NEWBURY AND RETURN FROM HILPERTON

 

Route Info | Boats | Map overview of route | Cruising Notes | Maps & Guides | Links | Pub Guide

 

You can do this route from :
Hilperton Marina.

Hilperton Marina

Wiltshire

 

Cruise to the charming historic market town of Devizes through the fantastic Caen Hill flight of locks, through the vale of Pewsey through lush Wiltshire countryside with scattered canalside villages to the town of Hungerford in Berkshire.

You are on the outskirts of the delightful town of Trowbridge, the county town of Wiltshire, it is one of the three largest towns in Wiltshire.

The town's lengthy history is recorded in the museum, which tells the fascinating story of Trowbridge's people and past & is located in the last woollen mill in Trowbridge, which closed its doors as a mill in 1982. The fascinating collections in the Trowbridge Museum are accessed via The Shires Shopping Centre - built on the site of part of the woollen mill and home to a diverse selection of more than 50 shops all on one level and undercover

Route Info

Route Facts & Figures

Recommended Holiday
Duration : 11 nights.

Total Cruising Days : 11.00 to 12.00
(Partial or full days)

Total Cruising Time : 60.00 hours

Total Distance : 87.00 miles

Number of Locks : 140

Number of Tunnels : 2

Number of Aqueducts : 0

Read the Cruising Notes

Read our cruising notes to help you plan your canal boat holiday

Read our cruising notes.

 

 

 

 

 

Cruising Notes

Cruise to the charming historic market town of Devizes through the fantastic Caen Hill flight of locks, through the vale of Pewsey through lush Wiltshire
countryside with scattered canalside villages to the town of Hungerford in Berkshire. Make sure that the River levels are not high when proceeding beyond Hungerford.

You are on the outskirts of the delightful town of Trowbridge, the county town of Wiltshire, it is one of the three largest towns in Wiltshire.

The town's lengthy history is recorded in the museum, which tells the fascinating story of Trowbridge's people and past. The museum is located in the last woollen mill in Trowbridge, which closed its doors as a mill in 1982. The fascinating collections in the Trowbridge Museum are accessed via The Shires Shopping Centre - built on the site of part of the woollen mill and home to a diverse selection of more than 50 shops all on one level and undercover

Day 1

Pass Hilperton Wharf on your right and the marina on your left, then you know you are going in the right direction to Devizes!
The canal sweeps through undulating woodland and arable farmland past the rural village ofSemington through a series of swing bridges which are something of a hallmark of this section of canal.

There are 2 locks at Semington and a swing bridge, it is a very pretty village & best access is just before the lock.

Moor up here for the night it is 1 hour cruising from the marina.

Day 2

36 locks today which includes the fantastic Caen Hill flight of 29 locks in just 2.25 miles.

As well as the many swing bridges around Seend there are 5 locks to navigate, luckily there are plentiful moorings at the ever-popular Seend Cleeve and close by pubs and quiet countryside to please the eye and fill the stomach. There is the Brewery Inn 200 yds south of Lock 19 and the Barge Inn by Lock 19. The Three magpies pub in Seend Cleeve has good quality food, nice beer garden and good ales- it is 200 yds south of Sells green bridge

The hills to the south climb steeply up to the village of Seend and to the north flat pasture land stretches away.

At Lower Foxhangers the first of 7 locks is reached which takes you to the bottom of the flight of 16 Caen Locks.

It is worth mooring up near here & take some photos of these fantastic locks as they really are quite a sight.

At the top of the locks is a cafe if you are in need of refreshment after the climb up the hill through the locks. The views from the top are well worth the effort, with views over Salisbury Plain to the south and the Avon Valley to the west charting the route taken from Bath.

You soon reach Devizes & there are moorings by Devizes Wharf. Stock up on supplies here as there are no towns until you get to Pewsey & Hungerford.
It is 9.5 hours to here

Devizes itself has the atmosphere of an old country market town. Handsome 18th century buildings now surround the square.

Devizes museum has one of the finest prehistoric collections in Europe including the Stourhead collection of relics excavated from burial mounds on Salisbury Plain.
Devizes visitor centre is home to an interactive exhibition introducing visitors to the medieval origins of the town.

Wharf Theatre is canalside and hosts a variety of performances throughout the year.

There are the usual pubs, restaurants, take-aways. Shops and a cinema in the town.

The battle of Roundway was fought near here in 1643 between the Roundheads and the Royalists and the Roundheads were all killed or captures. The battlefield is largely intact & can be explored on foot.

Day 3

From Devizes wharf you set off again, with not such an energetic day as yesterday!
As you leave Devizes the route is lock free as you cruise through rural surroundings, the village of Bishops Cannings is accessed from Bridge 133 with a pub in the village, and All Cannings from bridge 128 where there is a small shop & pub. More small villages are passed but there is hardly any habitation canalside as you pass through the Vale of Pewsey. A miniature suspension bridge carries a private footpath from Stowell Park across the canal, as is the only surviving example of its kind. Stowell park House was built in the early 19 century, and can be clearly seen from the canal.

The Barge Inn is canalside in Honeystreet before bridge 124. Beyond the village to the north can be seen the white horse cut into the hill in 1812.

At Wilcot bridge 117 you can get to the small village of Wilcot where the Golden Swan Pub stands beyond the green at the far end of the village. A one handed ghost is said to haunt this pub.
Pewsey Wharf is a mile from the town centre but has a pub canalside. There are shops in the town which can be accessed to the north of Bridge 114. To the north, hills descend to the waters edge and to the south the land opens out, giving fine views over the Vale of Pewsey. Beyond Pewsey the 15 mile lock free stretch finishes at Wootton Rivers.

The pretty thatched timber framed houses in the village of Wootton Rivers lie to the north of Wootton Rivers Bottom Lock. The Royal oak is in the village. Before Bruce Tunnel the banks rise steeply on both banks, the tunnel has chains which were used to pull the boats through in the days of horse drawn boats.

The scenery is to be enjoyed for the laid back uneventful nature of the area, this section on the run to Hungerford still provides villages to stock up on essentials and occasional pubs to relax in, and rural farming and the woodland scenery of Savernake Forests to the north over low rises keeps the eyes busy.

You now have 7 more locks to keep you busy, but the end is nearly in sight, because you can moor just after Lock 61 at the end of the flight, the canal has risen 61 feet through the Crofton Locks .

It is 9 hours cruising to here.

There is a footpath south of lock 60 for ½ mile beside Wilton Water, leading to the village of Wilton. The Swan Inn is in the village. A bit further on along the footpath is Wilton Windmill which is the only working windmill in Wessex and still produces wholemeal, stone-ground flour. They are open every year from Easter to the end of September on Sundays and Bank Holidays from 2pm to 5pm when the windmill building is open for guided tours. The shepherd’s hut shop, serving refreshments and gifts and providing a seating area, is also open at this time, as are the toilets.

You can also access the village from the track to the south of the bridge 100 just after Lock 61.

Crofton Pumping station is a Grade 1 building built in 1807 to provide water to the summit of the canal. It houses 2 magnificent Cornish steam-driven engines, one of which is 200 years old, and is the oldest beam engine in the world. It is open every day 10.30 to 5 between March 10 to October 7 for a charge. There is also a cafe here.

Day 4

After starting today you will have another lock to negotiate and then shortly afterwards another before Beech Grove Bridge.

The village of Great Bedwyn is to the north of Bedwyn Wharf bridge, the main street climbs gently away from the canal, the pubs are at the top. There are small stores here for supplies. Also here was the Bedwyn Stone museum which housed a collection of stone work showing the work of 7 generations of stone masons but it sadly closed in 2009, but examples can still be found on the walls of the Post office stores next door.

Just before Hungerford is the small village of Froxfield by bridge 90 , the Pelican Inn is a few minutes walk from the canal.
On reaching Hungerford turn just after bridge 84 and moor up for the night.

Hungerford is a clean and character rich market town and a welcome opportunity to relax in an urban environment thanks to superb mooring facilities in the centre of town, enjoy the many family run shops and nice food and ale at the many pubs or tearooms on offer here. As you would expect from a popular Wiltshire town there is a variety of different types of pubs and restaurants.
The handsome Hungerford Town Bridge gives easy access to the centre of the town which is set out along a wide main street.

It is 5.25 hours to here.

Day 5

The River Kennet can make a considerable impact on the navigation when water levels are high, and you should consider this before proceeding to Newbury. If it is OK to proceed you should be aware of strong pulls at the top of all weirs, and powerful side currents at the bottom of locks. Many of the winding holes between Hungerford & Reading should not be used to turn when the river is flowing strongly as they lead directly to weirs.

Pretty woods accompany the canal as it leaves Hungerford, and to the north the River keeps the canal company.

Kintbury is the first stretch of canal that was officially opened in 1797. The village itself is a pristine rambling settlement with a church that dates back to the 12th century. There are attractive buildings by the canal, including a waterwheel. There are facilities here to shop for essentials or to stop to eat a spot of lunch in the pub. The Dundas Arms has the canal on one side & the river on the other. The Blue ball is 500 yds south of Kintbury Bridge, and the Prince of Wales are 300yds south east.

Leaving the wharf the canal steadily descends the locks towards Newbury, making this an attractive stretch. Wooded rolling hills flank the waterway.
Allow for river current when approaching Copse Lock especially after heavy rain.

The canal continues through extensive water meadows to the town of Newbury. Above Newbury Lock is the quiet West mills area, and there are extensive moorings. The canal cuts right through the town. Below Newbury lock there are strong cross flows from both sides when river levels are high.

It is 5.5 hours to here from Hungerford

Newbury developed in the Middle Ages as an important cloth town, and the town has managed to retain much of its period charm. The District Museum is one of the most interesting buildings in Newbury built in 1626 as a cloth weaving workshop. The town centre has many shops, pubs and restaurants to choose from. A short bus or taxi ride away is the Living rainforest, which gives you the opportunity to experience rainforest life under glass

Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
It is 30 hours back to Hilperton, so plenty of time to take a leisurely cruise.

 

NB: This route has been provided as a guide only. Information may become inaccurate or out of date. You should always check with the marina that the route is possible within your time frame, current weather conditions and canal stoppages etc.

Boats

The following boats operate on this route (subject to availability)
Marsh Wren Canal Boat
Class : Wren
(Sleeps a maximum of 4 People).

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Sedge Wren Canal Boat
Class : Wren
(Sleeps a maximum of 4 People).

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African Swift Canal Boat
Class : Swift
(Sleeps a maximum of 4 People).

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Eurasian Wren Canal Boat
Class : Wren
(Sleeps a maximum of 4 People).

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Blue Wren Canal Boat
Class : Wren
(Sleeps a maximum of 4 People).

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Corn Bunting Canal Boat
Class : Bunting
(Sleeps a maximum of 5 People).

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White Faced Heron Canal Boat
Class : Heron
(Sleeps a maximum of 5 People).

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Swainsons Thrush Canal Boat
Class : Thrush
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Tawny Lark Canal Boat
Class : Lark
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Sun Lark Canal Boat
Class : Lark
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Upland Sandpiper Canal Boat
Class : Sandpiper
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Spotted Sandpiper Canal Boat
Class : Sandpiper
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Terek Sandpiper Canal Boat
Class : Sandpiper
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Arabian Lark Canal Boat
Class : Lark
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Sand Partridge Canal Boat
Class : Partridge
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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White Fronted Goose Canal Boat
Class : Goose
(Sleeps a maximum of 8 People).

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Blue Goose Canal Boat
Class : Goose
(Sleeps a maximum of 8 People).

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Yellow Warbler Canal Boat
Class : Warbler
(Sleeps a maximum of 8 People).

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Marsh Owl Canal Boat
Class : Owl
(Sleeps a maximum of 10 People).

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Mountain Wagtail Canal Boat
Class : Wagtail
(Sleeps a maximum of 10 People).

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Mute Swan Canal Boat
Class : Swan
(Sleeps a maximum of 12 People).

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Sawley Tempted Canal Boat
Class : CLC4
(Sleeps a maximum of 4 People).

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1966 N All That Canal Boat
Class : CLC6
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Black Swan Canal Boat
Class : CLC6
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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This England Canal Boat
Class : CLC6
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Kakariki Canal Boat
Class : CBC4
(Sleeps a maximum of 4 People).

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Australian King Canal Boat
Class : CBC6
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Evie Alicia Canal Boat
Class : CBC6
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Kakariki Canal Boat
Class : CBC4
(Sleeps a maximum of 4 People).

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Australian King Canal Boat
Class : CBC6
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Evie Alicia Canal Boat
Class : CBC6
(Sleeps a maximum of 6 People).

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Maps and Guides

Pub Guide

Pubs available on this canal route:-

  Pub Name Pub Address Distance from Hilperton More Info
Lock Stock And Barrel 194 Northbrook Street, Newbury RG14 1AA Full Details
The Bear Hotel Market Place, Devizes SN10 1HS Full Details
The Brewery Inn Seend Cleeve, Seend SN12 6PX Full Details
The Crown Inn Chandlers Lane, Bishops Cannings, Devizes SN10 2JZ Full Details
The French Horn Marlborough Road, Pewsey SN9 5NT Full Details
The Golden Swan Wilcot, Pewsey SN9 5NN Full Details
The Hourglass Horton Avenue, Devizes SN10 2RH Full Details
The Kings Arms The Street, All Cannings, Devizes SN10 3PA Full Details
The Kings Arms Wyke Road, Trowbridge BA14 7NZ Full Details
The Narrow Boat London Road, Newbury RG14 2BP Full Details
The Pelican Froxfield, Marlborough SN8 3JY Full Details
The Railway Tavern Station Road, Hungerford RG17 0DY Full Details
The Royal Oak Wootton Rivers, Marlborough SN8 4NQ Full Details
The Swan Inn Station Road, Thatcham, Newbury RG19 4QL Full Details
The Waterfront Pewsey Wharf, Marlborough Road, Pewsey SN9 5NU Full Details
The Barge Inn The Barge Inn Honey Street, Pewsey SN9 5PS Full Details
The Barge Inn The Barge Inn Seend Cleve, Seend SN12 6QB Full Details
The Black Horse The Black Horse Bath Road, Devizes SN10 2AU Full Details
The Bridge Inn The Bridge Inn Horton Road, Devizes SN10 2JS Full Details
The Cross Keys The Cross Keys 16 High Street, Great Bedwyn, Marlborough SN8 3NU Full Details
The Crown Inn The Crown Inn 60 Wilcot Road, Pewsey SN9 5NN Full Details
The John O Gaunt The John O Gaunt 21 Bridge Street, Hungerford RG17 0EH Full Details

NB: Distances are as the crow flies and will vary for actual canal boating travel distance.

 

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The information above is provided in good faith to assist you with planning your canal boat holiday. Information accuracy cannot be guaranteed, however, if you do see something that needs updating, please don't hesitate to contact us.