Kennet and Avon Canal, Newbury

Start: West Berkshire Museum, The Wharf, Newbury, RG14 5AS. There is a car park on the Wharf and the bus station is just behind the museum. The railway station is a 10-minute walk.

(S/E) With the museum behind you, walk north across the wharf past the car parks and cross Wharf Road Bridge

(1) At the end of the bridge, turn right and walk down to the canal tow path. Follow the tow path underneath the road bridge and then cross the footbridge to the island between the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal. Continue following the path until you see a footbridge to your left after approximately 200m.

Alternative Route: To extend the walk, continue along the tow path to Greenham Lock and Marina, then return to the footbridge.

(2) Cross the bridge and turn left, following the River Kennet back towards town, passing back underneath the road bridge.

(3) As you pass underneath the bridge, turn right and walk through Victoria Park with the boating pond on your left. After passing the playground and skate park, bear left towards the statue of Queen Victoria. Then take the right-most path leading southwest through the park, passing the adventure golf and bowling green to reach the 'Symphony of the Trees Sculpture'. Bear left at the sculpture, passing the bandstand and walk towards the bridge (1).

Do not cross the bridge but head back to the tow path. This time turn right to walk under the bridge towards the town centre. You will exit onto Northbrook Street. Cross straight over and follow the path between the buildings to the Lock Stock and Barrel Pub.

Alternative Route: To extend the walk to see the Clock Tower, turn right along Northbrook Street until you reach the Clock Tower at the end of the street, then return to the Lock Stock and Barrel Pub.

(4) Turn left at the pub to rejoin the tow path heading west along the Kennet and Avon canal. To your right you will see the 'Ebb and Flow Sculpture' and on the left Newbury Lock. Continue along the tow path until you reach the swing bridge.

(5) Cross the bridge and turn left along West Mills, passing St Nicolas Church on your right. There are some lovely old houses here on the canal with many different architectural styles. You will exit onto Bartholomew Street, cross straight over into Mansion House Street and into Market Place. Admire the buildings, including the Town Hall and Corn Exchange, before continuing into Wharf Street and the West Berkshire Museum (S/E).

Transport: There are many car parks in the town centre, including Wharf Street next to the museum. The bus stops are located on nearby Wharf Road.

Facilities: There are public toilets on the Wharf by the car park. There are a number of cafes and pubs in the town centre, including the Lock, Stock and Barrel (4), great for watching the canal boats go through the lock from the beer garden.

Accessibility: This walk is along footpaths and therefore is accessible to all.

• West Berkshire Museum - this is a little gem of a museum charting the history of the area (S/E).
• Victoria Park - there is an outdoor gym, bowling green and tennis courts for the active, and there are regular music performances in the bandstand (1/3).
• Enjoy a walk by the Kennet and Avon Canal or take a boat trip down the canal on the Jubilee (S/E).
• A little further out, but worth a visit if you are in the area, are Donnington Castle and Highclere Castle.