The Kennet and Avon Canal - the section from Reading to Garston Turf Lock.

Generally about walking along The Kennet and Avon Canal towpath between Reading, Aldermaston and Newbury.

The towpath along this part of the canal is in very good condition both for cyclists and for walkers and the countryside walked through is really beautiful. Although this 23 mile stretch of the canal is not too much of a trip for cyclists it is a considerable trek to walk in one go.
Fortunately the canal is accompanied by a railway line but sadly the once free parking at Aldermaston Station has been changed. On weekends one side of the station is a usually empty pay and display and the other empty side allows parking by permit only - all run by a greedy pigs setup called APCOA which is a yankee company run out of Germany for goodness sake!. Anyway the trip along the canal can be broken in two with one railway ride from Aldermaston to Reading (and then walking back) and walking the other half of this part of the canal can be achieved by taking the railway to Newbury and walking back from there. Quite a few trains do run on Saturdays and somewhat less do the trip on Sundays but up to date times need to be checked on the First Great Western website or National Rail site.

Locks and rare turf sided locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal.

The river navigation's first locks were turf sided locks - i.e. the lock chamber's were lined from above the low water level with turf sloping out at 45 degrees - below low water level the sides were planked vertically. These turf locks used a huge amount of water but The River Kennet could usually easily provide this - however most of these turf sided canal locks were eventually changed into brick and wooden planked vertical locks. Fortunately two of the Kennet and Avon Canal turf sided locks have been preserved and can be seen at Garston Lock and at Monkey Marsh Lock.