Advice on cycling the Kennett and Avon canal.

[musicpug405]

Good morning from misty Shrewsbury!
I've been cycling, on and off, since I was a boy (I'm a young 51 BTW). I had a big gap of 20 odd years while I messed around in rock bands.
I started again in the mid 90's, and have been riding again, albeit inconsistantley, since then.
Last year, my 14 year old son and I started doing 'cycle-camping'. That is, we'd pitch the tent at a handy campsite, and use that as a base.
Because of work commitments, and the weather, we only managed a couple of outings in 2010. Our first ride was along part of the North Wales
coastal route, which we really enjoyed. The following day on the way home, we stopped off at Llandegla trail centre, and rode the short loop.
Our next ride was along the Mawddach trail from Dolgellau to Barmouth. I cannot recommend this trail highly enough. It's relativley flat (always a plus point!), and has stunning views of the surrounding countryside.
This year, I have a couple of rides in mind. The main one being riding from Bristol to Reading along the Kennett and Avon canal/Bristol to Bath cycle route. We want to take the train from Shrewsbury to Bristol, do the ride, and return on the train from Reading or Newbury. I plan to do this during the summer holidays, and take a few days doing it. We don't want to camp this time, but would rather use cheap accomodation along the way.
This is where I would like a little help. Has anyone done this ride? Is there such a thing as 'cheap accomodation' in that neck of the woods?
Any help that can be offered will be gratefully recieved.
This is a bit ambitious for us, and we want to make it as comfy as possible (That's why we're not camping).
Here's to the next time.
TTFN

 

[dellzeqq]

Is there such a thing as 'cheap accomodation' in that neck of the woods?

No. We've stayed down that way a few times, at Hungerford, Marlborough and Lambourn (which is a bit out of the way) and it's not cheap. Far from it.

I know you don't want to camp, but the campsite at Savernake is nice.

 

[Dave Davenport]

Did it a couple of years ago and paid about 80 quid for a room in a pub at Devizes and about the same for the Premier Inn Bristol city centre. So, no it's not cheap around there.
It's a very easy route so if you were camping you wouldn't have any problem loading up with home comforts like pillows, stools etc.

 

[Norm]

As DD says, it's a very easy route, the section from Pewsey to Reading took me a leisurely 6 hours including stops for food and Kodak moments, and one puncture at Theale.

There are a bunch of B&B's near Hungerford and Newbury but you'd be looking at £80-ish for a double.

Lovely route, though.

 

[jnb]

Advice on cycling the Kennett and Avon canal

Am I the only person who saw that and thought - use the tow path, not the canal?

 

[Panter]

Am I the only person who saw that and thought - use the tow path, not the canal?

No...

I was thinking along the lines of a small rowing boat being more suitable!

 

[Jack Strop]

There's both Travelodge and Premier Inns in Reading and Newbury. Premier Inn Reading Central and Premier Inn Thatcham/Newbury (actually at Midgham) are both very close to the canal. Looks like there's a Travelodge at Devizes handily placed too.

If you book in advance you might get hold of the £19-29 rooms, it would certainly be cheaper than most B+Bs in the Thames Valley.

 

[Brains]

We did it a few yeats back, spent the night in a pub at Hungerford, another in a pub at Bradford on Avon, and another somewhere else. We did it on a budget and whilst i can't remember the prices they were not steep and except 1st night we did not book ahead

 

[Oneleggedtoad]

Just for the books, Newbury will have a new Travel lodge by the summer, so there's another option. No chance of a room if their running at the race course that weekend though.

Hungerford to Newbury along the canal is my fav local route, so relaxing..

 

[subaqua]

Am I the only person who saw that and thought - use the tow path, not the canal?

No , I nearly posted do it in the winter when the canal is frozen otherwise you will get wet

 

[betty swollocks]

No , I nearly posted do it in the winter when the canal is frozen otherwise you will get wet

I live right by the K&A canal.
One of the veterans in the local Road Club swears that in the great ffffreeze of 1963, they did cycle on the canal all the way from Newbury to Crofton - where the Beam Engine is.

 

[subaqua]

I live right by the K&A canal.
One of the veterans in the local Road Club swears that in the great ffffreeze of 1963, they did cycle on the canal all the way from Newbury to Crofton - where the Beam Engine is.

my dad did the shropshire union canal in chester from leadworks up to cowlanebridge in the early 60s , his mate did it the next day and ended up in the water.

 

[ufkacbln]

Am I the only person who saw that and thought - use the tow path, not the canal?

Decavitator!

 

[yoyo]

It is a very easy route (I also live very close to it). There are lots of pubs on the route or just off it. I'm sure if you shop around you might find cheap accommodation.