Narrowboat holiday route options on the Kennet & Avon Canal

Weekend/3-night breaks from Bradford on Avon

Foxhanger Wharf and back (14 locks, 15 hours)

From our new base at Bradford on Avon, cruise east along the Kennet & Avon Canal passing the canalside Beehive pub and travelling on through the Avon Valley.  At Hilperton Marina you can moor up to visit the canalside King’s Arms pub or walk into Trowbridge. The journey continues east through Semington and Seend, with its canalside Barge Inn.  Soon after you’ll reach the base of the Caen Hill flight of 29 locks at Devizes, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Waterways’. You can turn your boat here at Foxhanger Wharf.  From the canal it’s a short walk to the historic market town of Devizes, with places to visit including the Wadworth Brewery Visitor Centre, Bear Hotel, Peppermill Restaurant and Dolcipani Bakery.

Bath City Centre and back (14 locks, 14 hours)

Cruise west through the beautiful Bath Valley, crossing over the Avoncliff Aqueduct with the Cross Guns pub next to it.  Later you’ll cruise over Dundas Aqueduct and pass the entrance to the Somerset Coal Canal.  Then you’ll pass Claverton Pumping Station and Claverton Manor, home of the American Museum in Britain.  The journey continues on through Bathampton, passing the canalside George Inn.  You’ll cruise through two short tunnels – Beckford Road and Cleveland House. You’ll go down the flight of six locks at Bath (the Widcombe flight) and you can turn and moor close to Pulteney Bridge.  From there, you explore all this fabulous UNESCO World Heritage city has to offer, including the Roman Baths, Jane Austen Museum, Bath Abbey, Theatre Royal and Royal Crescent.

Mid-week/4-night breaks from Bradford on Avon

Saltford Lock and back (16 locks, 22 hours)

Please note, this route is only available to hirers who have boated with us a minimum of five times.

Heading west from the marina along the Kennet & Avon Canal, and cruise through the beautiful Bath Valley. You’ll cross over the beautiful Bath stone Avoncliff Aqueduct with the Cross Guns pub next to it.  Later you’ll cruise over Dundas Aqueduct and pass the entrance to the Somerset Coal Canal.  Next you’ll pass Claverton Pumping Station and Claverton Manor, home of the American Museum in Britain.  And then you’ll travel through Bathampton and past the canalside George Inn.  You’ll cruise through two short tunnels – Beckford Road and Cleveland House.  Next you’ll travel down the flight of six locks in Bath (the Widcombe flight) before joining the River Avon. At Saltford you can visit the Riverside Inn.

Week long breaks from Bradford on Avon

Pewsey and back (72 locks, 34 hours)

From Bradford on Avon Marina, head east along the Kennet & Avon Canal.  The journey takes you through Semington and Seend, with its canalside Barge Inn.  Soon after you’ll reach the base of the Caen Hill flight of 29 locks at Devizes, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Waterways’. It takes around five hours to travel up the flight, which raises the canal 235ft across 2.5 miles.  From the canal it’s a short walk to the historic market town of Devizes, with places to visit including the Wadworth Brewery Visitor Centre, Bear Hotel, Peppermill Restaurant and Dolcipani Bakery. After Devizes, you’ll pass through a series of pretty canalside villages dotted through the North West Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including All Cannings with its King’s Arms pub and Honeystreet, with its canalside Barge Inn.  You’ll travel on through the beautiful Vale of Pewsey, passing Pewsey Wharf with its French Horn pub, and close by to the village of Pewsey, with its Royal Oak pub.

Great Bedwyn and back (100 locks, 46 hours)

Follow the Pewsey route above.  After Pewsey, you’ll reach Wootton Rivers with its Royal Oak pub on the edge of the Savernake Forest.  Then you’ll pass through The Bruce Tunnel, also known as Savernake Tunnel, marketing the highest point of the canal.  Soon after you’ll reach Crofton with its historic Pumping Station and Beam engines. And flight of locks taking you back down the hill.  Next it’s Great Bedwyn, with its Three Tuns pub and Great Bedwyn Wharf where you can turn your boat.

Bristol Floating Harbour and back (28 locks, 24 hours)

Please note, this route is only available to hirers with lots of boating experience.

Heading west from the marina along the Kennet & Avon Canal, and cruise through the beautiful Bath Valley. You’ll cross over the Avoncliff Aqueduct, with the riverside Cross Guns pub next door.  You’ll cross over the Dundas Aqueduct and pass the entrance to the Somerset Coal Canal.  Soon after you’ll pass Claverton Pumping Station and Claverton Manor, home of the American Museum in Britain.  Next you’ll pass through Bathampton and the canalside George Inn.  You’ll cruise through two short tunnels – Beckford Road and Cleveland House.  Next you’ll travel down the flight of six locks in Bath (the Widcombe flight) before joining the River Avon. You’ll pass through Saltford with its Riverside Inn and Keynsham with its Brassmill and Lock Keeper pubs.  You’ll cruise on through a steeply wooded valley, before reaching Hanham Lock and the Old Lock & Weir Inn. Cruise on to Bristol Floating Harbour, home of Brunel’s SS Great Britain ship, the MShed Bristol Museum and galleries, and the Watershed arts centre, cinema and café bar.  The centre of Bristol is just a 20 minute walk away.  There are mooring fees at the floating harbour.

10-day, 11-day or two-week breaks from Bradford on Avon

Great Bedwyn and back (100 locks, 46 hours)

The journey begins by cruising east through two short tunnels and Sydney Gardens. You’ll cruise through the villages of Bathampton, with its popular canalside George Inn and Claverton, home of the historic Claverton Pumping Station and American Museum in Britain at Claverton Manor.  Next you’ll cross over the impressive Dundas and Avoncliff Bath stone aqueducts. Then you’ll pass through the historic town of Bradford-on-Avon and its canalside Barge Inn and Beehive pub.  The journey continues east through Semington and Seend, with its canalside Barge Inn.  Soon after you’ll reach the base of the Caen Hill flight of 29 locks at Devizes, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Waterways’. It takes around five hours to travel up the flight.  You’ll then experience Next you’ll pass through a series of pretty canalside villages dotted through the North West Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including All Cannings with its King’s Arms pub and Honeystreet, with its canalside Barge Inn.  You’ll travel on through the beautiful Vale of Pewsey, passing Pewsey Wharf with its French Horn pub, and close by to the village of Pewsey, with its Royal Oak pub. Next, it’s Wootton Rivers with its Royal Oak pub on the edge of the Savernake Forest.  Then you’ll pass through The Bruce Tunnel, also known as Savernake Tunnel, marketing the highest point of the canal.  Soon after you’ll reach Crofton with its historic Pumping Station and Beam engines. And flight of locks taking you back down the hill.  Next it’s Great Bedwyn, with its Three Tuns pub and Great Bedwyn Wharf where you can turn your boat.

Hungerford and back (120 locks, 54 hours)

As above but cruise on through Little Bedwyn and soon after, Froxfield with its Pelican Inn close to the canal.  And then you’ll reach Hungerford with many antique shops, pubs and restaurants to choose from. You can turn your boat at Hungerford Town Bridge.

Newbury and back (142 locks, 64 hours)

As above but cruising on to Newbury, where there’s a great choice of pubs, including the canalside Lock Stock & Barrel.  You can visit the Newbury Museum and Newbury Racecourse.  The impressive Highclere Castle, featured in the ITV drama Downton Abbey is a short taxi ride away.

Reading and back (186 locks, 90 hours total)

Continue on from Newbury through the beautiful West Berkshire countryside passing through the pretty village of Kintbury with its canalside Dundas Arms.  On reaching Reading, you can turn at the winding hole near King’s Bridge Road and moor up to walk back along the canal to the canalside Oracle shopping centre.  There’s a great choice of canalside places to eat, including Wagamamas. The Vue cinema is canalside too.  Reading Museum is a short walk away, home to half a million objects, crossing archaeology, art, natural history, social history and world cultures, including Britain’s Bayeux Tapestry.

Pubs and restaurants on the Kennet & Avon Canal

As well as the World Heritage City of Bath, the Kennet & Avon Canal passes through a series of historic towns and villages. There are dozens of canal and riverside pubs and restaurants to choose from, including:

• The George at Bathampton
• The Angelfish Restaurant at Brassknocker Basin
• No.10 Cafe at Avoncliff
• The Canal Tavern at Bradford on Avon
• The Barge Inn at Bradford on Avon
• The Boathouse at Bradford on Avon Marina
• Noah’s Pantry at Bradford on Avon Marina
• The King’s Arms at Hilperton
• The Barge Inn at Seend
• The Frenchorn at Pewsey
• The Royal Oak, Wootton Rivers (in the village)
• The Cross Keys at Great Bedwyn
• The Pelican Inn at Froxfield
• John O’Gaunt at Hungerford
• Dundas Arms at Kintbury
• White House Inn at Newbury
• Swan Inn at Thatcham
• Wagamammas, The Oracle Centre, Reading