The Kennet and Avon Canal. Steve Davison

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      THE KENNET AND AVON CANAL

      THE FULL CANAL WALK AND 20 DAY WALKS

      by Steve Davison

      2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA LA7 7PY

      www.cicerone.co.uk

      About the Author

      Steve Davison is a writer and photographer who has lived in Berkshire for over 25 years. He has written a number of books, as well as articles for outdoor magazines and other publications, including local and national newspapers. He specialises in hillwalking and European travel, with interests in nature, geology and the countryside. A keen hillwalker for many years and a Mountain Leader, Steve has also worked as a part-time outdoor education instructor. He is a member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild. Find out more about him at www.steve-davison.co.uk.

      Other Cicerone guides by the author

      Walking in the North Wessex Downs

      The Great Stones Way

      Walking in the Chilterns

      The Ridgeway National Trail

      Walking in the New Forest

      Walking in the Thames Valley

      © Steve Davison 2016

      First edition 2016

      ISBN: 978 1 85284 786 9

      Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

       © Crown copyright 2016 OS PU100012932

      All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.

      Updates to this guide

      While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/786/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.

      Front cover: A narrowboat negotiates Wire Lock (76), between Kintbury and Hungerford (Stage 2, Walk 6)

      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