Kennet & Avon Short Break

Bath and Devizes short break from Bradford on Avon

Pride, Prejudice & Roman Baths

Bradford on Avon 38 16 20 Suitable for Short Break, 1 Week or 10 Nights holidays

This short break takes in arguably the most beautiful parts of Wiltshire and Somerset, from our base in Bradford on Avon to the historic city of Bath, famous for Roman spas and the home of writer Jane Austin.

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Departing from Bradford on Avon

You’ll start this fascinating short break canal boat holiday to Bath from our narrowboat hire base on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Bradford-on-Avon.

Bradford on Avon is worth a visit before you start your cruise. Sitting by the River Avon, it’s home to an ancient Saxon bridge that’s been a key crossing for centuries. Wander through its narrow streets and you’ll find a blend of styles – from medieval stone cottages to elegant Georgian houses built during the town’s booming wool trade days, with some Victorian touches adding to the mix.

Bradford on Avon

Avoncliffe Aqueduct

Crossing the aqueducts

Once you have completed your training session at our narrowboat hire base and had a full introduction to the boat, you’ll set off on the Kennet and Avon Canal, heading west. After around 30-45 minutes cruising you’ll come to the Avoncliffe Aqueduct, the first of the two aqueducts along the Kennet & Avon.

After cruising through some more beautiful countryside you’ll come to the second aqueduct. This is the the Dundas Aqueduct and it offers stunning views of the River Avon and surrounding countryside.

Continuing on towards Bath on the Kennet & Avon Canal there are a couple of swing bridges to go through and the first locks you’ll come across are on the outskirts of the city of Bath.

If you wish to avoid the locks then you can moor up at Sydney Gardens, and enjoy a walk through this scenic part of town into the centre of the city itself.

Discovering Bath

Bath is one of the most popular cities to visit in the UK and it’s easy to see why. This UNESCO World Heritage Site features ancient Roman Baths, stunning Gothic architecture of Bath Abbey and iconic Georgian streets, with landmarks like the Royal Crescent and Circus.

After the Royal Pump Rooms, we’d recommend a visit to the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, a charming museum dedicated to celebrating the life and works of the famed author (author of works such as Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion and Emma). Set in a lovely Georgian building, it immerses visitors in the Regency era with interactive exhibits, period costumes, and insights into how the city of Bath influenced Austen’s novels.

Cruise along the Kennet & Avon

After enjoying the sites of Bath, you’ll turn in a winding hole and head back the way you came until you’re back at the Bradford-on-Avon canal base.

You’ll then head east towards the town of Devizes. Once away from Bradford-on-Avon you’ll be back into beautiful countryside scenery of woodland and farmland, passing the rural villages of Stavington and Semington.

Just outside of Devizes is the Caen Hill flight of locks. You won’t go up these on a short break but you you can moor up before Lock 22, Lower Foxhangers Lock and then walk up to Devizes. You can then turn at Foxhangers Marina and cruise back to the base at Bradford-upon-Avon.

Exploring Devizes

Devizes itself is well worth taking some time to visit. An old market town, it was developed around an 11th century castle. Visit the Devizes museum to see one of the finest prehistoric collections in Europe including the Stourhead collection of relics excavated from burial mounds on Salisbury Plain, plus there is a visitor centre which is is home to an interactive exhibition introducing visitors to the medieval origins of the town.

Devizes