From Bristol to Bath is the wonderful Bristol and Bath Railway Path providing a peaceful route between the two cities. The surface is smooth and flat all the way. Halfway along is the Avon Valley railway with its old station, engines and carriages and a short length of track alongside the cycle path.
After Bath the NCN4 follows the Kennet and Avon Canal going along the towpath nearly all the way to Devises. It is very picturesque and quiet with many locks and narrowboats meandering along. The surface however was very mixed and it was often an uncomfomfortable ride due to the stony nature of the path and often narrow. After Bradford on Avon it was especially uneven which meant extremely slow progress.
Most interesting are the Caen Hill Locks near Devises, built over 200 years ago. John Rennie, a famous canal engineer, wanted to take the canal the shortest route – uphill! There are 16 locks each with a massive side pond to prevent the canal running out of water.
After Devises the route took me along some very quiet lanes through the Vale of Pewsey and then over the North Wessex Downs before going through Newbury and then on to my overnight stop at Thatcham.
Stats: Daily distance: 86.7 miles (138.76km) Cum. Total: 329.7 miles (528.85km) Average speed: 10.28 mph (16.3kph) Trip time:11:17 Ride time: 8:32 Max speed:26.3 mph (42.1kph)
After Bath the NCN4 follows the Kennet and Avon Canal going along the towpath nearly all the way to Devises. It is very picturesque and quiet with many locks and narrowboats meandering along. The surface however was very mixed and it was often an uncomfomfortable ride due to the stony nature of the path and often narrow. After Bradford on Avon it was especially uneven which meant extremely slow progress.
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