The kennet and avon canal is made up of three different sections two navigable rivers and one man made canal. What we know as the kennet avon canal is actually made up of three historic waterways the kennet navigation the avon navigation and the kennet avon canal.
You then head north towards bathwick passing through tunnels as you go.
Bath kennet and avon canal map. The kennet and avon canal is a waterway in southern england with an overall length of 87 miles 140 km made up of two lengths of navigable river linked by a canal the name is used to refer to the entire length of the navigation rather than solely to the central canal section. The kennet and avon cycle route is around 83 miles in length and takes you from bath to reading. It was originally built in the 18th century to designs by the engineer john rennie and is a broad beamed canal with locks wide enough to take a large beamed boat or two narrowboats side by side however it was not finally completed all the way from reading to bath and bristol until 1810.
It uses tranquil canal towpaths along the way and passes through gorgeous countryside. The historic kennet and avon canal links london with the bristol channel. The name is often used to describe all three sections whereas strictly it is the section that links the river avon at newbury and then to reading on the river thames the canal starts in bristol and ends at reading.
At bathwick you pass the lovely sydney gardens which are worth a slight deviation from the canal to explore. Kennet avon canal broad canal 86 miles bath to newbury 106 locks 1 tunnel at least 1 week to cruise. The route of the kennet and avon canal takes you from the thames at reading through some of the nation s best loved landscapes including west berkshire an area of outstanding natural beauty and thatcham hungerford and pewsey.
The canal s impressive architecture is in keeping with the peaceful surroundings. Locks on the kennet and avon canal were built to take barges with maximum dimensions of 73 feet long by 13 feet 10 inches wide. The kennet and avon canal toward bath is one of the most popular routes for your stag or hen party.
With appropriate consideration for other waterways users you can enjoy a great party afloat using our narrowboat s as your budget priced accomodation your very own stag boat or hen boat whilst you enjoy bath s nightlife. A simple route map to help plan your canal boat holiday on the kennet avon canal with black prince narrowboat holidays from our bradford on avon hire base search for your holiday balance payment special offers email us 44 0 1527 575 115. In 1724 the river kennet was made navigable from reading to newbury and by 1727 boats could reach as far as bath.
The story of the construction of the kennet and avon canal is truly remarkable. From bristol to bath the waterway follows the natural course of the river avon before the canal links it to the river. The walk starts at bath locks situated at the start of the kennet and avon canal.
