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Walk along the Devizes Canal
| LOCALITY: | Devizes, WiltshirePrint this page |
| DISTANCE: | Greater than 5 miles (8.05 km) |
| FACILITIES: | There & back, Parking, Suitable for wheelchairs, Toilets, Pub, Cafe |
| OS MAP: | Marlborough & Savernake Forest |
| GRADIENT: | Mostly flat |
| TERRAIN: | Easy |
Walk description:
Once you reach Devizes head to the long stay car park by the Wharf, this is just off of Couch Lane. (SN10 1EB) As of Feb 08 the parking was 50p per hour.
You then have 2 options in terms of direction:
1) Head right and walk towards the Coate Bridge which is on the outskirts of Devizes. You will pass by Bridge 139, 138 and 137 before arriving at Coate Bridge.
Along the way you will see several houses that back onto the canal.
If you decide to come off of the tow path you could either walk along the main road back into Devizes or retrace your steps. Please take care on the slope back onto the tow path as it is steep and slippey!
The terrain is very good and an all terrain buggy will have no trouble at all.
2) Head right from the Wharf car park and when you get to the first bridge leave the tow path and cross over to the other side of the Canal. You then need to get back onto the tow path heading left.
You will come to a bridge by the main road, walk over the bridge and get back onto the tow path on the other side and continue down the Canal side.
After about 15 minutes you will come across a cafe on the right hand side.
If you continue on you will come to a bridge, with a white house to the left of it. This road takes you into Rowde and is the B3101. Turn around and retrace your steps back to the Wharf car park.
This option is more suitable for pushchairs as the terrain is much more sturdy.
A really lovely walk for the entire family.
Additional notes:
Both paths are used by cyclists and dog walkers. There are a few benches to stop and enjoy the views.
The Kennet and Avon is an impressive feat of engineering, made up of two river navigations and a linking stretch of canal. It runs from the Severn Estuary near Bristol to the River Thames at Reading, over 100 miles long with more than 100 locks, some magnificent engineering and crossing some of the most beautiful scenery in southern England. It was only reopened in 1990 after decades of dereliction.
I walked option two. I walked all the way along to Marsh lane which is the road that goes to Rowde. It was a
very peaceful walk along the canal towpath. The walk sloped slightly downhill. This meant the return walk was
a gentle walk uphill. The terrain was easy and was suitable for wheelchairs and buggies.
I tried the entire route - starting at the Wharf car park and trying the walk in two parts. It was a lovely
walk in both directions and I would agree that the terrain going west (option2) was much sturdier. It was
very pleasant walking towards Coate Bridge and interesting to see all the boats and gardens. I was walking
alone here and because so many people were either using the tow path of in their gardens I felt very safe.
The route west was on a slight hill but the terrain was ideal and it made pushing the buggy very
easy. I would really recommend this walk.
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