the Golden Valley and continues along a choice of routes: the canal towpath or alongside the River Frome. Finally, the northern entrance to the canal tunnel is visited, before climbing back up to Sapperton.

England - South West England - Gloucestershire - Cotswolds

Features

Birds, Church, Flowers, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Industrial Archaeology, Pub, Public Transport, River, Wildlife, Woodland

7/7/2017 - Peter Metcalfe

Did this walk on Tuesday (4th July), In a lot of the fields the paths were overgrown and barely passable. At pt 19. there was no discernible path into the next field, as is described. There is a wall there which we climbed over into the field & onto the path. We met a woman coming the other way. She was carrying a Jack Russell on her shoulder because of the long grass. Half of my group refused to follow me and went on an unmapped (presumably private) track to Cranhill Barn to join up with me at pt.20.

6/1/2016 - Rosalind Wilson

Did this walk on 30th March 2016. Varied and interesting. Plenty of mud. The Hunt was just leaving Sapperton as I arrived. Lunch at The Tunnel House was good. Don't miss the last part along the canal tow path.It was beautiful as the evening sun shone from behind me through the bare trees.The sound of bird songs and babbling water. Easy to follow instructions. A splendid day out!

5/9/2013 - Trevor Stuart

The stile and surrounding debris and fencing has now been repaired by Cotswold wardens

9/22/2012 - Trevor Stuart

Another great walk by Sean Meek. Walked it in September sunshine on the 22nd Sept 2012. At point 17 a tree and associated undergrowth has fallen obscuring the stile. The fence to the right of the stile in the thumbnail is still navigable and just visible from the field.