Stroud, Capel's Mill and Rodborough Common

Step by step

1. 1
   

   Step 1: The Subscription Rooms to the canal

   With the Subscription Rooms behind you, head for the right-hand corner of the forecourt and walk down George Street. At the bottom turn left along Rowcroft, under the railway bridge. Cross the road at one of the two crossing points to the Cotswold Canals Trust visitor centre at Wallbridge. Keeping the centre on your left, go through the subway and turn sharp left.

2. 2
   

   Step 2: The Frome Banks to Capel's Mill

   The footpath runs through the Frome Banks Nature Reserve and comes out at the footbridge beneath the Capel's Mill viaduct. It can be soft underfoot and has steps and stiles. If you would rather avoid them, take the canal towpath opposite the visitor centre instead.

   • Stiles
3. 3
   

   Step 3: Rodborough Fields to the common

   At the viaduct, cross the bridge over the river and bear right at the top of the path into Rodborough Fields. The footpath is clear as it climbs through two fields and into a small wood, where either of the two trails brings you to the foot of the Rodborough Community Hall playing field. Walk past the hall towards its entrance road and keep left on the short path beside Elm Cottage. Cross the lane with care; opposite and to the right, a gate between two houses opens onto a narrow lane. Climb it to a gate and a road at the top, and cross the road with care.

   • Steep section
4. 4
   

   Step 4: Over Rodborough Common

   You are now at the foot of Rodborough Common. Any of the trails will take you up it. At the top, keep the fort on your left and follow the line of its wall as it curves round for a few hundred metres, then leave it and head across the grassland towards the road. Do not make for the main car park over to the right; bear left to a second car park.

   • Steep section
5. 5
   

   Step 5: Down through Butterow

   Cross the road with this car park on your left and go down the grassland on the other side to a footpath running left and right. Turn left and follow it downhill with the Golden Valley on your right, past the entrance to an old quarry on your left and under a horse chestnut tree to a road. Cross, walk between a property wall and two more large horse chestnuts, and go down the tree-lined path, which can be a little difficult underfoot, to a road. Opposite, a few steps lead down to a narrow path to the left of a cottage. Follow it down to Butterow Hill, go straight across, and take another narrow footpath through a gate onto the main railway line. Take care crossing the track; on the far side, steps bring you down to the bottom of Butterow Hill on a bend.

   • Steep section
6. 6
   

   Step 6: Back along the canal

   Walk a little further and cross the road at the bridge over the canal. Take the first turning on the left and then left again onto the towpath, and turn right along the path between the canal and the River Frome, which is on your right. After a few hundred metres you pass Arundel Mill Pond on your right, then come back to Capel's Mill. Follow the path to the main road and turn left to stay on the path under one of the arches of the viaduct. It brings you back to the main road and over a bridge across the canal. Turn left down to the towpath and left again under the bridge you have just crossed, and follow the towpath back to the visitor centre at Wallbridge. Retrace your steps along Rowcroft and up George Street to the Subscription Rooms.