Kennet & Avon Canal
| Length | 87 miles |
| Locks | 104 |
| Maximum boat dimensions | Guide only - weather conditions can affe ... |
| Length Width Draught Headroom | 21.95m 72ft 4m 13ft 1" 1.1m 3ft 7" 2.4m ... |
| See full dimensions for Hanham Lock to B ... |
Full Answer
How tall is the Kennet and Avon Canal?
4ft 1ins. The Kennet and Avon Canal is made up of three different sections - two navigable rivers and one man made canal. 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.
Where are the locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal?
Lock number one on the Kennet and Avon Canal is Hanham Lock, first opened as part of the Avon Navigation in 1727. It is the first lock east of Netham, the upstream limit of the Floating Harbour, beyond the suburbs of the city of Bristol.
How long does it take to cruise the Kennet and Avon Canal?
Kennet & Avon Canal Broad canal, 86 miles Bath to Newbury, 106 locks, 1 tunnel, at least 1 week to cruise. 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.
How has the Kennet and Avon Canal transformed Bath?
The Kennet and Avon Canal also transformed the city of Bath. Bath stone could now be delivered easily to London and other cities, and tons of coal, food and other goods essential for Bath’s profitable tourist industry could be brought into the city.
How wide are locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal?
Kennet & Avon Canal Broad canal, 86 miles Bath to Newbury, 106 locks, 1 tunnel, at least 1 week to cruise. 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.
Can you walk the length of the Kennet and Avon Canal?
This guidebook to walking along the Kennet & Avon Canal covers the 94 mile (152km) route from Reading to Bristol. The canal walk is split into 7 stages of fairly easy, level walking, of between 9¾ and 18½ miles, with advice on splitting or shortening the stages if needed.
Where does the Kennet and Avon Canal start and end?
A brief history of the Kennet & Avon Canal The canal starts in Bristol and ends at Reading. Whilst the river sections were in use in the early 18th century, the construction of the canal section was not started until 1794 and completed in 1810.
How deep is the Bristol canal?
The Severn Estuary and most of the embayments around the channel are less than 30' (10 metres) in depth. Within the channel, however, there is an E-W trending valley 65' to 100' (20 to 30 metres) in depth that is considered to have been formed by fluvial run-off during Pleistocene phases of lower sea level.
How long can I moor up on canal?
14 daysMost canals will allow you to stay for up to 14 days before you have to move on. However, this isn't always the case and sometimes there is a 24 or 48 hours limit.
What is Britain's longest canal?
the Grand Union CanalThe longest canal in the UK is the Grand Union Canal, stretching 137 miles from London to Birmingham. Cruising the whole length, non-stop, would take you 74 hours. The longest canal in Britain built as a single waterway is the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at 127 miles long.
How many locks are there on the Kennet and Avon Canal?
More information. The Kennet & Avon Canal has awesome examples of canal engineering. The 16 locks that form the steepest part of the flight at Caen Hill are not only a scheduled ancient monument, they are an Olympic sized challenge every boater must do.
Can you kayak on the Kennet and Avon Canal?
The Kennet and Avon Canal is very nice to kayak on.
What fish are in the Kennet and Avon Canal?
FISHING ON THE KENNET & AVON CANAL The canal has a good stock of Skimmers, Bream, Tench, Roach, Rudd, Perch, Gudgeon, Pike and a few Carp. A wide range of baits work well on this canal with the best baits for general fishing during summer being maggots, caster, worm and sweetcorn.
What is the deepest canal in the UK?
Located near Halifax on the Rochdale Canal, the Tuel Lane Lock is the deepest in the United Kingdom – with a 6-metre difference between the highest and lowest point of water.
Can you moor up anywhere on a canal?
Most visitor moorings on canals and rivers governed by the Canal & River Trust are often free of charge. You are permitted to moor almost anywhere alongside canal towpaths for no fee, as long as you are not causing an obstruction to the waterway.
What is the most famous canal in the UK?
Perhaps one of the UK's most famous canals is the Oxford Canal. A quaint canal which winds through a number of traditional southern-English villages and towns. You can start in the capitals River Thames, before taking on the waterways of the Cotswolds.
Can you walk the length of the River Avon?
It is a medium-distance path of about 23 miles enjoyed by walkers, and in some sections, cyclists and horseriders. These webpages should give you all the information you need to plan and get the most out of your trip along this fascinating river.
Can you walk along the River Kennet?
An urban walk that takes in part of the River Kennet on the outskirts of Reading and returns to the town centre.
Can you walk the length of the Grand Canal?
Lace up your walking boots and explore this captivating canal on foot. With its splendid banks and towpaths unfolding for miles and miles, the Grand Canal extends an irresistible invitation to walkers, hikers and leisurely strollers alike.
How far can you travel on the canal?
How far can I travel? During the summer months you can expect to cruise for anywhere between four and seven hours a day. Travelling at 3-4mph for four hours a day will mean you cover around 80 to 100 miles in a week.
What is the Kennet and Avon 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. In 1724 the River Kennet was made navigable from Reading to Newbury, and by 1727 boats could reach as far as Bath.
How much of the Kennt and Avon Canal was through traffic?
Despite the impressive length of the Kennt & Avon Canal, through traffic never accounted for more than 6% of the total and the waterway was never prosperous.
What is the name of the boat that runs on the Kennet and Avon Canal?
Honeystreet Boats provides friendly canal boat holidays on the Kennet & Avon Canal. The Wessex Rose is Englands newest, largest and most luxurious Canal Hotel Boat and offers scheduled 3, 5, 7 and 9 night 'all inclusive' cruises on the beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal and the majestic River...
What was the water source at Crofton?
Water supply up to the summit soon became a problem, so in 1812 a steam engine was installed at Crofton to pump water from Wilton Water (amazingly this Boulton & Watt engine is still working today). Three years later a companion Harvey’s engine was also installed.
When did the canals close?
After a century of decline, in the 1960s the canal eventually fell into disrepair and parts of it were closed to boats. The future of the waterway, along with that of many canals, looked bleak.
When did the Queen reopen the canal?
In 1990 the Queen officially reopened the canal, and since then it has gone from strength to strength with the help of a £25m Heritage Lottery Fund grant. Substantial restoration works have been matched by the development of canalside resources, including wildlife habitats and moorings.
Did the Great Western Railway keep the canal open?
Although the canal was loss-making, the Great Western Railway was legally obliged to keep it open as long as there was some traffic on it . This it did, though there were many complaints about the level of maintenance. Nevertheless, in 1897 the Boulton & Watt engine had major repairs and a few years later, its companion 1845 engine was rebuilt.
How many sections are there in the Kennet and Avon Canal?
The Kennet and Avon Canal is made up of three different sections - two navigable rivers and one man made canal. 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.
When was the canal reopened?
Fortunately after years of effort, largely by volunteers, the canal re-opened in1990.
Where does the Avon Canal go?
The Avon Navigation cuts through wooded hills and the famous Avon Gorge on its way to Bristol and then meanders up to Bath. The canal then climbs the Caen flight of locks to Devizes and runs amidst rolling hillsides along the Vale of Pewsey towards Hungerford to descend through pasturelands, woods and watermeadows on to the River Kennet, which can be tricky after heavy rainfall, to Reading and the junction with the River Thames.
What is the Kennet and Avon?
The Kennet and Avon is an impressive feat of engineering, made up of two river navigations and a linking stretch of canal.
How long is the Kennet and Avon Canal?
Arguably one of the most scenic waterways in England, the Kennet and Avon Canal is made up of two lengths of navigable river linked by a canal, having an overall length of 87 miles. The name is used to refer to the entire length of the navigation rather than solely to the central canal section. Starting from the picturesque Bristol Floating ...
What are the three main waterways in the Kennet and Avon Canal?
The Kennet and Avon Canal is made up of three waterways – the River Avon, the canal and the River Thames.
What canal transformed Bath?
The Kennet and Avon Canal also transformed the city of Bath. Bath stone could now be delivered easily to London and other cities, and tons of coal, food and other goods essential for Bath’s profitable tourist industry could be brought into the city.
What is the name of the steam engine that pumps water to the Kennet and Avon Canal?
The Crofton Be am Engines at Crofton Locks Summit are a masterpiece, using two steam pumps to lift water 40 feet to the canal. These engines, built in 1812 and 1845, are among the world’s oldest working steam beam engines. This is a fascinating place to visit today, so ensure you leave yourself some time for a visit to the pumping station whilst on your canal boat holiday.
How many locks are there in the Caen Hill flight?
The Caen Hill Flight. Caen Hill (pronounced ‘cane’), is one of the longest continuous flight of locks in the country – a total of 29 locks with a rise of 237 feet over 2 miles, located on the Kennet and Avon Canal between Rowde and Devizes in Wiltshire. It was built as a solution to climbing a steep hill and completed in 1810, ...
Why did the Kennet and Avon Canal fall into disuse?
Despite the impressive length of the Kennet & Avon Canal, the waterway was never prosperous and the canal gradually fell into disuse after the opening of the Great Western Railway, which offered a more affordable and faster option for river navigation and transporting goods across the country, east to west and vice versa.
How long is the Avoncliff?
The Avoncliff is over 100 metres long and the spectacular Dundas Aqueduct, now a Scheduled Ancient Monument, is 137 meters long. Both carry the Kennet & Avon Canal over the River Avon. YouTube. Canal & River Trust. 8.56K subscribers.
What is the Kennet and Avon Canal?
The River Kennet was made navigable to Newbury in 1723, and the River Avon to Bath in 1727. The Kennet and Avon Canal between Newbury and Bath was built between 1794 and 1810 by John Rennie, to convey commercial barges carrying a variety of cargoes, and is 57 miles (92 km) long. The two river navigations and the canal total 87 miles (140 km) in length. The section from Bristol to Bath is the course of the River Avon, which flows through a wide valley and has been made navigable by a series of locks and weirs. In the later 19th century and early 20th century the canal fell into disuse following competition from the Great Western Railway, who owned the canal. Between 1970 and 1990 the canal was restored, largely by volunteers, and today is a popular heritage tourism destination, for boating, canoeing, fishing, walking and cycling. It is also important for wildlife conservation .
How many locks are there in the Kennet and Avon Canal?
There are 105 locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal from Bristol to the River Thames, including six on the navigable section of the River Avon from Bristol to Bath and nine on the navigable section of the River Kennet to its confluence with the Thames near Reading. The remaining 90 locks lie along the 57 miles (92 km) of canal.
Where does the Kennet Canal flow?
The canal continues through the rural landscape of Wiltshire and Berkshire before joining the River Kennet at Newbury and becoming a navigable river to Reading, where it flows into the River Thames. Locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal.
How many locks are there in Bath?
The remaining 90 locks lie along the 57 miles (92 km) of canal. In Bath the canal separates from the river but follows its valley as far as Bradford on Avon. The ornate Bath Locks lead to a stretch through Limpley Stoke valley with few locks. The flight of locks at Devizes, including the Caen Hill Locks, raises the canal to its longest pound, ...
How long is the Bristol canal?
The two river navigations and the canal total 87 miles (140 km) in length. The section from Bristol to Bath is the course of the River Avon, which flows through a wide valley and has been made navigable by a series of locks and weirs. In the later 19th century and early 20th century the canal fell into disuse following competition from ...
Where is H Blake's Lock?
H Blake's Lock is on the part of the River Kennet, below High Bridge in Reading, that has been navigable since at least the medieval period and now administered by the Environment Agency as part of the River Thames navigation.
What is the flight of locks at Devizes?
The flight of locks at Devizes, including the Caen Hill Locks , raises the canal to its longest pound, which then ascends the four Wootton Rivers locks to the short summit pound which includes the Bruce Tunnel. Pumping stations are used to supply the canal with water.
Where is the Kennet and Avon canal?
The route of the Kennet and Avon canal goes through some of the loveliest scenery in Southern England. This first part of the canal fromReading to Newbury is in fact a river navigation, where the engineers canalised the River Kennet in the period between 1718 and 1723 and built 20 locks.
When was the Kennet and Avon Canal abandoned?
This canal was abandoned in the 1960's but rescued by volunteers included Timothy West and Prunella Scales. They made the first voyage along the newly re-opened section and have now revisited it and made a moving, inspiring TV series "Great Canal Journeys"including the Kennet and Avon Canal.
What river is near the Kennet and Avoncanal?
Above: The junction of the River Thames and the Kennet and Avoncanal - photo by D. Burgess.
Why is Readingis addressing the canal?
In summary, the city of Readingis beginning to address this section of the Canal, with a view to making it more user friendly to visitors and maximising the asset that the canal will obviously be to the city.
When was the canal restored?
In 1990 The Queen visited the the newly restored canal, when - after a grant of £25 million from the Lottery Fund - the canal was finally completed right through to Hanham Lock Bristol, where it joins theBristol River Avon.
Who took the photo of the Kennet at Reading?
Above: The Kennet at Reading- photo by Pam Brophy and reproduced by kind permission
Who photographed the canal at Horton Bridge?
Above: The canal at Horton Bridge - photo by Trevor Pearce-Jones and reproduced by kind pemission