Destination Guide

Kennet & Avon Canal

The picturesque Kennet and Avon Canal passes through delightful rural landscapes encompassing chalk vales and river valleys, winding its way through villages, market towns and the cities of Bath and Bristol where the boatyards are situated.

Bath

Bath is a unique city. Its hot springs, Roman Baths, splendid abbey and Georgian stone crescents have attracted visitors for centuries. Thermae Bath Spa has recently re-opened. Britain’s original and most remarkable spa, it is the only place in the UK where you can bathe in natural hot waters. Set in rolling Avon and Somerset countryside, Bath is a beautiful and unforgettable place to visit.

Bristol

Bristol is steeped in maritime history and its vibrant harbourside area with its myriad shops, ‘chic’ restaurants, museums and art galleries magnificently captures the spirit of its past with its present. It was also the adopted home of the legendary engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who designed the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge. Undisputedly Bristol’s most famous landmark, its spectacular setting on the cliffs of the Avon Gorge draws thousands of visitors each year.

Newbury

Newbury is probably best known for its internationally renowned racecourse but there are plenty of other interesting things to see and do. The Corn Exchange in the centre of town is home to drama, dance, music, children’s events and other entertainments. On the Wharf, you’ll find the West Berkshire museum where you can discover the town’s rich history, which was centred around trades such as cloth weaving, and there are many vibrant canalside pubs and restaurants to enjoy.

• Guides >
• Kennet & Avon Canal >

Discover the local sights

The Courts Garden

A charming garden surrounds this 18th century hidden treasure on this stretch of the canal owned by the National Trust.

Caen Hill Flight, Devizes

This remarkable two mile flight of 29 locks is open everyday. However, there is no need to pre-book. But please note one day each is required for ascent and descent and the flight is one days cruising from Bradford-on- Avon so passage through it is not advised on short breaks from Sally Boats or one week holidays from Anglo Welsh.

Reading

Take a walk along the Thames Path and Ridgeway National Trails. Take in the atmospheric ruins of the medieval Abbey of St James, pass by Oscar Wilde’s Reading Gaol and relax by the canal, a tranquil oasis in the city centre.

Please note: you will need at least two weeks to reach Reading by boat.

Avoncliff Aqueduct

One of two beautifully built aqueducts on the Kennet & Avon, the Avoncliff Aqueduct was designed by world-famous engineer John Rennie. If you fancy a coffee or spot of lunch, there’s the nearby Cross Guns pub and the Lock Inn Cottage café, as well as a great bookshop.

The Pump Shed

An ideal place to stop off for refreshments – although perhaps not for those on a diet – The Pump Shed serves mouthwatering cakes, savoury snacks and ice creams as well as tea and coffee. You’ll find it at Lock 11 on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Widcombe. Mooring points are nearby.

Garston Lock

One of only two surviving turf-sided locks in Britain, Garston Lock is a must-see for history buffs. It employs an early lock design used on river navigations in the early 1700s before the advent of canals, and has sloping sides which make the lock quite wide when full. This type of lock needs more water to operate than the brick or stone-sided variety.

 

Plot your course

Click image to enlarge map