Gloucester - Stonehouse

[Spartak]

Do we have any Gloucester based CC 'ers who could give me advice for a route from Gloucester train station to Stonehouse. @Donger ?

I've put it into Komoot and it shows a route mostly on the A38.

I was wondering if there is a rideable path alongside the Gloucester to Sharpness canal, I'll be on a road bike with 23mm tyres.

 

[SuffolkBlue]

I lived in Gloucester area for a while recently. There is a canal path (try Google Maps) and route will take you along - National Cycle Route 41 and 45 but you'll probably have to use roads for a short stretch nearer to Stonehouse?
Stonehouse has a station - do you specifically want to cycle there from Gloucester station

 

[Ajax Bay]

The towpathsection is just ridable in the dry even on 23mm tyres (I'm not even going to ask ). Some hard pack, some muddy bike line.
GSV actually of the towpath will offer you insight. Riders' thresholds differ so if you're a 'rough stuff' seeker (I am, but on 28s) then nay prob.
The mile of A38 has a (sort of) bike lane.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49463060

 

[Moodyman]

I rode it last year using Cycle Route 45. It’s paved and fine for 23mm.

It’s a bit longer but it was quiet and pleasant. Having said that, I was touring so not in a hurry.

Re the canal…the bits of it that I saw were either muddy or broken tarmac, which would have been testing even on my 40mm.

 

[Aravis]

I live not far from Gloucester railway station, and I ride out via Stonehouse frequently.

Nowadays my standard route is this (RideWithGPS route which should have public read access):

Other than the Quedgeley by-pass, the A38 is perfectly OK to ride on. As you approach the Bristol Road multi-junction at about 3½ miles on my route you need to get onto the right-hand side of the road (wide cyclepath/pavement) if you're not there already, thereby completely avoiding the traffic light extravaganza which the poor motorists have to endure.

 

[Donger]

Do we have any Gloucester based CC 'ers who could give me advice for a route from Gloucester train station to Stonehouse. @Donger ?

I've put it into Komoot and it shows a route mostly on the A38.

I was wondering if there is a rideable path alongside the Gloucester to Sharpness canal, I'll be on a road bike with 23mm tyres.

There is a rideable path along the canal all the way from Gloucester Docks and as far as the Pilot Inn in Hardwicke. Decent surface. Once you get there, it's a matter of what kind of ride you are doing. Scenic/strictly need to get there? By far the most bike-friendly approach to Stonehouse is from the Whitminster direction, via the new estates at Westend (shown as Nupend on Aravis's map) and arriving via Oldends Lane railway crossing. (I would only use the alternative Gloucester Road from the end of the Quedgeley By-pass on a Sunday due to traffic, though it is more direct).

To get you from Hardwicke to Whitminster you can either cross the canal when you get to the Pilot Inn and carry on bearing right at the next roundabout, taking you directly to the A38 or you could turn right at the Pilot Bridge and head along the lanes through Longney to Epney before turning left to head for the A38. You will find the A38 surprisingly easy to ride so long as you join it after Hardwicke, as there is a marked cycle lane virtually all the way to Whitminster. If you want to avoid the A38 altogether, carry on along the lanes past Epney as far as Saul before turning left and you will arrive at a crossroads opposite the Whitminster Hotel and you can just go straight across.

 

[Dogtrousers]

A couple of years ago I cycled into Gloucester from that direction. I'll leave the real experts to give proper advice but we entered the city along the canal for the last 2 or 3 miles or so and it was OK as far as I recall.

 

[Spartak]

Thanks for all the route suggestions ... Unfortunately I can't take the scenic route as I'm going to a work meeting.

I'll let you know how I get on ... 👍

 

[Spartak]

Good ride, the first section along the Gloucester to Sharpness canal is lovely, even though it was dark. A38 was busy as expected and I was glad to turn off at Whitminster.

Once again thanks for the route recommendations ... 👍