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 93/4 and 181/2 miles, with advice on splitting on shortening the stages if needed. The book also includes 20 easy circular walks, ranging from 4 to 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.
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
