Kennet & Avon Canal | Canal & River Trust Our canal & river network Kennet & Avon Canal The Kennet & Avon Canal is one of our most well-loved waterways. The 87 mile long canal links London with the Bristol Channel, and passes through some spectacular landscapes including West Berkshire and the rolling Cotswolds. But this haven in southern England faced closure in the last century and was only brought back to life thanks to the tireless dedication of volunteers. Kennet & Avon Canal Find events and activities within miles of Today, thousands of visitors enjoy boating, walking and cycling along the peaceful towpaths of the Kennet & Avon Canal, fondly known as the K&A. A waterside walk along any stretch of towpath is an enjoyable experience. For family day's out, the Crofton Pumping Station, Caen Hill Flight , Avoncliff Aqueduct , Claverton Pumping Station and the historic city of Bath are just some of the canal’s many highlights. But just a few decades ago we came very close to losing this national treasure, forever. Find stoppages, restrictions and other navigational advice for this waterway.

The story begins What we know as the Kennet & Avon Canal is actually made up of three historic waterways, the Kennet Navigation, the Avon Navigation and the Kennet & Avon Canal. In 1724 the River Kennet was made navigable from Reading to Newbury, and by 1727 boats could reach as far as Bath. For hundreds of years before this people had talked about linking the River Kennet with the River Avon, but it was not until 1794 that a route was fixed via Devizes and an Act was passed. The resulting canal was completed in 1810. Water supply up to the summit soon became a problem, so in 1812 a steam engine was installed at Crofton to pump water from Wilton Water (amazingly this Boulton & Watt engine is still working today). Three years later a companion Harvey’s engine was also installed. Despite the impressive length of the K&A, through traffic never accounted for more than 6% of the total and the waterway was never prosperous. The canal falls into decline The situation worsened for the Kennet & Avon Canal when the Great Western Railway opened in 1841.

Suddenly income halved and it seemed likely that the canal would be converted into a railway. Thankfully, however, this Bill was not passed and instead, the K&A was sold to the Great Western Railway in 1852. Although the canal was loss-making, the Great Western Railway was legally obliged to keep it open as long as there was some traffic on it. This it did, though there were many complaints about the level of maintenance. Nevertheless, in 1897 the Boulton & Watt engine had major repairs and a few years later, its companion 1845 engine was rebuilt. Closure and restoration After a century of decline, in the 1960s the canal eventually fell into disrepair and parts of it were closed to boats. The future of the K&A, along with that of many canals, looked bleak. However, waterway enthusiasts and local people flocked to the cause. The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust was formed and, with hard work and dedication, these volunteers gradually restored the canal to its former glory.

In 1990 the Queen officially reopened the K&A, and since then the canal has gone from strength to strength with the help of a £25m Heritage Lottery Fund grant. Substantial restoration works have been matched by the development of canalside resources, including wildlife habitats and moorings. The Kennet & Avon Canal today This beautiful waterway is a favourite weekend escape for locals and a pleasure to discover for visitors from further afield. Whether on foot, by boat or on two wheels, we know that the K&A delights you all. From end to end it is dotted with destinations which make for perfect family days out. You can download our free guides to Caen Hill , Aldermaston Wharf , Bradford-on-Avon and many more must-see spots from our Places to Visit page. The Kennet and Avon Canal Holiday Cruising Guide and Map. Days Out The Kennet & Avon Canal The Kennet and Avon is an impressive feat of engineering, made up of two river navigations and a linking stretch of canal.

It runs from the Severn Estuary near Bristol to the River Thames at Reading, over 100 miles long with more than 100 locks, some magnificent engineering and crossing some of the most beautiful scenery in southern England. It was only reopened in 1990 after decades of dereliction. The Avon Navigation cuts through wooded hills and the famous Avon Gorge on its way to Bristol and then meanders up to Bath. The canal then climbs the Caen flight of locks to Devizes and runs amidst rolling hillsides along the Vale of Pewsey towards Hungerford to descend through pasturelands, woods and watermeadows to Reading and the junction with the River Thames. Bristol has some fine old buildings and the dock area has preserved craft including the SS Great Britain, the first iron steamship. Bath was a Roman spa town and has many Roman remains, though the spa baths are no longer open. It contains much 18th century classical architecture, including the famous Royal Crescent. Bradford on Avon also has Georgian stone terraces. Devizes has medieval buildings and Norman remains, Salisbury Plain and Neolithic Stonehenge are close by.

Honeystreet is a small canal village with a beautiful name, Pewsey has its White Horse, cut into a local hillside, Hungerford and Newbury are market towns and Reading has shiny office blocks housing computer firms. Many bridges, aqueducts and other structures were built in impressive classical style, designed by John Rennie. However his work on the canal was not totally successful. He used unseasoned Bath stone for ornamental work on bridges which weathered poorly, and the summit level was too short, causing the water shortages from which the canal still suffers. Pumping engines had to be installed to supply the summit level and at Crofton the original steam pumping engines have been restored and can be seen in working condition. Tweet Kennet & Avon Canal Broad canal, 86 miles Bath to Newbury, 106 locks, 1 tunnel, at least 1 week to cruise. Locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal were built to take barges with maximum dimensions of 73 feet long by 13 feet 10 inches wide. The stone balustraded Newbury bridge.

(These photos courtesy Waterway Images ) Hireboats on the KEnnet & avon Quality 2/4/6 berth boats for weekend, short break or weekly hire. Enjoy peace and quiet in the beautiful Vale of Pewsey. Caen Hill locks The K & A Canal now has 104 locks not 106. Ufton was degated many years ago and in Bath locks 8 & 9 were amalgamated to make Bath Deep lock. The largely derelict Somerset Coal Canal which starts near the Dundas Aqueduct is well worth exploring. The green hills at one time had 80 working collieries. The canal between Bradford on Avon and Bath has many boats being lived on. British Waterways are attempting to enforce Continuous Cruising regulations. Bath Canal Boat Company, Canal Boat Holidays, Narrowboat Holidays, Kennet And Avon Canal Boat, Barge Hire, Luxury Canal Holiday, Wide Beam Canal Boat GRAND CRU & PREMIER CRU Hire charges for Grand Cru and Premier Cru are the same. Grand Cru is available at 1.00pm on the day of hire until 9.00am on the last day of hire.

Premier cru is available from 3.00pm until 11.00am. Both boats sleep six: Grand Cru has two double rooms and two single sofa beds in the living area. Premier Cru has one double room, one room with two single beds and two single sofa beds in the living area. The canal boats are ten foot wide opposed to a narrowboat which is six foot ten inches wide. There is more interior space in Grand Cru and Premier Cru than a 68ft narrowboat. You will find the boats provide a level of decor, spaciousness and comfort more associated with a floating cottage. Ideal for a family canal boat holiday. The Kennet & Avon Canal is 87 miles long, and is the most interesting canal section in the country. It links Bristol Floating Harbour to the Thames at Reading. During your canal boat holiday you will be able to enjoy the cafe, shop, bar and restaurant atmosphere of Bristol harbour and the well known World Heritage Site of Bath, contrasting with areas of outstanding natural beauty, along with tearooms, cafes and village pubs.

Kennet and Avon Canal Boat Hire | Canal Holidays GO Upto 50% off the second week Most departures from selected bases* are eligible for upto 50% off the second week of a 2 week booking. *Upto 50% second week discount from bases: 18,20,26,33,37,39,45,46,49 *Up to 25% discount off the basic hire charge on a 2 week booking Canal Holidays Guide to the Kennet & Avon Canal One of the loveliest waterways in Britain, the Kennet & Avon meanders 86 miles between Bristol and Reading, passing through the historic city of Bath. The route includes the fully restored Caen Hill flight of 29 locks at Devizes. Cruising the Canal The Kennet and Avon Canal opened in 1810, and after restoration was re-opened by HM The Queen in 1990. It passes beautiful, tranquil and unspoilt scenery with an abundance of plant and wild life, through bustling market towns, picturesque villages and past historic monuments. Frequently there are inviting canal side pubs offering lunch or supper.

The waterway includes the Georgian splendour of the City of Bath and the pastoral pleasures of rolling Berkshire and Wiltshire, with unique architectural and engineering features of majestic aqueducts and bridges. Starting at Brunel's historic Floating Harbour at Bristol, close to the city's theatres, shops and restaurants, the route first takes the tidal River Avon to Bath. This spectacular World Heritage City has Georgian architecture and Roman remains including the famous Baths, Abbey and many historic attractions. Cruise through the dramatic valley of the River Avon over the Dundas Aqueduct and on to Bradford on Avon, a pretty small town with a fascinating history. Then on through rolling farmland to the famous flight of locks (29 locks in 2.25 miles) at Caen Hill. These locks take a day to ascend or descend! Passage needs to be booked in advance, although water shortages are not now a problem. Then pass through historic Devizes, home of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, with its canal shop, to Crofton, home of the famous working steam beam engine. The handsome town of Hungerford, has centre of town moorings, convenient for browsing around the many antique shops.

The canal continues to Newbury, where you will find a touch of Venetian charm, and on to meet the River Thames just after Reading. Distance, Time, and Locks locks The complete length of the canal and return takes 2-3 weeks. Several bases offer suitable out-and-back routes for one or two week trips, notably in the Bristol/Bath area or the central section around Devizes. Short breaks are also available. Cycling Bristol, Cycle Routes Bristol, Cycle Paths Bristol Type: Disused railway line (traffic-free) Access: Numerous along route (see map) Refreshments: Pubs along the way, cafés at Staple Hill and Bitton Links: Avon Cycleway , River Avon Trail The Railway Path begins in central Bristol and travels through Mangotsfield, Warmley and Bitton before passing through Saltford to the outskirts of Bath. You can join and leave the path at a number of places and tailor the distance to suit you.

Colliers Way Route: Dundas Aqueduct, Radstock and Frome Length: 17 miles Type: Disused railway (traffic-free) and minor roads Access: Numerous places to join (see map) Refreshments: Visitor centre with refreshments at Dundas Aqueduct and pubs along route There are a number of places to join if depending on how far you would like to cycle. Kennet and Avon Canal Path Route: Bath to Reading Length: 84 miles ( Bath to Devizes 22 miles) Type: Canal towpath and quiet rural roads The historic canal links the Thames and the Bristol Channel, weaving through spectacular scenery between Reading and Bath. Cycling is permitted along the length of the canal, except for a short section near Froudes Bridge and Woolhampton.

Norton Radstock Greenway Route: Radstock to Midsomer Norton Length: 2 miles Access: There are a number of places to join (see map) Refreshments: Radco supermarket and Tea and Trade cafe Ride to the North Somerset Coast Route: Bristol to Portishead Length: 11.5 miles (5.5 miles to Ham Green) Type: A mix of traffic-free routes, purpose-built cycleways and quiet roads; some hills Access: Various access points between Pill and Portishead Refreshments: Available in both Portishead and Bristol at each end of the path Length: 12 miles (or 7 or 5 miles) Type: Canal towpath and quiet rural roads Access: There are numerous places to get onto the Trail including Pill Harbour, Princes Wharf, Castle Park, Conham and Hanham Weir. Refreshments: Pubs at Hanham Weir There is a choice of a 7 mile trip between Bristol and Pill Harbour or a 5 miles trip from Bristol to Hanham Weir. Strawberry Line Route: Yatton to Cheddar Length: 8 miles Type: Disused railway line (traffic-free) was originally built in 1869.

The line closed in 1960 when it became part of the Cheddar Valley Railway Nature Reserve. Access: Various access points along route Refreshments: Pubs, cafes and Thatcher’s Cider Shop For a more gentle ride, we encourage you to use our bikes, free of charge to explore the local villages and parklands. For the more serious cyclists, we welcome you to use our secure storage facilities for your own bikes. The River Thames Guide - Canal Information - Canal Boats, Boating Holidays, Narrowboats, Kennet and Avon Canal: Bath, Bristol & Reading photo courtesy od D. Burgess Above: Monkey Marsh turf side lock - photo by Peter Land and reproduced by kind permission On leaving Burghfield boaters on the canal pass several gravel pits now filled with water, which provide a home for many types of birds, in particular, and wildlife of all sorts. You navigate through Theale, a town which is effectively a suburb of Reading. Boaters next reach a famous lock at Garston.

This and the one further along the canal at Monkey Marsh are what is known as "Turf-Sided Locks." They are the only two such locks in the whole country, and are now looked after by English Heritage in order to preserve this unique example of engineering ingenuity. They are difficult to land near, so when you approach them with your narrowboat be sure to let someone off your boat well in advance of reaching the locks, at a spot where you can safely get onto to the firm towpath. Other than this they are operated by boaters in the same way as normal locks. Beyond Garston you see Sulhampstead, and eventually the little town of Aldermaston comes in to view . This is situated a short walk from the canal itself, but at Aldermaston Wharf you need to negotiate a Hydraulic lift bridge across the canal, which was installed by the local authority at the time of the restoration work on this section of the canal, and which cost over �250,000. The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust Visitor Centre is located here � a welcoming sight, which explains the history of the canal, and which sells all sorts of souvenirs to raise money for the continuing work of the Trust.

Aldermaston has lots of facilities for narrowboaters, like the basics of bread, milk, etc. plus some nice pubs. Also located here are Frouds Bridge Marina and Reading Marine. Above: The Kennet and Avon at Sulhampstead - photo by Graham Horn and reproduced by kind permission Above: The Kennet and Avon canal at Aldermaston Wharf: Photo by Peter Land and reproduced by kind permission The canal now travels through some tranquil water meadows from Woolhampton past Monkey Marsh Lock (see above) towards the little town of Thatcham. This section of the canal was restored using a combination of local authority, Manpower Services and consortium manpower and even some workers from a local prison! From Thatcham the canal continues westwards until it reaches the large town of Newbury. The canal sits right through this town and Newbury makes the most of this fact! Boaters are positively welcomed - there are extensive moorings here, plus all the shops for the usual supplies, and another old warehouse building which has been converted by the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust as a Visitor Centre.

Above: The wharf at Woolhampton - photo by Peter Land and reproduced by kind permission Above: The Dundas Arms on the banks of the Kennet and Avon canal at Kintbury - photo by Pam Brophy and reproduced by kind permission The Canal from Newbury to Bath Leaving Newbury the canal is now a "canal proper" - the River Kennet is left behind. The canal climbs up locks towards the village of Kintbury, and passes through some truly delightful scenery of woods and hills with vistas in all directions. Kintbury is actually located on a small hill to the south of the canal and - again - has lots of supplies for boaters plus pubs like the Dundas Arms for those thirsty helmsmen, and a waterside mill . Possibly the only drawback to this section of the canal is the (very) close proximity of the railway, with the constant noisy passing of the high speed trains to Bristol - the station at Kintbury is almost on the canal itself... You may like to bear this fact in mind if you are planning an overnight stop hereabouts, and not get caught out with a noisy night's "sleep", as I did!

Leaving Kintbury, we travel west towards the nice old town of Hungerford which is easily reached from the canal by way of the bridge just after the railway bridge. Beyond Hungerford you travel over the Dunn Aqueduct and past Froxfield Bridge and locks, and Great and Little Bedwyn, two settlements which are both divided by the canal. Above: The canal at Great Bedwyn - photo by Peter Land and reproduced by kind permission Great Bedwyn is particularly attractive, and the pubs are at the top of the main street - so you leave them to return to your boat on the canal and you just gently amble your way downhill. This is a very pleasant experience on a warm summer's evening after you have enjoyed a pint or three. The only downside to all this beauty is the continuing presence of the railway lines, with their noisy high speed trains. The usual boating necessities like bread and milk are available here, and visitors should stock up because there is a long-ish stretch of the canal ahead of this spot where no such supplies are available. Again, I write from bitter experience...... After the villages of Bedwyn the next notable construction on the canal is the Crofton Beam Engines pumping station.

The building of the Crofton Pumping station was necessary because the summit level of the canal at this point is 450 ft above sea level. The pumping station, with its two steam-driven Cornish Beam engines, pumps water from natural springs in the area and Wilton Water. Above: The Crofton Beam Engine House - photo by Chris Allen and reproduced by kind permission Above: The Boulton and Watt Engine - the oldest still working in the world - photo by Chris Allen and reproduced by kind permission. The Boulton and Watt engine installed there dates from 1812 and still operates today........ The engines are open to the public most of the year - phone the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust on 01380 721279 for details. The need for a continuous supply of water here was the most pressing problem for the original engineers who contrived to evolve all sorts of solutions to the problem. One of the Cornish Beam Engines - the Boulton and Watt - is the oldest working beam engine in the world which is still in its original engine house, and capable of actually doing the job for which is was intended. The other steam engine is a "Harvey".

These beam engines still work - a huge tribute to the intrepid engineers who designed them. For the enthusiast, the engines are regularly "steamed up" in the summer months and if you visit you can get the dates. Nowadays for most of the time water is pumped up from the reservoir at Wilton Water by electricity. The Crofton Pumping Station is just below the summit pound in a deep cutting, and shortly after leaving here you pass through Crofton Top Lock and will see the portals of the short Bruce Tunnel in front of you. Above: The south entrance to the Bruce Tunnel Just after the tunnel you reach Burbage Wharf Bridge, where you will see some of the original canal brick buildings which are being restored and converted to domestic use. The canal - having reached the summit - now commences the long descent towards Bath and Bristol, and the first lock in the descent is Wootton Top Lock. Just beyond this lock is the charming old village of Wootton Rivers, with its many thatched cottages and church with a clock with letters instead of numbers. You can easily reach the village from the canal.

You are now in for a treat as far as boating is concerned - a 15 mile long pound with no locks for you to work, which stretches all the way from Wootton Rivers to Devizes. Boaters can concentrate on the wonderful scenery that surrounds you in all directions as you glide gently along, perhaps sipping your mugs of tea..... The settlement at Pewsey Wharf grew up here because the main village is located over a mile away from the canal. It has pubs - the Waterfront and the French Horn - cottages and warehouse buildings, but you will need to visit the village itself for supplies. Next you reach Wilcot, a pretty village with a lovely old pub called the Golden Swan and shops with supplies. From here the canal skirts around Woolborough Hill, with great views to the south, before you reach the quaint old canalside pub called The Barge Inn at Honey Street, a lovely little canal village, with sawmills, and a really well landscaped new development right next to the canal.

Above: The canal at Wootton Rivers - photo by Brian Marshall and reproduced by kind permission Above: The Bridge Inn at Horton bridge - photo by Trevor Pearce Jones and reproduced by kind permission The next pub you can reach is the Bridge Inn at Horton Bridge several miles west of Honey Street - between the two the canal twists and turns and winds its way through lovely countryside to follow the contour line, rather like the reaches of the South Oxford canal above Fenny Compton. There are no canalside villages here, just hills to the north of the canal which are part of the Wiltshire Wolds, and rolling fields and woods which fall away gently from the canal bank to the south. Above: The canal at Horton Bridge - photo by Trevor Pearce Jones and reproduced by kind pemission After you leave Horton Bridge it is not long before you begin to see the outskirts of the large town of Devizes. Despite the roar of traffic on the way to Bath and Bristol Devizes still manages to retain an atmosphere of an old market town, which it was for many hundreds of years, long before the canal was built. Devizes has many pubs, all the usual shops for supplies, and the headquarters of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust at the Wharf.

All of this alone would be enought to single out Devizes as a place of note on your canal journey - BUT it also has what is - for me at any rate - the most astonishing feat of 18th century civil engineering in the whole of the UK on its doorstep. This is the famous Caen Hill Flight of locks. There are 29 locks in all between the Kennet Lock at Devizes Town Bridge and the bottom lock at Lower Foxhangers. Included in these is the Flight "proper" - with 16 huge locks and enormous side pounds constructed one after the other like a staircase, in order that narrowboats could descend the steep escarpment. The side pounds made it possible to hold sufficient amounts of water to fill the locks in the staircase. One can only marvel at this feat of civil engineering, constructed in the days where the only earth movers were gangs of hard working men with shovels, the original navigators or "navvies", toiling ceaselessly for over 5 years to create this staircase of water.

Along with the whole canal the flight of locks here was badly neglected after the Second World War, and remained derelict, until the enthusiasm of the volunteers of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust attacked the problem of restoration - and we should be profoundly grateful that they did so. Above: The Caen Hill flight of locks from the top - photo by Bruce Hall and reproduced by kind permission Above: View of the Caen Hill Flight of locks from the bottom - photo by Neil Geering and reproduecd by kind permission The Queen re-opened the flight in 1990, and it has been busy ever since, with narrowboats and their crews negotiating the 29 locks. It takes on average 6 hours to complete the ascent - or descent! At the bottom you can moor and visit the town of Devizes for supplies - and a well earned beer! Leaving Caen Hill and Devizes behind you will still have to be prepared for the locks between the village of Seend Cleeve, Semington , Hilperton Marsh and Trowbridge as the canal continues its descent to the valley of the River Avon.

Next along the route of the canal is the lovely old town of Bradford Avon , built in golden Cotswold stone. Bradford on Avon is a gem of a little town, one of the highlights of the whole route of the canal, and full of architectural treasures, like the Great Tithe Barn, the Saxon Church of St Lawrence, and a Mediaeval Avon . Photo reproduced by kind permission of Sally Boats. I mention the Crofton Beam Engine above as an 18th century method of ensuring a constant supply of water to the summit level of the Kennet and Avon Canal . The second famous solution to the water supply is the Claverton Pumping Station and Water Mill at Limpley Stoke, which is located beyond the Dundas Aqueduct and just outside the city of Bath . It lifts the supply of water from the River Avon over 49 feet to the canal above. It was designed by John Rennie and is built in beautiful honey-coloured Bath stone.

The ingenious design provides for power generated by a massive water wheel 24 feet wide and 17ft in diameter, which is driven by water from the river Avon Aqueduct - photo by Martin Clark and reproduced by kind permission Above: The pumping station at Claverton - photo by Chris Allen and reproduced by kind permission Two tons of water each second flow onto the wooden slats which turn and power the beam engine. This drives the pump which delivers 98,000 gallons an hour to the canal. New electric pumps now mainly perform the work of raising the water on a day-today basis, but you can still see the original wheels working on well-advertised weekends. The continuous supply of water is made necessary because the canal now drops down to the level of the River Avon by means of the Widcombe flight of locks here, and every time a boat passes through this flight thousands of gallons of water are �lost� from the canal into the river. The Claverton Pumping Station is again maintained by a dedicated team of volunteers and you can visit their website to see more about the station and how volunteers can get involved.

The Kennet and Avon Canal now reaches what I regard as the "piece de resistance" of the whole canal - the wonderful City of Bath with all its architectural delights, built in the local honey-coloured stone. The city has excellent moorings for river visitors, and you can explore the Roman baths and spa, the magnificent gothic Cathedral, the Georgian houses and streets such as the Royal Crescent famed the world over, the thousands of quaint little shops, the Costume Museum, the American Museum and a host of other wonderful sights - all from your narrowboat on the river here. You should plan to spend at least two days here to sample all the wonders of this great city.

Above: The canal as it enters the lovely city of Bath - photo by Peter Land and reproduced by kind permission Above: a narrowboat from the Sally Boats fleet sails the River Avon in the city of Bath Above: The lock at Keynsham - photo by Charlotte Ford Above: The lock at Hanham - where the Kennet and Avon canal meets the River Avon - photo by Charlotte Ford Above: The Avon at Hanham - photo by Charlotte Ford Because of this the City of Bristol had to construct the huge Floating Harbour to accommodate boats when the tide retreated and left mud flats due to silting up. The Floating Harbour has moorings for visiting boats. It enables you to moor in the centre of the huge city of Bristol and walk to all the main attractions. In addition, you can visit the famous "SS Great Britain ", designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and the replica ship "The Matthew of Bristol", which in 1497 was sailed by the famous Bristolian, John Cabot, to Newfoundland , thus pre-dating the Pilgrim fathers by more than a century!

Above: The Floating Harbour at Bristol - photo by Charlotte Ford The restoration of the Kennet and Avon Canal is a huge success story. We should be deeply grateful that a dedicated band of volunteers grouped together and worked so hard to save this unique part of Britain �s heritage for us all to enjoy for the future. I hope that this short introduction to the wonders and delights of the Kennet and Avon Canal has inspired you to see it for yourself and that you too will soon be enjoying all that this wonderful canal has to offer. Kennet and Avon Canal Walk - LDWA Long Distance Paths Kennet and Avon Canal Walk 122 km / 76 miles Bath NES, Bristol, N Somers, Reading, W Berkshire, Wilts Linking the River Thames at Reading with the River Avon at Bath and also the Thames Path to the Cotswold Way National Trails, it follows the canal through Thatcham, Hungerford, Pewsey, Devizes, Bradford-on-Avon and Bath. Advantage can then taken of the waymarked River Avon Trail (25 miles and included on OS mapping) through the spectacular Avon Gorge in Bristol to finish on the west coast at Pill.

Strider News - December 2016 (Publication Update) A new Cicerone guide is listed below, including details of extending the walk into Bristol from Bath. Details: Route 9: Reading to Bristol along the Kennet and Avon Canal Cycle Route Weather at Finish: To view a slideshow of this route click here To view full screen map, use expansion button in top right corner of map. Summary Starting from Reading station, this route follows the Kennet and Avon Cycle Route across England to Bristol. As its name suggests, it primarily uses the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal which meanders through picturesque scenery. The towpath ends at Bath, where you join an excellent path (the Bristol to Bath Railway Path) following the trackbed of a disused railway along the Avon Valley right into the heart of Bristol. All in all, this makes a pleasing trip, with plenty of interest along the canal (eg the Caen Hill flight of locks near Devizes and the Avoncliff and Dundas Aqueducts), country towns (Pewsey, Hungerford, Devizes) and architectural gems (Bradford on Avon, Bath).

The K&A Cycle Route is designated as part of Route 4 of the National Cycle Network. Distance/time: Approx 100 miles. Unless you ride like a maniac, it is recommended to divide the trip into two days, with an overnight somewhere around the mid point (Pewsey). Start: Reading Station Finish: Bristol Temple Meads Station Transport: To reach the start, take the train from Guildford direct to Reading (around 3 trains per hour, journey time about 30-40 minutes). On day 2, if you start from Pewsey at around 9am, you should arrive in Bristol late afternoon. To return, get the First Great Western (FGW) train from Bristol Temple Meads to Reading (around 2 trains per hour, journey time about 90 minutes) - bikes are carried in a separate compartment at the end of a carriage - then Reading to Guildford. The FGW web site recommends that you reserve a bike space. I bought an advanced ticket over the web, then checked with the FGW call centre; they gave me a bike reservation number and told me to collect my ticket at the in-station ticket machine, then go to the booking office to get my bike reservation pass.

This I did, but the booking office had no record of the bike reservation. After about 15 minutes on the phone, with a growing and angry rush hour queue behind me, the clerk just gave up and told me to get on the train anyway. In the event there was plenty of space and there seemed to be no problem with just turning up, but it may be wise to check with FGW. You may get a much cheaper fare if you book in advance. Conditions under the tyre: Long stretches of the Kennet and Avon Canal towpath have been improved to provide a good cycling surface, but where it is unimproved it is narrow and bumpy, so take care. In some stretches where apparently (I haven�t tried it) the towpath is unsuitable for cycling, the official NCR4 takes to adjoining roads, principally a short stretch in Thatcham/Newbury, where a traffic-calmed route is followed, and a longer stretch between Marsh Benham and Devizes, which follows quiet country lanes. The Bristol to Bath Railway Path is almost like a motorway for cyclists, with a tarmac surface, slip roads and on-ramps.

I did this route on a conventional bike, but it�s quite bumpy in parts and you can expect some mud on the towpath after rain, so a mountain bike would not come amiss. There are no significant hills (so far as I can recall), but the countryside on the �on road� stretch between Marsh Benham and Devizes is gently rolling. Reverse route: It should be possible to reverse this route by getting an early train from Guildford to Bristol changing at Reading, and cycling back to Reading. However, be sure to check bike carriage restrictions on the FGW service from Reading to Bristol, and it is likely to mean a late start to the ride from Bristol. Route variations: You could cut the journey short, or do the route in two separate chunks, by making use of the train line from Pewsey to Reading (though trains are rather infrequent), or by returning from Bath on the main line. I believe it is allowed and possible to stay on the towpath the whole way from Reading to Bath, but where the NCR4 is routed away from the canal, the towpath is said to be narrow and not well suited to cycling.

Arguably, the Marsh Benham to Devizes on-road �diversion� adds some variety to the route. Route description: British Waterways and other route stakeholders have produced an excellent, free downloadable pdf descriptive leaflet including maps, which is an essential companion for this route. Day 1: Reading to Pewsey On exiting from Reading station, head straight down Station Road, left onto Friar Street which leads into High Street, Market Place and finally Duke Street which crosses the canal, where you take the far (southern) bank before crossing back at the next bridge (Bridge Street). From here you follow the canal towpath out of Reading and beyond. The route crosses back and forth between the banks many times, and these points are well signed and/or fairly obvious. At Woolhampton, between Froudes Lock and Wickham Knight Footbridge, there is a 600m stretch where cycling is not allowed, and you must get off and push. The NCR4 is signed away from the canal several times where the towpath is deemed unsuitable for cycling.

These are principally at Thatcham where a largely traffic calmed, but uninspiring, loop is taken to the north through the town, rejoining at Hambridge road bridge Newbury, where at the Town Bridge the route follows Northcroft Lane north of the Canal, turning left at Northcroft Leisure Centre to rejoin at Northcroft footbridge. Hamstead Lock, Marsh Benham where the route follows a somewhat meandering route via lanes, often close to the canal, through Kintbury, Hungerford, the Bedwyns and Burbage to arrive in Pewsey. Day 2: Pewsey to Bristol Head north out of Pewsey along North Street and turn left (West) onto Wilcot Road, then make your way on country lanes to rejoin the Canal on the outskirts of Devizes. Just outside Devizes, you encounter the remarkable flight of locks at Caen Hill, and have the unusual phenomenon of cycling down a sloping tow path. As you progress westwards the towpath opens out and the canal is raised above the surrounding countryside, giving good views. It is well worthwhile making the short diversion into the attractive town of Bradford on Avon.

Continuing, you cross first the Avoncliff Viaduct then the Dundas Viaduct and arrive in Bath. Here, the NCR4 leaves the canal for the final time at the A36 Beckford Road bridge, and crosses the city via the Pulteney Bridge over the Avon. If you have time, stop off to explore the elegant Georgian streets, otherwise follow the NCR4 across town to join the River Avon towpath at Nelson Villas which takes you after a small stretch of road to the Bristol to Bath Railway Path. This path will take you along the Avon Valley, then via an arc through the suburbs of north Bristol into the centre of the city, finally emerging via a specially constructed bridge at Bristol Temple Meads Station. Refreshments: The start and end points (Reading and Bristol) are well endowed with eateries of all kinds. The route takes you through several towns (Newbury, Hungerford, Pewsey, Devizes, Bradford, Bath) with pubs, cafes etc close to the route.

There are snack bars or cafes at Aldermaston Lock, the Caen Hill lock flight, and on the Bristol to Bath Railway Path at Bitton Station on the restored Avon Valley Railway, and at the disused station at Warmley. Points of Interest The Kennet and Avon Canal was built to transport goods between Bristol and London. It comprises three waterways, the Avon Navigation from Bristol to Bath (opened 1727), the Kennet Navigation from Newbury to Reading (opened 1723), and the �Western Canal� linking the two, which was not opened until 1810, after considerable prevarication about the route (2010 is thus its bicentennial). The steam pumping station at Crofton was built to pump water from the reservoir created at Wilton Water to the summit pound. There are 214 bridges and 107 locks and a tunnel, the Bruce Tunnel, near Crofton. After the opening of the Great Western Railway in 1841 an inevitable decline set in. Bizarrely the canal was taken over by the GWR.

A trickle of commercial traffic continued well into the twentieth century, and it was not closed until the 1950s. After several decades of fundraising and hard work by the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, the Kennet and Avon was eventually re-opened by Her Majesty The Queen in August 1990. The Crofton Pumping Station was built in 1807 to pump water to the summit of the canal to ensure there was adequate water in the canal in both directions. The beam engines have been restored and �steam� at certain weekends � see website. The flight of 16 locks at Caen Hill west of Devizes, were built by the canal�s engineer John Rennie to climb the steep hill up to Devizes. The short distance required each lock to have a side pond to provide enough water to operate the locks. The Caen Hill Locks are part of the two-mile 29-lock flight at Devizes. The Avoncliff Aqueduct and Dundas Aqueduct between Bradford and Bath are another fine piece of engineering by Rennie, to carry the canal across the Avon river and to maintain the steady gradient. The canal hereabouts dramatically contours the valley sides.

The route passes through several attractive market towns: Hungerford, Pewsey and Devizes. Bradford on Avon is a gem of a town. Officially it is regarded as being the most southerly Cotswold town, and has many streets of honey coloured stone buildings, including rows of weavers cottages in the narrow lanes winding up and along the hillside. The church of St Laurence is believed to date from the eighth century and still retains the characteristics of an Anglo Saxon church. In meadows by the canal, just off the route, is the medieval Tithe Barn with its hammer beam roof. It is well worth taking some time to wander round the main sights of beautiful Bath , including Bath Abbey, the Assembly Rooms, Pulteney Bridge, the Circus and the Royal Crescent. The Bristol to Bath Railway Path , was constructed on the bed of the former Midland Railway by cycling charity Sustrans between 1979 and 1986 indeed it was their first dedicated route. At the �top� of the northern arc of the path, it passes through the 0.3 mile long Staple Hill tunnel.

The Avon Valley Railway operates steam strains on a short stretch of restored line between Bitton station and a newly constructed station at Avon Riverside, which gives access to the country park. Bristol Temple Meads formed the western terminus of Brunel�s Great Western Railway. The original station opened in 1840. The building you enter now was actually built in the 1870s. The original Brunel buildings flank the main approach and include Brunel's Company Offices, Boardroom and Trainshed on the northwestern side of the present station forecourt, and his Bristol and Exeter Offices on the opposite side of the forecourt. They have been submitted for Unesco World Heritage status as part of a general submission of historic GWR infrastructure. There are many other sights in Bristol, including the renovated harbourside , Brunel�s SS Great Britain and the Clifton Suspension Bridge . . Finding your way The route is reasonably well signed as National Cycle Route 4, although I found the signing to be patchy on the middle stretch around Pewsey. British Waterways and other route stakeholders have produced an excellent, free downloadable pdf descriptive leaflet including maps, which is an essential companion for this route.

This leaflet would just about be adequate on its own, but for reassurance you may wish to pack some Ordnance Survey maps as well, ie Landranger 1:50K maps 175 (Reading and Windsor) and 174 (Newbury and Wantage) 173 (Swindon and Devizes) 172 (Bristol & Bath) and/or Explorer 1:25K maps 155 to 159 inclusive. The mapping will be most useful on the Marsh-Benham to Devizes stretch ie Landrangers 173 and 174, or Explorers 157 and 158. A print out of street maps of the centres of Reading, Bradford on Avon, Bath and Bristol might come in handy, too. Slow Travel United Kingdom - Kennet and Avon Canal, walking from Bath to Bradford on Avon, Devizes Caen Hill Locks Walking the Kennet and Avon Canal Pauline Kenny It was during our week in Bath in September 2004 that I developed a passion for walking on canal towpaths. I had walked along one years ago in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

It was interesting, but was just a short walk. I walked along an abandoned canal in the Cotswolds a few years ago, as part of a country hike. I had read on the Slow Travel website about boating on the canals and started to think they might be fun to walk along. When I was preparing for our 2004 England trip, a friend of a friend told me to walk the Kennet and Avon Canal from Bath. (Thank you, Cully from Devizes!) Steve and I spent a week in Bath, and did three different walks along the canal path from Bath. Then we drove to Devizes to walk along the canal there. The walks are lovely and the canal is beautiful and interesting. It is well worth your time to seek out the canal and go for a walk if you are near Bath. Canal path at Bathhampton, just outside of Bath The History The Kennet and Avon Canal, 57 miles long and completed in 1810, connects the River Thames at Reading with the River Avon at Bath.

With this canal, barges transporting goods went from Bristol (a major port) to London, via the River Avon, the Kennet and Avon Canal and the River Thames. After the railways were built in the mid 1800s, the canal was no longer used. In the 1960s, the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust was formed to help save the canal and open it for tourist travel (boats, narrowboats, walkers). The Kennet and Avon Canal was reopened in 1990. The British Waterways organization is now responsible for the canal. Walking on the Kennet and Avon Canal path is a great way to experience some of the canal life and see the countryside. You can walk the entire canal from Bath to Reading. From Bath to Bristol, there is no towpath, but you can follow the Avon Walkway trail that goes along the canal. From Bath to Devizes is a national cycle route. From Devizes to Reading, the cycle route follows along the canal, but not on the canal path. It would take several days to walk the entire canal, but you can do good shorter walks along parts of the canal.

We walked the canal path from Bath to Bradford on Avon and in Devizes. Information on walking these stretches is given below. Canal Locks Canals are man-made and go straight along planned routes, instead of meandering like rivers, so they have locks to deal with elevation changes. A lock is like a step. The boat floats into the lock, closes the lock gate behind it, fills the lock with water causing the boat to rise, opens the lock gate in front and floats out to the canal at a higher level. The reverse to go downhill. It is a fascinating process to watch. It takes about 15 minutes to get through one lock. The locks are usually 14 feet wide, just enough to accommodate two narrowboats side by side (so two can go up the locks at the same time). Aqueducts There are two aqueducts on the route from Bath to Bradford on Avon: Dundas and Avoncliff. The Dundas Aqueduct is a short stone bridge that takes the canal over the train tracks and the Avon River. The water flows on the bridge, so that the canal boats go on water across the valley from one side to the other.

It was built between 1797 and 1801 and is named after the first chairman of the Kennet and Avon Company (Charles Dundas). The Avoncliff aqueduct is similar to the Dundas aqueduct. Narrowboat going over the Dundas Aqueduct - a bridge of water over a valley. Living on a Narrowboat Narrowboats are boats made specifically for traveling on canals. They are long and narrow and powered by motors. Two can pass on the narrow canal or sit side by side in a lock. You can cook and sleep on these boats. Some people rent them for a weekend or a week. Others own boats and use them for their vacations. We met a newly retired couple who were spending a year on a narrowboat touring the Midlands (most canals are in the Midlands area). See Jack's England Canal Boats notes for information about renting a canal boat for a few days and having a holiday on the canals - a floating vacation rental! Narrowboats move slowly and much narrowboat life takes place on the decks, so you have a good view of narrowboat activity as you are walk along the canal. The boats do not move much faster than the walkers.

The boats moor at designated areas and when moored, the grass between the canal and the path becomes an extension of the boat. Travelers set up chairs and sometimes barbeques. For the walker, it is like walking through private living rooms. The narrowboat travelers are a pretty friendly group. We talk to them as they are working the locks or when they are moored. When we walked along the canal, we even got to help out at a few locks. Walking Along the Canal from Bath to Bradford on Avon It is an easy nine mile walk from Bath, south and east along the Kennet and Avon Canal, through the Limpley Stoke Valley, to Bradford on Avon. This is a good part of the canal to walk because there are two locks where the canal starts in Bath and two aqueducts along the way. You pass through several nice small towns with pubs and restaurants and transportation is good, so you can walk one way and take a train or bus back to where you started. We walked from Bath to the Dundas Aqueduct in 1.5 hours. On another day we walked from Bradford on Avon to Avoncliff in 20 minutes.

The entire walk could easily be done in 2.5 - 3 hours one way. The path is wide and flat. Two narrowboats side by side in the locks near Bath If you are walking in the morning, walking from Bradford on Avon to Bath works best, because you are heading north west and the sun is behind you. We walked both times in the later afternoon. When walking from Bath to Dundas, we had the sun behind us, but when walking from Bradford on Avon to Avoncliff, we were walking right into the sun (on a hot day). If doing the walk in the morning, take the train from Bath to Bradford on Avon (trains run frequently), then walk back to Bath. A possible stop for lunch would be either Dundas or Bathampton. If doing the walk in the afternoon, start in Bath and end up having afternoon tea in Bradford on Avon. The path goes along the canal which runs parallel to the River Avon and the train tracks. Surprisingly, the River Avon is not as wide as the canal!

On some parts of the walk, around Bathhampton, you are near a road and can hear some traffic, but most of the walk is peaceful and there are nice views out to the countryside. The path is wide and good for walking or biking (you can rent bikes in Bath or at the Dundas Aqueduct). Remember to walk on the left and step aside for bikes. You will see lots of narrowboats moored along the canal. How to get to the Canal Path in Bath The Kennet and Avon Canal is not heavily promoted as a tourist activity in Bath. The tourist office could not tell us how to get onto the canal, but we got out a map and did some exploring and figured it out. From the Train Station If you want to start your walk from the beginning of the canal, go to the train station in Bath (south of the Abbey and Roman Baths). Facing the train station, go through a tunnel on your left at the left side of the train building. This takes you under the tracks. On the other side, you will see on your left a footbridge over the River Avon. Cross this bridge, turn left to walk along the river a short bit and then you will see where the canal joins the river.

There are two locks here. From the Bathwick Hill From the Bath Abbey, go to the Pulteney Bridge (the bridge that goes over the Avon and is lined with shops), follow Argyle Street to Laura Place and go straight on to Great Pulteney Street (lined with beautiful Georgian houses). At the end of Great Pulteney Street, go into the Sydney Gardens by the Holburne Museum. Go to the right around the museum (there is a nice tea shop on the right side) and across the yard behind to a gate into the park. Follow the path from the gate, slightly uphill and you come to a bridge over the canal (park ends just past the canal). There are paths down to the canal from here. An alternate route is to follow the street called Bathwick Hill from Puteney Road. There is a bridge over the canal, with steps down to the canal path. Towns along the path (with bus and train stops noted) Note: There are four train stations along this part of the canal: Bath, Freshford, Avoncliff, Bradford on Avon. Freshford and Avoncliff are "request" train stops.

If you are on the train, tell the conductor that you want to get off here. I am not sure how you request that the train stop here to pick you up - but there must be a system for it. Bath: (Bus stop, train station - called "Bath Spa") The path starts in Bath and goes along the east side of the canal. There are two locks where the canal starts, behind the train station. Near Bathwick Hill, there are "... Stone road bridges, 1800 by John Rennie (who designed the canal), drilled to resemble tufa and carved with masks" and cast- and wrought-iron footbridges (from 1800) in the Sydney Gardens. (From Bath, Pevsner Architectural Guides, Michael Forsyth) Bathampton: (Bus stop) A small town with a pub along the canal. There is a bus stop here (cross the canal to the west side and walk up to the main road for the bus stop). Claverton and Warleigh: (Bus stop) From the path you only see a sign for the Claverton pumping station, you do not see a town.

There is a bus stop here (cross the canal on a bridge to get to the other side and the road where the bus goes). Dundas Aqueduct: (Bus stop) This is the halfway point on the walk (1.5 hours from Bath). At this point the path crosses the canal to the west side. You can divert here just before the aqueduct and walk another 5 minutes to the Brass Knocker Basin with the Angelfish Restaurant, boat and bike rentals, and a tourist office. There is another pub on the main road (Viaduct Inn). You can get a bus back to Bath here. There is stop on the main road, beside the Aqueduct (off to your right, facing towards Bradford on Avon) or you can walk up to the main road from Brass Knocker Basin. It cost us £2.40 each for the bus one way from Dundas Aqueduct to Bath. Buy your tickets from the driver when you board the bus. We had a 45 minute wait for the bus (just missed one) standing at the edge of a busy highway (not fun).

If we had started earlier in the day, we could have walked all the way to Bradford on Avon and taken the train back. Limpley Stoke: (Bus stop) There is a pub here (Hope Pole Inn, on the main road) and a tea room (Fordside Tea Garden). There is a bus stop here. At the bridge, follow the road up to the main road. Freshford: (Train station) You pass near this town, it is to the west of the canal. Follow the road from the bridge before the Avoncliff Aqueduct. It has a pub (Inn at Freshford) and train station ("request" stop). No bus stop here. Avoncliff and Avoncliff Aqueduct: (Train station) There is a train station, the Mad Hatter Tea Room and The Cross Guns pub in Avoncliff. The train station is near the canal path, under the aqueduct ("request" stop). We were not sure how to get the train to stop for you, so we walked back to the station at Bradford on Avon (only a 20 minute walk).

Bradford on Avon: (Bus stop, train station) This is a good stopping point for the walk from Bath. From the canal you walk through Barton Farm Park to the town. Bradford on Avon is a beautiful town and is worth a visit. There are many good restaurants, tea shops and pubs. We loved The Old Bridge Tea Shop (right in the center) and had an excellent lunch there. They have won awards for their teas. You can also visit the medieval Tithe Barn (1341, in Barton Farm Park by the canal), the Saxon Church (the age of the church is under debate - between the 8th and 11th centuries), the Ancient Bridge (parts date to the 1200s), and the Weavers' Cottages (go over the bridge, turn left following signs to Saxon Church, then take the small lanes up the hill to the beautiful old row houses). There are locks on the canal here (just past the town). You can take a bus or train back to Bath. The train station is near the canal.

The Old Bridge Tea Shop in Bradford on Avon (small building in center of photo) Renting a Bike You can rent bikes at Bath, near the train station, at the Angelfish Restaurant near the Dundas Aqueduct and at Bradford on Avon. I don't think you can rent in one place and drop off in another. We saw lots of bikers out on the canal path. Locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal - The Devizes Flight On the canal from Bath to Bradford on Avon, there are only two locks, where the canal starts in Bath. If you want to see a spectacular display of locks, drive to Devizes, a Wiltshire market town east of Bath. There is a public parking lot in the center of town, north of the main road at The Wharf (it is a Pay and Display lot). The parking lot is on the edge of the canal and you can get on the canal path there. There are 29 locks in total on the canal starting from the western edge of Devizes and going west to the Foxhanger Wharf, but the most spectacular are the 16 in a row on Caen Hill (called the Devizes Flight).

From the center of Devizes, walk west along the canal for about 15 minutes and you come to the top of the Caen Hill. Look down and you will see the line of 16 locks. From the bottom of Caen Hill near Devizes looking at the 16 locks This is the longest row of continuous locks in Britain. The water level raises 237 feet over a distance of 2.5 miles. There are pubs along the canal here. We stopped for lunch at one between Devizes and the top of the Caen Hill (the Black Horse) where we had lunch sitting on picnic tables along the canal. Visit the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Museum at The Wharf in Devizes (on the canal). Conclusions If you are traveling in southern England, try to find your way to a piece of the Kennet and Avon Canal. It is beautiful, interesting, exciting - and, if nothing else, a good walking area. Photos Slow Travel Photos : My photos of the walk along the canal from Bath to Bradford on Avon. Slow Travel Photos : My photos of the Caen Hill locks in Devizes (Devizes Flight).

Resources Map: Kennet & Avon Canal, GEO Projects - British Waterways , 4th Edition: Brochure from the tourist office £4.75. Detailed map of the canal and River Avon from Reading to Bristol. : Kennet and Avon Canal Trust. : British Waterways organization : British Waterways - Waterscape, information on all waterways and canals. (They use the cottages4you database for holiday cottages on the site.) : George's Canal Boating in the U.K. and Europe. : Southern Walks. Phil did the complete three day walk from Reading to Bath on the Kennet and Avon Canal. "I had come seventy-five miles in three days, which wasn't bad, and I had travelled on foot without the need for transport or accommodation. It had not always been a comfortable experience. But I was glad I had done it." : Allan and Debbie's Canal Trips, personal accounts of traveling the canals in England. Trains

Question: Which canal links Bristol, Bath and Reading?
Answer: kennet and avon canal