The purpose of this particular section is to provide you with information about the range of cruising options possible using Canaltime at Hilperton as your base.

HUNQERFORD & RETURN

7 Nights • Cruising Time Per day: 7 Hrs • Locks: 120
• Devizes is a historic market town which hosts a traditional market every Thursday. It
is one of the largest market places in the West Country. Look out for the Wadworth Brewery Shire Horse Dray which still delivers to the towns Public Houses.
• Beyond Pewsey and through lush Wiltshire countryside.
• The highest point of the Kennet & Avon is marked by the 502-yard Bruce Tunnel.
• The canal then follows close alongside the Great Western main railway line through the Bedwyns – Great & Little – and down to Hungerford.
• Pass by Savernake Forest, an ancient woodland mentioned in the Domesday Book.

NEWBURY & RETURN

10-11 Nights • Cruising Time Per day: 5.5 Hrs • Locks: 140
• Beyond Hungerford the canal shares the valley with both the railway and the River Kennet.
• The Kennet & Avon Canal is so central to Newbury that the main shopping street passes directly over it. (Newbury TIC 01635 30267)
• Take a day out at the races and visit Newbury Race Course. (01635 40015/www.newburyracecourse.co.uk)

READING & RETURN

14 Nights • Cruising Time Per day: 6 Hrs • Locks: 186
• Some of the very best countryside in the UK canal system.
• Through a variety of towns and villages to Reading.
• Blakes Lock Museum. (social & industrial history / 0118 939 0918)
• Reading Museum. (0118 939 9800 / www.readingmuseum.org.uk)
• Museum of English Rural Life. (0118 378 8660 / www.reading.ac.uk/merl/)
• Or you could shop at the retail park known as ‘The Oracle’, located next to the canal.

BRISTOL & RETURN

7 Nights • Cruising Time Per day: 4 Hrs • Locks: 28
• The route goes through the town of Bradford on Avon before passing over two aqueducts on the way to Bath. At Dundas Aqueduct is the entrance to the ‘Somerset Coal Canal’ and nearby a visitor centre.
• Stop off at the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath and explore the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey and the Royal Crescent. For more information www.visitbath.co.uk
• Having followed the route of the River Avon by canal, after Bath the navigation uses the river itself, reverting to canal to divert into Bristol city centre.
• Stunning weirs accompany each river lock down to Bristol.
• Visitor moorings are available right in the centre of the city in the floating harbour mooring charges apply).
• Reminders of the route’s industrial history such as the brass mill at Kelston are found within rolling valley countryside.

SHORT BREAKS

WEEKENDS: Friday-Monday (3 niqhts) I MIDWEEK: Monday-Friday (4 niqhts).

DEVIZES & RETURN

4 Nights • Cruising Time Per day: 7 Hrs • Locks: 72
The spectacular Devizes flight consists of 29 wide beam locks, rising by 237 feet over just two miles.

BRADFORD ON AVON / BOTTOM OF CAEN & RETURN

3 Nights • Cruising Time Per day: 7 Hrs • Locks: 14
For an easy weekend to combine cruising and exploring, spend a day in Bradford and another cruising to the base of Caen Hill Locks.

BATH & RETURN

3-4 Nights • Cruising Time Per day: 7 Hrs • Locks: 14
The canal passes very close to the city centre and Bath is without doubt, worthy of exploration.