Canal Boat Holiday Destinations from Bath, on the Kennet & Avon Canal
From our canal boat hire base at Sydney Wharf in Bath, you can cruise into Bath city centre or head west along the Kennet & Avon Canal and through the Bath Valley to Bradford on Avon, the Caen Hill flight, the Vale of Pewsey, Savernake Forest, Hungerford and beyond.
The 87-mile long Kennet & Avon Canal links Bristol on the River Avon with the River Thames at Reading. There are 105 locks along its length.
Three-night destinations from Bath
Hilperton and back (24 miles, 2 locks, 10 hours)
Head west along the Kennet & Avon Canal cruising past Sydney Gardens and through 2 short tunnels. When you reach Bathampton, you’ll pass the canalside The George Inn. Then you’ll go through two swing bridges. Cruising on through the Bath Valley, at Claverton you’ll find the Claverton Pumping Station and the American Museum at Claverton House. Soon after you’ll pass the entrance to the Somerset Coal Canal and Brassknocker Basin. Then you’ll cross over the magnificent Bath stone Dundas Aqueduct.
When you reach the impressive Avoncliff Aqueduct, you can moor up to visit the canalside Cross Guns pub, or take a 15-minute walk to the village of Winsley to visit the Seven Stars pub. There’s another swing bridge and then you’ll pass English Heritage’s 14th century Tithe Barn. After Bradford on Avon lock, you can moor up to visit Bradford on Avon, with similar architecture to Bath, medieval streets, a striking Saxon bridge over the Avon, independent shops and restaurants, canalside pubs and river walks. Continuing on, you’ll pass Bradford on Avon Marina with its Boathouse pub. Then you’ll cross over the small Bliss and Ladydown aqueducts. When you reach Hilperton, you can turn the boat around in the marina and return to Bath.
Bristol Floating Harbour and back (34 miles, 26 locks, 16 hours) For experience boaters only.
Head west through the Bath flight of 6 locks onto the Bristol Avon. Cruise upstream towards Pulteney Bridge for a stunning view of Pulteney Weir, Bath’s golden terraces and the spires of the Abbey. Be aware that visitor moorings are less frequent on the River, flows are usually low in summer months and not tidal in around Bath. Moor up at Bath Quays Waterside Moorings and explore this UNESCO World Heritage City, with its cobbled streets, Abbey, Roman Baths, shops, restaurants and museums. Continue on along the Bristol Avon, a tidal waterway.
You’ll pass The Riverside Inn at Saltford, the Lock Keeper pub at Keynsham and The Chequers Inn at Hanham Lock. When you reach Bristol Floating Harbour, you can moor up to explore this vibrant waterfront area, with Brunel’s SS Great Britain and the M-Shed arts centre. Mooring fees are charged at Bristol Floating Harbour. It’s a 20-minute walk into Bristol city centre from the Floating Harbour. Turn your boat and make the return journey to Bath.
Four-night destinations from Bath
Foxhanger Wharf and back (36 miles, 16 locks, 18 hours)
Follow the 3-night route to Hilperton and continue cruising through the Wiltshire countryside. You’ll soon pass the start of the disused Wilts & Berks Canal. Then you’ll go through Semington Swing Bridge and then 2 locks at Semington. There are 3 more swing bridges and then you’ll reach Seend, with five locks and the canalside Barge Inn. Here there are two more swing bridges to open before you reach Foxhanger Wharf. You can turn the boat around and moor up to walk up the magnificent Caen Hill flight of locks at Devizes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways.
7-night destinations from Bath
Pewsey and back (69 miles, 74 locks, 38 hours)
Follow the 4-night route to Foxhanger Wharf. Next you’ll need to travel up the 29 locks in the Caen Hill Flight. The locks are generally open from 8am to 4pm. It takes around 5 hours to go up or down the flight, so you’ll need to make sure you allow time either end. Canal & River Trust volunteer lock keepers are on hand to help. Once you have navigated the flight, you can moor up to explore the historic market town of Devizes, where there are plenty of pubs and restaurants to choose from, including The Bear on the high street.
From there, continue your cruise east through wooded scenery, passing under large stone bridges. Cruising into the Vale of Pewsey, this summit stretch is very scenic and passes close to a series of villages with historic pubs, as well as the canalside Barge Inn at Honeystreet. You can turn the boat around at Pewsey Wharf and then moor up to explore the waterside area, the village and surrounding countryside, before returning to Bath.
10 or 11-night destinations from Bath
Great Bedwyn and back (83 miles, 102 locks, 50 hours)
Follow the 7-night route to Pewsey and continue cruising through the Pewsey Vale, part of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape. You’ll soon reach Wootton Rivers, a pretty village with timber-framed thatched houses and Royal Oak pub. Wootton Rivers is on the edge of the Savernake Forest, where there are 4,500 acres of woodlands to explore. Soon after Wootton Rivers you’ll reach the 502-yard-long Bruce Tunnel. When you reach Crofton Top Lock, you’ll see the historic Crofton Pumping Station, home to the oldest fully working beam engine in the world.
The village of Wilton with its Swan Inn is a short walk away from canal below Lock 60, next to Wilton Reservoir. The locks become more frequent between Wilton and Hungerford as you pass through hilly landscapes. When you reach the historic canalside village of Great Bedwyn, where you will find the Three Tuns pub and the Bedwyn Stone Museum in the village. Turn at Great Bedwyn Wharf to begin your journey back to Bath.
Hungerford and back (94 miles, 134 locks, 60 hours)
Follow the route to Great Bedwyn and continue cruising through the countryside. You’ll pass Little Bedwyn with its Harrow Inn and the Pelican Inn at Froxfield. When you reach the historic market town of Hungerford, the bridge by the 19th Century Church is ideal for accessing the town. You’ll find plenty of antique shops, pubs and restaurants to choose from. Turn around and return to Bath.
14-night destinations from Bath
Newbury and back (113 miles, 144 locks, 70 hours)
Continue cruising west from Hungerford through the West Berkshire countryside. Here the canal shares the valley with both the railway and the River Kennet. You’ll pass through the village of Kintbury with its canalside Dundas Arms, and Hamstead Park with a footpath running through it. Just before you reach Hamstead Lock no. 81, you can moor up and walk to the village of Marsh Benham, home of the Red House pub, with thatched roof. When you reach Newbury, moor up to explore this historic market town, with independent shops and restaurants, pubs, markets and museums.
Reading and back (150 miles, 185 locks, 94 hours)
Follow the route to Pewsey, Hungerford and Newbury and continue heading east through the Berkshire countryside. Soon after leaving Newbury, you’ll pass close by to Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre and The Swan Inn at Thatcham. And you’ll go through Woolhampton with its canalside Row Barge pub. At Aldermaston you’ll find the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust’s canalside Tea Rooms. Just after Tyle Mill lock and Tyle Mill swing bridge, you can moor up and take a 10-minute walk to the Spring Inn at Sulhamstead.
Continue east past Theale and Burghfield, and into Reading. Traffic Lights control the boats moving through central Reading and lots of bridges span the navigation as you move towards the town centre. High Bridge is a good place to moor near to access the town centre. There are theatres and museums to visit, including the Hexagon and the Reading Museum, as well as plenty of waterside pubs and restaurants. The Oracle Centre (north of High Bridge) is a popular place to stop. Turn around at the junction just after Kings Road Bridge and return to Bath.
