Ten Glorious Days of Walks, History and Cotswold Countryside
If you enjoy exploring the countryside on foot, September is a particularly good time to visit the Stroud Valleys. From 4–13 September 2026, the Stonehouse Walking Festival returns for its seventh year, offering ten days of free guided walks, talks, activities and boat trips for walkers of all ages and abilities.
Based in the Gloucestershire town of Stonehouse which is just a 20 minute drive from us here at the Edgemoor Inn, the festival is a great opportunity to discover a landscape shaped by the Stroudwater Canal, the River Frome, the Cotswold Way, historic villages, woodland, farmland and vineyards with a knowledgeable local guide to explain what you’re seeing along the way.
According to the festival organisers, the programme is designed to celebrate the remarkable variety of walking opportunities around Stonehouse, with most of the guided walks starting and finishing in or around the town.
Walks to suit everyone of all abilities
One of the most appealing things about Stonehouse Walking Festival is the sheer variety of walks on offer. You don’t need to be an experienced hill walker to take part.
The programme includes easy, moderate and hard walks, with distances ranging from short, gentle strolls of around half a mile to challenging excursions of 10 or 12 miles. There are also accessible activities and even a wheelchair-friendly boat trip along the canal.
That makes the festival suitable for families, casual walkers, keen hikers and anyone who simply wants to see more of this beautiful corner of Gloucestershire.
The scenery is only part of the attraction. Many of the walks have a particular theme, giving participants the chance to learn more about the history, wildlife, waterways and communities that have shaped the Stonehouse area.
Walk through vineyards, along canals and over the Cotswold hills
The festival gets underway on Friday 4 September with a particularly tempting launch walk: Vineyard, Railway, Canal & Cotswold Way.
This two-mile easy walk takes around two and a half hours and includes a visit to Woodchester Valley’s vineyard, where walkers can sample one of its award-winning wines or enjoy a soft drink. The route then heads onto the Cotswold Way before descending towards the canal at Ryeford and following the towpath back towards Stonehouse.
Over the following days, there are plenty more opportunities to explore.
You could discover the farmland, mills and countryside around Stanley Downton, follow the Thames Path to its source after a train journey to Kemble, explore Stonehouse’s historic High Street, or take a circular walk from Stonehouse Court taking in the canal, orchards, countryside and the famous stained glass at St Michael & All Angels Church.
There’s also a fascinating programme of walks centred on the Stroudwater Canal, including opportunities to learn about its history and the ambitious restoration projects taking place along the waterway.
History, wildlife and local stories
For anyone interested in the history of the area, the festival offers some particularly interesting options.
The Stonehouse History Group is leading walks exploring the High Street, local buildings and landmarks, while other walks visit historic churches and explore the development of the canal, mills, railway and waterways. One route even visits several churches around Stonehouse, King’s Stanley, Leonard Stanley and Selsley.
Nature lovers aren’t forgotten either.
The programme includes a Forest Bathing session around Doverow Hill woods, a Bat Discovery Walk around the churchyard, canal and surrounding countryside, and a wildlife walk around the habitats of the Fromebridge reserve. There are also several walks focusing on the area’s trees and the Stonehouse Community Arboretum.
For those who prefer their walking to come with a little more adventure, there are longer routes taking in Woodchester Park, Coaley Peak, Haresfield Beacon, Standish and the Cotswold Way.
The 12-mile Woodchester Mansion & Coaley Peak Loop on 12 September, for example, combines the Stroudwater Canal, the Stonehouse to Nailsworth cycle path, National Trust trails through Woodchester Park and the Cotswold Way.
Don’t miss Walkfest Welcome Day
Sunday 6 September is Walkfest Welcome Day, based at the Ship Inn Community Space beside the canal.
The event runs from 11am to 3pm and provides an opportunity to enjoy refreshments, local food and drink, boat trips and other activities alongside the walking festival programme. The organisers have teamed up with the Ship Inn Community Enterprise for the event, with a coffee cart from 10.30am followed by food and drink including BBQ food, Cuban food and local brews.
There are also free taster sessions, including Nordic Walking and Pilates, as well as a family Teddy Walk, Zip & Picnic. The Cotswold Canals Trust is offering boat trips along the canal, while other activities provide different ways to experience the area.
A great reason to explore the Stroud area
The festival isn’t simply about putting one foot in front of the other. It’s an opportunity to slow down and discover a part of Gloucestershire where the landscape, waterways, villages, industry and history are all closely connected.
Stonehouse sits alongside the Stroudwater Canal and the Cotswold Way, and the festival programme makes excellent use of both. The surrounding landscape also provides everything from gentle accessible routes to proper hill walks with far-reaching views.
There are plenty of reasons to make a day of it – and if you’re travelling to the area for the festival, why not make time for a visit to the Edgemoor Inn as well?
Call in at the Edgemoor Inn
After a few miles on the Cotswold Way, around the canal or across the hills and fields, a comfortable pub, a good drink and a home-cooked meal can be a very welcome part of the day.
The Edgemoor Inn is a traditional 19th-century inn in the village of Edge, overlooking the beautiful Painswick Valley. It’s ideally placed for exploring the wider Stroud and Cotswolds area, and the inn welcomes visitors who are looking for somewhere to stop for a drink, a meal or simply a relaxing break.
The kitchen serves home-cooked food using locally sourced produce, while the pub also offers a selection of local Cotswold ales. There’s a terrace overlooking the valley which makes a particularly pleasant place to unwind when the weather is good.
So, whether you’re heading home after a festival walk or making a full day of exploring the Stroud Valleys, calling at the Edgemoor Inn for a drink or a home-cooked meal is well worth considering.
You can find out more about the Edgemoor Inn and the local area, view a sample menu or book a table before setting out.
Planning your Stonehouse Walking Festival visit
The festival brochure recommends registering for walks through the Stonehouse Walking festival website so that participants can be kept informed about any changes. Some walks require advance booking because numbers are limited, while others can simply be joined on the day.
It’s also worth checking the individual walk description before setting out. Some routes involve stiles, steep slopes, muddy or uneven ground, while longer walks may require a packed lunch and water. Suitable footwear and clothing for the weather are strongly recommended.
The organisers also point out that walks may take longer than advertised and that routes can occasionally change or be cancelled because of weather or unforeseen circumstances, so it’s sensible to check for updates before travelling.
For the complete programme, registration information and booking details, visit stonehousewalks.co.uk.
Make a day of it
With ten days of walks covering canals, vineyards, woodland, historic buildings, wildlife, countryside and the Cotswold Way, the Stonehouse Walking Festival 2026 is an excellent excuse to discover more of the Stroud Valleys on foot.
And when you’ve finished walking, there’s nothing wrong with rewarding yourself.
Come and see us at the Edgemoor Inn for a drink, a good home-cooked meal and a chance to put your feet up while enjoying the view over the Painswick Valley. We look forward to welcoming festival walkers and visitors to the area.
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