THE INLAND WATERWAYS PROTECTION SOCIETY LTD
WALKING WEEK-END AWAY 3RD & 4TH OCTOBER 2009
WILTS. & BERKS CANAL
The Wilts. & Berks. Canal opened in 1810 and ran for 52 miles from the Kennet &
Avon Canal at Semington near Melksham to the River Thames at Abingdon. Through
traffic ceased in 1901 and the whole length was finally abandoned by an Act of
Parliament in 1914. Some sections were still in use much later. Now some
sections
have been restored, bridges and lock chambers rebuilt or replaced but on other
sections
the line of the canal can be difficult to locate and much of it is on private
land. For our
walks we will be guided along some very interesting and varied sections by
Rachel
Banyard of the Wilts. & Berks Canal Trust.
FRIDAY 2ND OCTOBER 2009 8 P.M.
Those of us who wish to attend are invited by the Trust to s short presentation
and
social at the Peterborough Arms pub at Dauntsey Lock at 8 p.m. This will be a
very
informal event and food and real ales will be available.
SATURDAY 3RD OCTOBER 2009 10.30 A.M.
We will meet at THE FOXHAM READING ROOMS AND VILLAGE HALL (OS 980
774) and ferry some cars to Bowds Lane which is off the A3102 (OS020806).
Foxham
is accessed off the B4069 Chippenham to Lynham Road via Sutton Benger.
We shall then walk the 5 miles from Foxham to Seven Locks with a break for
lunch at
The Peterborough Arms at Dauntsey Lock. I will need to know at the start of the
walk
how many of us will want the pub lunch so that I can telephone the numbers
ahead.
SUNDAY 4TH OCTOBER 2009 AT 10 A.M.
We will meet on the grass verge on the A4 South Chippenham By-Pass between the
Henry Drive Roundabout and Canal Roundabout (OS 928717). This location is
signed
`Private Road Access to Lower & Middle Lodge Farms only´. Political necessity
means
we are obliged to walk this road and not take cars down to the canal. We will
ferry
some cars to the Bell Inn at Lacock.
We will walk the 4 miles or so of the Pewsham Section to Lacock and take lunch
at the
Bell Inn. Out of deference to those who have to get home for work the following
day
the IWPS arrangements end here but there is an opportunity for those who want
to look
at a further section of the Wilts and Berks or to explore this very famous
National Trust
village to do so. I have arranged to advise The Bell at the start of the walk
how many
of us want a pub lunch and the owner will reserve tables for us.
MAP The OS Landranger Map No. 173 (Swindon & Devizes) covers all the areas we
will walk.
ACCOMMODATION There are many pubs, B&Bs etc. in the area. I have not done a
survey and leave each walker to arrange accommodation according to their needs.
CLOTHING, BOOTS ETC. Parts of the route we will walk are very isolated and as
far
as I am aware there are no Mars Bars shops en route. The ground is partly
surfaced
footpath, partly normal towpath and partly `rough´. Please therefore come
prepared
with stout boots, waterproofs and drinks/snacks etc.
SATURDAY EVENING MEAL
This I have provisionally arranged for The Bell at Lacock which is a very
attractive pub
and has a good reputation locally. Prices are reasonable and the menu varied.
The
owner has asked that as we are a group and to give us best service we arrive at
7 p.m.
which I think is more or less the time we have started in previous years. I
have to give
the owner the number of places we need Saturday morning. Meal orders can be
placed
at the table.
PLEASE TELL US YOU ARE COMING ON THE WALK by telephoning Rachel
Banyard on her Mobile 07767 895244 on Thursday of Friday Evening (1st & 2nd
October). Those who are coming to the Friday evening presentation can do it
then.
IN CASE OF NEED you can contact me on my Mobile 07710 361093 or on Sarah´s
Mobile 0787 0598983
SATNAV For those of you using SATNAV to find the Peterborough Arms key in
`Dauntsey Lock´ and not just `Dauntsey´.
NEXT TIME OUT: 5th December 2009
Lower Peak Forest Canal & Compstall Navigation.
Leaders Andrew & Dorothy Ward
--
David Kitching
http://www.brocross.com
fearrmeox adlaþ brægen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
