Siccaridge Wood & Frome Valley - Miles without Stiles
Siccaridge Wood and the Frome Valley A short circuit of the wooded slopes of the Frome Valley sampling the delights of the Thames and Severn Canal and Siccaridge Nature Reserve.
Daneway Inn. Limited parking on Sapperton side of the bridge or the Inn car park (ask for permission).
Navigation
From the Inn take the road opposite 1 uphill to Waterlane and Bisley. After 200 metres go through a gate on your left into Siccaridge Wood. 2
Follow the path ahead for about half a mile (0.8km) ignoring turns to left and right until you reach a fork in the path. 3 The left hand path splits into two; take the right hand path and follow it steeply downhill, taking care as the path is slippery.
Keep to the right hand path at a fork after 100 metres 4 then turn left to follow a path along the edge of the wood. At a T-junction of paths turn left to reach the canal bridge. Cross the bridge to turn left on the tow-path between the canal and the River Frome 5. The canal on this stretch was abandoned in 1933 although no commercial traffic used it after 1911.
Walk along the tow-path to a footbridge 6 where you cross over an old lock to continue back to the Daneway. Just before you reach the road notice on your right, behind the fence, the old basin where barges used to wait their turn to go through the canal tunnel.
If you wish to see the restored tunnel entrance cross the road to the path opposite and continue for about half a mile (0.8km). 7 Return the same way.
The tunnel is 3817 yards long, (3.5km) and built between 1784 and 1789 and was the wonder of the age. 8 Barges traversed the tunnel using ‘leggers’ who lay on top of the barges and ‘walked’ along the side or roof.
Info
Difficulty
Easy
Length may vary, but the terrain is mainly flat
Moderate
Includes some hills and some rough ground
Strenuous
May be rough underfoot and ascents and descents may be steep
Info Suitability
Mobility scooter
These routes are more likely to be suitable for standard mobility scooters (not all-terrain models). They may feature flatter or smoother terrain.
Pushchair friendly
These routes are more likely to be suitable for prams or pushchairs. They may feature flatter or smoother terrain.
Stile free
These routes do not have stiles. Please note that they may have kissing gates or footbridges, and/or steep, narrow or muddy sections.
Trampers
These routes are more likely to be suitable for all-terrain mobility scooters. Please ensure you have plenty of battery and are well prepared for any routes.
Wheelchair friendly
These routes are more likely to be suitable for standard wheelchairs (not all-terrain models). They may feature flatter or smoother terrain.
