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Looking for a mixed walk that you can take all day over and feel like you've "done a walk" but not gone too far, had lovely views and a suitable refreshment stop or two? This might be for you...
For the sake of starting somewhere..... from the Stroud Canal at the Lock Keepers Cafe in Stroud, also on hotc, head east up the valley. The path is easy to follow, apart from one small twist as follows: About 1km in you'll go through a tunnel, then turn right and up and over the canal and turn right to swap sides of the canal. not too tricky.
Walk past the viaduct (cool graffiti in the arches), and follow the canal into the countryside to the Stroud Brewery Tap. Organic beer and Pizza (check on line if they are cooking, tends to be weekends only). After refreshment retrace your steps and cross over the canal at the first bridge and head up hill. Straight up!
At the top you're on Rodborough Common. Home of the Bear Hotel, if you need more refreshment, and Winstones Ice Cream if it's just yummy calories. Bear right along the top, follow the "top" road . There are a cluster small car parks as the road turns right, go straight on towards the Castle / house on the end of the Common, amazing views.
Back to Stroud down off the nose of the hill. Pop into the Prince Albert , Rodborough if you've worked up a thirst. Bear left here and into the church yard on the right for an unusual view of Stroud. It's pavements from here: back round past the Prince Albert is easiest to guide you. Left down the hill and right at the bottom and the Upper Locks is through the under pass on the right next to the roundabout.
Easy start, a tough climb, amazing views, lots of refreshment stops and allow most of a day if you're after a lazy wander.
