Canal Boat Holidays & Short Breaks in Wessex and the Cotswolds
Click on the trip name for full details:
Hungerford & return
Newbury & return
Reading & return
Bristol & return
The Grand Ring
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Hungerford & return
From Hilperton
(1 week,
7 hours per day, 120 locks)
 Maps and Guides for sale
Kennet and Avon Canal
 Beyond Pewsey
and through
further 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 Doomsday book.
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Newbury & return
From Hilperton
(10/11 nights,
5.5 hours per day, 140 locks>)
Maps and Guides for sale
Kennet and Avon Canal
River Thames
 Beyond Hungerford the canal
shares the valley with both the railway and the River Kennet,
beginning to use the river course as the navigation.
The Kennet & Avon Canal is so central to Newbury that the
Newbury Tourist Information Centre 01635 30267
Take a day out at the races and visit Newbury Race Course. 01635 40015
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Reading & return
From Hilperton
(2 weeks, 6 hours per day, 186 locks)
Maps and Guides for sale
Kennet and Avon Canal
River Thames
Considered some of the very best countryside in the UK canal system, this route takes you through a number and variety of towns and villages to Reading.
Here you could visit either:
Blake's Lock Museum (social and industrial history) 0118 939 0918,
Reading Museum 0118 939 9800
Museum of English Rural Life 0118 378 8660
or you could shop at the retail park known as ‘The Oracle’ which is located next to the canal.
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Bristol & return
From Hilperton
(7 nights, 4 hours per day, 28 locks)
 Maps and Guides for sale
Kennet and Avon Canal
River Avon
25 hours cruising would elsewhere be considered little more than a short
break, but here the route includes Bradford on Avon, Bath, Bristol and,
unusually, many more towns and villages that the canal passes through the centre of.
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.
Some stunning weirs accompany each river lock down to Bristol.
Museums and waterside features reflect the city's former importance as a sea port.
Visitor moorings are available right in the centre of the city in the floating harbour
(mooring charges apply).
Frequent reminders of the route's industrial history such as the Brass Mill at Kelston
are found within rolling valley countryside.
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 The Grand Ring
From Gayton
(14/21 nights,
6-9 hours per day, 175 locks)
Maps and Guides for sale
Grand Union Canal
Kennet and Avon Canal
River Thames
South Oxford Canal
This ultimate ring takes two weeks to complete,
or includes plenty to see and do over a three
week cruise.
An extra licence required when
joining the Thames at either Oxford or London.
(Please talk to your marina about this at the
start of your holiday.)
The river cruising on the Thames is
superb, with all locks manned during the daytime.
Visit places such as Hampton Court Palace
Windsor, Eton and Henley.
Three weeks gives time to explore The Paddington Arm which goes right up to Venice and Camden Market as well as London Zoo.
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