Bradford-on-Avon is one of the railway stations that can be used to access the canal (Stages 5 and 6, Walk 16)
Food and drink
Some of the canal stages and walks start at places where food and drink may be bought, whether it’s a shop, café or pub; some offer opportunities for stopping off en route at a pub or shop, although these are not always conveniently placed along the route. Brief details of refreshment opportunities are given in the information box at the start of each route, but bear in mind that there is no guarantee they’ll be open when required. Therefore it’s always a good idea to carry some food and drink with you, along with a small ‘emergency ration’ in case of an unexpected delay.
The Cunning Man pub at Burghfield Bridge sits beside the canal (Stage 1)
Walking the canal
This guide is in two parts: the first part covers the route along the entire length of the canal, while the second part describes 20 circular walks spaced along the length of the canal.
Walking the canal from Reading to Bristol
This section of the guide describes the route along the length of the canal. It has been split into seven stages ranging from 15.7 to 28.6km (9¾ to 17¾ miles), following the canal west from Reading to Bristol (see Appendix A for a stage summary table). Each stage may be further split into two convenient parts where there is parking and, in most cases, transport available. Suggestions for splitting the stages are given in the information box at the beginning of each stage.
For your own enjoyment and convenience, plan your walk carefully in advance. The stages are not intended to be individual day sections, but the start and end points coincide with places that offer parking and transport links locally and, within a reasonable distance, accommodation facilities (see Appendix B for an itinerary planner). The stages are provided to help walkers decide how far they would like to go each day, whether that means undertaking just part of a stage or combining multiple stages. It is entirely up to you how far you want to walk each day.
When following the stage descriptions, bear in mind that the locks decrease in number when travelling westwards from Blake’s Lock (107) at Reading to Hanham Lock (1), whereas the bridges increase in number.
Circular walks
The 20 individual circular walks in this guide range from 6.8 to 15km (4¼ to 9¼ miles) and cover fairly low-level terrain (less than 286m above sea level). Although some walks have several climbs and descents, some of which are steep, they should be suitable for most walkers. The routes generally follow well-defined tracks and paths, although some paths may be narrow and at times indistinct. The walk summary table in Appendix A provides the key statistics for all 20 walks.
Planning for the weather
When planning your walk, bear in mind the weather. Summers tend to be fairly dry and mild. Spring and autumn offer some of the best walking conditions: spring and early summer herald new life along the canal, with colourful displays of flowers, abundant birdsong and many butterflies, while cool autumn nights clothe the countryside in shades of russet, gold and brown. During the winter months, spells of rain can make some paths quite muddy and some routes may be impassable when rivers are flooded. However, walking on a clear, frosty winter’s day can be a magical experience.
Always choose clothing suitable for the season, along with a waterproof jacket, comfortable and waterproof footwear and a comfortable rucksack. On wet days, gaiters or waterproof trousers can also be very useful. It’s also worth carrying a basic first aid kit to deal with minor incidents.
Cycling the canal
Large sections of the canal towpath between Reading and Bath form part of Route 4 of the National Cycle Network and have been improved accordingly. National Cycle Route 4 (NCR4) generally follows the River Kennet and canal from Reading (SU 730 738) to Thatcham railway station (SU 527 663). After 4.6km on urban roads through Thatcham, it rejoins the towpath at Ham Bridge (SU 490 671) and then continues mainly on the towpath to Marsh Benham (SU 423 670). The next section to Devizes (SU 018 623) mostly follows country lanes, before rejoining the canal towpath to Bath (ST 758 654). From Bath to Bristol, NCR4 follows the Bristol & Bath Railway Path. For a map of NCR4, visit the Sustrans website at www.sustrans.org.uk.
The map extracts in this guide show the National Cycle Route 4; this is denoted with a solid green circle for on-road and a green circle with white centre for off-road (traffic-free) parts of the route.
The latest advice from the Canal & River Trust is that considerate cycling is allowed alongside the canal from Reading to Bath (visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk for more information). Between Bath and Bristol, cyclists should follow the Bristol & Bath Railway Path.
The whole length of the canal can be cycled over a two- or three-day period. A typical three-day itinerary might be:
Day 1 – Reading to Hungerford: 45.6km (28¼ miles) via the towpath; add 3.1km (2 miles) via NCR4
Day 2 – Hungerford to Bradford-on-Avon: 62.2km (38¾ miles) via the towpath; add 6.5km (4 miles) via NCR4
Day 3 – Bradford-on-Avon to Bristol: 44.3km (27½ miles) via the towpath to Bath (which is also NCR4) and then following the Bristol & Bath Railway Path, which forms part of NCR4
When cycling along the towpath, please be courteous to walkers and other users, cycle more slowly, use a bell when approaching others and at bridges (proceed with caution) and dismount when passing through tunnels. Note that there is no towpath through the Bruce Tunnel, here the route diverts over the top of the tunnel.
Cycling along the canal between the aqueducts at Avoncliff and Dundas (Stage 6, Walk 17)
Maps
The Ordnance Survey (OS) offer two series of maps: the 1:50,000 (2cm to 1km) Landranger series and the more detailed 1:25,000 (4cm to 1km) Explorer series. The OS maps covering the canal and surrounding walks are:
Landranger: 172, 173, 174 and 175
Explorer: 155, 156, 157, 158 and 159
Other maps include Heron Maps: Kennet & Avon Canal and River Avon at 1:50,000 with detailed town plans at 1:12,500 (also shows National Cycle Route 4). This is only of use for walking the length of the canal, not for the 20 circular walks.
This guide features extracts from the OS 1:50,000 Landranger series of maps, with overlays showing the route along with any detours or shortcuts. It is advisable to always carry the relevant Explorer map with you when walking as these show much greater detail as to the routing of rights of way.
Waymarking, access and rights of way
The rights of way are typically well signposted using a mix of fingerposts, marker posts and waymarks on fences and gateposts; the towpath is very well signposted. The descriptions in this guide, in combination with the map extracts and the signage on the ground, should make route-finding straightforward; however, it is still advisable to carry a compass and the relevant OS Explorer map.
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