Kennet & Avon Canal
Kennet & Avon Canal boat hire, direct from owners
Narrowboats and dayboats between Reading, Bath and Bristol, on one of the prettiest restored waterways in the country.
Boats available now
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Where to cruise on the Kennet & Avon
Bath to Bradford on Avon
Aqueducts at Dundas and Avoncliff, wooded valley sides and only a couple of locks. The easiest lovely day on the canal.
Devizes and Caen Hill
Twenty nine locks in two miles, sixteen of them in a straight line. Allow the best part of a day and take snacks.
Hungerford to Great Bedwyn
Quiet, rural and full of swing bridges. Crofton's beam engines sit just off the towpath at the summit.
Newbury to Aldermaston
River sections mixed with canal, so keep an eye on the flow after rain. Good moorings and easy train links back.
The Kennet & Avon is managed by the Canal & River Trust.
Kennet & Avon hire, the practical bits
Do I need a licence to hire a boat?
No. The owner holds the boat's licence and the hire endorsement that lets it be hired out. You just turn up and cruise.
Do I need experience?
No. Every owner runs a hands-on handover before you set off, covering steering, mooring, locks and the safety kit on board.
How is BoatStays different from a hire fleet?
You book the owner's own boat and deal with them directly. They know the water, the moorings and the good pubs, and you get their number for the whole trip.
Is Caen Hill doable with two people?
Yes, but it is a workout. Most crews allow five to six hours for the full flight and pair up with another boat where they can.
River-fed sections can run fast after heavy rain. Check conditions with your owner the morning you set off.