Stroud District Council is adding a historic new canalside walking trail to its free app this May 2026, inspired by the past residents of the Stroudwater Navigation.
Originally a live experience, the Ghosthunters trail is a creative collaboration between Stroudwater Navigation Archive Charity (SNAC) and Cotswold Canals Connected, created to introduce residents and visitors to the Stroudwater Archives – the most complete and comprehensive set of canal records in the country.
Featuring audio clips inspired by true accounts from the archives, the 'ghosts' are performed by talented young actors and instead of being a frightening experience, the trail is designed as a family-friendly hertiage walk.
Bringing the stories of the canal's past to life in a vivid, imaginative and engaging way, the trail attracted hundreds of visitors when it ran in 2023 and 2024 – and now the stories have been professionally recorded and turned into the first trail on the app to use audio to create a truly immersive experience.
There are two routes to try, both of which are family-friendly, ideal for children aged seven and up, so they're great for exploring this May half term. Both routes are accessible, with street parking available at either end of the trail, too.
Stroud District Council has more trails and events planned for summer 2026, to encourage more people to enjoy this stretch of waterway, which it says is one of the district's best assets – with Cotswold Canals Trust and Stroud District Council managing the engineering work that will reconnect the Stroudwater Navigation with the Gloucester Sharpness Canal, and the wider national canal network, by 2029.
The Discover Stroud District Trails app is free to download from the App Store and Google Play.
Alongside the Ghosthunters trail, it features over 40 walking trails, including a film location trail, Shakespeare walk, history walk and food and drink trails, plus Cotswold Way walks, with routes to suit all abilities, including an new accessible loop around Wotton-under-Edge.
To download, visit calvium-cep.web.app/apps/stroud-district.
