THE KENNET & AVON CYCLE ROUTE The Kennet & Avon weaves through spectacular scenery ’s most southerly cross-country broad beam canal links and the Channel. The route between the Thames and the Bristol of the Kennet & Avon Canal takes it through some of the Avon. Its route is a fusion of natural nation’s best-loved landscapes, including West , an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the southern rolling landscape intersected by the tip of the rolling Cotswolds. urban and modern Reading and the The canal’s impressive architecture is in keeping with World Heritage Sites in Bath. surroundings that also provide a habitat for a diverse range of flora and fauna.

Long sections of the canal towpath are level, wide and ideal for cycling; much of it forms part of Route 4 of the .

It is free from motorised traffic and suitable for all ages and abilities.

Cycling along the Kennet & Avon Cycle Route

The Kennet & Avon Cycle Route is Britain’s most popular long-distance waterside cycle route. The first section will take you through historic Bristol and Bath, past the stunning aqueducts at Dundas and Avoncliff, to the dramatic at .

The canal itself starts at Bath, however, there is no direct cycle route along the Avon River from Bristol to Bath. Between these two cities follow the Bristol to Bath railway. This attractive route through the Avon Valley was a pioneering traffic-free cycle path and set the standard for the National Cycle Network.

After Bath, cycling is permitted throughout the length of the canal, except for a few short sections near Reading. Please be aware Along the central section of the canal between Marsh Benham and that the canal is also very popular with walkers, anglers and Devizes the towpath is less suitable for cycling. Cyclists can continue boaters and there may be times when it is necessary to dismount. between these points by following Route 4. This combines the improved sections of the towpath with diversions along rural lanes Long sections of the towpath – including the whole length where the towpath is less suitable. This applies particularly if you from Bath to Devizes, around Newbury and between are using bicycles with relatively narrow tyres, which are mainly and Reading – have been improved as part of a partnership designed for road use. between , and local councils. The result is a wider path with a surface that is more suitable for Log onto waterscape.com for up-to-date information on cyclists and disabled users. cycling and any towpath restrictions.

2 Getting to the Kennet & Avon Cycle Route

The Cycle Route is easily reached from ACCOMMODATION LISTS AVAILABLE FROM THE FOLLOWING LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES: London by rail and there are convenient Bristol Devizes main line stations at Reading, Thatcham, Centre Harbourside, Wildwalk Visitor Centre, Cromwell at Bristol, Anchor Road, House, Market Place Newbury, , Great Bedwyn, Bristol BS1 5DB Devizes SN10 U9 T: 01380 729 408 Pewsey, , Bath and Bristol T: 0906 7112191 (Temple Meads). This makes it very easy Bath Pewsey Wharf Abbey Chambers, Abbey T: 01672 564 700 to plan a day trip with a mileage to suit Church Yard, Bath BA1 1LY T: 0906 711 2000 Newbury individual preferences. The Wharf, Newbury Bradford on Avon Berkshire RG14 5AS Information Centre, 50 St. T: 01635 30267 The whole length can easily be covered Margarets St, Bradford on Avon BA15 1DE Visitor Centre in two or three days and accommodation T: 01225 865 797 Newbury, Berkshire T: 0118 971 2868 is available in many locations along the way. MORE INFORMATION:

Detailed maps of the Canal are available from waterscape.com

For more details on the National Cycle Network contact Sustrans on 0845 113 0065 or visit www.sustrans.org.uk

For public transport information contact Traveline on 0870 608 2 608 or visit www.traveline.org.uk

Courtesy and Safety Code for cyclists using the canal

Give way to others, particularly walkers and wheelchair users Fit a bell to your bike and use it to warn others of your approach. on the towpath and warn them of your approach. A polite ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ mean a lot. Access paths can be steep and slippery. Join or leave the towpath with care. Watch out for anglers’ tackle and give them time to move it before you try to pass. You must get off and push your cycle beneath low or blind bridges, and where the path is very narrow. We recommend that you do not cycle towpaths after dark, but if you do, please use front and rear lights. Look out for Do not cycle too fast on the towpath. Remember that mooring ropes and pegs where boats are tied up. the standard speed for boaters and walkers is just 4mph. Motorcycles are not permitted on the canal towpath. If you need to get somewhere quickly, use a road. 3 READINGREADING STA RReadieadinngg T The Kennet & Avon Canal Cycle Route ION HILL

LINK TO FO RBUR STATION Y RD Details of FRIAR ST

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RD ha A B D E R NNeewbburyury ENBORN NE THATCHAMTHATCHAM W 0 1/2 Mile Kenn MonkeyMonkey MarshMarsh LLockock R et & Avon Canal READINGREADING WWESTEST READINGREADING D WidmeadWidmead LLockock 0 500 Metres STATIONSTATION STATIONSTATION Blake’sBlake’s LLockock A4 CountyCounty ReadinReading LockLock see enlargement right for full details GarstonGarston A327 LockLock FobneyFobney – between Froudes Bridge ThealeTheale M RoseRose KKilniln 4 Hissey’sHissey’s LockLock LaneLane BBridridge and Wickham Knight Footbridge: BridBridge BurBurghfieldhfield THEALETHEALE LockLock SouthcoteSouthcote A Towpath is in private ownership for short STATIONSTATION LockLock 33 section approximately 600 metres long. A4 SheffieldSheffield Swan’san’s BridBridge Cycling is not permitted at present on this LockLock al an Thatcham – Thatcham Bridge to Hambridge Road Bridge: section. Please dismount and walk. C n SulhamsteadSulhamstead LockLock vo Follow Route 4 signs through Thatcham along traffic A M4 1 Reading to : 27 miles (23 traffic free) &

et to Basingstoke calmed roads and purpose built cycle paths. The canal nn Ke TyleTyleyle MillMill LockLock A4 towpath on this section is narrow and uneven in places. SulhamsteadSulhamstead A3 UftonUfton BridBridge County to Rose Kiln Lane Bridge:

39 A4 see enlargement The official signed Route 4 is routed KINTBURYKINTBURY WoolhamptonWoolhampton ALDERMASTONALDERMASTON ToTowneyney LockLock MarshMarsh GreenhamGreenham below for full details STATIONSTATION r STATIONSTATION DreDreweeat’sat’s e away from the canal on the south-eastern NorthcroftNorthcroft ThatchamThatcham v net LockLock n LockLock BenhamBenham FootbridFootbridge HambridHambridge MMIDGHAMIDGHAM Ri – Sulhamstead Lock to Ufton Bridge: side. There is an alternative cycle route STATIONSTATION Ke HiHiggggss’’ RoadRoad BridBridge THATCHAMTHATCHAM MidMidghamham PadPadwoorthrth LockLock Take extra care – towpath has uneven and grassed LockLock NeNewbburyury available along the towpath on the Kennet & Avon Canal HamHam MillMill LockLock Bull’sBull’s LockLock STATIONSTATION A4 AldermastonAldermaston LLockock KintburyKintbury LLockock CopseCopse HamsteadHamstead LockLock surface across open fields in places. north-west. LockLock LockLock Guyer’sGuyer’s FroudesFroudes AldermastonAldermaston WharfWharf KintburyKintbury BenhamBenham LockLock NEWBURYNEWBURY NeNewburybury BridBridge 34 WickhamWickham LockLock A MonkeyMonkey Heale’sHeale’s STATIONSTATION WidmeadWidmead ThatchamThatcham MidMidghhamam KniKnightht LockLock MarshMarsh BridBridge LockLock FootbridFootbridge A34 LockLock ColthropColthrop LockLock WoolhamptonWoolhampton 0 Newbury – Town Bridge to Northcroft Footbridge: LockLock Route 4 follows Northcroft Lane north of canal, LockLock turning south by Northcroft Leisure Centre. 4 The Kennet & Avon Canal Cycle Route

Details of National Cycle Route 4 BristolBristol continuation to London and ReadinReading Route 5 to Oxford can be found on 1 the Thames Valley Cycle Route Map 3 HunHungerforderford KeynshamKeynsham BathBath 2 NeNewburybury Bradford-Bradford- on-Avonon-Avon DevizesDevizes Location Map

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BEDWYNBEDWYN BishopsBishops CCanninannings STATIONSTATION A346 GreatGreat BedBedwynyn BrimsladeBrimslade CadleyCadley LockLock Between Marsh Benham and Devizes, A361 HortonHorton AllinAllingtonton LockLock WoottonWootton BruceBruce National Route 4 leaves the canal and follows StantonStanton RiversRivers TunnelTunnel St.St. BernardBernard CroftonCrofton mainly quiet rural roads to rejoin the canal towpath HeathyHeathy CloseClose LockLock anal anal A345 CroftonCrofton C Avon C at Coate Road Bridge just east of Devizes. & WoottonWootton RiversRivers LLockock StibbStibb PumpinPumping von Kennet GreenGreen StationStation t & A e DevizesDevizes HoneystreetHoneystreet PePewseysey CoateCoate CroftonCrofton TTopop LLockock Kenn If you choose to follow the canal towpath MarinaMarina AllAll CanninCannings WharfWharf please take extra care as it may be narrow, muddy and uneven in places. Dismount for DevizesDevizes BurbaBurbage Kennet & Avo n C l steps at the at Savernake and give ana WilcotWilcot Revised route via Burbage and Crofton. Make a way to pedestrians at all times. A342 EtchilhamptonEtchilhampton PEWSEYPEWSEY STATIONSTATION point of visiting the restored Crofton Pumping WoodborouWoodborough PePewseysey Station which is open during the summer months.

PatneyPatney The revised route through the centre of Pewsey provides easier access to the station and to shops and services which are otherwise in short supply on the rural sections. Take care on the short section that is routed along the A345.

Key

National Cycle Route Holiday Accommodation On road route Tourist Information

Traffic free route Picnic Area

Motorway/Dual carriageway Pub

Main road Café/Restaurant

Minor road Frequent bus services pass nearby (check availability) Railway line and station Toilet Canal and lock Urban Area

0 1 2 3Miles

0 1 2 3 4 km approximate scale 5 The Kennet & Avon Canal Cycle Route

Details of National Cycle Route 4 BristolBristol continuation to London and ReadinReading Route 5 to Oxford can be found on 1 the Thames Valley Cycle Route Map 3 HunHungerforderford KeynshamKeynsham BathBath 2 NeNewburybury Bradford-Bradford- on-Avonon-Avon DevizesDevizes Location Map

For map key please refer to page 4

B A T H Bath W IC L 2 A K N S S LIAN JU RD S M3 G T

D D STAPLETONSTAPLETON L O D B W R SoundSoundwellell YAL C D R R D H E ROADROAD STATIONSTATION O N R

S A O G R F R T K U T Bristol to Bath Railway Path D IE O R BEC 32 R N D E R 0 The excellent traffic free Bristol to Bath Railway Path O Y A4 H A4 20 B L RO YAL AV W DNE LAWRENCELAWRENCE HILLHILL R E Y

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LockLock A4 PU makes up a 100 mile route between Reading and Bristol. nn Q S H MEADSMEADS STATIONSTATION 31 e BAT HanhamHanham von Ca H t I W G & LTENEY R IC This was one of the first cycle paths constructed by Av H K J A H o M S n Canal E t & A I S T L S L A38 Sustrans in the 1980s and remains one of the most T S T W enne see enlargement A

GE R E D BBathath TopTop LLockock S K popular traffic-free cycle paths in the country. ID D T L PARADE RD L NORTH BEDMINSTERBEDMINSTER R R below for full details B M S A iver Avon ND A T A STATIONSTATION 37 At the Bristol end there is a new bridge giving direct IDL M G N SecondSecond LLockock

L R V O E access to Temple Meads Station. A free leaflet with WE E E R N R

S BR PA IS R S HanhamHanham LockLock more details about the path is available from Sustrans. TO K L RD T AbbeyAbbey VVieiew LLockock A4 RD A4 31 DOR CESTER ST BBATHATH SSPAPA 0 1/2 Mile KeynshamKeynsham WashWash HouseHouse LLockock LockLock 0 500 Metres BathBath DeepDeep LLockock Swiinefordneford LLockock

KeynshamKeynsham A 4 SaltfordSaltford LLockock

A46 4 N A O T E KelstonKelston LockLock L P SaltfordSaltford BathamptonBathampton TA Bristolistol D S River R Rive N A431 O T A D r Avon G R von N E al B LI T C an O L S N A4 C A363 E B RE on N W CLA Av D M A NeNewbridbridge BathBath & L T S S Between Bath and Bradford on Avon look out for T T BRISTOL TO BATH Kennet ES W RAILWAY PATH the two splendid limestone aqueducts – Dundas T D T S R A4 RKE O A O S BATHBATH SPASPA and Avoncliff, both now fully restored to their M RL D E T 3 L T Devizes to Bath: 22 miles (21 traffic free) O A BathBath TopTop LockLock W P WestonWeston STATIONSTATION ClavertonClaverton H SecondSecond LockLock former glory, and the Claverton Pumping Station,

I LockLock LIPS RD L T L PumpinPumping S L AbbeyAbbey VVieiew LockLock RD now restored to full working order by the Kennet Y I IT P UN Y OLDFIELDOLDFIELD PARKPARK WashWash HouseHouse LLockock StationStation E ST PHI S L

K C STATIONSTATION BathBath DeepDeep LLockock & Avon Canal Trust. IN A GS S U L Y’ 1 Y AN A S see enlargement A D D E A36 W W R A36 A above right for full details NEW KINGS D Y E F L loa P tin T D S M g Har A OR A342 E F VO X DundasDundas T bour N O S AqueductAqueduct NEWNEW BBRIDGERIDGE T GA S L DundasDundas to Chippenham A365 Ken OVEROVER FFLOATINGLOATING N net CaenCaen HillHill l & Avo CaenCaen HillHill HARBOURHARBOUR ana BradfordBradford n Canal BottomBottom von C TopTop LLockock BRISTOLBRISTOL et & A to Radstock onon AAvonvon A350 SeendSeend BottomBottom LLockock LockLock DevizesDevizes TEMPLETEMPLE Kenn MarinaMarina BRADFORDBRADFORD ONON AVONAVON MEADSMEADS RD SeendSeend TTopop LLockock PrisonPrison ER STATIONSTATION Avon ED r A3 CaenCaen HHillill BridBridge MARKET RD FE AVONCLIFFAVONCLIFF ive SeendSeend 61 TLE R LocksLocks AT STATIONSTATION SeminSemingttonon C R LimpleyLimpley iver DevizesDevizes LockLock 1 Av StokeStoke SeminSemingttonon 6 B on A3 D A A R T 34 E RD H BradfordBradford onon 2 C FRESHFORDFRESHFORD BissBiss andand A361 N D AvoncliffAvoncliff E R 0 1/2 Mile AvonAvon LLockock LadydoLadydown AR K STATIONSTATION AqueductAqueduct CL R AqueductsAqueducts Devizes - Prison Bridge to Marsh Lane Bridge: YO 0 500 Metres AvoncliffAvoncliff Kennet & Avon Canal Take extra care down Caen Hill. Do not speed. Rive A HilpertonHilperton r Frome 363

A361 TROWBRIDGETROWBRIDGE This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of TroTrowbridbridge STATIONSTATION the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. British Waterways Board BW100019843 2006. 6 Information and contacts

This route is suitable for family cycling over the entire 100 miles from The middle section between Marsh Benham and Devizes is Reading to Bristol, particularly the sections along the towpath mainly on specially selected quiet roads with occasional hills between Reading and Marsh Benham, Devizes to Bath and the Bristol but no difficult gradients. Easy access by rail makes the route to Bath Railway Path which are traffic free with no difficult gradients. particularly suitable for shorter day trips.

BRITISH WATERWAYS is the public WATERSCAPE.COM provides information SUSTRANS – the sustainable transport corporation responsible for the care and on all of BritainÕs waterways, and guides charity – works on practical projects to enhancement of the nations 2,000 mile, visitors through the complete waterside enable people to choose to travel in ways two centuries old network of and experience in an easy to use, fully that benefit their health and the environment. rivers, working in partnership with public, comprehensive online resource. The site Sustrans is the charity behind practical and private and voluntary sector organisations includes a full range of services including: innovative solutions to some of the UK’s to develop and improve waterways in a biggest transport challenges, including the sustainable manner, for the benefit of How to hire a canal boat or waterside award-winning National Cycle Network, Safe everyone. www.britishwaterways.co.uk holiday cottage. Routes to Schools, Bike It and TravelSmart. Recommendations on walking, cycling, jogging and angling beside the water. The National Cycle Network is a Best waterside bars, pubs and restaurants. comprehensive 10,000 mile network of Waterway guides with information on safe and attractive cycle routes throughout visitor attractions, local history and wildlife. the UK and includes much of the Kennet News and events guides and listings. and Avon Canal towpath. For more information call Sustrans on 0845 113 0065 or visit www.sustrans.org.uk

DESIGN: WWW.TOTEM-DESIGN.CO.UK Cover photo by British Waterways. All other photos from British Waterways and Sustrans.

BATH & NORTH EAST SOMERSET