The 'K&A' on the Great West Way®

The 87 mile Kennet & Avon Canal forms part of the longer 500-mile Great West Way®.

Here's a little bit more about how we're involved and what you can discover on your trip from Bristol to London (or back again).

Couple walking hand in hand at Monkton Combe on the Kennet & Avon Canal

Download a guide to the Great West Way

Explore the Great West Way, including food and drink and the Kennet & Avon Canal

Waterways Ambassador

The 500-mile route threads through quaint villages and bustling towns, linking famous landmarks and iconic attractions. It can be travelled by road, rail, cycle, on foot and on the water, thanks to sections of our canal forming the natural heart of the route. In fact, with the K&A option taking the speed down to 4mph, or less, it's perfect for anyone looking for a more relaxed pace on a boating holiday.

Places to visit along the 'K&A' on the Great West Way

Make time to slow down and discover more with a walk, cycle or paddle at one of several places to visit by the rippling waterside. Here are just a few to explore this weekend:

Halfpenny Bridge crossing canal with trees either side

Bath

This World Heritage Site sits at the western end of the canal and is a great place to start your travels

Aerial view of a narrowboat crossing an aqueduct over a river and surrounded by verdant fields.

Dundas

The aqueduct on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Dundas has stunning views of the valley

Bradford

Bradford-upon-Avon has both the canal and the river Avon flowing through this pretty little market town

Caen HIll

One of the most spectacular set of locks anyway in the UK, and a spectacular view too

Newbury

The hidden gem of Newbury high street is its home to a preety bridge over the canal

Reading

At the eastern end of the the canal before it joins the Thames to London sits Reading

The Great West Way® has been made possible by £1.4m of funding from the Government's Discover England Fund including 40% match funding from Ambassadors. It is being marketed to visitors from Germany, the Netherlands and North America but will also attract tourists from around the world and across the UK. It is backed by partners including Visit England, Visit Britain, Bristol Airport, Great Western Railway and the National Trust.