This canal boat holiday route offers a leisurely seven night cruise. Choose location Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire for this route.

The Route

The canal boat route between Bradford on Avon and Bristol is a popular choice for boaters who want to experience the best of the very scenic Kennet & Avon Canal. The route is approximately 52 miles long and takes between 2 and 3 days to complete before returning and heading back to our boat hire base in Bradford on Avon. 

The route starts in Bradford on Avon and if you have time, it’s a lovely place to visit with shops and restaurants.

Leaving Bradford on Avon, the canal runs towards Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll firstly cross the Avoncliff Aqueduct, a beautiful structure that carries the Kennet and Avon Canal over the River Avon. It was built by John Rennie and chief engineer John Thomas, between 1797 and 1801 and is a Grade II listed structure.

Bath is a beautiful city with Roman baths, Georgian architecture, and a lively atmosphere, you’ll want to moor up here and enjoy at least half a day exploring this small city where everything is within easy walking distance.

After Bath, the canal continues to Saltford Marina before meandering through the Avon Valley and into Bristol.

Bristol is a fascinating city, a former major shipping port and the hometown of such disparate characters as John Cabot, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Cary Grant. If you’re looking for boat hire in Bristol, this could be a unique way of reaching and discovering this lively yet historic city. Bristol is full of atmospheric passages and corners, alleyways and stairways as befits a former sea-trading port.

What is there to see?

The route is very rural and you will pass through a variety of beautiful countryside, including rolling hills, woodlands, and farmland. You will also see a number of interesting locks, bridges, and aqueducts.

Here are some of the things you can see and do along the way:

• Visit the Roman Baths in Bath
• Enjoy a meal out in Bath
• Visit the Jane Austen museum in Bath (it’s tiny, but great!)
• Explore the city of Bristol, take a guided tour around many of the historic sights.
• Visit the floating harbour in Bristol, where you can find art galleries, restaurants and bars.