Cruise to a good pub on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Tuesday, 07 June 2011 11:04

We enjoyed our overnight stay at Woodborough Fields

Another view of the fields and the trees on Woodborough Hill

We might have tarried longer but had a plan for the evening ......

It was onward towards Pewsey via the lovely Wide Water

Wide Water - a sort of mini Tixall Wide, but beware it is extremely shallow on the right (off side) away from the canal "line".

The old suspension bridge at Stowell Park is the only surviving example of its kind. It is an elegant bridge, made of iron and on it is written "Dredge Patentee/Bath". James Dredge was an engineer with a business in Devizes. This is one of two remaining from the original 50 Dredge designed bridges. The other larger one is Victoria Suspension Bridge, Bath.

Stowell Park Suspension Bridge

It was erected and paid for in 1845 by Colonel Wroughton of Wilcot. It is made of wrought iron chains, not ropes.

Lacy structure in Larch trees

We were dragging the bottom of the canal as we approached Pewsey under Bristow Bridge - the water appeared even more down than when we had left. However, we called in at the wharf to off-load our rubbish (there is no rubbish disposal at Devizes any more). We said farewell to those we knew there and continued on past the nearly empty visitor moorings.

The water situation improved as we pootled towards Wootton Rivers and the bottom lock. Here we "jumped" one of the Moonrakers wide hire boats as they wanted to watch the "experts" (their words, not mine) do the lock. It was their first - but I said that even so-called experts make mistakes. Fortunately we didn't!

Wootton Rivers bottom lock

We moored just above, as we had on the way down and as it was still early I had plenty of time to re-plant my roof pots - sadly really, as the Violas still had some life in them. I left them in a group beside the towpath for others to enjoy for a while. Now the pots look a little tatty as we wait for the new plants to grow into them!

Moored above the lock

The Royal Oak was our destination for the evening meal (our second visit!) - my birthday celebration. Little did I know that John had arranged a surprise too - a voice called "avast there" around 4pm. It sounded familiar and it was - John and Carolyn arrived acting as my surprise and postmen! We had a lovely meal in a lovely pub in a lovely village.

In the Royal Oak

Here are a couple of photos of the thatched cottages in the village - they outnumber the other houses by far!

Cottage and roses

Timbered cottage

Kennet and Avon Canal, Woodborough Fields to Wootton Rivers
2 hours 45 minutes, 5.77 miles, 1 lock