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Canal Boat Holidays & Short Breaks in Wessex and the Cotswolds

Canal Boat Holidays & Short Breaks in Wessex and the Cotswolds. Map of the waterways.

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)

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Kennet and Avon Canal

Map of the Kennett and Avon Canal, for boat hire.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>)

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Kennet and Avon Canal
River Thames

Kennett and avon canal, idea for canal boat holidays.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)

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Kennet and Avon Canal
River Thames

Kennett and Avon Canal holidaysConsidered 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)

Boat and barge hire around Bristol on the River Avon.maps and guides for sale for canal boat holidays 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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Holiday map of the canals around London and the South East.The Grand Ring

From Gayton
(14/21 nights, 6-9 hours per day, 175 locks)

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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.)

he 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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