Caen Hill Locks

Today's the day ......................... to go up

The stretch of the Kennet & Avon Canal between Bradford on Avon and Devizes to the east contains one of the seven wonders of the Canal World.

Over a distance of not much more than 2 miles, the canal has to rise up 237 feet and this is achieved by the Caen Hill Locks. The first seven locks are fairly innocent-looking and do nothing to prepare you for what is to come. The next sixteen locks form a closely-packed, steep flight in a straight line up the hillside - a veritable stairway to heaven. That just leaves the final six locks into the town of Devizes - a total of 29 locks in all.

As you might imagine, for the narrowboat crews, a lot of manual labour is required in the negotiation up and over Caen Hill. For everyone else, it's a place to go for a weekend stroll with the family. To take a picnic lunch and relax - with plenty of activity going on to keep everyone amused ........................