Kennet and Avon Canal

[S10GTA]

Has anyone here ridden the Kennet and Avon Canal? What is it like?

[TwistingMyMelon]

Which part? I do lots of riding round Marlborough , so am familiar, although havent ridden it in a few years

[S10GTA]

TwistingMyMelon said:

Which part? I do lots of riding round Marlborough , so am familiar, although havent ridden it in a few years

All of it. Starting from Bath, ending in Reading.

[ewenm]

Bath to Devizes is a good surface all the way. A hybrid would be fine and I've ridden it on a road bike before although that takes more care.

It can get quite puddly after rain but the underlying surface is ok.

[TwistingMyMelon]

I remember that bit being good in Devizes

I used to ride the section around Pewsey/Bedwyn/Hungerford all the time and it was OK with kids at a slow pace, but it was quite narrow and footpathy in parts. You also have the issue of walkers/dogs and in spring/aut it gets muddy. The main issue I found was that it was perfectly passable , but due to the above that section took bloody ages, which can eat into time you have available. Not being able to carry a decent pace due to the conditions gets frustrating for me

I could be wrong as I havent been near it for about 2 years.

There are some great quiet rolling county lanes that run parallel on the sections I went on Pewsey- Newbury , hence I dont ride it anymore, plus I dont ride MTB bar comuteing

[tobinen]

I've ridden it from Hungerford to Newbury and back a fair few times. It's ok. You might come across the odd fisherman who insists on having his rod blocking the path. Decent pub at Kintbury called the Dundas Arms.

I rode from Newbury to Woolhampton on Thursday night for a few beers at the Row Barge (free house). It's a bit overgrown in places but nothing impassable.

[S10GTA]

Will be on a cross bike btw

[Nimby]

I recommend the Crofton Pumping Station if you have the time. Lovely people there and it's well worth a visit.

We rode from Newbury to Crofton last Friday. Some of the towpath is rather overgrown with nettles in places. Lots of narrowboats on the move now that the school holidays have started.

[jrb43]

Did the whole thing from Reading to Bath one Saturday at the end of April. We were on MTBs. Going that way, the first 20 miles was absolutely fine, the next 35 or so was simply awful - plugging through cloying mud the whole way. The last 25 was an absolute breeze. That must have been Devizes onwards: I can't really remember as we were in a bad place by then.

We're reasonable amateurs and struggled to complete at a 10mph average. That middle section just did for us.

[Justin S]

Done it from Bristol to Bath, then to Reading many years ago. Was a bit difficult in them days to follow into Hungerford, if I remember right, but we made it in the end. Was about 110 ish miles, although before the days of GPS's. Regularly ride from Thatcham to Reading to then ride in the chilterns towards Goring, Woodcote, Henley and back again, which is quite a ride and the canal is a good spin to warm and spin to cool on the return as totally god to ride, except the bit overgrown near Colthrop, although the strimmers have been in action on the canalside in the last week. Cyclocross bike will be ideal for it.

[Aerate]

Crofton Pumping Station to Froxfield has good (flat) alternative roads through the Bedwyns. Froxfield to Hungerford is okay except that the first bit between Hungerford Marsh and the church can get real muddy. Have done Hungerford to Kintbury on the towpath with kids in a trailer with no issues. Onward to Newbury is a great ride except just past Kintbury where there is a really annoying section of multiple tree roots. (hard tail MTB would be weapon of choice, but can't see it being an issue on CX bike).

[ukbabz]

living in Newbury i'm trying to get out on it more. Have done Newbury -> Hungerford and second the point the Dundas arms at Kintbury - its lovely. The path between Kintbury and Hungerford isn't great, but between Kintbury -> Reading its pretty good most of the way.

A tad overgrown in a few bits but nothing too bad.

[2volvos]

Used to live in Newbury (Russell Rd, just a few yards from the canal) in the 90s and this is bringing back nice memories of towpath rides around Kintbury and Hungerford.

(And of endless by-pass shenanigans, but that's a different topic...)

Lanes of Worcestershire for me now, but enjoy yourselves down there, it's a lovely part of the country.

Edited by 2volvos on Friday 1st August 10:07

[croftsj]

I run the tow paths up to Hungerford from Newbury and sometimes down to Thatcham, they are very overgrown at the moment although having said that the Canal Trust people were out strimming the section between the Nature Discovery Centre & Thatcham level crossing 10 dayus ago.

Some very narrow parts toward Thatcham and weekend anglers can be a hazard with their poles and rods, most are really good natured but theres always a few merchant bankers.