Full Description
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
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, 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
