Location
Base 49 is just outside the pretty historic market town of Bradford on Avon on the Kennet and Avon Canal. Bradford on Avon has many historic buildings, canalside pubs, shops, restaurants and cafes.
Routes from this base
Short Break Routes – weekend – 3 nights
Bath Top Lock and Return: 2 locks 12 hours
West from the base join the Kennet and Avon Canal over an aqueduct in the hamlet of Avoncliffe, and then the magnificent Dundas Aqueduct carrying the canal high over the River Avon. The waterway enters Bath through the romantic tunnels of Sydney Gardens. World Heritage site Bath offers Georgian crescents and Roman Baths and some of the best city scenes in Britain.
Foxhanger Wharf and Return: 15 locks 14 hours
Cruise east passing the canalside Beehive pub and travel on through the Avon Valley. At Hilperton Marina you can moor up to visit the King’s Arms pub or walk into Trowbridge. Continue east through Semington and Seend, with its canalside Barge Inn. You will then 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 return: 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. Continue on through Bathampton, passing the George Inn. You will cruise through two short tunnels – Beckford Road and Cleveland House and then 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.
Short Break Routes – midweek – 4 nights
Saltford Lock and Return: 16 locks 22 hours
Please note, this route is only available to hirers with lots of boating experience.
Heading west cruise through the beautiful Bath Valley. You will cross over the beautiful Bath stone Avoncliff Aqueduct with the Cross Guns pub next to it. You can then cruise over Dundas Aqueduct and pass the entrance to the Somerset Coal Canal. You will pass Claverton Pumping Station and Claverton Manor, home of the American Museum in Britain. You will travel through Bathampton and past the George Inn. You will then 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.
One Week routes:
Bristol Floating Harbour and Return: 28 locks 24 hours
We would not recommend a first timer to cruise to Bristol along the River Avon - as this is a tidal river section and not for the inexperienced.
Heading west from the marina cruise through the beautiful Bath Valley. You will cross over the Avoncliff Aqueduct, with the riverside Cross Guns pub next door. You will 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 will cruise through two short tunnels – Beckford Road and Cleveland House. Next you will travel down the flight of six locks in Bath (the Widcombe flight) before joining the River Avon. You will pass through Saltford with its Riverside Inn and Keynsham with its Brassmill and Lock Keeper pubs. You will 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.
Pewsey and Return: 72 locks 34 hours
From the Marina, head east along the Kennet & Avon Canal. The journey takes you through Semington and Seend, with its canalside Barge Inn. Very shortly, you will 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 will pass through a series of pretty 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 and 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.
Two Week routes:
Great Bedwyn and Return: 100 locks 46 hours
Follow the Pewsey route above. After Pewsey, you will reach Wootton Rivers with its Royal Oak pub on the edge of the Savernake Forest. You will then pass through The Bruce Tunnel, also known as Savernake Tunnel, marketing the highest point of the canal and then on to 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 Return: 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 Return: 142 locks 64 hours
As above but cruise on to Newbury, where there’s a great choice of pubs, including the 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 Return: 186 locks 90 hours
Continue on from Newbury, 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.