Hungerford - pick up point on the K and A

Monday, 23 May 2011 17:30

After a couple of days at Kintbury it was time to move to Hungerford, such a familiar place from our time on the Kennet and Avon Canal. As we left Kintbury we passed another favourite ....

Kintbury Vicarage

We have watched this change and develop from Vicarage to private house ......

Once I fancied living there - but with a narrowboat moored outside rather than the dingy and duck house! Other changes we spotted were places on the bankside. The canal had been dredged, mud laid down to extend and protect the bank and left to harden and plants to grow. Now these banks were being planted out and protected with special booms. There were stretches of this all the way to Hungerford and beyond, no doubt.

Planting on the bank-side

Dunmill Lock stays in our memory as the lock where we were stuck going down - the lock just would not empty as there was so much water coming over the top gates. The cause - a blocked by-wash (on right in photo).

Dunmill Lock from above

We were passed by the Rose of Hungerford, the trip boat belonging to the Kennet and Avon Trust that runs out of Hungerford. It looked as if they were on a training run as there were no passengers.

Rose of Hungerford

As we were picking up our friends Angela and Chris from Cornwall at Hungerford station, we tried to moor by Station Bridge in Hungerford. But it was not possible - even with a plank to get to the bank. A couple of narrowboats were on the prime spots below the bridge - about the only place it seemed possible to get in. So we continued to Hungerford Wharf and were very surprised to see it empty.

Moored above Hungerford Town Bridge

It seemed very strange to see this hire boat passing us - memories of the Oxford Canal. Oxfordshire Narrowboats now have a hire base at Bradford on Avon.

Oxfordshire Narrowboats hire boat Corsham

Angela and Chris duly arrived; we ate in the Plume of Feathers in Hungerford that night and gave it 7/10 - Eton Mess is recommended. (Sad to hear the Scottish Landlord had passed away.)

Kennet and Avon Canal, Kintbury to Hungerford
2 hours, 3.17 miles, 3 locks