Lovely countryside, hills and plains on the K and A

Friday, 03 June 2011 10:52

Beyond Lady's Bridge and the long term moorings there the countryside opens out - it was a shame that there was not much blue sky, as I always think of this area as having hills and huge skies.

There are a number of sites with swans' nests too - this family had left their nest. The mum is a very convenient boat!

Some of my favourite hills and landscapes were ahead of us .....

Pickled Hill dominates the skyline here.

The feeling that ancient ones have trod here before us (many moons before the canal was even thought of) is very strong as the canal meanders along the contour line. It is a prehistoric land of myths, mystery and ancient religion. Silbury Hill is not far away; Marlborough Mound and Kennet Long Barrows, Avebury and the more distant Stonehenge throw their aura over the countryside.

Pickled Hill itself has evidence of ancient terracing on its sides and Woodborough Hill affords wide views over Wiltshire if climbed, although it does not look very high.

Woodborough Hill over a field of poppies and rape seed - a mid canal view!

This is an attractive area to "rough moor" and once again we were tempted. The open views and hills to one side make it a very tranquil place to be.

Canal, fields and Pickled Hill in distance

The next place of significance is Honey Street. Over the long term moorings by "George's", rather Gibsons' Boatyard to give it its official title, one of the many White Horses in the area can be spotted. The sun shone as we arrived - so the horse, carved out in 1812, shone white on Milk Hill. It is known as the Alton Barnes White Horse and you can read more about it here.

Alton Barnes White Horse over the houses of Alton Barnes village

The Barge Inn at Honey Street is always popular, with 24H visitor moorings. It is now also more popular with local boats before and beyond the official moorings. There was no room to moor - some of the narrowboats on the BW moorings were there for their crews to lunch at the inn. It is also well known as the pub that is the venue for anyone interested in crop circles - "the international centre". Of course, we know it as the pub that featured in Colin Dexter's Morse story "The Wench is Dead".

The Barge Inn

Swing bridges are soon to become a feature of the canal - many are now just narrow gaps where the retaining walls have been retained! This one near Woodborough has been removed, but bits have been left behind.

Old swing bridge site

There were a couple for us to negotiate later .....