We'd done the bits of the K&A where the canal follows the railway - these were easy to do in linear day walks using the train. But the two routes diverge at Great Bedwyn, so we needed a different approach and decided to tackle Bath to Pewsey over an extended weekend. We'd initially intended this to be Friday-Sunday, but slipped a day because of heavy showers forecast.
Saturday: Bath to Trowbridge
We drove to Pewsey and took the train Westbury. This turned out to be an HST bound for Paignton. I didn't realise that trains had personal videos screens these days. Changed at Westbury for Bath Spa, located the junction of the K&A with the Avon and followed the towpath. The canal starts with a flight of very deep locks that must be pretty scary for those whose first taste of canal boating starts here. It was a humid day and we had the hint of some drizzle in the morning.
Lunch of pasties at the Claverton Pumping Station, which pumps water from the Avon into the canal using the flow of the river to power the pump. It is very spectacular when operational (not today).
Onto Dundas Aquedect before a diversion to Limpley Stoke for a post-lunch pint, followed by a brief stop at Avoncliff for a well-deserved ice cream.
Accommodation had been hard to find near the canal at Trowbridge and we ended up in a cheap hotel that turned out to be comfortable enough, if somewhat hard to find. Nice Thai dinner at Beijing Palace.
View Bath To Trowbridge in a larger map
Sunday: Trowbridge to Devizes
Took advantage of full English breakfast (but I declined to even try the sausage) and resumed our Eastward path. Reached The Barge Inn at Seend at lunchtime and wished I'd skipped breakfast - the barbecue smelled delicious. I was consoled by a couple of excellent pints of Wadworths (6X and Henrys since you asked).
With loins duly girded, we tackled the Caen Hill flight of 15 locks. This took us an hour or so (with a stop for a cream tea), but takes boaters around four hours. Only a few boats were venturing up or down.
Our accommodation this evening was a Travelodge (it really was hard to find places at short notice). Luckily there was a decent pub close by for dinner.
View Trowbridge To Devices in a larger map
Monday: Devizes to Pewsey
Instead of the Travelodge offering breakfast, they have a built-in Subway outlet! Unfortunately, it was one without orange juice or any of the advertised croissant/muffin/pastry items. Coffee was Ok though.
I'd finished Sunday with a fairly painful blister, so followed Rosie's recommendation and applied some a Compeed
plaster. This was a miracle cure - I can't recommend it more highly.
It was a sunny and warm morning - we started at 8:10 in shorts and wearing sun hats and sunglasses. In contrast to Sunday's stretch, it was completely flat - there were no locks at all between Devizes and Pewsey. However, we did get nice views of the 'Pewsey' White Horse. It was interesting to note that there were no 'hire' boats on this stretch at all, just residential ones. Indeed, along the length of the canal, there were very many more residential boats that I'd expected. In this stretch, they must have a very quiet existence. We reached Pewsey in time for a pub lunch and then drove home.
View Devices to Pewsey in a larger map
Saturday: Bath to Trowbridge
We drove to Pewsey and took the train Westbury. This turned out to be an HST bound for Paignton. I didn't realise that trains had personal videos screens these days. Changed at Westbury for Bath Spa, located the junction of the K&A with the Avon and followed the towpath. The canal starts with a flight of very deep locks that must be pretty scary for those whose first taste of canal boating starts here. It was a humid day and we had the hint of some drizzle in the morning.
Lunch of pasties at the Claverton Pumping Station, which pumps water from the Avon into the canal using the flow of the river to power the pump. It is very spectacular when operational (not today).
Onto Dundas Aquedect before a diversion to Limpley Stoke for a post-lunch pint, followed by a brief stop at Avoncliff for a well-deserved ice cream. Accommodation had been hard to find near the canal at Trowbridge and we ended up in a cheap hotel that turned out to be comfortable enough, if somewhat hard to find. Nice Thai dinner at Beijing Palace.
View Bath To Trowbridge in a larger map
Sunday: Trowbridge to Devizes
Took advantage of full English breakfast (but I declined to even try the sausage) and resumed our Eastward path. Reached The Barge Inn at Seend at lunchtime and wished I'd skipped breakfast - the barbecue smelled delicious. I was consoled by a couple of excellent pints of Wadworths (6X and Henrys since you asked).With loins duly girded, we tackled the Caen Hill flight of 15 locks. This took us an hour or so (with a stop for a cream tea), but takes boaters around four hours. Only a few boats were venturing up or down.
Our accommodation this evening was a Travelodge (it really was hard to find places at short notice). Luckily there was a decent pub close by for dinner.
View Trowbridge To Devices in a larger map
Monday: Devizes to Pewsey
Instead of the Travelodge offering breakfast, they have a built-in Subway outlet! Unfortunately, it was one without orange juice or any of the advertised croissant/muffin/pastry items. Coffee was Ok though.
I'd finished Sunday with a fairly painful blister, so followed Rosie's recommendation and applied some a Compeed
plaster. This was a miracle cure - I can't recommend it more highly.It was a sunny and warm morning - we started at 8:10 in shorts and wearing sun hats and sunglasses. In contrast to Sunday's stretch, it was completely flat - there were no locks at all between Devizes and Pewsey. However, we did get nice views of the 'Pewsey' White Horse. It was interesting to note that there were no 'hire' boats on this stretch at all, just residential ones. Indeed, along the length of the canal, there were very many more residential boats that I'd expected. In this stretch, they must have a very quiet existence. We reached Pewsey in time for a pub lunch and then drove home. View Devices to Pewsey in a larger map
No comments:
Post a Comment