Bradford on Avon: Oxford Canals
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Boat Availability |
Sat 2.30pm - Tues 9.30am | Tues 2.30pm - Sat 9.30am |
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Enjoy a Kennet & Avon canal boat holiday starting from the picturesque Wiltshire town of Bradford on Avon, a narrow boat hire base that offers canal cruises to suit all levels of experience. Heading westward will take you over aqueducts, through bridges and locks to the World Heritage City of Bath, a gentle day’s canal cruise from the base. For the more experienced narrowboat crew a week will provide adequate time to cruise through Bath and onto Bristol, travelling though countryside along the River Avon.
Suggested
Routes From Bradford on Avon
Route A | Route B | Route C
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1. BRISTOL & RETURN - ROUTE A
52 Miles | 28 Locks | 1 Week Cruise | 26 hours
A leisurely one week canal cruise through Bath and Keynsham to Bristol and return. The beautiful city of Bath plays host to the meeting of the Avon Navigation and the Kennet and Avon Canal. Arguably only York and Chester on the inland waterways can muster such an appealing backdrop. The Avon is actually navigable by narrowboat for a short distance upstream of the canals junction with the river at the tail of Bath Bottom Lock. It’s a detour well worth making. Spring tides occasionally lick their salty tongues up as far as Keynsham. Scenically the landscape pivots on Hanham : to the east the valley is wide and watermeadowy; to the west wooded and gorgelike.
Bristol, hometown of such disparate characters as John Cabot, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Cary Grant. It is a terrific city full of atmospheric passages and corners, alleyways and stairways as befits a former sea-trading port.
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2.
BATH & DEVIZES - ROUTE B
44 Miles | 86 Locks | Short Break Cruise | 36 hours
Head west for a leisurely canal cruise to Bath and return.
The most famous site is of course the 2,000 year old Roman Baths, filled with ancient mystical artefacts and thermal water that still steams today. Although If you want to unwind and enjoy some pamper time, how about a spa session in the natural thermal waters at Thermae Bath Spa?
When you’ve soaked up the history at the Baths, then head to the magnificent Royal Crescent, The Circus, Pulteney Bridge and Bath Abbey and see all of those picture-perfect postcard attractions in Bath come to life.
Bath Crescent
here’s plenty of Bath attractions for families and kids to enjoy too, from outdoor adventures at Longleat and Stonehenge to performances at the egg theatre or a tour of the spooky caves of Wookey Hole.
Heading east you will encounter several wide locks as you approach Devizes by narrowboat. You can choose to climb the Caen Hill flight but many prefer to moor their narrow boat up and walk or cycle to Devizes. It is possible to combine all of this into one short break – a canaloholics “ideal short break”
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3.
HUNGERFORD & RETURN - ROUTE C
72 Miles | 120 Locks | 1 Week Cruise | 54 hours
A busy weeks canal boat holiday through the pretty villages of Wilcot, Pewsey, Crofton and others and with lots of locks. Pewsey repays the trouble to walk down from the canal wharf. A weather beaten statue depicting King Alfred marks the right-angled entrance into the high street. Wiltshire morphs into Berkshire and a change of county brings a change of mood as the A4 trunk road comes alongside the canal approaching Hungerford. Hungerford’s imposing parish church of St Lawrence overlooks swing-bridge 85.
Bradford on Avon Base Information
| Hotels
/ Guest Houses |
The Barge Inn, 17 Frome Road, Bradford on Avon, BA15 2EA
www.thebargeinn.co.uk
breakfast
Price Guide: Doubles £75 - £95 Including breakfast
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The Castle Inn, Mount Pleasant, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1SJ
The Castle Inn
Price Guide: £100 - £140 Including breakfast
Happy Bradford on Avon Tourist Information Centre, 50 St Margarets Street, Bradford on Avon, Wilts. BA15 1DE
www.bradfordonavon.co.uk
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| Public
Transport |
National Rail Enquiries:
www.nationalrail.co.uk Tel: 08457 484950
www.thetrainline.com Tel: 0871 244 1545
Nearest Airport: Bristol 0871 334 4444
Nearest Railway Station: Bradford on Avon
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| Taxi
/ Minicabs |
Bradford and Avon Taxis Tel: 0122 586 2277
Beeline Taxis Tel. 0122 543 3946
Approximate prices: ( subject to change)
Bristol Airport to Bradford Wharf : £45
Heathrow to Bradford Wharf: £100
Gatwick to Bradford Wharf: £130
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| Car
Hire |
Hertz Car Hire have depots throughout the UK
including main airports. We have an exclusive agreement
with Hertz who will provide reduced rates for all Black Prince customers. Drop-offs, collections and one
ways are all available, allowing you to pick up a car at your arrival point and request a car to be waiting at
the end of your holiday for onward travel. To book your car visit www.hertz.co.uk or call 0870 844 4844
and quote CDP 694816.
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| Flying
into London |
FLYING INTO LONDON
From Heathrow take the Heathrow Express to London Paddington train station. Take the train to Bath about 90 minutes. If you have lots of luggage we suggest you get a taxi direct from Bath to the wharf.
Visit www.tfl.gov.uk to plan your route on the London Underground.
FLYING INTO BRISTOL
We recommend a taxi direct from airport to the wharf.
BY TRAIN
We are about 025 mile walk from Bradford on Avon station (taxis are available). Trains from Bath take about 15 minutes. There are direct traisn from Bristol and London Paddington to Bath. Taxis journey from Bath to the wharf is about 20 minutes.
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| How
To Find Us (By car) |
Bradford on Avon is near to Bath. The nearest motorway is M4 Junction 18. After leaving the motorway, take the A46 toward Bath, then the A4 toward Chippenham. After approx. 2 miles, turn right onto the A363 into Bradford on Avon town centre. At the town centre, take the B3109 toward Frome and follow for about half a mile until you cross the canal bridge on a sharp double bend. The boatyard is directly after this on the left.
www.theaa.com/route-planner
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| Groceries |
| There is Sainsbury Supermarket 2 minutes drive / 5 minutes walk from the wharf. |
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Black
Prince - Bradford on Avon Base Information
