Kennet and Avon Canal, Wiltshire
An Inland Boating Trip is a Great Way to See Rural Southern England
Book on a barge, hire a narrow boat or follow the towpaths on foot to discover some of the towns and British history along this beautiful stretch of canal.
The Kennet and Avon Canal opened in 1810, linking the River Avon at Bath to the Thames River at Reading, creating a continuous waterway across southern England. The canal was used to transport goods on horse-drawn barges; bringing prosperity and trade to many towns along its route.
The canal has a ‘season’ for most activities, starting at Easter and continuing to the end of October. Along the route there are many historic and unusual attractions. The Hungerford to Devizes stretch in Wiltshire is particularly interesting and can be explored by boat or on foot along the tow paths.
Hungerford is a good place to stock up on provisions or alternatively, having moorings near the center of town, it is easy to take an amble around the antiques malls in the high street and pick up some bargains.
Only a few miles down stream is the Crofton Pumping Station. This houses two restored Cornish Beam Engines - the 1812 Boulton & Watt and the 1845 Harvey of Hayle. The 1812 engine is the oldest beam engine in the world, still in its original building and still doing its original job of pumping water to the summit level of the Kennet and Avon Canal. The engines can be seen in action on ‘Steaming weekends’ throughout the summer.
The rolling chalkland downs which epitomise the Wiltshire countryside are scattered with ancient earthworks. There are also the Wiltshire ‘white horses’. The horses were first hewn in the chalk downlands from the early 1800s onwards. The Alton Barnes white horse can be seen opposite The Barge Inn at Honeystreet near Pewsey.
This delightful pub on the tow path claims that it is an ‘internationally famous crop circle venue’. Each year, often around July, this area becomes a mecca for the mystics and curious when crop circles appear in the nearby corn fields. Whether natural phenomena, or of extra-terrestrial origin , no-one knows – that’s the attraction.
In Devizes there is a monthly farmers market (first Saturday of the month) where you can find smoked trout, pate, cured meats, cheeses, jams, duck eggs and cider. This supplies sufficient energy to manage the nearby Caen Hill Locks where there is a flight of 29 locks in just over 2 miles. As two boats fit into each lock the work can often be shared. The old lock cottage serves as a very welcome tea room.
Boat trips and narrow boat hire are available from Kennet Cruises and Foxhangers Canal Holidays.
How to Get There
This canal is situated in the south of England between Bristol and London. If travelling by international flights to Heathrow (London), this area can be accessed by train via Airport express / Paddington Station or coach / hire car by heading west along the M4 and A4 towards Bristol.
