The Kennet and Avon Canal

The full canal walk and 20 day walks

By Steve Davison

ISBN

9781852847869

Availability

Published

9 Jun 2016

Reprinted

8 Jul 2020

Edition

First

Pages

240

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.05cm

Weight

260g

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Guidebook to walking along the Kennet & Avon Canal. The 94 mile route from Reading to Bristol is split into 7 stages of fairly easy walking, and includes the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bath and Bristol's Floating Harbour. 20 circular walks are also included, ranging from 4¼ to 9 miles, taking in the best sections of the canal.

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.

ISBN

9781852847869

Availability

Published

9 Jun 2016

Reprinted

8 Jul 2020

Edition

First

Pages

240

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.05cm

Weight

260g

Overview

This guidebook to walking along the Kennet & Avon Canal covers the 94 mile (152km) route from Reading to Bristol. The canal walk is split into 7 stages of fairly easy, level walking, of between 9.5 and 18.5 miles, with advice on splitting or shortening the stages if needed. The book also includes 20 easy circular walks, ranging from 4.25to 9 miles, taking in the best sections of the canal and visiting sites nearby, making this two guidebooks in one.

Alongside OS map extracts and detailed route descriptions, there are plenty of details on the history, heritage and wildlife encountered along the way. An itinerary planner is included for walkers who want to create longer or shorter stages, and there is useful practical information including details on accessing the walks by public transport and a list of accommodation available along the route. The result is a highly useful and fascinating companion to exploring the canal and its surroundings.

In the early 1800s the Kennet and Avon Canal provided an important direct trade route between London and Bristol. Today the waterway weaves its way through the rolling chalk contours of the North Wessex Downs to the southern edge of the Cotswolds, passing vibrant towns and cities as well as picture-postcard villages with thatched cottages, ancient churches and cosy pubs. Fascinating features - such as Crofton Pumping Station and Beam Engines, the impressive Caen Hill flight of locks at Devizes, the aqueducts at Avoncliff and Dundas, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Georgian Bath and Bristol's vibrant Floating Harbour - are explored as the canal makes its journey across southern England.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

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 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 and Bathford

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

Updates

August 2020

Stage 7 - Bath to Bristol

Pages 88 and 89

The access path from the riverside up to the bridge (Bristol & Bath Railway Path) to allow walkers to cross the river following the River Avon Trail has been blocked at ST 6817 6870. Therefore all walkers are strongly advised to follow the 'Shortcut to Avon Riverside Station' detailed in the guidebook on page 88 (this reduces the walk length by 1.7km).

Revised route text

Keep ahead past a car park, picnic area and toilet (left) to reach a T-junction beside the Bird in Hand pub (01225 873335). Turn right down the road and fork right up the steps just before the railway bridge (ST 6875 6750). Turn left to follow the Bristol & Bath Railway Path for 1.4km, later passing Avon Riverside Station. Immediately after crossing the bridge over the River Avon fork left down the tarmac path to reach a picnic area on the north bank of the river.

Now follow the main route detailed on Page 89, starting after the Avon Valley Railway point of information text.

October 2016

Accommodation Update

The owner of this B&B has now retired and so accommodation is no longer available here;

Bridge House, Canal Bridge, Semington, Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

Reviews

"Really useful, especially the accommodation section"

Recently used this book to walk the Kennet and Avon Canal. Found it really useful, especially the accommodation section. Also useful for the optional side walks.
- Judy Cotterill, reviewer

Steve Davison has become a well-known and popular author of guides for the specialist walking and exploration publisher, Cicerone. In his own latest exploration – Walking the Kennet and Avon Canal – he offers two ways of enjoying both the route of the canal and the places of interest within a short distance of its banks.

The first section of the book covers the whole length, which he has divided into seven sections, starting from Reading, where the River Kennet joins the River Thames. In its second section the book has a series of 20 circular walks starting from points along the canal and taking in places of interest in the immediate surroundings. Each is in the region of six miles, and they take in stops such as to see the famous Crofton pumping station and beam engines near Great Bedwyn, and sights such as that of the chalk figure of a white horse on a hillside at Alton Barnes, the Caen Hill series of locks, and at Dundas the aqueduct and the junction with the restored remaining 500m of the Somerset Coal Canal.

This is a book full of information, from the introduction that includes the geology of the surrounding area along the route, the ecology – plants and wildlife to look out for – then throughout its pages maps, travel information and restaurant and other facilities, including accommodation. There is also a third suggestion for making the most of the pleasures of following the canal, a cycling route, divided into three stages.

Towpath Talk magazine

Downloads

The Kennet and Avon Canal - GPX File

Steve Davison

Steve Davison is a writer and photographer who has written a number of books, including eight guidebooks published by Cicerone. He has also written articles for a range of outdoor magazines and other publications. A keen hill walker for most of his life, with interests in nature, geology and the countryside, Steve is a qualified Mountain Leader and has also previously worked as a part time outdoor education instructor. He has been a member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild for a number of years. Find out more about him at www.steve-davison.co.uk.

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