Short breaks on the Kennet & Avon Canal

14 February 2024

Our weekend boating break destinations on the Kennet & Avon Canal include Bradford on Avon, Bath and the Caen Hill flight of locks at Devizes

One of our best-loved canals, the 87-mile long Kennet & Avon Canal links the Bristol Avon with the Thames at Reading, passing through spectacular landscapes and the World Heritage City of Bath.

From the beautiful Bath Valley and the foothills of the Cotswolds in Somerset and Wiltshire to the North West Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the wooded Kennet Valley, this canal offers the chance to enjoy some of England’s most beautiful countryside.

Weekend/3-night breaks from Bath

Bradford on Avon and back (18 miles, 2 locks, 7 hours)

Cruise east along the Kennet & Avon Canal past Sydney Gardens, travelling through two short tunnels. You’ll pass The George Inn at Bathampton, and the historic Pumping Station and American Museum at Claverton. You’ll cross over the Dundas and Avoncliff Bath stone aqueducts. And you’ll pass the popular canalside Gross Guns pub at Avoncliff. Next you’ll go through Bradford-on-Avon lock and you can moor up at Bradford-on-Avon visitor moorings, where you can also turn your boat. At Bradford on Avon, often described as a ‘mini Bath’, there’s a great choice of places to visit, including the Bradford on Avon Museum and English Heritage’s medieval Tithe Barn. And there are lots of independent places to shop, eat and drink, including The Cheese Shop, canalside Barge Inn and riverside Timbrell’s Yard.

Bath City Centre and back (1 mile, 12 locks, 4 hours)

Cruise down the Bath flight of six locks and moor up right in the centre of Bath (the Widcombe flight), close to Pulteney Bridge. You can use your canal boat as a base to 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.

Weekend/3-night breaks from Monkton Combe

Hilperton and back (14 miles, 2 locks, 5 hours)

From our base at Monkton Combe on the Somerset Coal Canal, cruise east along the Kennet & Avon Canal, crossing over the magnificent Dundas and Avoncliff Bath stone aqueducts, passing the popular canalside Cross Guns pub at Avoncliff. Next you’ll go through Bradford-on-Avon lock and you can moor up to explore this historic town, often described as a ‘mini Bath’. There’s a great choice of places to visit, shop and eat, including English Heritage’s medieval Tithe Barn, The Cheese Shop and canalside Barge Inn. Continue heading east, passing the canalside Beehive pub and travelling on through the Avon Valley. Turn your boat at Hilperton Marina and moor up to visit the canalside King’s Arms pub or walk into Trowbridge.

Bath City Centre and back (11 miles, 12 locks, 8 hours)

Cruise west through the beautiful Bath Valley, passing 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. 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.

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 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. 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 Bath

One of our best-loved canals, the 87-mile long Kennet & Avon Canal links the Bristol Avon with the Thames at Reading, passing through spectacular landscapes and the World Heritage City of Bath.

Caen Hill locks and back (36 miles, 16 locks, 18 hours)

The journey begins by cruising east through two short tunnels and passing Sydney Gardens. You’ll cruise past the villages of Bathampton, with its popular canalside George Inn and Claverton, home of the historic Claverton Pumping Station. Next you’ll cross over the impressive Avoncliff and Dundas Bath stone aqueducts. Then you’ll pass through this historic town of Bradford-on-Avon and its canalside Barge Inn. The journey continues east through Semington and then Seend, with its canalside Barge Inn and 18^th century Seend Manor. You can moor and turn at Foxhangers Wharf at the bottom of the Caen Hill flight of 29 locks at Devizes, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Waterways’. From there you can walk up the flight to explore the historic market town of Devizes, including the Wadworth Brewery Visitor Centre, Bear Hotel, Peppermill Restaurant and Dolcipani Bakery.

Bristol Floating Harbour and back (26 locks, 16 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, travel down the flight of six locks in Bath (the Widcombe flight) and join 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.

Mid-week/4-night breaks from Monkton Combe

One of our best-loved canals, the 87-mile long Kennet & Avon Canal links the Bristol Avon with the Thames at Reading, passing through spectacular landscapes and the World Heritage City of Bath.

Caen Hill locks and back (30 miles, 16 locks, 16 hours)

On a four-night break from Monkton Combe, you can continue heading east from Hilperton to reach Foxhangers Wharf at the bottom of the 29 locks at Caen Hill, Devizes. You’ll pass through Semington, home of the Somerset Arms, and the pretty Wiltshire village of Seend, with its canalside Barge Inn and Brewery Inn at nearby Seend Cleeve. You can moor and turn at Foxhangers Wharf at the bottom of the Caen Hill flight, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Waterways’. From there you can walk up the flight to explore the historic market town of Devizes, including the Wadworth Brewery Visitor Centre, Bear Hotel, Peppermill Restaurant and Dolcipani Bakery.

Bristol Floating Harbour and back (45 miles, 26 locks, 21 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 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.

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 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 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.