Newbury Canal Walk – Speen Moors

On By Little Miss TravellerIn Berkshire, South West, United Kingdom

We decided to spend the day in the attractive market town of Newbury which lies in the heart of West Berkshire.  The town is approximately 30 minutes drive from Oxford and around an hour by train from London.  We left the car in the Newbury Goldwell car park beside the leisure centre on Northcroft Lane which offers unlimited free parking on Sundays (£1 for four hours the rest of the week) and is an ideal starting point for a gentle stroll along the canal.

Newbury market square
Newbury market square

Before starting the Speen Moors Walk, we strolled through the vibrant town centre to the tree lined market square with its numerous historic buildings including the Corn Exchange which is now used as an arts venue and theatre.  The market has a long history and is believed to have been held here since Anglo-Saxon times.

Newbury Market
Newbury Market

Nowadays markets take place each Thursday and Saturday and as we were visiting at the weekend we were able to enjoy a wander around the stalls selling fresh produce, honey, cheese and much more.

Newbury's high street
Newbury’s high street

The pedestrianised high street has a wide range of shops from the stylish Camp Hobson department store to Griffins Family Butchers who have been in the town for more than 25 years and ever popular as whenever I pass by there is always a queue snaking outside.

View of Kennet & Avon Canal from the bridge
Canal view from the bridge

We’d now reached the bridge over the Kennet & Avon canal and the start of the Speen Moors Walk.  The canal passes through the town centre on its 87 mile journey from Reading to the Bristol Channel in the west.  This 3 km looped walk is fully accessible and a pleasant waterside stroll through the surrounding countryside.

The Lock, Stock & Barrel pub on the canal bank
The Lock, Stock & Barrel pub on the canal bank

After crossing the bridge along Northbrook Street, the towpath can be joined by going through a narrow passageway between Holland & Barrett and Coté Brasserie.  The path then passes under an archway to one side of the Lock, Stock & Barrel pub which sits in an idyllic position overlooking the canal and lock.

Jubilee tour boat entering Newbury Lock
The Jubilee tour boat entering Newbury Lock

Just as we were approaching Newbury Lock The Jubilee, a traditional narrow boat operated by Kennet & Avon Canal Trust was entering the lock gates.  75 minute pleasure trips take place on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 12.00 noon and 2.30 p.m. between April until October.

Canal side cottages, Newbury
Attractive canal side cottages near Newbury Lock

The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust was formed in the 1960’s helping to reverse the decline in the canal after it had fallen into disrepair in the 1950’s when it was no longer possible for a boat to pass between Reading and Newbury.  The canal re-opened for pleasure traffic in the 1990’s.

West Mills Swing Bridge, Newbury
West Mills Swing Bridge, Newbury

Continuing along the towpath a short distance from Newbury Lock stands the West Mills swing bridge where the towpath crosses to the other side.  We had timed our arrival to perfection as the bridge was just re-opening after a boat had passed through.

West Mills Swing Bridge and Old Water Mill, Newbury
West Mills Swing Bridge and Old Water Mill, Newbury

Lining both sides of the bank are some pretty cottages with the old water mill having been converted into stylish apartments.  The gravel towpath is reasonably well maintained but after heavy rain puddles tend to form in places rendering the path muddy.

Moorings along the Kennet and Avon Canal, Newbury
Moorings along the Kennet and Avon Canal

The majority of the moorings along this stretch of the canal are long term and it was interesting to take a look at some of the colourful boats as we wandered along, some of which had plant pots filled with brightly coloured geraniums on their roofs and others with washing drying outside on the canal bank.

The wooden Monkey Bridge, Newbury
Looking back towards the wooden Monkey footbridge

Soon the wooden footbridge that we had used after parking the car came into view. This bridge opened in 2008 replacing a 1930’s arched steel lattice footbridge known as the Monkey Bridge.  The old bridge was inaccessible for wheelchairs, prams and bicycles and had come to the end of its useful life so its modern replacement took its name.  Both bridges, old and new linked the West Fields and Northcroft areas of Newbury via an area of low lying ground between the canal and the River Kennet known as Monkey Marsh which probably accounts for its title.

The CommuniTEA Garden Cafe, Newbury
The CommuniTEA Garden Cafe adjoining the towpath

Houses on this section of the canal have generously sized lengthy gardens bordering the towpath and affixed to the fence of one of them was a sign that took my interest as it was labelled CommuniTEA.  The owners of this pretty garden open it to the public for tea and cakes several times a year with proceeds going to local charities.  Sadly, it wasn’t open as we passed otherwise we would have enjoyed stopping by.

CommuniTEA Garden, by the canal, Newbury
CommuniTEA Garden, by the canal, Newbury

Just beyond here, the canal widens where the River Kennet joins the canal north of West Fields and it is where the Jubilee boat turns around on its canal pleasure cruise.

Along the Speen Moors Walk, Newbury
Along the Speen Moors Walk, Newbury

On reaching the narrow humped back Enborne Bridge the towpath changes sides by Guyer’s Lock.  We paused on top of the bridge a few minutes whilst a canal boat approached, making its way into the lock.

Guyer's Lock, Kennet & Avon Canal, Newbury
Guyer’s Lock on the canal walk

A pill-box just north of the lock was one of a line of several hundred, all built in less than a year and occupied by Home Guard volunteers.  The pill-boxes now house bats and are listed structures reminding us of the horrors of the Second World War.

Permissive footpath through the Sutton Estate
The start of the permissive footpath through the Sutton Estates

The path then leaves the canal with a signpost indicating the way along the Speen Moors Permissive Pathway, the property of the Sutton Estates.  The pathway winds its way along the banks of the River Kennet before branching off to the right.  This turn off is not signposted so I have included a photo below indicating which way to go.

The Speen Moors pathway through the forest
The Speen Moors pathway continues to the right

Speen Moors is a wet valley grassland surrounded by ditches, watercourses and the River Kennet and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its important wetland wildlife habitat.

The Speen Moors walk through woodland
The walk continues through woodland

From there the pathway passes through a wooded area and then some open fields before meeting with the junction of the Lambourn Valley Way, a 20 mile long distance footpath from the Berkshire Downs at Uffington White Horse to Newbury.

Lambourn Valley Railway Bridge, Newbury
Lambourn Valley Railway Bridge, Newbury

The route then continues under the Lambourn Valley Railway bridge which carried the railway from 1898 until 1973.  The path then passes the water works which run parallel with Speen Lane and shortly afterwards Northcroft Park comes into view near to where we had left the car.

Cricket match in Northcroft Park, Newbury
Cricket match taking place in Northcroft Park

This looped walk combined with a stroll around the attractive town of Newbury created an enjoyable outing which I’d recommend for all ages.

 

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Newbury Kennet & Avon Canal Walk

 

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43 thoughts on “Newbury Canal Walk – Speen Moors”

  1. ThingsHelenLoves

    Newbury is a lovely place. I didn’t strike out from the centre much on my last visit so I’d love to go back and explore a bit more. And how lovely is the CommuniTEA idea, what a heart warming idea.

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    1. Newbury is one of my favourite small towns in the area and I always enjoy a visit. Have not made it to Hungerford yet but have heard that it’s also nice. Hopefully I’ll get to visit there as well next year. Hope your week goes well Helen. Marion x

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  7. Newbury is one of those towns that I always seem to be passing on my way elsewhere. I often think that I must visit and your post has convinced me! I love canals and your suggested walk would be right up my street (mixed metaphor??!!). I think the Communitea garden looks particularly inviting. What a pity it was closed! Perhaps you’ll be able to visit on another occasion.

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    1. We’ve had a couple of one week trips on canal boats in France which we enjoyed very much. Living on these types of boats is increasingly popular especially if you can move your boat around from one place to another. Thank you for commenting, and hope you are enjoying a good weekend. Marion

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  11. Love the lush greenery of the trees hanging over the trail; it really looks like you’re taking a stroll into some sort of Alice in Wonderland universe! The Newbury Canal Walk looks absolutely beautiful, especially in the warmer months.

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  13. You know all the best places to take a lovely walk! I loved reading about the people who live right by the canal. The CommuniTEA place was so charming and the fact that they give the proceeds to charity just made me want to go visit there and support their cause. I hope you have a great weekend Marion 🙂

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  16. Thanks for this lovely visit! I’m wondering if all the “Newburys” in New England are named after this beautiful town. Newbury and Newburyport in Massachusetts, Newbury in Maine and Vermont (and probably elsewhere). Or perhaps they are all named after the same duke or earl. Chatham shows up a great deal, too, as far south as Virginia.

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  18. I’ve never been to the lovely town of Newbury, but it sure looks quite charming especially Newbury market square. If I remember correctly, but I could be wrong, Downtown Abbey, the popular British television series that has gripped and captivated audiences in the UK and beyond, following the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family at their country estate was filmed in Highclere Castle, Newbury. Thanks for sharing, and have a nice day 🙂 Aiva xx

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    1. Canals are lovely places for a stroll or a boat trip and you are right there is always something to be seen related to our industrial heritage it to mention wildlife on the water and along the towpath. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, it’s much appreciated.

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  20. I hope they never let those canals fall into disrepair. When my daughter lived in Milan Ohio they took us to view the canal systems that used to be primary sources of transportation and with other forms of transportation developed since that time they have been abandoned and are an eyesore. Canals can certainly be a tourist attraction if maintained properly.

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  21. It reminds me of the Rideau Canal between Kingston and Ottawa, a crumbling industrial past and a reopening for pleasure boats. It also illustrates the changes in society where leisure is becoming more and more important, sometimes to the detriment of production. The barges also had the same format.

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