…and follow a story of two otters as they look to find their bee-friend!

Here at Stonehouse Court, we’re blessed to have an abundance of wildlife right on our doorstep – with the canal at the back of our hotel proving a haven for all sorts of wonderful creatures, while the wider Stroud region has a fantastic mix of flora and fauna.

To celebrate this incredible diversity, we’ve launched a ‘Tale Trail’ ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend, which has seen us create a story based on some of the animals to be found near us, while also taking in real life local landmarks – helping to provide some family-centric entertainment to encourage exploration.

Tale Trail — two otters in the Stroud Canal

National Share-a-Story Month

With May designated as ‘National Share-a-Story Month’, we’ve plotted a walking route for families to follow, which uses QR codes to gradually tell the tale of two otters and their search for their bee-friend ahead of an afternoon tea party.

You can follow the story by scanning QR codes placed at various locations along the route – with the tale aimed at young children and involving around an hour’s walk along a 2.5 mile route along the canal path (so child carriers or buggies could come into play!).

Help Us Name the Characters!

As part of the fun, we’re inviting you to put forward potential character names in the story in advance of the weekend to add an interactive element – with the tale set to feature otters, badgers, woodpeckers and more.

Keep an eye on our social channels over the coming days.

The story takes in some of the familiar sights around the hotel as part of its plotline, such as Nutshell Canal Bridge, Stroud Cricket Club, Queen Elizabeth II field and more – and you’ll encounter these locations as you progress on your walk, which ends at the Public Otter Viewpoint near Dudbridge Lock, where you’ll then have the option to carry on into the town centre before hopping on a train back to Stonehouse. Alternatively, you can choose to turn around and enjoy the stroll back to Stonehouse Court.

Join Us For Lunch

The hotel is encouraging those who explore the trail over the Bank Holiday weekend to enjoy lunch in the hotel’s gardens – with refreshments and food available to order. Alternatively, you can look to book a post-walk lunch in our Court Brasserie restaurant – but would need to do so in advance. On Saturday 27th, guests can also experience the official opening of the hotel’s Wild Waffle house, which will be serving an array of summer treats such as smoothies, gelato and, of course, fresh waffles.

The Tale Trail will be in place between 27th and 29th May, across the entirety of the Bank Holiday weekend. Starting at Stonehouse Court Hotel, it will follow the canal along to Dudbridge Lock, before ending at the Public Otter Viewpoint. From here, participants can carry on into Stroud town centre, with trains scheduled every hour for a return back to Stonehouse.

We’ve coincided the launch of our Tale Trail with the Cotswold Canals Trust’s announcement of a series of guided walks set to take place during the summer — with the first having departed from Stonehouse on the 20th May. These leisurely walks cost £5 per person and last approximately 90 minutes, enabling walkers to learn about the heritage of the canal, the wildlife that calls it home, and future plans for restoration.

The Stonehouse Tale Trail, though, is free for participants to enjoy!