Myself and Nathan enjoyed this GVCV social walk from Stroud Cemetery LNR to Rodborough Common via Prince Albert pub.

We set off mid morning from the Old Cemetery Bisley Road Stroud (worth a wander round with its varied habitats and interesting gravestones, many covered in lichen, and diversity of wildlife). Walking along the footpath extending from Horns Road through woodland with disused quarries we went up some muddy and slippy steps towards Wasa Wasa and across to The Heavens, one of the higher points in the landscape as its name suggests. Over Claypits lane and through Park Wood, with much felling of Ash here, down the hill at Far Thrupp then across A46 reaching the Canal to follow Thames and Severn Way towards Bowbridge.

Here we had good sightings of Common Darter inc a mating pair and a Heron that we hoped to see picking out one of the many fish but it seemed a bit shy of us. Meeting the road from Bowbridge to Rodborough Common we walked up the steep slopes onto the Common, where we had splendid views across Stroud with the Cemetery in the distance whilst we stopped for lunch. Continuing on and down past the Fort onto The Butts and a well earned pint in the Prince Albert.

After refreshment we headed back along Rodborough Lane taking a footpath that lead back to the Canal and alongside the Railway to Bowbridge across at the lights and up to the cemetery for the end of the walk.

by Richard Catlin