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Bristol to London, Kennet/Avon canal path, there and back. - Page 2

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wheelnut	11 Jul 14:49
Joined: 11 Jul 2010 Posts: 5 Bike:	Im thinking of cycling the towpath in the near future , camping a few nights along the way. Have any of you ever done this route? If so, are there plenty of campsites nearby ,or oportunities for wild camping? Also, anyone fancy joining the trip?

dcycling	07 Jun 16:20
Joined: 05 Jun 2011 Posts: 2 Bike:	Hi Talisman, many thanks for your advice. Looks like a cx bike with 32mm or 35mm tyres should be OK - starting with maybe 80 psi and lowering that at some point. Obviously it will be important to pick a day with only a small mumber of pedestrians likely to be underway.

Kate Alex	09 Jul 18:42
Joined: 09 Jul 2011 Posts: 1 Bike:	i did this very ride earlier today! i set off from Bristol at 6am. Started raining pretty badly once i got up onto the Kennet and Avon and the large pot holes had basically turned into giant puddles which weren't hard to steer round, but did make things a bit slow! The scenery and houseboats make this a fun stretch. The railway (bris- bath) is better surface but a bit dull. Bradford on Avon to Devizes was a lonely stretch, felt like groundhog day scenically and the surface was awful! Was regretting my road bike and I was beyond excited when I followed the route4 signs onto the road just after the impressive Devizes locks! I lost the signs in Pewsey and got super tangled up and directionally challenged ( I have this evening discovered you can buy OS Maps with cycle routes on them- genius! If only I'd had one today!) As with most NCN routes, it is pretty convuluted but it is gorgeous. The road section from Devizes- just beyond Kintbury was my favourite part of the day (about 40miles) It was fast, peaceful and scenic! I rejoined the canal just after Marsh Benham (or something like that!) which is all signed on the 4. Was better surface than the earlier stretches of towpath- good surface and no pot holes! Sadly I had to bail in Newbury (at 2.30pm) as I was late, after my getting lost! Was gutted to not complete the whole ride to Reading... but did have a family gathering and delicious food to get to so not all lost! Eat jelly babies and bananas and keep your eyes open for the cheeky blue signs and it is a great day! Have fun!

Kate Alex

09 Jul 18:42

Joined: 09 Jul 2011

Posts: 1

Bike:

i did this very ride earlier today! i set off from Bristol at 6am. Started raining pretty badly once i got up onto the Kennet and Avon and the large pot holes had basically turned into giant puddles which weren't hard to steer round, but did make things a bit slow! The scenery and houseboats make this a fun stretch. The railway (bris- bath) is better surface but a bit dull. Bradford on Avon to Devizes was a lonely stretch, felt like groundhog day scenically and the surface was awful! Was regretting my road bike and I was beyond excited when I followed the route4 signs onto the road just after the impressive Devizes locks! I lost the signs in Pewsey and got super tangled up and directionally challenged ( I have this evening discovered you can buy OS Maps with cycle routes on them- genius! If only I'd had one today!) As with most NCN routes, it is pretty convuluted but it is gorgeous. The road section from Devizes- just beyond Kintbury was my favourite part of the day (about 40miles) It was fast, peaceful and scenic! I rejoined the canal just after Marsh Benham (or something like that!) which is all signed on the 4. Was better surface than the earlier stretches of towpath- good surface and no pot holes! Sadly I had to bail in Newbury (at 2.30pm) as I was late, after my getting lost! Was gutted to not complete the whole ride to Reading... but did have a family gathering and delicious food to get to so not all lost! Eat jelly babies and bananas and keep your eyes open for the cheeky blue signs and it is a great day! Have fun!

dawes-rider	11 Jul 13:16
Joined: 27 Feb 2011 Posts: 38 Bike: My Profile	all those who are thinking of doing Reading to Bath on the tow path in 1 day need to realise that its 128miles if you follow the sustrans route . hope you enjoy your 11 hours in the saddle!
My Latest Route: May 2013 Newark Route 64

Pinkie2002	12 Sep 22:14
Joined: 12 Sep 2011 Posts: 2 Bike:	Hello all. Again, I've been reading this with interest, my own intention to do this route late October. However, I'm having real trouble getting the route 4 map (in any detail) from Reading to Bristol. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks. :-)

paul&deb	14 Sep 16:15
Joined: 20 Sep 2008 Posts: 24 Bike: My Profile	Hi, I have done a few sections of the Kennet and planning to do Bath to Reading before end of year and planning to do in one day. I will be on my cyclocross bike so its a bit of a rough ride in places but in general the paths are quite good. I can't help with maps as I use GPS but there is a great website called www.bikehike.co.uk where you can plan a route and print out, and it's free. Might not be exactly what your looking for but its easy enough to use and worth a look. Paul

paul&deb

14 Sep 16:15

Joined: 20 Sep 2008

Posts: 24

Bike:

My Profile

Hi, I have done a few sections of the Kennet and planning to do Bath to Reading before end of year and planning to do in one day. I will be on my cyclocross bike so its a bit of a rough ride in places but in general the paths are quite good. I can't help with maps as I use GPS but there is a great website called www.bikehike.co.uk where you can plan a route and print out, and it's free. Might not be exactly what your looking for but its easy enough to use and worth a look.

Paul

Cyclist123	05 Jan 09:36
Joined: 05 Jan 2012 Posts: 2 Bike:	Hi, I cycled from Reading to Bristol, over 3 days, in October 2011. If anyone has any recent questions please ask. I'd recommend it strongly to anyone who is undecided. It's a beautiful journey. I stayed on the towpath almost all the way from Reading to Bristol. I only left to join Route 4 near Saltford. I did it on a Trek Hybrid 7.3fx, which was ok - I would have felt more comfortable on a mountain bike, in terms of worrying about punctures, and the going was a bit slow over the rough. It was still great fun though, and added to the sense of achievement. It was also great to have the thinner tyres when sailing into Bristol on the last stretch. The paved railway track was such a relief after 2 and half days on the towpath. If, or when I do it again I'd make sure I did the last section, Bath to Bristol in the daylight, because of the scenery. Infact I'd take much longer in general, and explore places along the way. Bradforn upon Avon and Bath deserve more than a flying visit. I did have time to see the Tithe Barn in Bradford, which is amazing.

Cyclist123

05 Jan 09:36

Joined: 05 Jan 2012

Posts: 2

Bike:

Hi,

I cycled from Reading to Bristol, over 3 days, in October 2011. If anyone has any recent questions please ask. I'd recommend it strongly to anyone who is undecided. It's a beautiful journey. I stayed on the towpath almost all the way from Reading to Bristol. I only left to join Route 4 near Saltford.

I did it on a Trek Hybrid 7.3fx, which was ok - I would have felt more comfortable on a mountain bike, in terms of worrying about punctures, and the going was a bit slow over the rough. It was still great fun though, and added to the sense of achievement. It was also great to have the thinner tyres when sailing into Bristol on the last stretch. The paved railway track was such a relief after 2 and half days on the towpath.

If, or when I do it again I'd make sure I did the last section, Bath to Bristol in the daylight, because of the scenery. Infact I'd take much longer in general, and explore places along the way. Bradforn upon Avon and Bath deserve more than a flying visit. I did have time to see the Tithe Barn in Bradford, which is amazing.

iginger	06 Jan 11:13
Joined: 21 Jan 2010 Posts: 13 Bike: My Profile	I did this ride from Bristol to Reading in two days with little or no training on a Trek 3900 MTB with Schwalbe landcruiser tires, no problem at all, my friends had skinnier tires and had a little trouble in places, but nothing serious. if you can manage to do 50miles a days i would advise doing it and stopping at the Barge Inn half way, it's a brilliant pub, great food, great people.... and a campsite, a cheap one at that, you can just turn up and stay the night without booking, it's past Devises in a little place called Honey Street. Best ride i have ever done, weather was terrible but still great fun.
My Latest Route: Apr 2012 Bristol to Reading Off Road

iginger

06 Jan 11:13

Joined: 21 Jan 2010

Posts: 13

Bike:

My Profile

I did this ride from Bristol to Reading in two days with little or no training on a Trek 3900 MTB with Schwalbe landcruiser tires, no problem at all, my friends had skinnier tires and had a little trouble in places, but nothing serious. if you can manage to do 50miles a days i would advise doing it and stopping at the Barge Inn half way, it's a brilliant pub, great food, great people.... and a campsite, a cheap one at that, you can just turn up and stay the night without booking, it's past Devises in a little place called Honey Street.

Best ride i have ever done, weather was terrible but still great fun.

My Latest Route: Apr 2012 Bristol to Reading Off Road

Simmy	06 Mar 08:42
Joined: 06 Mar 2012 Posts: 3 Bike:	Hi, we are thinking of cycling from Windsor to Bristol using Route 4 where possible and take a leisurely four days. Can anyone recommend pubs with accommodation / B&B's along the route? Thank you in advance.

iginger	06 Mar 09:30
Joined: 21 Jan 2010 Posts: 13 Bike: My Profile	this place has a campsite, we used it it's really good, great food and drink and nice campsite. http://www.the-barge-inn.com/index.php
My Latest Route: Apr 2012 Bristol to Reading Off Road

Cyclist123	12 Apr 07:20
Joined: 05 Jan 2012 Posts: 2 Bike:	Good Cycle friendly B and Bs are Clevedon House in Hungerford. Also the Greenhouse in Bristol, an organic BB. Both well run and friendly

Simmy	20 Apr 08:54
Joined: 06 Mar 2012 Posts: 3 Bike:	Hi We completed this over the four day Easter break. Thought I would post the end to end details as they might be useful to others as I could not find details in one place: Following Sustrans Route 4 all the way: Day 1 - Windsor to Midgeham stopping at Crazies Hill, The Horns for lunch and The Best Western, Midgeham overnight circa 38 miles http://www.thehornscrazieshill.co.uk/index.htm http://www.bestwestern.co.uk Day 2 - Midgeham to Bottlesford stopping for lunch at Great Bedwen, The Cross Keys and the Seven Stars, Bottlesford overnight circa 40 miles http://www.thexkeys.com/ http://www.thesevenstars.co.uk/ Day 3 - Bottlesford to Bradford on Avon stopping at Sells Green, The Three Magpies for lunch and the Barge Inn, Bradford overnight circa 25 miles http://www.wadworth.co.uk/seend/three_magpies/index.html http://www.thebargeinn.co.uk/ Day 4 - Bradford on Avon to Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol stopping at Saltford, Bird in the Hand for lunch circa 38 miles. Stayed with family in Bristol http://www.birdinhandsaltford.co.uk/ Day 5 â€“ train back from Bristol We averaged 11.5 mph so it was a leisurely ride but we got to see some great sights. Set off mid-morning and had a minimum one hour lunch and then arrived at our overnight stop around 4pm. We had an amazing time and hope you do too!

Simmy

20 Apr 08:54

Joined: 06 Mar 2012

Posts: 3

Bike:

Hi

We completed this over the four day Easter break. Thought I would post the end to end details as they might be useful to others as I could not find details in one place:

Following Sustrans Route 4 all the way:

Day 1 - Windsor to Midgeham stopping at Crazies Hill, The Horns for lunch and The Best Western, Midgeham overnight circa 38 miles

http://www.thehornscrazieshill.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.bestwestern.co.uk

Day 2 - Midgeham to Bottlesford stopping for lunch at Great Bedwen, The Cross Keys and the Seven Stars, Bottlesford overnight circa 40 miles

http://www.thexkeys.com/
http://www.thesevenstars.co.uk/

Day 3 - Bottlesford to Bradford on Avon stopping at Sells Green, The Three Magpies for lunch and the Barge Inn, Bradford overnight circa 25 miles

http://www.wadworth.co.uk/seend/three_magpies/index.html
http://www.thebargeinn.co.uk/

Day 4 - Bradford on Avon to Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol stopping at Saltford, Bird in the Hand for lunch circa 38 miles. Stayed with family in Bristol

http://www.birdinhandsaltford.co.uk/

Day 5 â€“ train back from Bristol

We averaged 11.5 mph so it was a leisurely ride but we got to see some great sights. Set off mid-morning and had a minimum one hour lunch and then arrived at our overnight stop around 4pm. We had an amazing time and hope you do too!

DAC	23 Apr 09:42
Joined: 23 Apr 2012 Posts: 1 Bike:	I want to cycle part of this route in June with my daughters. One is nearly 12 so I think sheâ€™ll be ok for Reading to Bristol over 3 days, but the other one is 6 and wants to come on the first day (Reading to Hungerford). Can you remember if much/any of that part of the route is on the road? Iâ€™d love to take her and sheâ€™s quite fit, but Iâ€™m not keen to do it if there are country lanes. Thanks

DAC

23 Apr 09:42

Joined: 23 Apr 2012

Posts: 1

Bike:

I want to cycle part of this route in June with my daughters. One is nearly 12 so I think sheâ€™ll be ok for Reading to Bristol over 3 days, but the other one is 6 and wants to come on the first day (Reading to Hungerford). Can you remember if much/any of that part of the route is on the road? Iâ€™d love to take her and sheâ€™s quite fit, but Iâ€™m not keen to do it if there are country lanes.
Thanks

Simmy	26 Apr 12:20
Joined: 06 Mar 2012 Posts: 3 Bike:	This is a great map and it gives you all the info you will need: http://www.sustrans.org.uk/assets/files/leaflets/KAcycleguide.pdf Reading to Kintbury: 27 miles (23 traffic free) - that's almost Hungerford I meant to mention bikes in my earlier post - we were on a hybrid and a mountain bike (both with 2 panniers and with knobbly tyres) - personally I would not want to attempt it on a road bike (the mountain bike got a puncture (I suspect hawthorn was the culprit as it is all along the route).

Simmy

26 Apr 12:20

Joined: 06 Mar 2012

Posts: 3

Bike:

This is a great map and it gives you all the info you will need:

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/assets/files/leaflets/KAcycleguide.pdf

Reading to Kintbury: 27 miles (23 traffic free) - that's almost Hungerford

I meant to mention bikes in my earlier post - we were on a hybrid and a mountain bike (both with 2 panniers and with knobbly tyres) - personally I would not want to attempt it on a road bike (the mountain bike got a puncture (I suspect hawthorn was the culprit as it is all along the route).

leighqts	02 Jul 07:37
Joined: 02 Jul 2012 Posts: 2 Bike:	hi did the Kennet path 2 weeks ago rode from Bath along the kennet path 2 weeks ago ,it was really lovely a nice easy scenic ride alongside barges came across a lovely little country pub in Avoncliffs very friendly people The pub looks to have a nice menu at resonable prices and sell Black rat cider. unfortunatly we got rained having to pitch n a random field. nice ride tho

jnash36685	06 Jul 17:13
Joined: 24 Oct 2011 Posts: 9 Bike:	I'm planning on doing Bristol to reading on the 11th August stopping overnight in Devizes I'm now wondering if thats not far enough along to stop, we are all on MTB and have done Reading to Kintbury in 4 hours so....

jnash36685	13 Aug 16:17
Joined: 24 Oct 2011 Posts: 9 Bike:	well we did it and really enjoyed it apart from deciding to stay on the canal at devizes... bad decision, took us 2 and a half hours to do 13 miles we eventually left the canal at wooton rivers rejoined route 4 got a bit lost and the rejoined the canal at marsh beenham . In retrospect we would have done it the other way round but we loved the B&B we stayed at in devizes Rockley house , total cycling time was 10 hours averaging 10mph we loved it might even do it again.

jnash36685

13 Aug 16:17

Joined: 24 Oct 2011

Posts: 9

Bike:

well we did it and really enjoyed it apart from deciding to stay on the canal at devizes... bad decision, took us 2 and a half hours to do 13 miles we eventually left the canal at wooton rivers rejoined route 4 got a bit lost and the rejoined the canal at marsh beenham . In retrospect we would have done it the other way round but we loved the B&B we stayed at in devizes Rockley house , total cycling time was 10 hours averaging 10mph we loved it might even do it again.

Basil	01 Nov 14:36
Joined: 15 Oct 2010 Posts: 1 Bike:	The Barge Inn at Honeystreet, described fondly by many above, was closed down on Monday 22nd October 2012, but a local said that it was hoped to be re-opened at some unidentified time in the future. We had cycled hard all morning to get to the Barge Inn in time for lunch and were gutted when we got there and found it closed. However were then directed to the Wiltshire Yeoman in Chirton, only about 1 mile south of the NCN4 by a local postman. Very welcome as it was getting late for lunch. Good beers, great food, a very welcoming and helpful landlord - thoroughly recommended. Went to Francos Italian restaurant in Devizes in the evening - also very good.

Basil

01 Nov 14:36

Joined: 15 Oct 2010

Posts: 1

Bike:

The Barge Inn at Honeystreet, described fondly by many above, was closed down on Monday 22nd October 2012, but a local said that it was hoped to be re-opened at some unidentified time in the future. We had cycled hard all morning to get to the Barge Inn in time for lunch and were gutted when we got there and found it closed. However were then directed to the Wiltshire Yeoman in Chirton, only about 1 mile south of the NCN4 by a local postman. Very welcome as it was getting late for lunch. Good beers, great food, a very welcoming and helpful landlord - thoroughly recommended. Went to Francos Italian restaurant in Devizes in the evening - also very good.

richardwill8907	11 Mar 23:19
Joined: 11 Mar 2024 Posts: 5 Bike:	That sounds like a fantastic adventure! I haven't cycled that specific towpath, but I've had great experiences camping along similar routes. As for campsites, I recommend checking online resources or apps for nearby options. Besides that Omegle is a popular online platform where you can chat with strangers from all over the world

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