One of the pretty bits of the K and A

Thursday, 26 May 2011 13:00

This swing bridge used to be so difficult

Hungerford Church swing bridge

But we forgave it as it is so pretty beside the church .....

Today it was easy - we reckon that BW have been around greasing the paddle gear and checking gates and swing bridges, as none of them are as hard as we remember!

Hungerford Church below the swing bridge

The water meadows, pasture and buttercups of Hungerford Marsh make the Kennet and Avon feel like a river. It is common land, but well looked after as a Nature Reserve. This lovely thatched cottage is at Marsh Gate.

Thatched Cottage - note more new planting on the bank

Hungerford Marsh Lock was once my nemesis - I had to negotiate it in a very, very strong wind and went aground on the north side of the canal. In those days I did not have the experience I have now and panicked. John had to shout instructions from the bank! I also remember it because I fell over into a cow pat -  phew, my trousers smelled a bit and I never really got the stain out.

Hungerford Marsh and Lock ahead

The lock has a swing bridge over it - just like Gardham Lock on the Pocklington Canal (Don't forget to buy my Richlow Guide if you plan to go there!). The swing bridge is best opened first when going up and if coming down it is a must! With a crew and another narrowboat coming down, we were well catered for on the manpower front!

In Hungerford Marsh Lock

This is the view looking back - lovely on a sunny day!

We now were back into the Berkshire countryside and, somewhere between here and the Froxfield flight of locks, we crossed the county line into Wiltshire. So a new county, a new blog .....