Gloucester Sharpness Canal

At the time of the completion of the Gloucester to Sharpness Canal in 1827 it was the largest and deepest ship canal in the world. The Canal was originally designed to stop at Berkeley, but lack of money caused the construction team to halt at Sharpness. Once an important commercial waterway, these days the canal is used mainly by pleasure boats – which require a license from British Waterways to use the canal. The bridges and locks along the canal are all manned except for quiet periods in winter and in very wet weather, but help is always available – details of manned locks are given on the lock keepers’ notice boards. 

The canal is well worth exploring. Attractions include the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge and Gloucester Docks with its 19th century renovated warehouses, Antiques Centre, Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum and the National Waterways Museum. There’s also Gloucester Cathedral, a magnificent building, and lately one of the key locations for the Harry Potter films. 

There are some delightful pubs to call in at en route – the Coalhouse Inn at Apperly, The Boat at Ashleworth (with an impressive tithe barn nearby), the Haw Bridge, and many more. Saul is the location for the annual Canal Festival (on 4th–6th July) – a convivial gathering of boats and boat people, with music, crafts, real ales and music. Saul Manor House was at one time the residence of the Chief Engineer of the Canal, and these days cream teas are served there in summer.