Two-part guidebook to walking along the Kennet and Avon Canal. The first part describes the 152km (94 mile) route from Reading to Bristol, incorporating the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bath and Bristol’s Floating Harbour. The second part describes 20 circular walks, taking in the best sections of the canal and interesting places nearby. All routes can be walked year-round and are suitable for walkers of every ability.

The canal path route is described in 7 stages of 15 to 29km (9 to 18 miles), though it can easily be split into shorter or longer stages. The day walks are between 7 and 15km (4 and 9 miles) are described, taking between 2-4.5 hours.

• OS 1:50,000 mapping and step-by-step route descriptions for each walk
• Easy access from Reading, Newbury, Hungerford, Great Bedwyn, Pewsey, Devizes, Bradford-on-Avon, Bath, Keynsham and Bristol
• Highlights include Crofton Pumping Station, the Caen Hill flight of locks at Devizes, the ornate aqueducts at Avoncliff and Dundas and the North Wessex Downs and Cotswolds AONB
• Comprehensive planning information and information on local history, geology and wildlife 
• GPX files available to download

Map key
Overview map

Introduction
Brief history of the canal
Geology
Plants and wildlife
Where to stay
Getting to and around the canal
Food and drink
Walking the canal
Cycling the canal
Maps
Waymarking, access and rights of way
Protecting the countryside
Using this guide

Walking the canal from Reading to Bristol
Stage 1 Reading to Woolhampton
Stage 2 Woolhampton to Hungerford
Stage 3 Hungerford to Pewsey Wharf
Stage 4 Pewsey Wharf to Devizes
Stage 5 Devizes to Bradford-on-Avon
Stage 6 Bradford-on-Avon to Bath
Stage 7 Bath to Bristol

Between Reading and Hungerford
Walk 1 Reading – canal and river
Walk 2 Aldermaston – wharf and village
Walk 3 Greenham Common
Walk 4 Newbury and Donnington
Walk 5 Kintbury and Hamstead Marshall
Walk 6 Hungerford and Kintbury
Walk 7 Hungerford, Freeman’s Marsh and Standen Manor

Between Great Bedwyn and Devizes
Walk 8 Great Bedwyn, Crofton and Wilton
Walk 9 Wootton Rivers and Burbage
Walk 10 Pewsey Wharf, Martinsell Hill and Oare Hill
Walk 11 Wilcot and Woodborough
Walk 12 Honeystreet, Alton Priors, Alton Barnes and the Alton Barnes White Horse
Walk 13 All Cannings, the Wansdyke and Bishops Cannings
Walk 14 Devizes, Caen Hill and Rowde

Between Seend and Bristol
Walk 15 Seend and Seend Cleeve
Walk 16 Bradford-on-Avon, Avoncliff and Lower Westwood
Walk 17 Avoncliff, Freshford, Monkton Combe and Dundas
Walk 18 Dundas Aqueduct, Monkton Farleigh, Brown’s Folly, Bathford and Bathampton
Walk 19 Bathampton, Sham Castle and Bath
Walk 20 Saltford, Swineford, North Stoke and the Cotswold Way

Appendix A Route summary tables
Appendix B Itinerary planner
Appendix C Accommodation near the route
Appendix D Useful contacts
Appendix E Further reading

Seasons

The canal and walks can be undertaken at any time: summers tend to be fairly dry and mild, spring and autumn offer some of the best walking conditions. In winter some paths can be quite muddy and some routes may be impassable if rivers become flooded - however, walking alongside the canal on a clear, frosty winter's day can be a magical experience.

Centres

Reading, Newbury, Hungerford, Great Bedwyn, Pewsey, Devizes, Bradford-on-Avon, Bath, Keynsham and Bristol

Difficulty

Fairly easy walking on mostly good paths and tracks through fairly low-level terrain (below 286m above sea level). The stages on the canal walk range in length from 15.5 to 29.7 km (9¾ to 18½ miles); however, these can be easily split into shorter stages if required. The circular walks range from 6.8 to 14.5 km (4¼ to 9 miles) and include several, sometimes steep, ascents and descents, however, they should be suitable for most walkers.

Must See

Numerous fascinating features along the canal, such as Crofton Pumping Station, the impressive Caen Hill flight of locks at Devizes, aqueducts at Avoncliff and Dundas; picturesque towns and villages, with pubs, ancient churches; Georgian splendour at Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, vibrant Bristol and its Floating Harbour; the canal travels through an interesting, gentle landscape, ranging from the rolling chalk hills of the North Wessex Downs AONB in the east to the limestone country in the west, touching on the southern edge of the Cotswolds AONB.

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