Luxury Canal Hotel Boat Holiday:
This cruise takes you on a delightful journey from the Vale of Pewsey, a beautiful area studded with unspoilt picturesque villages and forming part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the historic canal town of Bradford on Avon.
From Pewsey the canal meanders through the very rural and scenic lock free ‘Long Pound’ to the vibrant market town of Devizes where we make a stop allowing ample time for guests to explore the town if they wish. Rich in history and listed buildings, Devizes is also home to the Wiltshire Museum, the Wadworth Brewery which still uses Shire horses to make local deliveries, and the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust Museum occupying a restored canal side warehouse on the Wharf.
Leaving Devizes the navigation descends the impressive Caen Hill flight of 29 locks with its spectacular views over the Avon Valley, and said to be one of the 7 wonders of the waterways. The 29 locks lower the canal 237 feet in 2 miles and can take a total of 5-6 hours to traverse although we don’t complete the whole flight in one go!
You are welcome to help with the locks if you wish but if you prefer, just sit back and watch as we work the boat through the flight! The final lock brings us out at the delightfully named Foxhanger Wharf, and our cruise continues West to the charming village of Seend Cleeve, once home to the ‘Wiltshire Giant’ Fred Kempster.
Here we pass through another much smaller flight of five locks and follow the canal to two further locks at Semington where the now derelict Wilts & Berks canal originally joined the Kennet and Avon.
Beyond Semington the canal is lock free and winds through beautifully scenic countryside to Bradford on Avon. This charming and attractive town described as an ‘architectural treasure chest’ boasts a diverse collection of historical buildings, including a beautifully preserved 14th century Tithe Barn alongside the canal and time is allowed here for a visit to both the Tithe Barn and Town Centre.
Join us aboard The Billet at 2pm for sparkling wine, canapés and introductory welcome and safety chat. After settling in we will cruise at 3pm. Departure on your final day will be at 10am, after a sumptuous breakfast.
Cruise Dates 2017
Thu, 18 May 2017 to Tue, 23 May 2017
If travelling by train, we would suggest Pewsey railway station and Bradford-on-Avon railway station.