Kennet & Avon Canal
The Kennet and Avon Canal begins at Reading on the River Thames and follows the course of the River Kennet westwards to Newbury using 20 broad locks to overcome the 138 foot fall of the river. This distance of 19 miles includes 11 miles of new cut. At Newbury, the navigation leaves the river and continues through 79 locks to a height of 452 ft above sea level before falling through the Caen Hill flight of locks and passing over two aquaducts at Dundas and Avoncliffe to meet with the River Avon at Bath, a distance of 57 miles. The canal fell into disuse with the arrival of the railways but In the late 20th century, restoration began in stages, largely by volunteers and after many decades it was fully reopened to boats in 1990. Two pumping stations at Claverton and Crofton have been restored to provide much needed water on the canal's western section.