Walkers along the Stroudwater will spot something new underfoot: a temporary towpath diversion is now guiding visitors safely around one of the most exciting stretches of the Cotswold Canals restoration.
The Cotswold Canals Trust has confirmed that construction is well underway on the Missing Mile, the ambitious project reconnecting the canals to the national inland waterway network. To keep both visitors and volunteers safe while the work progresses, a clearly signposted diversion is now in place around the active construction area, so you can carry on enjoying the canal while this major restoration moves forward.
The Trust has shared a short video of the route along with a diversion map, so it is well worth planning your walk before you set off — the M5 underpass in particular is a long stretch that is handy to know about in advance.
Our thanks go to the volunteers behind this once-in-a-generation project. You can view the diversion map and route images on the Trust’s latest news story, and read more about their work to reconnect the Severn to the Thames on our Cotswold Canals Trust restoration page.
