The Kintbury And Return From Aldermaston.php Canal Boating Cruising Route
Aldermaston wharf is close to the railway station with good connections to Paddington in London, taking 55 minutes from London Paddington , or 13 minutes from Reading railway station.
At Aldermaston Wharf is the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Visitor centre, with a picnic area, and serving light refreshments from Easter -Oct. There is also the Butt Inn pub at Aldermaston Wharf, serving real ales and excellent food for all the family.
The River Kennet can make a considerable impact on the navigation when in spate. In such conditions do not cruise east beyond Hungerford, or west beyond Reading unless experienced.
3 night cruise
Aldermaston to Kintbury and return through the Market town of Newbury with its busy shopping centre, 18th century houses and fine almshouses, many pubs and restaurants.
DAY 1
Turning out of the marina westwards, you will immediately encounter a lift bridge which is electrically operated by canalboaters, and which spans a busy road. Follow the instructions by the bridge. You will then have your first lock, once through here you will see a disused gravel pit, some a haven for wildlife since the 1960's.
The scenery is very rural until you reach Thatcham, when you get to Woolhampton be careful of the current below the lock which can cause problems.
Woolhampton village is 200 yards north of the canal, there is a pub canalside, or a couple in the village, it is an hours cruising from Aldermaston to here, and makes an ideal place to stop for your 1st night.
DAY 2
Passing Woolhampton you pass through 3 locks in this rural landscape until you reach the raipdly expanding village of Thatcham, which is now almost a suburb of Newbury. There is a railway station close to the canal near bridge 42. There are various pubs and restaurants in Thatcham access is from bridge 42, and a Nature Discovery centre north of Widmead Lock with shop and cafe.
It is 3.25 hours from Aldermaston to here.
You soon pass Newbury racecourse on your left. See their website for details of race days. Concerts are also hosted here, THE WANTED were there in May and the lovely TOM JONES has a concert on 13th August 2011 which is also LADIES DAY for racing at Newbury.
The River cuts right through the town and above Newbury Lock is the delightful quiet West Mills area where rows of terraced houses face the navigation and there are extensive moorings. Beware of the current below Newbury lock. It is 6 hours from Aldermaston marina to here.
Victoria Bridge 59 is handy for getting to Newbury to the north, or the racecourse to the south.
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.
The canal soon leaves Newbury behind, and once more enters the rural Berkshire landscape on its journey to Kintbury which is just a small village to the south of the canal up on the hill. It is a quiet village with a station, and attractive buildings by the canal, including a watermill and a canalside pub. You can turn the boat around just after bridge 76 or before bridge 75 if you want to avoid the lock. There are also 2 pubs in the village, and stores.
It is 8.75 cruising hours from Woolhampton to here.
DAY 3
You can either cruise the 9.75 hours back to Aldermaston in 1 day, or cruise to Woolhampton again & get up early on your day of departure to cruise the 1 hour from there back to the marina.