Jane’s Walk 2026 – Day 4
Today we are on our own with no walkers joining us. We wave goodbye to Richard and set off along the canal and after five minutes I realise that Moses was not with us. Rushing back to the start, I find Richard and Moses together. Luckily Richard, who was about to drive off, noticed Moses had followed him back, and all was well.
We pass along a peaceful stretch of the canal with the railway and river close beside us on our right. We soon come to Avoncliffe, the second aqueduct which John Rennie was forced to build due to the narrowness of the river valley. Soon after completion it began to leak in the middle due to the fact that poor quality limestone had been used as a lining and the stone regularly had to be replaced. In 1954, when the canal was saved from closure, the aqueduct was finally drained and a concrete lining was installed over a period of 18 years.
We now walk to the outskirts of Bradford on Avon, an important manufacturing city until the mid-19th century when much of this business was taken over during the Industrial Revolution in the Midlands and the North of England.
We pass a huge tithe barn, beautifully restored, which we learn from our hosts for tonight is an important community space, used by the locals in the town.
Leaving Bradford on Avon, the canal passes along a quiet wooded area with only the occasional barge passing by until we reach a very active marina and boat building yard. It seems a long walk this morning and the temperature is much warmer than during the past few days, and we are very pleased to see Richard at 1.30 as we are both feeling rather exhausted. I seem to remember this often happens a few days into our walks.
We lunch well at a garden centre before continuing along a very busy stretch with barges parked nose to tail along our side of the canal. I enjoy spotting the many different styles of barges. The holiday let barges, very neat and functional, and then the more permanent homes, beautifully kept, all with vertical gardens on their roofs as well as 2 or 3 solar panels. Then there are the more alternative lived-in barges, in poor condition and carrying everything but the kitchen sink on the roof and usually with an angry terrier guarding their home!
The canal now becomes very narrow with bulrushes on both sides, making it difficult for 2 barges to pass each other. I wonder why this has not been cleared by the Canal River Trust, who seemed to be doing a good job elsewhere.
We finish our day at Semington Bridge feeling quite tired and weary and happy to stop.
