Chalford Canal and the Toadsmoor Valley Walk
Enjoy a walk along the Thames and Severn Canal before exploring the woodland of the Toadsmoor Valley on this walk from Chalford. There's nice views of the River Frome and interesting old mills to see in the area.
The walk starts at Chalford Bottom and heads through the Golden Valley, passing along the canal and the River Frome. Near Brimscombe you turn north, heading through the wooded Toadsmoor Valley before finishing at Toadsmoor Pond.
To extend your walk, head towards the Chalford Hill. Around here the the valleys are Alpine in in character, deep, narrow and well wooded.
Other walks near Chalford include the Sapperton Circular Walk where you can visit the interesting Sapperton Canal Tunnel and the pretty little village of Frampton Mansell. Misarden Park at the pretty village of Miserden is located a few miles to the north east and well worth a visit. The long distance Wysis Way also passes through the area.
Chalford and the Toadsmoor Valley Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Chalford and the Toadsmoor Valley Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Chalford and the Toadsmoor Valley OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Chalford and the Toadsmoor Valley Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Walks near Chalford and the Toadsmoor Valley
- Sapperton Circular Walk - The Cotswolds village of Sapperton has some good trails to follow through the extensive local woodland and attractive Cotswolds countryside
- Wysis Way - The Wysis Way runs for 55 miles from Monmouth in Wales to Kemble, in Gloucestershire
- Frampton Mansell - This little village has some nice trails to try through the Frome Valley and up into the Cotswold Hills.
This walk takes you along the river and the Thames and Severn Canal to the nearby village of Sapperton - Misarden Park - This delightful circular walk in the Cotswolds visits the pretty village of Miserden and explores Misarden Park with its pretty lake and woodland trails
- Source of the Thames - This walk takes you from the village of Kemble to the source of the River Thames at Thames Head, in Gloucestershire
- Cotswold Canals - Follow a series of delightful waterways from Framilode to Lechlade on this waterside walk through Gloucestershire.
The walk starts at Framilode, next to the River Severn and follows the Stroudwater Canal and the River Frome to the market town of Stroud - Cirencester Park - Explore 3000 acres of parkland and woodland on this fine circular walk in Cirencester
- Ampney Crucis - This small Cotswolds based village lies just to the east of Cirencester.
Photos
Chalford Bottom. Looking west along the weed clogged line of the Thames and Severn Canal. This was during the early days of the canal restoration, and slow but steady progress has been made since. Recently a lottery grant has been awarded for the restoration of a significant length of the adjoining Stroudwater Canal further down the valley.
Belvedere Mill
Chalford Hill. Taken from Coppice Hill, this view shows the start of the open country east of the village.
South across the Frome valley, Chalford. The valley carries not only the river but a disused canal and the Gloucester to Swindon railway. All are hidden in the view by the trees that feature along both sides of the valley.
Looking across the Golden Valley from the Thames & Severn Canal. Much of Chalford is built on the steep hillsides with no road access. Supplies, and even the post were delivered here until relatively recently by donkey.
Chalford Round House, London Road. This is an example of a style of house unique to the Thames and Severn Canal. It is at the site of Chalford Wharf and would have housed the local canal lengthman.
Site of Ballingers Lock. The Thames & Severn Canal and the main Stroud - Cirencester Road run side by side approaching Chalford. In 1967 some road widening and re-alignment took place over the abandoned canal. At this point a bridge has been demolished and Ballingers Lock has been buried under the patch of grass and the pre-fab garages.
Bourne Lock. The first lock on the Thames & Severn Canal east of Brimscombe Port. It is an interesting hybrid capable of taking both 90ft Thames Barges and the wider, but shorter, Severn Trows. The combination of the additional length and width made it greedy in its use of water so it was shortened by building an arch over the upper part of the lock and the relocation of the top gates.