Bath to Pewsey (7 nights) Sunday 09 April 2023

Alton Barnes White Horse near Pewsey

The elegant city of Bath, a World Heritage site with a plethora of stunning architecture and interesting attractions and well worth exploring before joining us for your cruise.

Along the canal the city’s unique style is echoed in its ornate bridges and tunnels making this urban stretch of water both scenic and interesting. We begin our journey passing through three of the city’s six locks and heading East through the stylish suburb of Bathwick to the picturesque village of Bathampton. The parish church of St Nicholas here is the final resting place of Captain Arthur Phillip, the founder of the first British penal colony in Australia and first governor of New South Wales.

Beyond Bathampton, the canal winds through spectacular countryside to Claverton and a 200 year old pumping station housing a wooden water wheel once used to drive pumps lifting much needed water 48ft from the River Avon into the canal.

Continuing East, we reach Dundas Wharf and the delightfully named ‘Brassknocker Basin’ where what remains of the narrow Somerset Coal Canal joins the Kennet and Avon. Here John Rennie’s ornate Dundas aqueduct carries the canal elegantly across the River Avon. The Aqueduct, named in honour of Sir Charles Dundas, the first chairman of the Kennet and Avon Canal Company is also a scheduled ancient monument. Once across the aqueduct, our cruise follows the contours of the scenic Limpley Stoke Valley to another of Rennie’s masterpieces, the magnificent Avoncliff Aqueduct, where the canal re-crosses the Avon and continues on to Bradford on Avon.

This charming Cotswold town boasts a beautifully restored 14^th century Tithe Barn close to the canal and the historic town centre nestles on the banks of the River Avon, influenced by its prominent status as a centre for wool and textiles for almost six centuries. A visit stop is scheduled here to allow guests the opportunity to visit both the Tithe Barn and Town Centre.

Leaving Bradford on Avon Wharf, our cruise begins with a lock free journey through the scenic Wiltshire countryside as far as the village of Semington where a cleverly painted wall marks the former junction of the now derelict Wilts & Berks canal with the Kennet & Avon. At Semington we pass through two locks and continue to follow the canal to the charming hamlet of Seend Cleeve. During the late 1800’s, this tiny village was the site of an ironstone quarry and smelting works, and The Barge Inn next to the canal was once home to the ‘Wiltshire Giant’ Fred Kempster.

Beyond Seend Cleeve we head for the delightfully named Foxhanger Wharf where we begin our ascent of the unique and impressive Caen Hill flight of locks with its spectacular views over the Avon Valley, said to be one of the 7 wonders of the waterways.  The 29 locks raise the canal 237 feet in 2 miles and can take a total of 5-6 hours to traverse although we don’t complete the whole flight in one go! You are welcome to help with the locks if you wish but if you prefer, just sit back and watch as we work the boat through the flight! The final lock at the top of the flight opens into the Wharf at Devizes, where we make a stop allowing ample time for guests to explore the town if they wish. This charming historic market town is rich in history and listed buildings, and home to the Wiltshire Museum, the Wadworth Brewery which still uses Shire horses to make local deliveries and the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust Museum which occupies a restored canal side warehouse on the Wharf.

Beyond Devizes, the navigation enters the lock free ‘Long Pound’ and follows the stunning Pewsey valley, a beautiful area studded with unspoilt picturesque villages and forming part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, to our destination at Pewsey Wharf.

To book please select the required number of cabins below. Our three cabins are identical and can all be configured as either twin or double bedded rooms according to your preference.

Please refer to our terms and conditions before booking. If you have any questions or specific requirements please contact us.

*Price based on 2 people sharing a twin/double cabin. Cabins booked for 1 person incur a single occupancy supplement of 50%.