Kennet & Avon Canal from Great Bedwyn

Wiltshire Walk

Canal Walk + Woodland Walk + Industrial Archeology

Walk Route Description

Click image to see photo description.

A relaxing circular walk from Great Bedwyn which follows a delightful section of the Kennet & Avon Canal which opened in 1810. Built to connect London and Bristol, the canal is an engineering masterpiece it fell into decline when railways destroyed the traffic. After many years of decline the canal was restored and reopened in 1990.

The walk starts from a free car park on Brook Street adjacent to the canal in Great Bedwyn (grid ref. SU280644). Great Bedwyn is also served by regular trains from Reading. After parking, exit the car park and join the canal's towing path. Turn left and walk south with the canal on your right. Follow the towing path for three kilometres to reach a lock with pumping station on the opposite bank. Continue along the towing path, pass Wilton Lock and continue ahead up a slop to reach the road at Freewarren Bridge (grid ref. SU258621).

Turn right across the canal, cross the railway and Dark Lane to reach the entrance to reach Crofton Pumping Station on the left. The pumps draw water from Wilton Water and used to top the canal's water level at the summit of the canal. The 19th century beam engines are worth a visit. Continue along Dark Lane to reach the small community of Crofton and a T-junction with a grass island. Turn left, walk through the yard of Crofton Farm and join a clear track ahead following the course of a Roman Road. 450 metres beyond the farm you pass a corrugated barn on the left. Just beyond the barn, bear right along a byway (grid ref. SU25961).

The onward route runs along the left-hand edge of a field with views across the Kennet valley on the right. At the end of the field pass through a gate into woodland. Follow the track through trees. At a fork, bear right and continue along the edge of the wood. Continuing through the woodland, keep right at several junctions and continue to a T-junction with a cottage visible ahead. Bear right and follow a path through trees. Exit the trees and turn left along the first path on the left with a fingerpost (grid ref. SU268640). Cross a filed, aiming for the top right-hand corner and trees. Turn half-right and follow path along the left-hand edge of fields. The path eventually becomes enclosed and continues to a road. Turn left and then left again along Church Street. Pass St Mary's Church on your right and continue ahead into the centre of Great Bedwyn. Turn right at the roundabout and follow Brook Street back to the station and start.

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