Kennet and Avon Canal Towpath walking holiday, England
Walk one of England’s most celebrated routes, the Kennet and Avon Canal Towpath. An easygoing 75-mile route that can be done over 7 days, with lots to see along the way.
Kennet and Avon Canal Towpath Reading to Bath via Newbury, Hungerford, Pewsey and Devizes Easy walking on a 75-mile route High quality B&B accommodation throughout Luggage transfers Detailed maps and itineraries 24-hour support Roman Baths at Bath Dundas and Avoncliff Aqueducts Tithe Barn in Bradford on Avon Caen Hill flight of 16 locks Claverton Pumping Station Crofton Pumping Station
Price
£920To£1400 excluding flights
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More info
What's included
on your walking holiday
accommodation on bed and breakfast basis
rooms with en-suite or private bathroom, daily luggage transfer
transfers are specified
support on route
maps , guide & detailed itineraries
Description of Kennet and Avon Canal Towpath walking holiday, England
The Kennet and Avon Canal Towpath from Reading to Bath is a classic English walking route. This holiday sees you accomplish the entirety of its 75-mile duration, beginning at the River Thames. Southern England in all its glory forms a backdrop to an easygoing walk, that features lots of interesting sights along the way including Dundas and Avoncliff Aqueducts, Tithe Barn in Bradford on Avon and the famous Roman Baths of Bath.
The suggested itinerary takes 7 days and 8 nights, averaging around 11 miles per day. You will stay at a selection of high-quality inns, guesthouses and small hotels on a B&B basis, with private or en suite bathrooms in each. For additional convenience, luggage transfer between accommodations is included so you need only carry a daypack, and you will be provided with full instructions and 24-hour support. A complimentary guidebook to the Kennet and Avon Canal Towpath is also provided, which will add further enjoyment to your experience.
You can take this holiday between March and October, when the weather is at its best, and you can walk either east to west, or west to east. It can easily form part of a longer walking journey, and if preferred, you can also do a shorter walk instead by letting the supplier know which section you would like to do.
This is a perfect English walking holiday for those new to them. The terrain is moderate, and the route is well-marked. Glorious scenery, combined with a number of interesting historic attractions, make this a very memorable trip.
Price information
£920To£1400 excluding flights
Convert currency:
What's included
on your walking holiday
accommodation on bed and breakfast basis
rooms with en-suite or private bathroom, daily luggage transfer
transfers are specified
support on route
maps , guide & detailed itineraries
Departure information
This holiday can be booked from the 1st March to 31st October each year.
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Holiday information
LGBTQIA+
Our partners behind this holiday promote inclusivity on all their trips and across their business and we are all committed to ensuring travellers face no discrimination on any part of the trip they control.
Reviews
2 Reviews of Kennet and Avon Canal Towpath walking holiday, England
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 11 May 2022 by Kathryn Upton
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The landscape
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Set up a way of checking luggage collected and delivered
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Hopefully it brought some business to local area. And had minimal environmental impact. Arrived and left by train so only the taxi journeys by road
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The wait for our luggage in Bradford on Avon really took the shine off a very nice
day. I don’t know why it happened as we received no explanation. And initially no
apology which I think should have been immediately forthcoming. Instead I was
told there was no commitment to deliver luggage before 5.00pm. This is not what it says on your website and was a very disappointing response.
Read the operator's response here:
We are glad you enjoyed your walking holiday. We were unable to deliver you luggage in morning as is normally the case owning to logistical problems but thank you for your understanding. Our luggage transfer service is planned in a way to reduce road mileage and maximise vehicle loading.
Reviewed on 25 Mar 2022 by Maggie Tallerman
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing so many red kites and other wildlife, seeing the aqueducts, lovely Bradford on Avon and Bath, seeing the wild flowers.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Some of the canal towpaths go through very dull scenery -- open agribusiness farming with no hedges or trees. It's also almost all unsurfaced, unlike many other towpaths, and gets extremely muddy when it rains. Be prepared to wade through mud! There's very few cafes on the route; some pubs, but not many. Check on the opening hours of every single watering hole on the route, and plan accordingly.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We always support local businesses where possible. We are (near) vegans, so benefit the planet in that way. We care massively about environmental impact and conservation, but I'm honestly not sure that this trip benefitted that? We were, of course, walking and we arrived by train and left by train, but our luggage was transported by taxi and I'm sure that most of the pub hotels we stayed in have far too large a carbon footprint.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was a tough trip in some ways but a good experience, rewarding, and definitely good to complete the challenge.
Read the operator's response here:
Thank you for your observations and we have decided to offer all clients the options of carrying their bags on our walking holidays. Our luggage transfer service is planned in a way to reduce road mileage and maximise vehicle loading. As regards carbon footprint in Pubs and Hotels this is industry wide (worldwide) problems which is being addressed all be it at a rate that may not be as quickly as some of us would like.
Responsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) holiday so that you can travel knowing it will help support the places and people that you visit, and the planet. Read how below.
Planet
We are a family run business and are committed to operating a Responsible Travel Policy. We aim to provide a quality and positive experience for our customers while contributing to and enhancing the local economy and respecting the environment.Whilst walking you are taking part in a healthy activity and visiting the area while reducing road congestion. The local authority encourages people to visit the area on foot using public transport in line with their desire to encourage sustainable tourism.
The Responsible Travel Code of Conduct which you receive with your information pack contains suggestions on how to be an ethical traveller by reducing water usage, recycling and properly disposing of litter, and reducing damage to the environment.
The majority of the accommodations we use are locally owned and operated and use local produce for breakfast, thus reducing "food miles" and sustaining the local economy. Wherever possible we use accommodations that are registered with the Green Tourism Business Scheme.
When transferring your luggage to your next accommodation we consolidate with others along the Kennet and Avon Canal wherever possible to reduce energy consumption.
During the booking process for your holiday we reduce paper usage by corresponding by email wherever possible and only printing correspondence which is legally binding. We recycle our ink cartridges and envelopes, and use low energy light bulbs. Paper which cannot be recycled is shredded and composted.
Whilst on this holiday you will be walking at your own pace in your own group. We restrict group sizes on our self-guided walking holidays to a maximum of 12 to reduce impact on the community and the environment.
People
When walking on the Kennet and Avon Canal we aim to provide a quality and positive experience for you while contributing to and enhancing the local economy and respecting the environment of countryside, towns, rivers and forests.The locally owned accommodations give our guests a warm welcome and recommend local pubs, cafes and restaurants along the Kennet and Avon Canal for lunches and dinners. All these issues make a great difference to the economic welfare of the local community by providing employment and sustaining the local economy.
By taking this holiday on the Kennet and Avon Canal you are contributing to the community by providing income for accommodation providers, pub landlords, restaurant and cafe owners, luggage transfer drivers, and local farmers. There are a large number of National Trust Properties in the area. Whilst walking on the Kennet and Avon Canal we encourage guests to visit Bath & Caen Hill flight of 16 locks . The membership and entrance fees are used to restore and conserve our heritage, and provide employment for local people.
We encourage you to use this walking holiday as means to support your chosen charity by way of sponsorship.
All our used postage stamps are collected and used to raise money for local good causes.
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