Page updated 22 October 2005 

The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal

General

Manager N97#2p58 N2k#2p58 N03#2p64

Add to the blue panel Weekend Duty Manager contactable on 07710 175117

Fuel

The commercial narrowboat Stokie No 1 is now based at Sharpness and can supply Red Diesel, a variety of Solid Fuels, toilet additives and other products anywhere on the canal. (Tel: 07967 960128 E-Mail: john@stokieno1.co.uk)

Fuel is also available at Fretherne Bridge, the only other supplier on the canal.

Sharpness

River Severn (Not Covered)

Sharpness N97#2p60

The main text in the 2000 edition has greater emphasis saying, in bold print, "It cannot be stressed too strongly" that craft should NOT attempt to arrive at Sharpness too early when approaching from the River Severn.

Purton N97#2p63

The canalside pub, The Berkeley Hunt Inn, at Purton is now closed.  The Berkeley Arms phone number should read: 01453 811262.

Purton N97#2p63 N2k#2p63

It is worth ringing The Berkeley Arms to check whether they intend opening if you want to visit at lunchtime or early evening.

Patch Bridge N97#2p61 N2k#2p61

Slimbridge Boat Services (Tel: 01453 899190 and 01453 899191 Mobile: 0410 175871 Fax: 01453 899192) opened from the "black shed" above the bridge late in 1999.  Coal, gas, chandlery, private moorings and new boat sales.

Shepherds Patch N97#2pp62-63 N2k#2pp63

In the text about the village two pubs are mentioned.  There is only one, The Tudor Arms.

Cambridge Arms Bridge N97#2p61

The page link to p188 should link to p64.

Splatt Bridge N97#2p64 N2k#2p64

There are rubbish facilities on the road approaching Splatt bridge.  A water point (shown in the 2000 edition) is about 200 yards north of the bridge.  Both are on the non-towpath side.

Fretherne Bridge N97#2p64 N2k#2p64

Diesel is available on the east bank just above Fretherne Bridge.

Saul Junction N97#2p64 N2k#2p64 N03#2p70

Services at the junction include a Sewage Disposal Point (Pumpout £6.00 per card - available from Junction Bridge keeper), hot showers (Free!) and toilets (accessible for wheelchair users).

Also at the junction is the Cotswold Canals Trust Heritage Centre. Open at weekends and bank holidays. Tea and coffee for free or donations. Ice creams for sale. Lots of history and updates on the Cotswold Canals Restoration. The Trust also arranges the Saul Canal Festival (www.junctionevents.org.uk) on the first weekend in July every year.

Gloucester

Sims Bridge N97#2p67 N2k#2p67 N03#2p73

There are two petrol stations on the canal's east bank between Sims and Hempsted bridges, one of which has direct access and a convenient bollard for mooring. Both have shops. There are no other petrol stations within reasonable walking distance of any part of the canal, and no food shops close to the canal in the Gloucester area.

The S-bend north of the bridge is to be straightened and a high swing bridge is to be built that will form part of Gloucester's South-Western bypass. The new cut will be opened "about April 2006".
(See http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1619 and follow links marked "Netheridge Section" for further information.)

Llanthony Bascule Bridge N97#2p69 N2k#2p69 N03#2p75

There are missing symbols for a Water Point, Refuse Disposal and Sanitary Station (Pump-out at £6.00 per card, available from the Gloucester Lock keeper) on the west bank immediately south of the bridge. (Also missing from inset map).

Gloucester Docks N97#2p69 N2k#2p69 N03#2p75

Moorings in Gloucester Docks and on Llanthony Pontoon are limited to 48 hours maximum.  (They can however be booked en bloc for specific events, the Three Clubs Rally, etc.)  A resident "Customer Services Adviser" manages the docks and regularly patrols and enforces the 48 hours period.  He is based at the British Waterways Gloucester Office, Harbour House on the west side of the docks (Tel: 01452 318000.).

There are no electricity hookup points on the pontoons, but four such hookups on the West Quay. Electricity is at £2.50 per card. (Cards available from the Lock keeper.)

The moorings have excellent wheel chair access from two points and loads of space. Two narrowbeam in one bay or one broadbeam.

Gloucester Lock

Gloucester Lock N97#2p69 N2k#2p69 N03#2p75

When descending the lock use the recessed steel pipe roping points. Depending upon river levels, these are normally too high to be accessible from small craft when ascending.

When ascending, expect the lock-keeper to appear at the lock-side with a hook on a rope onto which crews are expected to hang their mooring ropes, bow first, which the lock-keeper will then secure.

River Severn